Straight edge

Straight edges can be found on mostly older perforated stamps, looking just as described.

A natural straight edge can exist where the outer stamps of a pane or sheet are left intentionally imperf on one or two sides. Certain booklet pane stamps can have up to three sides imperf. Coil stamps will often have two straight-edged sides.

Stamps with wing margins have often been trimmed with a straight edge remaining to look "even" by not-very-bright individuals. In the case of British wing-margined stamps, the check letters make it obvious that the stamp has been trimmed. More commonly, crooked cutting allows detection of any alteration.

Even when normal, collectors generally dislike straight edge stamps. They sell for much less than fully perfed stamps, even when the majority of stamps in a pane are straight edged.  File:Mexico Jaurez engr 5c.jpg File:US 2c 1903 straight edge.jpg|with dividing line dividing sheet into panes. This was an accurate cut along that line. File:Canada admiral bklt pane.jpg|Canadian booklet pane of 4. Stamps this modern with straight edges probably originate from a booklet. 