Collectibles - Stamps, Coins, and More » Stamp Collecting

The World’s Most Famous, Valuable, and Rare Stamps

Jennifer — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:39:08 +0000

Like any collectible, the philatelic world has its champions – the rarest, the highest price paid at auction. Some of these have long and interesting histories apart from the price paid.

1840 One Penny Black

The first issued stamps, One Penny Blacks, are not extraordinarily rare. Yet one sold over 15 years ago at auction for over $2.4 million.

Photo: (Click to see larger image) Authentic world’s first prepaid stamp, the Penny Black, Great Britain 1840 with a red Maltese Cross cancellation.

1847 Post Office Mauritius

Issued on the authorization of the Governor of a British colony in the Indian Ocean, the Mauritius is both rare and – like many valuable stamps – flawed. The designer incorrectly printed the words ‘Post Office’ rather than ‘Post Paid’ on the stamps, of which around 200 were produced. Only a few dozen remain and a cover with two stamps affixed sold at auction for $3.8 million over ten years ago.

Photo: A Mauritian Blue Penny taken by Petr Kalivoda used under GNU license.

1851 Hawaiian Missionaries

Hawaii issued its first stamps long before gaining statehood. Used as postage by missionaries, the 2-cent variety has become so rare that only 16 instances are known to exist. If you find one, you can expect to sell it for anywhere from $200,000 to about $800,000 depending on its condition. But the 5-cent and 13-cent issued around the same period can bring a pretty penny, as well.

1855 Tre Skilling Banco Yellow

One of the most famous of all stamps, this Swedish issue was printed in error. Tre (or ‘three’) skilling stamps in Sweden were printed on green colored paper, while yellow was reserved for the eight skilling issue.

One Tre Skilling Yellow sample was found in 1885 by a young Swedish lad, 14-year old Georg Backman, in his grandfather’s collection. Through the years this stamp has sold at various auctions with the latest one fetching over $2.24 million ten years ago.

There are no other samples known, making it the rarest stamp known to exist.

1856 British Guiana One Cent Black on Magenta

Long the superstar of the stamp world, the 1 cent British Guiana is among the rarest stamps on the planet. Produced in this remote colony, the issue is a rectangle with clipped corners. Individually hand-initialed by a post-office employee, one sold at auction over 25 years ago for $935,000.

1867 Z-Grills

Benjamin Franklin would be delighted were he to discover the price paid for an 1867 Z-Grill. Z-Grills are imprinted with a rectangular pattern that depicts the face of the author of Poor Richard’s Almanac. The pattern was an anti-cheating device, but used only for a short time. Only two are known to exist and one sold for $938,000 at auction nearly 20 years ago.

The Latin saying ‘De Gustibus Non Disputandum’ (’There’s no disputing taste’) is nowhere more true than in stamp collecting. Many would regard these examples as little more than interesting curios of paper and ink. But to the philatelist with a passion for history, detective work and the joy of collecting they are priceless. Or, nearly so.

Stamp Collecting: From Hobby to Worldwide Phenomenon

Jennifer — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:11:56 +0000

Stamp collecting has grown in just over 150 years from a hobby for children to a worldwide phenomenon for collectors and investors. Today, thousands of collectors spend time and money to obtain everything from a mundane 1840 One Penny Black for a few dollars to the $2.2 million 1855 Tre Skilling Banco Yellow.

But whether rare or common, stamps exert a powerful romantic influence on those who catch the philatelic bug. The mystery of history, the intrigue of detection and the exactitude of science combine in one of the world’s most fascinating pursuits.

Like coin collecting, stamp collecting can be pursued solely for the pleasure the hobby brings. A few dollars can get you started and you can enjoy it in your spare time. Or, it can grow to become an obsession that evolves into an all-consuming passion. For many, philately is a profession, for others an investment that diversifies their portfolio.

Whatever your ultimate level of interest, getting started is very much the same. You’ll need some basic tools, some elementary information and a lot of patience.

Finding a great stamp requires the same focus and dedication as that needed for tracking down major and minor masterpieces of art. After more than 150 years, so far as anyone knows, the truly rare and valuable are all known and part of a museum’s or individual’s collection.

But there are always the mid-tier stamps that continue to be traded. Locating and negotiating for those requires getting up to speed on the latest trading info. In decades past, dealers, personal correspondence, magazines and catalogs and occasionally libraries formed the sources of ‘intel’ about a good scoop.

With the growth of the Internet, many catalogs have been placed online and websites abound to help collectors and investors find out about the latest offerings and their values.

Proper care once you find them is essential. Stamps are easily damaged and, like coins, the condition plays a part in the value of a sample. The proper mounting, display and care of a stamp requires some study. The knowledge of how to use a stamp hinge properly can mean the difference between a valuable item in your collection and a worthless piece of scrap paper.

A knowledge of elementary chemistry and the available tools is helpful. Soaking a stamp is both an art and science and takes practice to master. Using fluorescence and even x-rays to examine a stamp can be really useful and needn’t be expensive or difficult.

But even if you are just beginning your journey into the world of stamp collecting, and don’t yet have any stamps, there is much of interest to read.

The Internet has helped tremendously in making it easy to find information about the history and worth of those rare stamps that everyone covets. Even if you can’t afford a million dollar stamp, studying the stories of their birth and journey is an adventure all by itself.

Stamp Collecting: Catalogs for the Collector

Jennifer — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:09:01 +0000

Very early in his or her collecting efforts every stamp collector will need the guidance of several sources of information. Fellow collectors are helpful and there are many forums where helpful tips and enthusiasm can be shared. Dealers can help in the education process, and most are knowledgeable and honest. But the indispensable source of information about stamps remains the catalog.

Even though catalogs have moved online in recent years, their content and purpose remains the same: to provide graphics and text that help identify stamps from the past, present and near future.

There are dozens of well-regarded catalogs, both in print and online. But the most commonly used in the U.S. is without doubt the Scott Catalog. Volume One covers United States issued stamps, while the subsequent volumes contain listings of other countries, listed in alphabetical order.

First published as a 21-page pamphlet in 1868, it has grown to five large volumes and remains the authoritative source for thousands of collectors of stamps worldwide.

While copies can still be found in most moderate to large-sized libraries, and on CD, the most up-to-date version is available online via subscription at www.scottonline.com/info_NEW.asp.

Naturally, the prices listed can only serve as a general guideline, since market rates will vary from dealer to dealer and among collectors.

The Scott catalog wields a large influence in being an extensive source of stamp issues from the last 150 years. But it also helps define standards of quality and even – to some extent – what qualifies as a valid stamp. If it isn’t listed in Scott, most U.S. dealers will refuse to trade that stamp.

In Europe, the major catalog is the Michel, first published in 1910. It, too, is available online, at www.michel.de. Though printed in German the catalog is heavily used by American and other dealers and collectors. The graphics are still useful and the text is often simple enough that those with a knowledge of only a smattering of German can follow well enough for the catalog to be valuable.

Even older is the Stanley Gibbons catalog, first published in 1865. This British company rightly enjoys bragging rights for having first developed the market for trading stamps in Britain. Their influence now ranges far outside the UK, however. The catalog and related businesses, including the auction house, have an online presence at www.stanleygibbons.com/home/index.asp.

There are dozens of other large catalogs emanating from and covering other countries around the world – France, Switzerland, Australia and others all enjoy their homegrown variety. And this is as is should be, since philately is both a hobby enjoyed and a business practiced all over the globe.

All these catalogs, and many other sources, help the collector determine the value and validity of what they own. But they also serve as a reference for dreaming about and pursuing those gems they seek to acquire in the future. Good hunting!

Stamps: Collecting Perfins

Jennifer — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 15:09:03 +0000

Many enthusiastic philatelist has reached a lull in collecting at some point. The affordable gems are coming less frequently and growing out of your price range. To keep the momentum going, you can start looking for the unusual. Perfins are one of those great oddities that can flesh out a collection.

Perfins are stamps, invented in Great Britain, that have perforations not alongside the stamp, but inside it. The pattern of holes was used (and still is in some places) to indicate a cancellation and provide information.

Before the invention of postage meters in the 1920s, several methods for indicating that a stamp had been used and processed were devised. Since stamps were often used in that period as a substitute for money in small transaction, it was especially important to have a way of indicating cancellation.

The alternative was an active amount of theft of small amounts by postal employees themselves. A black market developed that traded in stamps, which perfins helped suppress.

One great thing about perfins is that they are almost guaranteed to be more valuable since they are less common. They fell out of active use in the UK and other countries after other technology developed.

Identifying a stamp as a perfin is easy and obvious, but narrowing down the issue requires a fascinating effort of research. The patterns could indicate date, postal office or other information. As a result these unique markings can turn an otherwise ordinary issue into a valuable collectible.

Stamps from the 1920s or earlier can be of little value, despite their age. Age is a factor, but rarity is the key. If there are a million stamps of a particular issue the sample is going to be worth much less. A perfin from, say, an Irish post office on the day of IRA leader Michael Collins’ arrest could well be worth more than an ordinary stamp.

Perfin patterns can vary in other ways, such as being punched from the back rather than the front. Such ‘mistakes’ can increase the value of a stamp as well. Unfortunately, it can make mounting a bit of a challenge, since you may want to be able to read the pattern again later for further research.

To resolve that problem, you can employ a clear plastic mount, making it easy to see the stamp from both sides. Mounting on an ordinary hinge is possible, too, but it’s best not to stress the hinge by repeated viewings.

Expand your collection in new and unusual ways by adding perfins.

Stamp Collecting: Forgeries

Jennifer — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 15:10:55 +0000

Determining the value of a stamp can be a complex affair. It’s made more so by the existence of forgeries.

The motives for producing counterfeit stamps is no doubt very much the same as for forging currency: to increase the value of a piece of paper otherwise worth much less. The methods are often ingenious, since practitioners have had over 150 years of techniques from which to learn. Counterfeiting stamps has been going on since they were first produced.

Making fake stamps to evade the cost of ordinary postage is rarely worth the effort. But when the price of a stamp – such as the Tre Skilling Banco Yellow – can reach $2.2 million at auction, there is some incentive to try forging rare samples.

Even far less expensive items may incent a counterfeiter, however. Just as producing counterfeit $20 bills can be profitable if you make and pass enough of them, so it is with stamps. And there are a great many stamps that sell anywhere from a few dollars to a $100 or more that are in wide circulation. Producing a thousand of the latter could lead to a tidy illegitimate profit.

The value of stamps, like coins, varies with condition. In general, other things being equal, a stamp that is in better shape will fetch more – particularly if it’s an older issue. Counterfeiters know this, of course, and one relatively inexpensive and simple technique used is to simply repair the stamps.

Ink stains can be removed, tears mended, backs re-gummed, hinge marks improved… nearly any degradation that can occur can be (at least partially) reversed. Modern technology has come to the aid not only of conservationists but the counterfeiters as well.

Of course, as with any practice in any collectible, some will argue that repairs don’t constitute forgery. After all, centuries-old paintings are restored every day. And there’s some merit to that position. But cleaning decades or more of accumulated chemical damage to the surface of a painting isn’t an attempt to pass it off as new or in mint condition.

Tears, ink stains and some other kinds of ‘damage’ may well be part of the history of a particular issue or individual stamp. If the Princess Sforza tore an 1899 Hungarian while mailing a letter to her lover, repairing the damage is re-writing history. And it’s that history, in part, that gives value to the stamp.

Forgeries sometimes go beyond attempts to fake a particular stamp. Since, in some cases, part of the value is the cover (envelope, packaging, etc) to which the stamp was affixed, these too are sometimes counterfeited.

Postal marks, the paper used, handwriting on the envelope and other elements are all part of the totality of the artifact. Forgers learn their craft well and can fake anyone of these elements in an attempt to create a valuable collectible out of worthless scraps of paper.

Identifying forgeries is an interesting bit of detective work, often best left to experts. They have the experience, tools and skill to distinguish the genuine article from the fake. But, as with anything related to stamps, there’s nothing preventing you from becoming an expert, too!

Stamp Collecting: How To Display Stamps: Mounts and Hinges

Jennifer — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:11:57 +0000

How best to secure a stamp to a display medium is an ongoing debate. Hinges were used traditionally and many stamps have their value affected – up or down – by the size and nature of the ‘hinge marks’ on them. Mounts have come into common use over the last 30 years.

For decades hinges were used to place stamps into display notebooks or individual papers. Hinges are small, bent pieces of gummed paper that can attach to a page and to a stamp. That secures the stamp with a minimal amount of adhesive, while keeping it safely attached to the page.

Mounts were developed much later, early versions exist from as far back as the 1930s though they are now used much more often. A mount may have a gummed edge in order to attach to a paper, but will provide a sleeve (often made of glassine) for the stamp.

Using a hinge is simple. You wet a narrow strip of the hinge and apply it to the display page. Then wet a narrow strip of the stamp and apply to the hinge. It narrows the area of adhesion. The hinge also allows the stamp to be secured while enabling the collector to view the back in order to see marks made there.

Older stamps will almost always have hinge marks or ‘remnants’, and sometimes this will actually increase their value. There’s no way to explain the evaluations of collectors, sometimes. A mount doesn’t suffer from the problem of adhering the stamp to the hinge, but they nonetheless need to be used with care. Mounts can produce marks or other types of damage.

Glassine, a special paper often used for mount material, isn’t an entirely acid-free paper and can damage the surface of the stamp. Trace amounts of sulfuric acid found in most paper can chemically destroy the cellulose.

For that reason, special archival paper is sometimes used to store and display stamps – not just for the mount sleeve, but the display page as well. Japanese rice paper is one of the more common alternatives, but there are specially made materials, as well.

Inexpensive plastic sleeves are an alternative, but they can ‘glue’ themselves shut over time and adhere to the stamp. That risk makes them a poor choice, usually. Mylar and other forms of plastic don’t tend to suffer from this problem, but at a certain point the cost of plastic displays exceeds the cost of special archival materials.

Once mounted or hinged, most collectors will place stamps on one side of the page only. Though this requires using more pages and binders to display a large collection, the cost is generally justified. The risk of damage, from tearing or surface scratching, is greater with two-sided displays.

Ideally, glass or special sealed plastic envelopes will maintain a stamp in best condition over many decades. But, their cost is prohibitive for all except very valuable, unique items in the collection.

Since collectibles are meant to be displayed, a case for the purpose is a nice addition. But, make sure to keep stamps out of sunlight or away from harsh lamps. The UV radiation in most light sources will cause deterioration of both the ink and paper over time.

Stamp Collecting: Soaking For Beginners

Jennifer — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 15:12:33 +0000

Most stamps collected have been used as postage. Unlike uncirculated coins, that’s part of what makes them valuable, since they then acquire a history and often interesting cancellation or other marks.

But once they form part of a collection they are most often separated from the envelope or package they were adhered to. The most common method used by amateurs for doing that is soaking. But soaking is equal parts art and technology – done improperly it’s easy to ruin an otherwise valuable stamp.

Adopt the Hippocratic Oath taken by physicians since the days of Ancient Greece: First, above all, do no harm.

Separate out the stamps you intend to collect, then try to find ones with similar ink and material for practice. Until you get the technique down, you’ll want to tread with extreme caution. After you’ve had ample practice, you’ll want to… tread with extreme caution.

Get a medium-sized clear glass bowl. This allows you to see both top and bottom of the stamp. Fill the bowl about half full with warm water. The water should be warm enough to soften the adhesive. Take care, though. Excessively hot water will raise the probability of ink running over the surface of the stamp. It also softens the stamp to the point that tears are almost inevitable.

Trim the stamps of any ‘covers’ (envelops or packaging material, which are sometimes left on to form a larger collectible, if they have unique and valuable features). Leave about 1/4 inch around the stamp so you have an edge to work with as you separate off the stamp.

Using a pair of stamp collector’s tongs is very helpful for some of the following steps. These are different from ordinary tweezers, but those will do in a pinch if they have flat, not serrated, surfaces.

Lift the stamp by the edge of the remaining cover and place it gently on the surface of the water. It may float. If so, that’s helpful since it will help wet the back while leaving the front drier. The goal is to soften the glue enough to separate the stamp from the envelope, while maintaining the stamp in good condition.

If the stamp sinks, don’t worry overmuch. Provided the ink doesn’t run and the stamp doesn’t tear, there won’t be any permanent harm.

Allow the stamp to soak for 5-15 minutes. You’ll need to experiment, since the time can vary depending on the water temperature, the glue used, the age of the stamps, etc.

Also, water varies in mineral content, which will affect the process. It’s best to use distilled water whenever possible. Special soaking solutions exist, but plain water is safe and effective provided the guidelines are followed.

After soaking, pull the stamp gently up and slide it onto the side of the bowl. Work loose the stamp from any part of the envelope still adhering. If the stamp is wet, the usual condition, this is the critical step. Tears are most likely at this stage. Proceed gently.

Place the stamp face down onto a soft, dry cloth and allow to air dry for at least 20 minutes at normal room temperature, then examine and store.

Stamps As Investments

Jennifer — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 15:13:05 +0000

Most people who pursue stamp collecting became seriously interested at a young age. They noticed a foreign stamp or read an article about some of the million dollar stamps that have been discovered in an odd location. They get intrigued by the history behind these miniature works of art. Eventually, they became more than avid collectors, they became investors.

Stamps, like any collectible, have a monetary value. That value is the result of supply and demand, just like anything else. But the demand for stamps is highly volatile, just like other works of art. Collecting with an eye to investment requires an aptitude for risk taking and a substantial amount of expertise.

There are forgeries around, and even when the item is genuine it can lose a great deal of value almost overnight. Keeping your collection maximized from an investment standpoint requires doing a lot of research into the current market and past history in order to make reasonable guesses about future trends.

Even though stamps were often issued as nothing more than an ordinary means for paying for postage, the history of any particular stamp can transform it into a highly valuable collectible. That’s in fact what happened with all ‘The Champs’, which were once just inexpensive pieces of colored paper, worth a bit of postage.

There’s a paradox involved sometimes. If collectors believe that the worth of an item will be large in the future, there may be a widespread practice of hoarding them for future sale. But the act of hoarding produces a situation in which many of them exist later.

Like any collectible, when there is a large supply, the value goes down. Even though a stamp may be a first day, postmarked December 7, 1941 (the day of the Pearl Harbor attack), if there are a million of them around it will be worth only a modest amount. Many 19th century stamps are today worth only slightly more than their face value, even though they are old.

Rarity is a major factor in monetary worth, but it works hand in hand with the condition of the stamp. Just as with coins, an otherwise so-so collectible can be many times more valuable if it’s in pristine condition. Any stamp you hope to use for a trade should be handled with care. Be sure to use the proper techniques to prepare and store it.

Beyond the inherent properties of the stamp, its rarity or condition, the market is volatile because knowledge isn’t uniform. You may not know that a certain stamp could be sold for a high price, but a professional dealer might. That knowledge is worth something, since it can bring the dealer a large profit. It pays to do your homework before trading. An otherwise ordinary issue can be worth thousands because of a certain postmark or other factor.

Anyone looking for a safe investment would do much better to invest in bonds or selected stocks. But if you want to combine your passion for stamps with an interest in high stakes trading, stamps just might be the investment for you.

Supplemental Stamp Collectibles

Jennifer — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 15:14:18 +0000

Collecting stamps is a never ending source of interest. You can collect for a lifetime and still be on the hunt for that rare gem, that odd bit of history that is captured by a stamp. Along the way, you may have a lull where the good ones just aren’t coming along at a price you can afford. But you can still keep your hobby active by looking into other, related collectibles.

Single stamps are the norm in most collections, but groups of stamps can be interesting as well as a great investment. You could hunt down and capture a ‘booklet pane’. Those are three or more stamps from the same issue.

The panes are then collected into a folder to make a booklet. One specialized type are ‘plate blocks’, which consist of four stamps from the corner of a pane. A pane is a sheet of stamps and they are typically marked with a plate number and other information.

Those markings can turn an ordinary plate block into a collectible. Misprints, historical issues and other elements can increase the worth of a set many times over.

For example, since stamps are truly works of art, their designs can be copyrighted. The copyright mark (©) stamped in the margin makes a set a ‘copyright block’. The US Postal System started stamping blocks with the symbol in 1978 and many are now collector’s items.

You might be lucky enough to acquire a ’souvenir sheet’. Those are panes of stamps that have lettering or a design in the margins. Those markings can be perfectly ordinary or they can commemorate a special issue that is a hot collectible.

A cover makes for a great collectible. A ‘cover’, in philately, is anything that encloses or to which the stamp is affixed. Envelopes are the most common cover, but not the only type possible.

For example, for many years the French postal system sold combination stamp/envelope/paper sheets that could be used for writing letters to overseas friends. They were then folded, the edges adhered, and the result mailed as one unit.

‘First Day covers’ are a great alternative to ordinary stamp collectibles. First Day covers are those that bear stamps postmarked on the first day of sale. For certain issues, the combination of stamp, envelope and postmark can be a really interesting item and a valuable investment.

A First Day cover issued on the day of the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge on May 24, 1883, for example, would be something truly special. Even if the stamp itself were otherwise ordinary, the combination would be a collectible, especially if the postmark were from a Brooklyn post office. Get one of those and you would be the star at any of the annual First Day Cover Collecting Week celebrations!

Stamp Collecting: Storing Your Collection

Jennifer — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 15:13:42 +0000

Once you’ve learned to prepare your stamps by careful soaking or other methods, you’ll want to store them safely and stylishly. There are dozens of different items to choose from. Choices range from simple glassine envelopes placed on stockpages in three-ring binders to dehumidifying cabinets and safes.

For ordinary stamps, a simple shoebox might serve as a container for envelopes. Glassine envelopes are sometimes used to hold the stamps. They’re a translucent paper that’s fine for short-term storage or stamps that don’t have much value.

But even glassine isn’t entirely acid-free. The surfaces can damage the cellulose fibers in stamps and can also trap moisture that warps or rots them, as well. But, they have the advantage of being inexpensive and easy to obtain. They’ll generally be a part of the storage ‘toolkit’ for any collector, even if it’s just to hold stamps during cataloging.

Dealers will often sell stamps in glassine covers, but assuming they turn over their stock in a moderate amount of time these should not have introduced any deterioration. Any that has occurred will usually be visible, making for easy judgments.

More expensive, but higher quality, Japanese rice paper and other archival storage sleeves are preferable. The paper is acid-free and durable enough for mild handling. A special variety called tissue paper (but unlike Kleenex), is used for the most stringent-quality archival needs.

Stockpages are often used to hold the envelopes and sometimes will have in-built glassine or plastic sleeves for holding stamps. They sell most commonly in 8 1/2 x 11 inch sizes, usually 3-hole punched for easy storing in a 3-ring binder. These will work fine for those who want to store stamps that are not on display.

Again, though, the glassine sleeves should be used for shorter time periods or lesser-valued stamps. Plastic sleeves are to be avoided. Unless they are composed of more expensive plastics, they will tend to stick together, potentially damaging the stamps. Moisture control is much more difficult with plastics, and they can produce a coating that harms paper.

Stockcards are available that are typically the 5 x 7 inch index card style. These are useful for smaller sections and are sometimes made of manila cardstock or cardboard.

Stockcards and stockpages often have long strips with 8 to 10 rows, in order to hold dozens of stamps on a page. These are fine for less valuable stamps, but for the more prized possessions in your collection you’ll want something that shows them to better advantage.

Commercial albums are readily available and they vary in quality, usually in line with the variation in price. They have the advantage that once you settle on a manufacturer, you can easily obtain supplement pages of the same type later.

A dehumidifying cabinet or safe might be a worthwhile investment for those rare gems you spent years saving for, tracking down and capturing. For lesser, but still worthy, samples at least invest in a cigar-box wood-and-glass style cabinet in order to show off your ‘pride and joy’ items.

Small wood and glass style cabinets can keep your collection looking good and in great condition with the addition of a couple of silica gel desiccant packages that should be replaced every few months.