Stamps -> Europe -> Germany & Area

A stamp booklet is now a popular way for countries to sell postage stamps because they’re smaller and easier to handle that a sheet of stamps or loose stamps. In the United States however, the booklet has given way to a folded sheet with stamps on each side, or a single sheet with stamps on each side, though they’re still commonly called “a book of stamps.”

The first stamp booklet, though not postage stamps, was issued in the United States, with the California State Telegraph Company’s booklets of telegraph stamps being issued in 1870. Western Union followed suit and issued stamps for its services in 1871 and in 1884 the postage stamp booklet was actually patented by A. W. Cooke of Boston.

But the first country to ever actually issue a postage stamp booklet was Luxembourg, turning out their first booklets in 1895. Sweden was the next country to try this new way of issuing stamps with their first stamp booklets appearing in 1898. The idea caught on worldwide and became commonly used across the world in the first half of the 20th century.

A stamp booklet typically consists of 10 to 20 stamps on a pane that’s folded and secured inside a cardboard cover. The first booklets were made by hand, by cutting sheets of stamps into smaller pieces and binding those within the cardboard. Later, they printed the panes separately onto large sheets then cut them individually, perforating only the edges between the panes. These booklets have stamp panes that feature 1 to 3 straight edges, though some do have middle stamps that are perforated all the way around because of the way they were designed.

For collectors, finding an intact early stamp booklet is almost impossible. The stamps were seen as purely utilitarian at the time and not viewed as anything possibly collectible or worth saving, so most stamp booklets were merely used and discarded when the stamps were gone. Empty stamp booklets, or just the covers, are worth little. Though if they are very old, they may be worth something to a collector who specializes in old stamp booklet covers and enjoys collecting them just to see how early stamp booklets were bound, or to see the different cover designs.

Many stamp collectors specialize in the stamp booklet because the variety is astounding. There are organizations, clubs and collector swap meets that all focus on stamp booklets over individual stamps. Generally, if a stamp has any value at all, a stamp booklet of that particular stamp is worth well more than the total worth of the individual stamps. The condition of the covers themselves figure into the value as well, with a perfect condition booklet of valuable stamps calling for a much higher price than a booklet of valuable stamps that has been creased, torn or stained.

Online auctions are an excellent place to acquire stamps from all over the world. The photo should show the stamp booklet both closed and opened. Ask about the condition of parts not visible in any photograph.

Photo Credits: jurvetson

Originally posted 2008-10-24 05:00:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Coins & Paper Money -> Coins: World -> Russia

Russian coins have recently become a popular investment, with many of the popular dealers selling out of supplies, and some older and more rare coins earning over $45,000 at auction. Many people gave up on Russian coin collecting in 2007 because of the raising values and costs of most Russian coins and the sudden surge of people interested in Russian coins, not just as hobbyists and collectors, but because of the believed investment potential these coins suddenly had.

Imperial Russian coins prices have doubled in the last year, making any pre-1917 Russian coin more expensive to obtain, taking it out of the reach of many hobby collectors, and consequently more valuable. Even the dealers are a bit baffled by the sudden upswing in the Russian coin market, especially in as short a time as one year .

The demand for Russians coins actually started 5 or 6 years ago, as the country’s economy began to stabilize after years of difficult times. During much of the 20th century, all but the wealthiest Russians often had trouble making ends meet, so expensive things were put aside. Many silver and gold coins were melted down. While the records of how many coins were minted are still there, no one knows how many were melted down and put into another form during their years of weak economy. Because Russia doesn’t allow the export of its Imperial coins, finding them outside Russia is fairly rare, with those coins either appearing outside Russia illegally, or perhaps brought by Russian immigrants years ago.

Russian coins are actually even more valuable inside Russia than they are elsewhere. Now that the economy is improving, people are more able to indulge in hobbies like coin collecting, and since so many early coins were destroyed it’s these coins that seem to have the most value. Because the price is steadily increasing, investors know that they can turn a profit in only a few months by purchasing the coins and then reselling them at their new, higher market prices later.

While this value growth can’t continue indefinitely, Russian coins still sell for less than their British and American counterparts of similar rarity, so it could continue for yet while. As long as the Russian economy improves, it’s believed that the value of Russian coins will continue to grow. At some point, though, the selling price for many Russian coins will drop, perhaps dramatically, so if you’re after a particular coin that’s out of your price range, a wait and see attitude could serve you well and get you the coin at a more affordable price.

Because of the high value of some Russian coins today, fakes have flooded the marketplace. Coin dealers can easily spot a fake, while some eBay sellers who have no intention of defrauding anyone might have no idea that their coins aren’t genuine. Choose sellers who have extensive numismatic experience and can vouch for the authenticity of their coins, and offer a refund if you should have the coin examined and discover it’s not genuine.

Photo Credits: kevindooley

Originally posted 2008-10-26 14:00:13. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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