Stamps -> Worldwide -> Postal History

If you are interested in stamp collecting as more than just a hobby, it is important to focus on finding valuable stamps. These are the ones that will enhance your personal collection and provide you with a solid investment that you can count on. In addition to their value as a collector’s item, valuable stamps are also fun to find since many of them are quite rare. If you’re ready to start getting serious about stamp collecting, here are some of the most valuable stamps to look for.

1. Queen Victoria Stamps

The Queen Victoria stamps that were produced during her reign are some of the most valuable you can find. Look for the ones that still have their original gum on the back. These were the first stamps to actually have an adhesive, so they are worth more. The most valuable stamps from this era are the ones that are still in very good condition, without any rips or tears.

2. Famous President Stamps

The United States may not have monarchs, but we do have famous presidents and their faces grace some of the most valuable stamps. Abraham Lincoln stamps are very popular and many of these are worth several thousand dollars. The majority of the older stamps from this era do not have adhesive, but if you can find some that have not been circulated, they are incredibly valuable. Once again, you’re going to want to look for the ones that are in the best condition.

3. Colonial Stamps

Stamps that were made during the colonial period in the United States are considered to be very valuable stamps, but this also extends to other countries. For example, stamps produced in the French colonies are very valuable, especially the ones from Polynesia. These are quite often red, green or brown and although the colors may be faded, they are still worth a lot of money.

4. Duck Stamps

Duck stamps are a type of stamp that is produced in the United States and the proceeds of sales go to benefit wildlife funds. Although these cannot be used for mailing letters, they are valuable stamps in a large part due to their stunning artwork. Every year, new Duck Stamps are released, and artists submit their work for consideration to be on the new stamp. The Duck Stamps from the first few years of this program are very valuable stamps.

5. Stamps from Turbulent Times

Stamps that were produced during revolutions, wars and uprisings are considered to be among the most valuable stamps, simply because they commemorate important events. For example, the stamps that were made during the French Revolution are highly collectible and hard to find. Stamps produced in Germany during the Third World War are also considered to be quite rare and collectible.

When you’re trying to find valuable stamps remember that condition does count. Ideally, they should not be circulated, but if they were, they should be as free from marks as possible and they should not be torn or overly worn.

Originally posted 2008-09-22 14:00:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• US Stamps Stamps -> US Stamps : 19th Century Unused, 19th Century Used Collecting stamps from around the world is a popular hobby for many, but there are also many valuable stamps that are hard to find. US Stamps in particular can be very rare, and there are quite a few that......
• Post Office Stamps Stamps -> United States -> Collections Post office stamps are a great collectible for kids to enjoy, and luckily, it isn’t all that hard to start a collection. Before you start building your collection, it’s a good idea to make sure that you have all the supplies you’ll need. This......
• Third Reich Stamps Stamps -> Europe -> Germany and Area When it comes to collecting stamps that were produced during the second world war, many collectors gravitate towards what are known as “Third Reich Stamps.” These are stamps that were produced in Germany from a period between 1933 and 1945, when the Third......
• Antique Postage Stamps Stamps -> Worldwide -> Postal History When it comes to collecting stamps, most collectors dream of being able to find the perfect antique postage stamps. By far, these are usually the ones that are the most valuable and in many cases, they are the most visually interesting. If you are......
• 1909 Lincoln Stamp Set Stamps -> United States -> Collections, Lots The 1909 Lincoln stamp set represents the first time the United States Post Office had issued stamps that didn't promote or commemorate a current event. The public complained about the change in stamps in 1908 to Washing and Franklin stamps, because Lincoln had......

• Avon Collectibles Collectibles -> Decorative Collectibles -> Decorative Collectible Brands-> Avon The Avon Company has been a respected institution in the United States since 1886, and their line of decorative collectibles contain some of the most sought after pieces on record. The company first began producing Avon collectibles in the mid-1960’s and......
• Hold On To Your Wallet: Stamp Prices Rising Again As we all work to save every penny we can, the postal service will be raising the prices of their first class mail stamp an additional two cents. The new price of the stamps, which are currently $.42, will move up to $.44 starting on May 11, 2009. The US......
• Basketball Cards Sports Memorabilia -> Autographs - Original -> Basketball - NBA -> Trading Cards Although when most people think of collectible cards, they automatically think baseball, basketball cards are actually incredibly popular. There are thousands on the market and many of them depict some of the best players that ever hit......
• Wayne Gretzky Sports Memorabilia -> Autographs-Original -> Hockey-NHL Wayne Gretzky, called “The Great One” by many hockey professionals and writers, is one of the most recognizable names in sports throughout the world and widely regarded to be the best hockey player of all time. While even someone who doesn't like sports......
• GLOSSARY OF BOOK TERMS ads, advts, adverts Advertisements placed in the binding of the book. Advanced Copy A copy for booksellers and reviewers, either bound in paperwraps or a copy of the trade edition with a review slip laid in. aeg See All Edges Gilt. al See Autographed Letter. All Edges Gilt The......

• Postal Cards Stationery Back of Book United States Stamps
• First Flight Event Covers Covers United States Stamps
• 1991-2000 FDCs 1951-Now Covers United States Stamps
• 1941-50 FDCs pre-1951 Covers United States Stamps
• 1931-40 FDCs pre-1951 Covers United States Stamps

Stamps -> United States -> 19th Century Unused

One of the best ways to get interested in stamp collecting is to take a look at some old postage stamps. These are truly unique items and although they may not be as glitzy or as useful as today’s stamps, there are some that are truly unique and very valuable. When you’re looking for collectible old postage stamps, there are a few things to look for to see whether or not you have a truly valuable stamp in front of you.

1. Ink Color

Typically, old postage stamps used either red, brown, green or blue ink. The colors should be a bit faded, especially if the stamp was made in the late 1800’s. During this time more intricate designs were put into circulation but for the most part, the colors stayed the same. There is no real theory behind why these ink colors were used, but it does make it easier to find old postage stamps and authenticate them.

2. Designs

Old postage stamps will typically contain historical events or figures that were popular during that time. Just as we have celebrity stamps today, old postage stamps commemorated special events and people as well. In countries where there was a monarch, that would typically be the person that would adorn the majority of stamp designs. In republics, symbols of freedom were commonly used. Very old stamps will generally be less intricate, but towards the 19th century, design capability improved and many stamps produced during this time period are very ornate.

3. The Adhesive

Stamps that were produced before the late 1800’s typically did not have any form of adhesive. They were usually glued into place by the send of the mail or the post office. However, in the 1880’s, special adhesives were introduced that allowed people to easily attach their stamps to their mail on their own. Old postage stamps will usually have what is referred to as “gum” on the back. This “gum” will typically be brown or yellow in color due to age. If you can find an old postage stamp that still has the “gum” intact, you have a very rare find indeed.

4. The Condition

The condition of old postage stamps will have a large bearing on their value. Collectors usually try to find stamps that were never circulated, and that are still intact and free of rips or tears. While there are few old postage stamps that are incredibly valuable no matter what condition they may be in, it is important to try to find the best possible stamps if you are collecting with an eye of amassing valuable old postage stamps. One or two flaws are generally acceptable, but collectible stamps should be free of any major damage.

5. Demand

There are many old postage stamps that are in high demand and at times, you will see new ones that suddenly come into vogue. If you are trying to save money, you can collect old postage stamps that may not yet be popular. If they are still in good condition, you may just have a future winner on your hands.

Originally posted 2008-09-02 05:00:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Valuing of Old Postage Stamps If you are interested in collecting stamps, then you probably already realize that stamp collecting is something that can be very valuable for a number of different reasons. Some old postage stamps are valuable simply because they are the only one of their kind, while others are valuable because they......
• Monroe Stamp Stamps -> Topical-and-Specialty -> Famous People The Marilyn Monroe stamp was released on June 1, 1995, on what would have been Marilyn’s 69th birthday. It joined the ranks of what the United States Postal Service calls “blockbuster” stamps, like the Elvis stamp, and some commemorative stamps like those honoring Civil......
• Swiss Soldier Stamps Stamps -> Europe -> Switzerland Some people, even those who have been collecting stamps for years, may never have heard of Swiss soldier stamps. That’s because these stamps weren’t actually postage stamps for use at large, they were created for the Swiss soldiers who were activated to full duty to......
• Stamp Value Stamps -> United States -> Possessions If you're a stamp collector or you want to start collecting stamps, there are many resources available to you to help you determine stamp value. Books, websites and organizations allow you to look up a stamp and determine the likely value of it based......
• Canceled Postage Stamps Stamps -> United States -> 1901: to Now: Used If you are interested in getting into stamp collecting, but the brand new, mint condition and rare stamps are a little out of your price range, canceled postage stamps make a great alternative. While these are still quite valuable, especially depending......

• Rare Coins Coins and Paper Money -> Ancient Coins -> Persian, Indian, Asian There is something very special about rare coins. No matter where in the world they came from, they usually have a very rich history and collectors will search to the ends of the earth to find that special rare......
• Federal Reserve Notes Coins and Paper Money -> Paper Money: US -> Large Size Notes -> Federal Reserve Notes One of the most interesting collectibles in the field of coins and paper money are federal reserve notes. However, there is quite a bit of confusion out there about what these notes really are.......
• How to Pick the Right Air Conditioning System for Your Home Thankfully, today we have many options when it comes to cooling our homes. If you are wondering if it is time to upgrade to a new kind of cooling system, you’re going to have a lot of options. However, they may not all be as effective for your particular needs.......
• Bon Jovi Posters Memorabilia -> Music Memorabilia -> Rock, Pop-> Bon Jovi One of the biggest rock bands of the 1980’s is still popular today and as such, many people are still trying to find their posters. Whether you are a new fan of the group, or you remember a certain poster that......
• Spend Money Today To Save Money Tomorrow. Those of you who are regular readers of this site know that I am not a fan of spending money I don't have on things that don't bring me very much in return. I often talk about saving your money for experiences rather than "things" that you don't need, but......

• Events Postcards Collectibles
• Postage Stamp Vending Machines Banks, Registers Vending Collectibles
• Postage United States Stamps

Stamps -> United States -> 19th Century – Unused

Finding the best collectible stamps can sometimes be difficult, especially if you don’t know what to look for. It’s never easy to guess when it comes to stamps, and if you are a serious collector, it pays to subscribe to stamp collecting magazines and newsletters so that you can always stay informed on the latest news and get the inside scoop as to which collectible stamps are being sought after right now. However, if you can’t get your hands on one of these publications, there are a few guidelines you can use to help you determine which collectible stamps are worth buying.

The older the better

Generally, the older a stamp is, the more valuable it will be. There are a few exceptions to the rule, but if you happen to stumble on a stamp that is more than 100 years old, it’s best to pick it up, especially if the price is low. You never know what great treasures you can find, and using the age of a stamp is an easy way to help you find the best deals.

The condition does matter

Unless a stamp is terribly old or very rare, the overall condition of the collectible stamp does matter. Look for stamps that are free of any rips or tears as well as creases. Ideally, you would look for a mint stamp, but these can be hard to find. Older stamps may also have a postmark on them, but don’t worry. This can actually add to the value instead of taking away from it.

Is it gummed?

Once adhesives were introduced for stamps, they became a lot more popular and more valuable. If you are looking for a great collectible stamp, try to find one that still has its original gum on the back. It should be yellowish in color, although there are some variations. If you can find a Victoria stamp with gum, you’ve got a great deal on your hands. This was one of the first stamps in the world to use adhesive and it was incredibly groundbreaking at the time.

Smaller considerations

In addition to the considerations mentioned above, there a few others that will impact collectible stamps values. For example, if the stamp was part of a book, is the perforation intact? Take a hard look at a stamp before buying it and if necessary, get an appraisal to see just how much it is really worth. By being cautious, you can ensure that you won’t be taken advantage of as readily as though who leap before looking.

These are just a few things to think about when you are in the market for collectible stamps. Read up on them if you can, since it can make you a smarter shopper. Never forget to comb through flea markets and garage sales, you may just end up with the winning stamp. This is a lot of fun and provides you with a great hobby that is ideal for sharing with children.

Originally posted 2008-10-02 05:00:31. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Queen Victoria Stamps Stamps -> UK (Great Britain) -> Victoria For collectors of stamps from Great Britain, perhaps the most desirable stamp of all is the Queen Victoria Stamp. This is a rare stamp that was first made in 1840. The original value was one penny, but since that time these stamps have......
• U.S. Air Mail Stamps Stamps -> United-States -> Postage Collecting US Airmail stamps has become such a popular hobby, by both those who collect all sorts of stamps and those who are just interesting in United States airmail stamps, that there are clubs and associations based on just that hobby. The American Air......
• Stamps of Newfoundland Stamps -> Worldwide Stamps of Newfoundland were first issued in 1857, with the country continuing to issue its own stamps until 1949. Newfoundland has over 300 of its own stamp issues, making this a popular category for collectors who need to impose boundaries in their collecting to reign themselves......
• US Stamps Stamps -> US Stamps : 19th Century Unused, 19th Century Used Collecting stamps from around the world is a popular hobby for many, but there are also many valuable stamps that are hard to find. US Stamps in particular can be very rare, and there are quite a few that......
• French Stamps Stamps -> Europe -> France and Colonies Collectors of stamps that also enjoy history are commonly drawn to French stamps for many different reasons. These are unique items that often depict the struggle for freedom, and the French stamps from the colonies are considered to be very valuable as well......

• Great Reading This Past Week Quite a few great reads to share with you this week. Let's start with Jeff's post at My Supercharged Life  25 Things Every Father Must Teach His Daughter About Life. I am a sucker for well created lists, and despite not being a financial one, this list will be added......
• Review: Complete Conditioning for Tennis Complete Conditioning for Tennis is aimed at tennis players, tennis instructors and even coaches in strength and conditioning as well as other professionals in fitness. The new edition of this book is designed to provide a complete and total foundation of conditioning for the sport of tennis, including both training......
• How to Fix a Roof /caption] If you've ever looked at your roof and wondered how it got into the condition that it's in, this article is probably for you. It's easy to look at a neighbor's roof and admire the condition that which they've maintained it, but it's harder to take responsibility for your......
• Collecting Walt Disney Collectibles One of the types of Walt Disney Collectibles that is available to you is Walt Disney Classics Collection or WDCC, which was originally introduced in the year 1992 at a collectibles show known as South Bend Collectible Show. Three years of work went into the creation of this collection of......
• Is Recession Preparing a New Breed of Survivalist? Yahoo ran an interesting article this morning indicating a rise in the number of survivalist communities cropping up around the country. I have been wondering myself how much of the recent energy crisis is causing people to do things like stockpile food and water, grow their own vegetables, etc. Could......

• Edward VII UK Great Britain Stamps
• All Gods Children Decorative Collectible Brands Decorative Collectibles Collectibles
• Sheets UK Great Britain Stamps
• George VI UK Great Britain Stamps
• Rare Handbags

Stamps -> UK (Great Britain) -> Victoria

For collectors of stamps from Great Britain, perhaps the most desirable stamp of all is the Queen Victoria Stamp. This is a rare stamp that was first made in 1840. The original value was one penny, but since that time these stamps have become much more expensive. You can easily expect to pay anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars on an authentic Queen Victoria stamp.

While there are many of these available, it is important to know whether or not you have an authentic Queen Victoria stamp on your hands, or if it is a fake. Here are some easy guidelines to help you determine not only the authenticity of your stamp but whether or not it will be worth a great deal of money.

1. Overall Condition

Queen Victoria stamps that are in great condition will obviously sell for more money. If you are a serious collector with money to spend, look for an extremely fine or very fine condition stamp. These will typically have very small perforations on the edge and the entire stamp will be very clean looking and in overall good condition.

However, if the stamp is too perfect, you may not be dealing with an authentic Queen Victoria stamp. There should be some age and wear to the item if it is authentic.

2. Look for adhesive.

One of the world’s first adhesive stamps was the Queen Victoria stamp and these are worth an incredible amount of money. Ideally, you should look for one that has the majority of the gum intact, since these will be worth the most money. However, even stamps that only have a small amount of adhesive can still be worth a pretty penny.

If the adhesive is not dark colored, as it would be with age, this is a sign that it may have been added recently. Remember, if it looks too new – chances are that it is.

3. Avoid faults.

Unless you are merely collecting Queen Victoria stamps for the fun of it, you should avoid faults. These are imperfections that are the result of age and handling, and not from the original designer. If the stamp is torn, or has creases, it will be worth less money. However, little things like having a hinge still intact may actually increase the overall value of the stamp.

This is one case where perfection makes it easy to spot a fake. While collectors always look for Queen Victoria stamps that are in close to perfect condition, they will still have some age since they are so old. Avoid any stamps that are completely perfect.

Stamp collecting should be fun, so first and foremost remember that if you do come across an authentic Queen Victoria stamp, even if it was used on a postcard it is still a rare find. Take good care of it and you never know, it may increase in value over time. These rare stamps are a lot of fun to collect.

Originally posted 2008-08-24 05:00:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• India Stamps stamps -> Stamps -> Asia India stamps were first used in 1852, and were known as the Scinde Dawk stamps, during the country's postal system reform. This came after centuries of messages being carried in India on foot by runners who followed paths, and about a year of horses......
• United States Stamps Stamps -> Books and Manuscripts -> Back of Book United States stamps are fun to collect and you will have many different varieties from which to choose. If you are looking for a hobby for your kids, or you are just interested in US history, these stamps are a great......
• U.S. Air Mail Stamps Stamps -> United-States -> Postage Collecting US Airmail stamps has become such a popular hobby, by both those who collect all sorts of stamps and those who are just interesting in United States airmail stamps, that there are clubs and associations based on just that hobby. The American Air......
• Collecting Rare Stamps Online You may already have started up your own stamp collection, but how are you going to set your stamp collection apart from other people and their stamp collections? You are going to need to know where to look and shop around in order to find the best rare stamps, and......
• Monroe Stamp Stamps -> Topical-and-Specialty -> Famous People The Marilyn Monroe stamp was released on June 1, 1995, on what would have been Marilyn’s 69th birthday. It joined the ranks of what the United States Postal Service calls “blockbuster” stamps, like the Elvis stamp, and some commemorative stamps like those honoring Civil......

• Spend with a plan People write every day about budgeting, debt reduction, saving, and investing, and those are all great topics. But today I'm going to talk about spending money. We all spend money every day -- it's as normal for most of us as breathing. We don't even think about it most of......
• net worth or net worthless? Having been involved in several conversations about the calculation of net worth recently, I've come to the conclusion that net worth isn't that important to know. The reason? Net worth is a very difficult number to analyze, and the difficulty in analyzing it makes it a somewhat worthless tool for......
• Colonial Money Coins and Paper Money -> Paper Money: US -> Colonial Currency If you are interested in collecting paper money, Colonial money is one of the hottest tickets going right now. When the first US colonies were formed, the nation and its currency system were still in their infancy. It was......
• July 4th Weekend Roundup Sunday Money Madness is your guide to the rest of the blogosphere on personal finance. The Other America - Commentary on Food Stamps and the Economy by Patrick at Cash Money Life talks about the food stamp predicament. With food being more expensive it looks like the money allotting through......
• How Are You Going To Pay For Your Child's College Education? Many people are struggling to make ends meet today and are worried about being able to save for their children's college education.  Being able to go to college and earn a degree is becoming more and more important in today's job market and it stands to reason that a college......

• Proof Sets UK Great Britain Europe Coins World Coins Paper Money
• 4 Pence UK Great Britain Europe Coins World Coins Paper Money
• Farthing UK Great Britain Europe Coins World Coins Paper Money
• Great Britain Reproductions WW II 1939-45 Militaria Collectibles
• Edward VII UK Great Britain Stamps