Stamp Collecting

Many aspiring stamp hobby collectors end up wondering if it would be possible to get rich through the collection of stamps. The truth is, no, you are not likely to turn a stamp hobby into a million dollar endeavor. Most philatelic stamp hobbyists are never going to become rich from their stamp collections. Rather, most of these collectors are going to collect simply based on the sheer joy of having their collection as well as the thrill that is associated with searching for each individual stamp. Some philatelic stamp hobby collectors get a thrill from the beauty associated with the finished collection, and they also derive joy from the camaraderie that is associated with meeting other collectors. Having said that, it is also important to know that yes, some stamps are valuable.

According to Stamps.org, for example, the 1857 3 skilling stamp from the Banco Yellow of Sweden has a catalog value which is $2,000,000. The United States 1868 1 cent Z Grill stamp is reported to have sold for a value of $935,000 in the year 1988. Assuming that you do not own one of these million dollar stamps, how much is your stamp hobby worth?

Many stamps are only worth equal to their face value or less. Some, however, are worth more. A stamp’s value is going to be based on a number of factors, including the age of the stamp, the rarity of the stamp, whether the stamp is new or used and the condition of the stamp.

• Older stamps tend to be worth more value than newer stamps. The most valuable stamps are older than 40 years of age.
• How many of the stamp is currently in circulation? A stamp that is limited edition in nature is going to be worth more than a stamp that was released in mass circulation. If there are ten or less of a stamp, it may be truly valuable.
• New and unused stamps are worth more than stamps that have already been used on a piece of mail.
• Stamps that are in excellent condition will be worth more than stamps that are in poor condition. You should be checking for imperfections such as color problems, brightness problems, ink smears and tears in the stamp.

In order to value your stamp hobby, you should buy a book that lists the stamps and their values. Make sure that you are figuring in the condition of your stamp when using these valuation books. You also need to take care to be as objective as you possibly can. Only a professional is going to b able to give you an exact answer on the value of your stamps, but these books are also quite helpful. Check online or in your yellow pages to find a professional stamp appraiser if you want to know what your stamp hobby is really worth.

Photo Credits: karen horton

Originally posted 2009-07-26 05:35:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• The Most Essential Stamp Collecting Supplies It does not matter if you are just beginning in the stamp collecting world, or if you have been collecting avidly for years: There are a number of stamp collecting supplies that are truly essential to your collection. What this means is that you absolutely cannot do without these essential......
• 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......
• 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......
• Benefits of Collecting Old Stamps Collecting old stamps, especially vintage postage stamps can bring great value. Collecting old stamps can be fun and educational, it can be affordable, and it can bring about understanding of history, art, travel and many other areas of culture as well. Here is an explanation of why collecting old stamps......
• Selling Stamp Collections If you are a stamp collector, one of the considerations you may end up making pertains to selling stamp collections. If you are interested in selling stamp collections, you are going to need to keep this in mind at all times and with every stamp that you buy. Stamp collectors......

• Russian Coins 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......
• Miniature Collectibles Collectibles -> Decorative Collectibles -> Miniatures When it comes to a delightful collectible that won’t take up a lot of space, miniature collectibles are the ideal answer. These tiny little works of art require a great deal of craftsmanship and many of them feature amazingly lifelike details. You can find......
• Ceramic Piggy Banks Antiques -> Decorative Arts -> Ceramics, Porcelain Ceramic piggy banks have an interesting history. Why pigs, exactly, and not bank shapes or a tiny safe? Apparently, we use pigs because of language, and a simple mistake. The word “pygg” was an old English word for an orange clay commonly used......
• How to make an accumulation a collection FMF recently asked about collecting and it reminded me of an article I read in one my coin magazines. Like FMF and many of the other commenters on his post, I have some coins.  Having coins -- even a lot of coins -- doesn't by itself make someone a coin......
• Value of a Coin Collecting Book Collecting coins is simply a hobby or a passion for some people, but for other people it is truly a science. For at least the past century, people have been taking this hobby much more seriously and now there are a myriad of different coin collecting book options to choose......

• Home-Based Businesses Businesses for Sale Opportunities

There are a number of terms that are specific to postage stamp collecting within philatelic circles. These postage stamp collecting terms are especially important when it comes to grading stamps and evaluating stamps for their value, rarity and collectability. The more that you know when it comes to postage stamp collecting terms, the better that you will be able to benefit when it comes to buying and selling the stamps that you are collecting. Here is some of the postage stamp collecting terms that you should know in order to get the most out of this pastime.

Crease – This is a fold that is present on the stamp. Creases are rated based on how faint or how heavy they are, and sometimes they can be pressed out or ironed out of the stamp.

Fading – Fading is characterized by a lightening in the ink on the stamp from any natural cause.

Imperforate Stamp – These are stamps that are originally sold without having any perforations.

Natural Translucency – This is a condition that has been commonly confused with having a thin spot. Natural translucency is typically ignored when it comes to grading stamps.

Original Gum – This is a stamp that has gum that is still in the same condition as when the gum was originally applied by the stamp manufacturer.

Pin Hole – A pin hole is a tiny hole in the stamp that you can see light through.

Previously Hinged – What this means is that the gum on your stamp is original, but there are disturbances in the gum that have occurred after the original printing. In some cases this is a sign of tampering, while in other cases it simply occurs as a result of natural causes.

Redistributed Original Gum – What this means is that the gum on the back of the stamp has been redistributed in an attempt to hide any imperfections in the gum.

Regummed – What this means is that new gum has been applied to the back of the stamp.

Repair – This is any attempt that has been made in order to cover up previous damage that the stamp or its gum have obtained.

Re-Perforated Stamp – A re-perforated stamp is the result of an addition of perforations to the stamp in order to defraud a stamp collector.

Scrape – What this means is that a fiber disturbance has occurred as a result of a surface abrasion, detracting from the quality or the caliber of the stamp.

Staining – This is a discoloration of the original color of the stamp.

Expertized and Graded Stamps – Expertizing and grading stamps helps to make sure that you are buying the original stamp in its best possible condition to ensure that you do not pay good money for something worthless.

Photo Credits: Gibsonclaire

• All About Collectible Postage Stamps The art of collecting collectible postage stamps is a hobby that has become popular with several millions of Americans as well as people all throughout the world, including young and old alike. Many people that are just beginning with collectible postage stamps enjoy the thrill and the challenge that comes......
• Old Postage 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......
• 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......
• US Postage Stamps Stamps -> United States -> Collections, Lots When it comes to finding stamps of great value, US postage stamps are usually the most popular. In fact, many of these stamps may be worth more than $100k, and frequently will go well above that. When you are shopping for collectible US......
• The Right Stamp Collecting Accessories One of the first things that you need to think about as a new collector is what stamp collecting accessories are right for you. One of the first decisions to make when it comes to stamp collecting accessories is to find the right stamp album for your needs, because there......

• This is one virus you NEED to catch. Creating and using viral videos on-line. Ten ways to maximize your effectiveness,17 tools and tips,step by step hints for finding viral videos for your own use,24 video resource sites. This is One Virus You NEED to Catch What was the last business email that you forwarded? If that email kept......
• Wakeboarding Terms and Tips If you want to understand the wakeboarding sport better, then there are a few different wakeboard glossary terms that you are going to need to be aware of. Wakeboarding is a truly specialized sport, and the terms that are attached to this sport are also quite specialized. If you are......
• How to Get Credits to Stop Harassing You Many debt collection agencies use emotionally draining, disingenuous and generally unfair practices in their attempts to collect unpaid debt. Some scavenger collectors will now try to collect debt that’s well past the statute of limitations, use harassing techniques, and even try to collect debt from the debtor’s relatives, or people......
• Rare Books Many people who collect rare books have relationships with a number of booksellers who handle these types of books, and have lists of the books they'd like to own. The seller, when that book becomes available, will contact the customer and then they negotiate on a price. Some online rare......
• The New World Order Scam Do NOT give your money, your valuable time, or the slightest bit of encouragement to the following deluded people... The term "New World Order" has been bandied about since at least World War II. It sometimes refers to the latest global political situation - usually in terms of international cooperation.......

• Deals Jackson Hole Wyoming Skiing Vacation
• Postage United States Stamps
• Postage Stamp Vending Machines Banks, Registers Vending Collectibles

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......
• Valuable Stamps 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.......
• Spain Stamps Stamps -> Europe -> Spain & Colonies When looking for old Spain stamps, online auctions like eBay are a great place to search. Often, auctions are in lots so you get several stamps to add to your collection, often from many different countries and time periods. Some stamps can also......
• 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......
• 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......

• Tips To Avoid Getting Taken For A Ride When Buying A Used Car Our society has seen a shift in consumer spending with Americans looking for ways to save more of their hard earned cash. Many of those people are prolonging buying a new vehicle in favor of keeping the one they have on the road longer. For those that are in the......
• Making Extra Money With P2P Lending Peer to Peer lending is quickly becoming one of the hottest new ways to create multiple streams of income. While there is risk involved, there are various methods that can reduce the risks that individual investors face and provide protection against non-payments. If you're looking for an potential way to......
• Get Married Without Going Broke Your wedding day should be one of the memorable days of your life. In an ideal world there would be no restrictions when it comes to planning this very important day. In reality your wedding day could easily become the single most expensive day of your life. What can you......
• 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......
• College Savings Plan Contributions Instead Of Gifts Grandparents have a unique way of spoiling their grand kids. I can't say much; my grandparents doted on me quite a bit when I was young. Now that I am a father, I can certainly understand why. But in our efforts as parents and grandparents to give our kids everything......

• 4 Pence UK Great Britain Europe Coins World Coins Paper Money
• Shilling UK Great Britain Europe Coins World Coins Paper Money
• Victoria UK Great Britain Stamps
• Collections, Lots UK Great Britain Stamps
• UK Great Britain Stamps