January 17th, 2010 — Stamp Collecting, stamp collection, stamp collector
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
Originally posted 2009-09-15 03:39:35. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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January 10th, 2010 — Queen Victoria Stamps, Stamp Collecting, UK Great Britain
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
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November 24th, 2009 — Stamp Value, stamp collection, stamp collector, valuable stamps
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
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