Advice for Charities Selling Stamps to Raise Money (Part 2)
Yesterday we discussed some tips for charities raising funds through stamps. Here are some additional ways for charities to maximize their fund-raising efforts.
To sort or not to sort - that is the question.
Some charities sort the stamps they sell, while others do not. We'd guess that it depends on whether the charity has volunteers who are willing and able to sort stamps into different categories. Sorting stamps will always result in more money being paid for the stamps, because the stamp dealer who buys sorted stamps will be willing to pay more for a sorted bunch than for a general, unsorted box of stamps.
But whether or not they're sorted, the accumulated stamps should always be prepared for shipping: someone at the charity should remove any excess paper and also take the stamps out of any smaller envelopes, boxes and other containers they may be in before the stamps are shipped to the buyer.
Charities can sort stamps in several different ways to provide maximum return: an example of "basic sorting" is one box or bag for US stamps of all types and ages and another box or bag for foreign stamps of all types and ages. But sorting can be taken to an even higher level if the charity wants a high return for their stamps. Sorting stamps is best left to volunteers who have at least some basic knowledge about types of stamps, but for those who want to try it, here are a few tips for sorting stamps into their types:
1. Definitive or "regular" stamps (all denominations, including high values). A definitive stamp is a stamp that's on long-term general sale, not issued in honor of a specific event or person and only available for a few months. Most definitive stamps are the smaller size stamps that are used from the date they're issued until the next postal rate increase, but a few definitives are a larger size.
2. Commemorative stamps. A commemorative stamp is almost always a larger-size stamp that pictures an event, a person or group of people, specific scenery, etc. Generally they're the "pretty" stamps that are only sold at the post office for a few months each.
3. "Other" stamps, including Christmas, Love and airmail stamps. Christmas stamps may be religious or secular scenes as the US and many other countries produce both. This category basically includes all stamps other than definitive and commemorative stamps.
4. All off-paper stamps which have already been soaked from their backing paper should be separated from on-paper stamps. The off-paper stamps are much more fragile and can easily be damaged if they're mixed in with on-paper stamps.
There's no need to sort stamps by issue or their face value, and in fact that will reduce the price paid for the stamps as the stamp dealer-buyer will just need to re-mix them.
A couple of other no-no's: don't pick out what look to be the better or more uncommon stamps - leave them in the mixture along with all the others; and don't include stamps that are paper-clipped together (this can ruin them). We buy and sell hundreds of pounds of bulk stamps every year and we know what a typical unpicked charity mixture should look like. A mixture where the better stamps have been picked out and what's left has tons of duplication will always fetch a lower price than an unpicked charity mix. The better the quality of the mixture (more interesting and less duplication), the higher the price a stamp dealer will pay.
The Stamp People is always looking for new charity mix sources. If you're selling bulk stamps to raise money for a good cause, send us an email!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Advice for Charities Selling Stamps to Raise Money (Part 1)
Many charities collect stamps as a method of raising funds. The Stamp People buys stamps from many different charities, and we're always looking for more. When we get some new kiloware, we set some aside for later sale, we mix material from different sources to provide the best bulk stam lots that we can, and we sell throughout the US and overseas. So we decided to write this article to give some guidance to charities who want to raise money through stamps.
The first thing to remember is that the more stamps a charity accumulates, the more money will be raised when the stamps are sold to a stamp dealer (we hope it's us!)
Use volunteers to gather the stamps - if a charity has to pay its staff to do this, your fund-raising efforts will suffer by the amount of their salaries.
Following these guidelines are a good way to maximize the money charities can raise through stamps:
1. Leave the stamps on their backing paper (unless you have stamps that have already been soaked off the paper), with a border of paper that's about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch left around the stamp. Following this guideline should keep your volunteers from cutting into the stamp or its perforations. This is a very important suggestion because stamps that have been damaged this way have very little, if any, value to a stamp dealer or a stamp collector.
2. Don't leave excess paper on the stamps (excess paper is anything that's more than the 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch border or double paper, where both the front and back of the envelope corner are present - just keep the front corner of the envelope and cut the back away). A little excess paper generally won't change what we'll pay, but too much excess paper will cause any stamp dealer to pay less for the stamps.
3. The bigger the box of stamps that you send at one time, the better. Larger quantities will make your stamp dealer-buyer a happy camper.
4. We sometimes receive stamps inside a large box where the stamps inside are themselves inside numerous envelopes, zip-lock bags, old check boxes and other small containers. Taking the stamps out of those "internal" containers takes a stamp dealer a lot of extra time, which in turn will lower the price you'll get for the stamp. The solution is easy - just ask your volunteers to remove the stamps from all those envelopes and containers and then put them into a large box all together.
Part 2 of our advice to charities raising money will be posted tomorrow.
Many charities collect stamps as a method of raising funds. The Stamp People buys stamps from many different charities, and we're always looking for more. When we get some new kiloware, we set some aside for later sale, we mix material from different sources to provide the best bulk stam lots that we can, and we sell throughout the US and overseas. So we decided to write this article to give some guidance to charities who want to raise money through stamps.
The first thing to remember is that the more stamps a charity accumulates, the more money will be raised when the stamps are sold to a stamp dealer (we hope it's us!)
Use volunteers to gather the stamps - if a charity has to pay its staff to do this, your fund-raising efforts will suffer by the amount of their salaries.
Following these guidelines are a good way to maximize the money charities can raise through stamps:
1. Leave the stamps on their backing paper (unless you have stamps that have already been soaked off the paper), with a border of paper that's about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch left around the stamp. Following this guideline should keep your volunteers from cutting into the stamp or its perforations. This is a very important suggestion because stamps that have been damaged this way have very little, if any, value to a stamp dealer or a stamp collector.
2. Don't leave excess paper on the stamps (excess paper is anything that's more than the 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch border or double paper, where both the front and back of the envelope corner are present - just keep the front corner of the envelope and cut the back away). A little excess paper generally won't change what we'll pay, but too much excess paper will cause any stamp dealer to pay less for the stamps.
3. The bigger the box of stamps that you send at one time, the better. Larger quantities will make your stamp dealer-buyer a happy camper.
4. We sometimes receive stamps inside a large box where the stamps inside are themselves inside numerous envelopes, zip-lock bags, old check boxes and other small containers. Taking the stamps out of those "internal" containers takes a stamp dealer a lot of extra time, which in turn will lower the price you'll get for the stamp. The solution is easy - just ask your volunteers to remove the stamps from all those envelopes and containers and then put them into a large box all together.
Part 2 of our advice to charities raising money will be posted tomorrow.
Stamp Collecting Tips - Don't Make Simple Mistakes
If you find a stamp on an envelope (cover) that you've been looking for, you're likely to get excited. But don't let your enthusiasm carry you away and make a mistake that you'll regret.
Check your covers very carefully before you soak the stamps off, because sometimes the cover is very collectible and worth more than the stamps alone would be. Some postmarks are valuable and first day covers and event covers can also be collectible. Wartime mail with censor markings can also be nice postal history finds. So before you trim the stamp, check your cover first.
Another stamp collecting mistake that's easy to make: if it turns out that your covers have no intrinsic value other than the stamps that are on them, you'll want to trim off the excess paper before you soak the stamps. But be careful while trimming: do not cut off or cut into any part of a stamp's perforations.
If you find a stamp on an envelope (cover) that you've been looking for, you're likely to get excited. But don't let your enthusiasm carry you away and make a mistake that you'll regret.
Check your covers very carefully before you soak the stamps off, because sometimes the cover is very collectible and worth more than the stamps alone would be. Some postmarks are valuable and first day covers and event covers can also be collectible. Wartime mail with censor markings can also be nice postal history finds. So before you trim the stamp, check your cover first.
Another stamp collecting mistake that's easy to make: if it turns out that your covers have no intrinsic value other than the stamps that are on them, you'll want to trim off the excess paper before you soak the stamps. But be careful while trimming: do not cut off or cut into any part of a stamp's perforations.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
US Stamp Values Continuing to Go Up
According to Sacramento Bee newspaper reporter Peter Rexford, "even as the stock market roller coaster continues and gold fluctuates, the value of collectible postage stamps continues to steadily rise."
The 2009 Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers lists more than 12,000 value changes over last year's edition, and according to Mr. Rexford, virtually all the changes showed higher values for US stamps.
"For instance, in 2007, the value of a particular 1 cent stamp of 1851 featuring Ben Franklin was an impressive $55,000. This year, the value for that same stamp is $80,000. Even more astonishing is a 5 cent stamp printed in 1858. The value for it last year was $35,000. Today, the price for that same stamp has more than doubled. It, too, is now worth $80,000."
The Scott Specialized Catalogue is available at many public libraries. If you'd prefer to invest $69.99 to buy it, it can be purchased directly from the publisher. Some stamp dealers also have copies available for sale. Mr. Rexford says "it's not cheap, but it could be money well spent if you have been meaning to look through an old stamp collection but just never got around to it."
We completely agree. It's hard to build a stamp collection without ready access to a definitive stamp catalog.
According to Sacramento Bee newspaper reporter Peter Rexford, "even as the stock market roller coaster continues and gold fluctuates, the value of collectible postage stamps continues to steadily rise."
The 2009 Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers lists more than 12,000 value changes over last year's edition, and according to Mr. Rexford, virtually all the changes showed higher values for US stamps.
"For instance, in 2007, the value of a particular 1 cent stamp of 1851 featuring Ben Franklin was an impressive $55,000. This year, the value for that same stamp is $80,000. Even more astonishing is a 5 cent stamp printed in 1858. The value for it last year was $35,000. Today, the price for that same stamp has more than doubled. It, too, is now worth $80,000."
The Scott Specialized Catalogue is available at many public libraries. If you'd prefer to invest $69.99 to buy it, it can be purchased directly from the publisher. Some stamp dealers also have copies available for sale. Mr. Rexford says "it's not cheap, but it could be money well spent if you have been meaning to look through an old stamp collection but just never got around to it."
We completely agree. It's hard to build a stamp collection without ready access to a definitive stamp catalog.
Friday, March 27, 2009
What to do With Bulk Stamp Mixtures
In the Nov. 24, 2008 edition of Linn's Stamp News, Janet Klug wrote "there is nothing more delightful for a stamp collector than acquiring a whole lot of stamps all at once. The feeling must be akin to that of a pirate opening up a treasure chest full of gold doubloons."
She also said "if you have ever acquired a fat album full of stamps or a cigar box lot crammed with stamps, then you know the feeling. But then the realization sets in that you actually are supposed to do something with this treasure."
In her Refresher Course article in Linn's, Imposing Order on Chaos: Processing Large Lots and Collections, Ms Klug says there are four main steps in processing a newly-obtained stamp accumulation.
1. Organize it (it must be sorted in some way)
2. Meld it into your current collection
3. Start a new collection
4. Swap or store the duplicates
Ms Klug says she prefers to sort a stamp accumulation by country first, then each country's stamps by their approximate time period.
She ends by saying, "the most important point to remember when working with a large number of stamps is to take your time. You do not need to do it all in one sitting. Spread it out over days, weeks or months, and before long your chaotic treasure chest will morph into a nice, well-organized collection."
We would add that not only do you not need to do it all in one sitting - it's best if you don't do it in a hurry. Sorting a stamp accumulation should be done at a slow enough pace that you will be able to savor the experience and wonder "just what stamp treasures will I find here." Many stamp collectors purchase stamp accumulations and stamp mixtures and spend days if not weeks organizing their stamp acquisitions, enjoying the process of sorting almost as much as the stamps themselves.
In the Nov. 24, 2008 edition of Linn's Stamp News, Janet Klug wrote "there is nothing more delightful for a stamp collector than acquiring a whole lot of stamps all at once. The feeling must be akin to that of a pirate opening up a treasure chest full of gold doubloons."
She also said "if you have ever acquired a fat album full of stamps or a cigar box lot crammed with stamps, then you know the feeling. But then the realization sets in that you actually are supposed to do something with this treasure."
In her Refresher Course article in Linn's, Imposing Order on Chaos: Processing Large Lots and Collections, Ms Klug says there are four main steps in processing a newly-obtained stamp accumulation.
1. Organize it (it must be sorted in some way)
2. Meld it into your current collection
3. Start a new collection
4. Swap or store the duplicates
Ms Klug says she prefers to sort a stamp accumulation by country first, then each country's stamps by their approximate time period.
She ends by saying, "the most important point to remember when working with a large number of stamps is to take your time. You do not need to do it all in one sitting. Spread it out over days, weeks or months, and before long your chaotic treasure chest will morph into a nice, well-organized collection."
We would add that not only do you not need to do it all in one sitting - it's best if you don't do it in a hurry. Sorting a stamp accumulation should be done at a slow enough pace that you will be able to savor the experience and wonder "just what stamp treasures will I find here." Many stamp collectors purchase stamp accumulations and stamp mixtures and spend days if not weeks organizing their stamp acquisitions, enjoying the process of sorting almost as much as the stamps themselves.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Stamp Expertizing
Stamp collecting is a very popular hobby all over the world, thriving with people young and old for many generations. One reason for its great popularity are the stories about valuable stamps that almost everyone has heard.
Finding a rare, valuable stamp is probably every stamp collector's dream, and it does happen. Unfortunately, some people forge or fake valuable stamps, hoping to fool the philatelist who comes across one. But the risk of buying a forged stamp that's an imposter for a rare, valuable stamp is much reduced by stamp expertizing services.
Stamp expertizers issue certificates that guarantee the authenticity of stamps that purchasers submit. Several reputable organizations expertize stamps, but perhaps the most well-known, at least in the United States, is the American Philatelic Society (the APS). The process is a simple one. A collector sends the stamp in question to the American Philatelix Expertizing Service (APEX), which is the division of the APS that certifies stamps. Their headquarters is located in Pennsylvania. When APEX receives the stamp, it is assigned a number, photographed and then examined by up to five expert philatelists. The process can take 90 days or so after APEX receives a stamp. A unanimous decision must be made by the experts, and if the expert panel cannot agree, APEX refunds the expertizing fee that was paid less its administrative charges. But if the experts are unanimous in their opinion of the stamp, a certificate is issued and returned to the owner along with the stamp. The opinion on the certificate relates only to genuine-ness, not value.
APEX expertizing fees are based on the value of the stamp being submitted, as determined by the appropriate Scott catalog. The fees are not substantial, and many avid stamp collectors find expertizing services quite valuable.
Stamp collecting is a very popular hobby all over the world, thriving with people young and old for many generations. One reason for its great popularity are the stories about valuable stamps that almost everyone has heard.
Finding a rare, valuable stamp is probably every stamp collector's dream, and it does happen. Unfortunately, some people forge or fake valuable stamps, hoping to fool the philatelist who comes across one. But the risk of buying a forged stamp that's an imposter for a rare, valuable stamp is much reduced by stamp expertizing services.
Stamp expertizers issue certificates that guarantee the authenticity of stamps that purchasers submit. Several reputable organizations expertize stamps, but perhaps the most well-known, at least in the United States, is the American Philatelic Society (the APS). The process is a simple one. A collector sends the stamp in question to the American Philatelix Expertizing Service (APEX), which is the division of the APS that certifies stamps. Their headquarters is located in Pennsylvania. When APEX receives the stamp, it is assigned a number, photographed and then examined by up to five expert philatelists. The process can take 90 days or so after APEX receives a stamp. A unanimous decision must be made by the experts, and if the expert panel cannot agree, APEX refunds the expertizing fee that was paid less its administrative charges. But if the experts are unanimous in their opinion of the stamp, a certificate is issued and returned to the owner along with the stamp. The opinion on the certificate relates only to genuine-ness, not value.
APEX expertizing fees are based on the value of the stamp being submitted, as determined by the appropriate Scott catalog. The fees are not substantial, and many avid stamp collectors find expertizing services quite valuable.
US Postal Service Running Out of Money
The Associated Press is reporting that US Postmaster General John Potter told Congress that the US Postal Service will run out of money unless it gets some help this year from the US government. Potter has also asked to reduce delivery from six days a week to five days a week. His testimony was given at a Federal Workforce, Postal Service and District of Columbia subcommittee hearing on the financial stability of the Postal Service.
The USPS lost almost $3 billion last year and the PMG says it is looking at losing even more this year. According to Potter, if the reduced delivery schedule is approved, the USPS could save up to $3.5 billion each year.
It's hard to believe that cutting delivery by one day could save that much money. But we can think of even more ways the USPS could save: stop printing more than 100 different stamps each year (no country needs that many different stamps, and they're expensive to design and produce), stop advertising on television (that's expensive, and the USPS essentially has a monopoly over many of its services, so why bother advertising!), stop paying people to take surveys about current or proposed postal services and products (sure, I'd take one if they paid ME $10 to do so), stop giving away free boxes and other shipping supplies, and more. The USPS should get lean and mean, not bloated the way it is now, and has been for a long time.
The Associated Press is reporting that US Postmaster General John Potter told Congress that the US Postal Service will run out of money unless it gets some help this year from the US government. Potter has also asked to reduce delivery from six days a week to five days a week. His testimony was given at a Federal Workforce, Postal Service and District of Columbia subcommittee hearing on the financial stability of the Postal Service.
The USPS lost almost $3 billion last year and the PMG says it is looking at losing even more this year. According to Potter, if the reduced delivery schedule is approved, the USPS could save up to $3.5 billion each year.
It's hard to believe that cutting delivery by one day could save that much money. But we can think of even more ways the USPS could save: stop printing more than 100 different stamps each year (no country needs that many different stamps, and they're expensive to design and produce), stop advertising on television (that's expensive, and the USPS essentially has a monopoly over many of its services, so why bother advertising!), stop paying people to take surveys about current or proposed postal services and products (sure, I'd take one if they paid ME $10 to do so), stop giving away free boxes and other shipping supplies, and more. The USPS should get lean and mean, not bloated the way it is now, and has been for a long time.
More Evidence Stamp Collecting is a Winner in a Recession
Are you looking for a way to invest in today's economy, but don't want to play the stock market?
The Whitney Gazette of the United Kingdom reports that "When it comes to the recession, one West Oxfordshire man is hoping that his business has got it licked."
Andrew McGavin of Universal Philatelic Auctions says he has seen a rise of interest in investing in quality philatelic material. In fact, the company's last stamp auction at the end of February attracted more than 1,200 bidders from around the world.
McGavin is quoted as saying, "Stamp collecting looks like being one of the winners of the recession." He went to say, "With interest rates being as low as they are right now, people look at money that is sitting in their savings, and are looking at new ways to make this work."
So investing in stamps may pay off even in today's troubled economy. Add some stamps to your stamp collection today.
Are you looking for a way to invest in today's economy, but don't want to play the stock market?
The Whitney Gazette of the United Kingdom reports that "When it comes to the recession, one West Oxfordshire man is hoping that his business has got it licked."
Andrew McGavin of Universal Philatelic Auctions says he has seen a rise of interest in investing in quality philatelic material. In fact, the company's last stamp auction at the end of February attracted more than 1,200 bidders from around the world.
McGavin is quoted as saying, "Stamp collecting looks like being one of the winners of the recession." He went to say, "With interest rates being as low as they are right now, people look at money that is sitting in their savings, and are looking at new ways to make this work."
So investing in stamps may pay off even in today's troubled economy. Add some stamps to your stamp collection today.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
USPS Delays Release of Some 2009 Stamps
The U.S. Postal Service announced that economic troubles are forcing it to delay releasing several new stamps that were scheduled to be issued this year. The USPS lost almost $3 billion last year and may lose even more this year despite a rate increase that's scheduled to occur May 11, 2009.
Stamps that are being delayed include the fourth set of the popular "Flags of Our Nation" series," a stamp honoring painter Edward Hopper, and a holiday stamp featuring an angel playing a lute.
The U.S. Postal Service announced that economic troubles are forcing it to delay releasing several new stamps that were scheduled to be issued this year. The USPS lost almost $3 billion last year and may lose even more this year despite a rate increase that's scheduled to occur May 11, 2009.
Stamps that are being delayed include the fourth set of the popular "Flags of Our Nation" series," a stamp honoring painter Edward Hopper, and a holiday stamp featuring an angel playing a lute.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Classic United States Stamps - the 1901 Pan-American Exposition Stamp Set
The beautiful Pan-American Exposition stamps were the first United States postage stamps to be issued in the 20th Century. There are six stamps in the set, and all are quite collectible. They are commemorative stamps, but they were printed in a smaller size than the commemoratives that we're used to today.
These stamps were intended to promote the faulous 1901 World's Fair, also called the Pan-American Exposition, that was held in Buffalo, New York. The Fair itself featured technical achievements and their benefits, and each of the six stamps featured what was at the time a modern form of transportation. The 1 cent stamp features the City of Alpena steamship and is known as the Fast Lake Navigation stamp. The 2 cent stamp depicted the Empire State Express train of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroads and is called the Fast Express stamp. An electric automobile is featured on the 4 cent stamp (the Automobile), and the 5 cent stamp features the Bridge at Niagara Falls. The 8 cent stamp features the Canal Locks at Sault Ste. Marie. The final stamp of the set, with a 10 cent denomination, features an American Liner steamship called the St. Paul. It's also known as the Fast Ocean Navigation stamp.
Rach of the stamps in this classic US stamp set is a beautiful work of art and is printed in two colors. They were available for sale while the Fair was open, from May through October, 1901. They are true American classics and a valuable addition to any US stamp collection.
The beautiful Pan-American Exposition stamps were the first United States postage stamps to be issued in the 20th Century. There are six stamps in the set, and all are quite collectible. They are commemorative stamps, but they were printed in a smaller size than the commemoratives that we're used to today.
These stamps were intended to promote the faulous 1901 World's Fair, also called the Pan-American Exposition, that was held in Buffalo, New York. The Fair itself featured technical achievements and their benefits, and each of the six stamps featured what was at the time a modern form of transportation. The 1 cent stamp features the City of Alpena steamship and is known as the Fast Lake Navigation stamp. The 2 cent stamp depicted the Empire State Express train of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroads and is called the Fast Express stamp. An electric automobile is featured on the 4 cent stamp (the Automobile), and the 5 cent stamp features the Bridge at Niagara Falls. The 8 cent stamp features the Canal Locks at Sault Ste. Marie. The final stamp of the set, with a 10 cent denomination, features an American Liner steamship called the St. Paul. It's also known as the Fast Ocean Navigation stamp.
Rach of the stamps in this classic US stamp set is a beautiful work of art and is printed in two colors. They were available for sale while the Fair was open, from May through October, 1901. They are true American classics and a valuable addition to any US stamp collection.
Monday, March 23, 2009
A Great Reason To Collect Stamps - Investing in our Children for the Future
Stamp collecting has been one of the most popular hobbies in the world for many, many years. We've discussed some of the benefits of stamp collecting in other articles so we'll just briefly mention that stamp collecting as a hobby is fun, has potential for increasing in value, and is an intellectual challenge. But there's another benefit to be gained through stamp collecting.
A study by Royal Mail (the United Kingdom's postal administration) indicates that children who collect stamps grow up to be more successful, more intelligent, and have a better quality of life than those who do not. Stamp collecting teaches important skills and knowledge that transfers into everyday adult life.
The study's results indicated that 74% of stamp collectors have a college or university degree, in contrast to only 20% of the general population. The study also revealed that stamp collectors, in general, make more money per year than non-stamp collectors, typically have larger homes, and often have a second home for vacation purposes. According to the study, stamp collectors also take more vacations per year than do non-stamp collectors.
The study was conducted in England and so the results only apply to the people of that country, but there's no real reason to suspect similar results would be obtained if the same type of research was conducted elsewhere. So the bottom line is, stamp collectors tend to be more intelligent, better educated and more successful. What a great reason to begin a stamp collection, either as a child or as an adult!
Stamp collecting has been one of the most popular hobbies in the world for many, many years. We've discussed some of the benefits of stamp collecting in other articles so we'll just briefly mention that stamp collecting as a hobby is fun, has potential for increasing in value, and is an intellectual challenge. But there's another benefit to be gained through stamp collecting.
A study by Royal Mail (the United Kingdom's postal administration) indicates that children who collect stamps grow up to be more successful, more intelligent, and have a better quality of life than those who do not. Stamp collecting teaches important skills and knowledge that transfers into everyday adult life.
The study's results indicated that 74% of stamp collectors have a college or university degree, in contrast to only 20% of the general population. The study also revealed that stamp collectors, in general, make more money per year than non-stamp collectors, typically have larger homes, and often have a second home for vacation purposes. According to the study, stamp collectors also take more vacations per year than do non-stamp collectors.
The study was conducted in England and so the results only apply to the people of that country, but there's no real reason to suspect similar results would be obtained if the same type of research was conducted elsewhere. So the bottom line is, stamp collectors tend to be more intelligent, better educated and more successful. What a great reason to begin a stamp collection, either as a child or as an adult!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
American Motorcycles - A 2006 US Commemorative Stamp Set
Motorcycles are an important part of American culture, so it's not surprising that the USPS issued a set of four 39-cent American Motorcycle commemorative stamps in 2006. Each of the stamps features a classic American motorcycle, and they make a great addition to a topical stamp collection.
The Cleveland was a single-cylinder motorcycle built by the Cleveland Motorcycle Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio. Sold for $175, it was the most popular motorcycle in 1918 and could travel for 75 miles on a single gallon of gas,
The 1940 Indian was manufactured by the Indian Motorcycle Company. It was also called the “Four" because it used a four-cylinder engine, which at the time was a new technology. Its skirted fenders, partially covering the wheels, became a trademark of the company.
The Harley-Davidson Electra-Glide, first manufactured in 1965, is perhaps the most American of all motorcycles and an icon of American culture. It featured whitewall tires, loads of chrome, large fenders and a new electric starter.
The 1970 Chopper is another iconic motorbike, born out of the idea of chopping unnecessary parts from a motorcycle. Most choppers featured a stretched frame and raised handlebars.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Famous Stamps: The US Graf Zeppelin Stamp Set
This famous United States stamp set honors the Graf Zeppelin, a huge German airship that carried passengers and mail over the Atlantic Ocean from Europe to the Americas. Capable of flying completely around the world, the Graf Zeppelin was taken out of service after the fiery crash of the Hindenburg, another German airship of the same era.
All mail carried by the Graf Zeppelin bore one or more of the three stamps in this very collectible set. Each of the stamps show the giant lighter-than-air airship in flight over the Atlantic Ocean. The stamps were only available for sale to the public for about five weeks, and stamp collectors have been fascinated by them ever since. A complete set of these classic stamps is worth several thousand dollars in mint never hinged condition.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Stamps for Any Budget
Stamp collecting has many benefits for people of all ages. But one of the best things about collecting stamps is that it's very inexpensive to get started. The Stamp People features stamps for any budget - they sell stamps for as cheaply as a dime or fifteen cents, but they also have stamps as expensive as several hundred dollars.
The goal of The Stamp People is to sell a wide enough range of stamps that just about any stamp collector will be able to find something of interest. And they add new stamps and other philatelic items all the time. They try to make it easy for you to find stamps on their website, and all their items are listed in categories: by country, by topic, by type (covers and postal history, souvenir sheets, etc.) and other categories, and they also let you know what's new and what's on special sale at a reduced price. If you know what you're looking for you can use the search box and if you don't, you can browse the various categories. But if there's something you don't see, just send them an email: they'll quickly respond and they're worthy of your trust.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Not All Stamp Catalogs Are Created Equal
If you're at all serious about your stamp collection you'll need to use a stamp catalog, at least every once in a while. But there are so many of them out there, which one would be best?
Well, it all depends on what stamps you collect.
Scott's catalogs are the favorite catalogs in the US. Scott catalogs cover the entire world, but the US volume is specialized and includes many varieties of US stamps, making Scott the authority on US stamps.
Stanley Gibbons catalogs also cover the world, but they are particularly strong on Great Britain and British Commonwealth stamps.
Likewise, the Michel catalog is best for Germany stamps even though the entire world is included in its listings.
The Sakura or the Japanese Stamp Dealers Association catalogs do a nice job with Japan stamps, and Yvert et Tellier (often just called Yvert for short) is an excellent source of information about stamps from France, Andorra, Monaco and the French colonies. The Facit catalog is great for Scandinavian stamps.
The list of single-country country catalogs also includes Unitrade for Canada stamps, Sassone for Italy stamps, Zumstein for Switzerland stamps, etc.
Topical stamp catalogs also exist for several different themes of stamps.
If you're at all serious about your stamp collection you'll need to use a stamp catalog, at least every once in a while. But there are so many of them out there, which one would be best?
Well, it all depends on what stamps you collect.
Scott's catalogs are the favorite catalogs in the US. Scott catalogs cover the entire world, but the US volume is specialized and includes many varieties of US stamps, making Scott the authority on US stamps.
Stanley Gibbons catalogs also cover the world, but they are particularly strong on Great Britain and British Commonwealth stamps.
Likewise, the Michel catalog is best for Germany stamps even though the entire world is included in its listings.
The Sakura or the Japanese Stamp Dealers Association catalogs do a nice job with Japan stamps, and Yvert et Tellier (often just called Yvert for short) is an excellent source of information about stamps from France, Andorra, Monaco and the French colonies. The Facit catalog is great for Scandinavian stamps.
The list of single-country country catalogs also includes Unitrade for Canada stamps, Sassone for Italy stamps, Zumstein for Switzerland stamps, etc.
Topical stamp catalogs also exist for several different themes of stamps.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Stamp Superstars: Some of the Rarest and Most Costly Stamps in the World
Like professional athletes or movie stars, the stamp world has several superstars: the most famous of the famous classic stamps. Except for the Penny Black these stamps are super rare and except for it you're not likely to ever see any of them, but they're all interesting to read about. Some have interesting stories behind them, and many of these classic stamps are likely to fetch extremely high prices when they go up for sale - if they ever do.
Great Britain's 1840 One Penny Black, the first adhesive stamp ever issued. Although they're not considered rare, they're not a dime a dozen either, and they hold an important place in philatelic history. Used examples usually command prices in the hundred-dollar range, while fifteen years ago an unused example sold for $2.4 million dollars.
The 1847 Mauritius Post Office stamp, the legendary rare stamp (only a few hundred were printed and far fewer still exist) from the British Colony of Mauritius. In addition to being very old, it is actually a stamp with a printing error: instead of being imprinted with the words "post paid," the words "post office" are incorrectly on the stamp. A cover mailed with two of the stamps on it sold for about $4 million around 15 years ago.
The 1851 Hawaiian Missionaries stamps, used by missionaries on Hawaii to send their mail. The two cent stamps (only 16 known to exist) are the most valuable, ranging in cost from around $200,000 to $800,000. The five cent and 13 cent stamps are also quite pricey.
The Swedish 1855 Treskilling Banco Yellow stamp is perhaps the most famous of all stamps. It's an error of color that was supposed to be printed in blue-green, but somehow ended up being yellow. Only one is known to exist, and it's the rarest stamp in the world. It has fetched world-record prices whenever it has been sold, and without doubt it will continue to do so.
The 1856 British Guiana One Cent Black on Magenta stamp, also extremely rare. It's a rectangular stamp with black ink printed on magenta paper, but the corners are snipped off, making it an octagonal shape. Originally discovered by a young boy, it sold for almost $1 million about 30 years ago.
The 1868 US 1 cent Z Grill, the rarest and most valuable United States stamp. The front features a portrait of Benjamin Franklin and the back has a Z variety grill, intended to stop people from re-using the stamps by causing the postmark ink to settle more deeply into the stamp. Only two of these stamps are known; one is owned by the New York Public Library while the other is in a private collection. That stamp was "sold" a few years ago in exchange for a block of four Inverted Jenny stamps (themselves worthy of stamp superstar status) worth almost $3 million.
Like professional athletes or movie stars, the stamp world has several superstars: the most famous of the famous classic stamps. Except for the Penny Black these stamps are super rare and except for it you're not likely to ever see any of them, but they're all interesting to read about. Some have interesting stories behind them, and many of these classic stamps are likely to fetch extremely high prices when they go up for sale - if they ever do.
Great Britain's 1840 One Penny Black, the first adhesive stamp ever issued. Although they're not considered rare, they're not a dime a dozen either, and they hold an important place in philatelic history. Used examples usually command prices in the hundred-dollar range, while fifteen years ago an unused example sold for $2.4 million dollars.
The 1847 Mauritius Post Office stamp, the legendary rare stamp (only a few hundred were printed and far fewer still exist) from the British Colony of Mauritius. In addition to being very old, it is actually a stamp with a printing error: instead of being imprinted with the words "post paid," the words "post office" are incorrectly on the stamp. A cover mailed with two of the stamps on it sold for about $4 million around 15 years ago.
The 1851 Hawaiian Missionaries stamps, used by missionaries on Hawaii to send their mail. The two cent stamps (only 16 known to exist) are the most valuable, ranging in cost from around $200,000 to $800,000. The five cent and 13 cent stamps are also quite pricey.
The Swedish 1855 Treskilling Banco Yellow stamp is perhaps the most famous of all stamps. It's an error of color that was supposed to be printed in blue-green, but somehow ended up being yellow. Only one is known to exist, and it's the rarest stamp in the world. It has fetched world-record prices whenever it has been sold, and without doubt it will continue to do so.
The 1856 British Guiana One Cent Black on Magenta stamp, also extremely rare. It's a rectangular stamp with black ink printed on magenta paper, but the corners are snipped off, making it an octagonal shape. Originally discovered by a young boy, it sold for almost $1 million about 30 years ago.
The 1868 US 1 cent Z Grill, the rarest and most valuable United States stamp. The front features a portrait of Benjamin Franklin and the back has a Z variety grill, intended to stop people from re-using the stamps by causing the postmark ink to settle more deeply into the stamp. Only two of these stamps are known; one is owned by the New York Public Library while the other is in a private collection. That stamp was "sold" a few years ago in exchange for a block of four Inverted Jenny stamps (themselves worthy of stamp superstar status) worth almost $3 million.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Stamp Condition: Another Attribute Important to the Value of Stamps
Just like a stamp’s grade, the condition of a stamp can vastly affect its value. Although different than the stamp's grade, once again a stamp's condition does not refer to its subject matter, rarity or age: it refers to the physical characteristics of the paper the stamp was printed on.
Stamps in great condition are crisply printed with vibrant colors that appear to be just off the presses. Condition faults detract from the value of a stamp and include any type of alteration, damage or change since the stamp was printed, other than cancellations or other postal marks. Common faults include creases, tears, folds, holes, stains, missing corners or perforations, thins, and dirt or fingerprints on the gum, if the stamp is mint.
When looking at stamp condition, keep in mind that between two otherwise-identical stamps, the stamp in better condition will always be worth more. But also keep in mind that even stamps that are not in perfect condition can be worth a lot of money if they're scarce or if perfect-condition examples are extremely expensive. That's why some stamp dealers, like The Stamp People, offer severely marked-down vintage stamps for sale in addition to their perfect-condition stamps - to let stamp collectors buy stamps that they wouldn't otherwise be able to afford.
Just like a stamp’s grade, the condition of a stamp can vastly affect its value. Although different than the stamp's grade, once again a stamp's condition does not refer to its subject matter, rarity or age: it refers to the physical characteristics of the paper the stamp was printed on.
Stamps in great condition are crisply printed with vibrant colors that appear to be just off the presses. Condition faults detract from the value of a stamp and include any type of alteration, damage or change since the stamp was printed, other than cancellations or other postal marks. Common faults include creases, tears, folds, holes, stains, missing corners or perforations, thins, and dirt or fingerprints on the gum, if the stamp is mint.
When looking at stamp condition, keep in mind that between two otherwise-identical stamps, the stamp in better condition will always be worth more. But also keep in mind that even stamps that are not in perfect condition can be worth a lot of money if they're scarce or if perfect-condition examples are extremely expensive. That's why some stamp dealers, like The Stamp People, offer severely marked-down vintage stamps for sale in addition to their perfect-condition stamps - to let stamp collectors buy stamps that they wouldn't otherwise be able to afford.
Stamp Grades and Their Importance to Stamp Values
If you're serious about stamp collecting and want to have the best stamp collection that you can, be aware that the most important factor in any stamp's value is its grade.
Stamp grading is determined by a variety of factors, but those factors do not include a stamp's subject matter, rarity or age. To the contrary, a stamp's grade is determined by how its design is centered between its perforations or, if it's an imperforate stamp, its margins. Both horizontal centering and vertical centering are taken into account. Grade also refers to the condition of the stamp's gum (if it's a mint stamp) or how the cancellation of a used stamp affects its design.
Grading stamps takes some experience - looking at a lot of stamps in a variety of different grades. After you've looked at just a few stamps you may be able to distinguish between stamps with a high grade and those with a low grade. Given enough time and experience, you'll begin to be able to tell differences in grading in most stamps.
Stamp grades are somewhat standardized, ranging from superb at the high end, to poor at the low. If you are going to become a serious stamp collector and invest some serious money, it's crucial when buying a stamp to know what grade of a stamp you are getting. The better the grade of stamps in your collection, the better and more valuable your collection will be.
If you're serious about stamp collecting and want to have the best stamp collection that you can, be aware that the most important factor in any stamp's value is its grade.
Stamp grading is determined by a variety of factors, but those factors do not include a stamp's subject matter, rarity or age. To the contrary, a stamp's grade is determined by how its design is centered between its perforations or, if it's an imperforate stamp, its margins. Both horizontal centering and vertical centering are taken into account. Grade also refers to the condition of the stamp's gum (if it's a mint stamp) or how the cancellation of a used stamp affects its design.
Grading stamps takes some experience - looking at a lot of stamps in a variety of different grades. After you've looked at just a few stamps you may be able to distinguish between stamps with a high grade and those with a low grade. Given enough time and experience, you'll begin to be able to tell differences in grading in most stamps.
Stamp grades are somewhat standardized, ranging from superb at the high end, to poor at the low. If you are going to become a serious stamp collector and invest some serious money, it's crucial when buying a stamp to know what grade of a stamp you are getting. The better the grade of stamps in your collection, the better and more valuable your collection will be.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Start Your Kids Collecting Stamps
Just about every child loves to collect things. Boys often collect matchbox cars, action figures or rocks, while girls often collect dolls, teaspoons or thimbles - but there are thousands of different things that kids love to collect. So why not help a child collect something that's fun, educational and may increase in value over time? Stamp collecting can grow into a lifetime hobby and it's easy and inexpensive to get them started.
Here are a few ideas to help you get your kids interested in stamp collecting:
Decide together what your children want to collect. Are they more interested in collecting stamps from a certain country or stamps with a particular topic like Boy Scout stamps? Do they like stamps that feature one of the Disney cartoon characters, or maybe stamps that show Princess Diana? Make the decision jointly, with everyone having a say: choose stamps that they will like and will hold their interest.
Help your beginning stamp collectors with the stamp collecting supplies that they'll need. The proper tools will help their stamp collection grow and be something to be proud of. At a minimum, the kids will need at least a few stamps, a pair of stamp tongs, a catalog that pictures stamps so they can be identified, some type of stamp album and/or a stock book, and some glassine envelopes.
Keep their stamp collections going by giving them stamps to add to their collection on a regular basis (or you could let them buy some very inexpensive stamps.) Collect stamps that you receive in the mail and set them aside for the kids. And keep the kids excited about their stamp collections by asking them questions about it, such as did you see the new Boy Scout stamp that just came out? Are you planning on adding it to your collection? Do you need any help organizing your stamps?
Work on the children's stamp collections with them. It's quality time you can spend together and it's an investment for the future - it's not just a financial investment, it's an investment in your childrens' futures.
Just about every child loves to collect things. Boys often collect matchbox cars, action figures or rocks, while girls often collect dolls, teaspoons or thimbles - but there are thousands of different things that kids love to collect. So why not help a child collect something that's fun, educational and may increase in value over time? Stamp collecting can grow into a lifetime hobby and it's easy and inexpensive to get them started.
Here are a few ideas to help you get your kids interested in stamp collecting:
Decide together what your children want to collect. Are they more interested in collecting stamps from a certain country or stamps with a particular topic like Boy Scout stamps? Do they like stamps that feature one of the Disney cartoon characters, or maybe stamps that show Princess Diana? Make the decision jointly, with everyone having a say: choose stamps that they will like and will hold their interest.
Help your beginning stamp collectors with the stamp collecting supplies that they'll need. The proper tools will help their stamp collection grow and be something to be proud of. At a minimum, the kids will need at least a few stamps, a pair of stamp tongs, a catalog that pictures stamps so they can be identified, some type of stamp album and/or a stock book, and some glassine envelopes.
Keep their stamp collections going by giving them stamps to add to their collection on a regular basis (or you could let them buy some very inexpensive stamps.) Collect stamps that you receive in the mail and set them aside for the kids. And keep the kids excited about their stamp collections by asking them questions about it, such as did you see the new Boy Scout stamp that just came out? Are you planning on adding it to your collection? Do you need any help organizing your stamps?
Work on the children's stamp collections with them. It's quality time you can spend together and it's an investment for the future - it's not just a financial investment, it's an investment in your childrens' futures.
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