Nicknames of Some Famous Stamps


Some stamps are so well-known or so beloved that they've been given nicknames over the course of time. Here are just a few of them. There are many more.

• "Baby Zeppelin" or "Baby Zep," the US 50¢ green Graf Zeppelin airmail stamp, US Scott # C18
• "Basel Dove," the first issue of Basel (in 1845), a canton of Switzerland, picturing a dove
• "Beaver" or Beavers, early issues of Canada (1851-1859) that of course picture a beaver
• "Black Jack" or Blackjack, the early 2 cent US issues picturing Andrew Jackson (there are several of them)
• "Cape Triangle," the triangular-shaped 1853-1864 issues of the Cape of Good Hope
• "Chalon Head," one of the many stamps of British Empire countries picturing a specific portrait of Queen Victoria. Named after
• the portrait's artist Alfred Chalon. Canada, the Bahamas, Grenada, Natal, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island,
• Queensland, Tasmania, and perhaps most famously, New Zealand all produced Chalon Heads
• "Hawaiian Missionaries," the first issues of Hawaii in 1851-1852
• "Hermes Heads," the 1861-1882 Greece stamps picturing the Greek god Hermes
• "Inverted Jenny," US Scott C3a. This 1918 airmail stamp features an airplane that was unintentionlly-printed upside-down. One
• of the most prized errors in philately
• "Penny Black," the 1840 1 penny black issue of Great Britain. Considered to be the first adhesive postage stamp
• "Penny Red," the 1841 1 penny red issue of Great Britain. Similar in appearance to the Penny Black but a different color.
• "Posthorns," Norway's long-running series of stamps picturing a post horn
• "Saint Louis Bears," 1846 postmaster provisional stamps issued by the Saint Louis, Missouri US postmaster picturing three bears
• "Treskilling Yellow," Sweden's famous, unique three Skilling Banco color error

That's just a short list of a few of the well-known stamp nicknames that exist. If you'd like to contribute more, please post them!

Legendary Stamp Collectors - Ferrary

Philipp von Ferrary, probably the world's foremost stamp collector with the possible exception of Queen Elizabeth II, assembled the most complete stamp collection in the world. A member of the French nobility, he eventually renounced his titles and asked to simply be known as "Ferrary," which is how most stamp dealers and collectors refer to him even today.

Stamps were Ferrary's passion, and he began collecting at a young age. Eventually it became so large that he hired people to maintain it. His worldwide stamp collection was amazingly complete, and included true stamp rarities such as the unique Tre Skilling Yellow of Sweden, the 1856 one cent "Black on Magenta" of British Guiana and an unused copy of the two cent Hawaiian
Missionary stamp of 1851, for which its previous owner had been murdered by a fellow stamp collector.

After the outbreak of World War I, Ferrary willed his stamp collection to the Berlin Postmuseum in hopes that it would be made accessible to the public after his death. Late in the war he moved from France to Switzerland, leaving several hundred stamp albums in the safekeeping of the Austrian embassy in Paris. He died shortly after moving, so he was fortunate to not witness what happened next. After the war's end the French government seized his incredible collection, claiming it as reparations for the war. It was broken up and sold off, bit by bit, over the next several years for a total of around 30 million francs.

His legacy lives on, however: many rare stamps proudly bear an "ex-Ferrary" in their provenance. Ferrary compiled an unequalled collection, and his name will live on in philatelic history for as long as the hobby exists.

Invert Stamp Errors - Collectible and Valuable Stamps


One of the attractions of stamp collecting is its potential for profit down the road. Stamps as investments are currently outperforming the stock market by a wide margin.

We've already discussed some of the most valuable stamps in the world, including the one cent British Guiana black on magenta, the Treskilling Banco Yellow stamp and the US Benjamin Franklin one cent Z Grill. But many other stamps are valuable too. Some of the most interesting valuable stamps are invert errors.

Invert stamp errors are stamps where part of the image is accidentally printed upside-down. They occur (very rarely, hence their high value) in multi-color stamps that are printed by passing the stamp paper through the printing press more than once. After one or more passages through the press (each passage prints a particular color used in the stamp), someone accidentally feeds the paper through the wrong way for the next color, and that part of the image is then printed upside-down relative to the other image components. The invert stamps are usually caught almost immediately and destroyed by the printer before they ever reach the public. But every so often a glorious moment (for stamp collectors) occurs, and invert stamps are purchased by the public before the mistake is ever noticed. Because they're so rare, many are worth a small fortune.

A few famous invert errors include the US "CIA Invert," Scott 1610c, the Canadian "St. Lawrence Seaway Invert," Scott 387a, and the US "Inverted Jenny," Scott C3a, but there are others.

Collecting Rare Stamps


Investing in rare stamps is a normal occurrence that's undertaken by intermediate to advanced stamp collectors. Rare stamps are tangible investments with potential similar to collecting art. But in addition to their investment potential, rare stamps also give their owners a great deal of pleasure. A sense of accomplishment. A sense of completion.

The value of any given stamp is directly proportional to its scarcity, in other words, how rare (or not) it is. Many stamps, such as the one cent British Guiana black on magenta, the Treskilling Banco Yellow stamp or the US one cent Z Grill, are extremely rare because only one (or just a few) were ever produced, and even fewer survive today. Because there are so few, and because so many stamp collectors covet them, the value of these stamps - and those in similarcircumstances - is very high.

Collecting rare stamps is a challenge, and can be quite expensive. But not always - some are found in a neglected old desk drawer or in an attic. Rare stamp varieties can even be found in stamp kiloware or off-paper stamp assortments. The lucky collector who finds a rare stamp this way is lucky indeed - if he or she decides to sell it, they might be able to live out their lives on the proceeds.

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.

Famous US Stamps - The Pan-American Issue Inverts


Issued in 1901 in connection with the Pan-American Exposition held in Buffalo, New York, the six beautiful commemorative stamps of this series, Scott Nos. 294-299, were early bi-colored stamps. They feature various transportation-related subjects, including several ships, a vintage electric automobile, a steam engine and train, the bridge at Niagara Falls, and canal locks at Sault Ste. Marie. The set is a must-have for any US stamp collector and, because of its theme, it's a desirable set for topical stamp collectors too.

Three of the stamps - the 1 cent, 2 cent and 4 cent, are known to have varieties with inverted vignettes - the central part of the design.

Few stamp collectors will ever own one of the Pan-American inverts, but we can all hope.

Selling an Inherited Stamp Collection


As stamp dealers we often get emails that ask about that very question. The emails are often like the one below:


"About a year ago I inherited an old stamp collection from my father. We spent a long time trying to figure out what the stamps were and what they're worth, but we've given up because there are just too many stamps. After looking at your website I decided to contact you. We'd like to sell this old stamp collection, get some money for ourselves and at the same time find a home for the stamps with someone who will enjoy them."


Here are some of our thoughts on this situation:

Trying to value your stamps by using a stamp catalog is a logical first step in selling an inherited stamp collection, but it can often be very time-consuming and frustrating. It can also lead to disappointment - you need to be aware that peopple selling a stamp collection almost never get anywhere near the catalog value of their stamps. Here's why:

The value listed for a specific stamp in a stamp catalog represents what a dealer would charge you if you went to them to purchase that stamp. It is their selling price, not the price they pay when buying. And their selling price doesn't take into account any volume discounts, discounts because of past business dealings, or any other factor that might cause a stamp dealer to sell their stamps for less. For example, most of the 20 cent catalog values that you see in Scott's Standard Postage Stamp Catalog, for example, exist to compensate the dealer for his or her time and effort to secure that one stamp. In reality, many of these minimum value stamps are worth much less. But a dealer has to find them, identify them and stock them, even though they're not worth much. For stamps that have a higher catalog value, a dealer's selling price will be closer to the catalog value, simply because their catalog value is due more to their rarity than for recouping the dealer's time and overhead.

Extremely rare stamps that are in great condition can and do yield a premium value over the catalog value: they sell for more than the value listed in the catalog. But these types of stamps are very rare, and although it's possible, they aren't likely to be in Aunt Fannie's old stamp collection.

A reputable stamp dealer won't take advantage of your lack of knowledge of stamps and offer a ridiculously low price for your stamp collection. Most stamp dealers, especially those that have been in business for a long time, will offer you a fair price. But remember, the name of the game when you're a stamp dealer is to buy low and sell high when you can.

Another factor that works against a non-collector who tries to sell a stamp collection is that they tend to over-estimate the age and condition of the stamps they are trying to sell. Many stamps have to be in absolutely perfect condition to be anywhere close to their catalog value. That would include things like how well-centered the stamp is, if there are any damaged perforations, if the cancellation mark on a used stamp is light, etc. A stamp can quickly lose half of its value, if there is the slightest disturbance of the gum on the back of the stamp. Condition, condition, condition: it's everything in stamp collecting. We can't tell you how many times we've seen stamps where the person selling them has said they're in "good condition," but when we actually see them, they have tears, missing corners, holes, missing perforations, etc.

There are, however, a few thngs you can do to maximize the value of your inherited stamp collection.

1. Consider using the collection as a starting point for your own stamp collection. Stamp collecting is a hobby that can fit just about anyone's budget, and you can usually collect stamps well into your senior years because it is not physically demanding.


2. If you are determined to sell the collection you inherited, you can accept the price that was offered by a dealer. If the collection was inherited, you don't have anything invested in it, so any amount you get will be better than nothing. But try to get quotes from at least two stamp dealers before you sell.


3. If you think the collection has one or more rare stamps, meaning a stamp with a catalog value of more than $250 or so, you could send them off to be expertized. Expertizing is the process by which a philatelic expert will evaluate the stamp by determining if it is genuine and give a definitive opinion on exactly which stamp it is (some stamps have many, many different varieties, in which case it can be very difficult to determine which variety a particular stamp is. Some of those varieties may be valuable, but others may be very inexpensive, even though the stamps may look the same to a non-expert.) Some services will also grade the stamp by evaluating key aspects of the stamp: is it centered on the paper, is the paper in good condition, are the colors bold, etc. But most expertizers will not give an estimate of the stamp's value, they just look at its condition and whether it's a forgery or not. Expertizing services are not free, so you don't want to have it done for every stamp you own. Typically you'd want to expertize only those stamps that may be of significant value.


4. Sell the collection on a stamp auction site. You can sell the collection yourself or you can consign it to someone to sell it for you. If you sell it yourself, you'll make more money because you won't pay a consignment fee, but you'll have to spend some significant amount of time taking pictures of the collection and writing a careful, thorough and accurate description.


5. Consider donating the stamp collection to a charity. Many stamp magazines include ads from recognized charities that request donations of stamps. And local charities such as veterans' hospitals, schools and senior citizen centers might be interested. Be sure to check with a tax consultant regarding the tax implications of donating a stamp collection. Some donations are tax deductible, some are not, and some may trigger additional taxes; it all depends on your individual tax situation.

Oh, and one last thing. We get emails all the time from people who want to sell a "huge" or "very large" stamp collection they just inherited. When we ask how large it is, the person says "there must be at least a couple of hundred stamps in there, but they're too many to count." Well, no offense intended, but that number isn't "huge" or "very large" - in fact it's a very tiny stamp collection and most stamp dealers wouldn't even bother to look at it unless they knew that it contained rare stamps.

What is a vintage stamp? (the first of several parts of this somewhat-complex discussion)

All stamp collectors want to acquire vintage stamps - well, most of us, anyway. That's where the money is, right? Some people think that all vintage stamps are valuable just because of their age.

Not necessarily.

There is no clearcut definition of what constitutes a "vintage" stamp.

We get emails all the time from people who collected stamps when they were a kid and now want to sell them. And from people who inherited an old stamp collection from a parent or grandparent and want to sell it. And also from people who have a handful of stamps from the 1960s or 1970s. Almost all of them say that they want to sell their "rare and valuable vintage stamps."

They are shocked when we tell them that a stamp produced in 1970 (for example) is not "vintage" and is almost certainly not "valuable." Although it's now 38 years old - and probably older than some of the senders of these emails - a stamp printed in 1970 is actually fairly "young" or "recent" in the stamp world. On top of that, many stamps from the 1950s or so forward have been printed in such huge quantities (billions of the same stamp in many cases) that it's impossible to consider them to be "rare." Don't forget, there are several factors involved in the price of any specific stamp:

• condition,
• condition (yes, I know I repeated it)
• scarcity / rarity
• subject matter (this has much more significance for collectors of topical or thematic stamps than to country collectors)
• condition (again)
  
• age (and by that, I don't mean 20 or 30 years old)

Definitions of "vintage stamp" vary, but we would hesitate to consider any stamp printed later than 1925 or 1930 to be "vintage." Old, yes, but vintage, no.


to be continued ....