You may have a stamp collection that you started when you were young, or you may have inherited a nice stamp collection from your parents, grandparents and/or relatives, or you found an interesting stamp collection at a garage sale.
Whatever the situations on how you acquired that stamp collection you have right now, this question remains: How much are my stamps worth?
How do I determine the stamp values in my stamp collection?
People collect stamps for various reasons. Of course, every stamp collector wishes that someday, their precious stamp collection would have stamp values that could be worth a lot of money.
If you are someone who thinks like this, then you are in for a shocking realization, because the painful truth about stamp collecting is that roughly 98% of all stamps are only worth less or the same as its handling/shipping fees.
All the more daunting is that stamp values of the remaining 2% — 1% of stamps are worth around $10 to $100 or more, and the other 1% are worth lots of money (the famous and rare stamps).
How to Determine Stamp Values #
If you are planning to sell your stamps or you are just plain curious to know what your collection’s stamp values are, then you have 5 options: Determine the stamp values by yourself, check out a printed book as reference, research the stamp values via the Internet, attend a stamp show, or take it to a stamp expert or dealer who offers professional stamp appraisal services to help you determine the stamp values of your collection.
Option 1: Find out the Stamp Values by Yourself #
– Identify the stamp.
– Find out when was the stamp issued.
– Know the stamp’s age and material used.
– Determine the centering of the design.
– Check the stamp’s gum.
– Determine the condition of the perforations.
– See if the stamp has been cancelled or not.
– Find out the rarity of the stamp.
Assess the stamp’s condition: Stamp grade is expressed in 3 words: sound (stamp with no imperfections), faulty (has minor imperfections such as a small crease at the corner), or defective (has major imperfections such as huge creases, abrasions, pinholes, or stains).
Stamp condition is further divided into 7 levels: extremely fine, very fine, fine, good, average, fair, and below average.
Check out the demand for the stamp – No matter how many rare stamps you have in excellent condition, you won’t get a good price for it if it is not highly sought after by stamp collectors.
Find out if the stamp has an interesting and traceable history.
Option 2: Check out a Printed Reference #
By reading the contents of a stamp catalogue or encyclopedia, you can learn about the stamp values and history of the stamps as well.
Some stamp catalogues include the Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue, The Stamp Collector’s Encyclopedia by R.J. Sutton, The Encyclopedia of United States Stamps and Stamp Collecting, and many more.
Option 3: Research the Stamp Values via the Internet #
Thankfully, there are many sites you can find on the Internet that can help you figure out the stamp values of individual stamps and/or your stamp collection.
Auction sites, stamp dealer sites, stamp forum sites, and stamp sites put up by stamp collectors and enthusiasts can easily be found online and these can give you an idea of the current market price of a particular stamp.
Option 4: Attend a Stamp Show #
Attending a stamp show or two shall give you the chance to see the current market’s stamp values for different stamps.
Going to a stamp show also allows you to talk with other stamp collectors and stamp enthusiasts, and some of them may likely give you their opinions regarding your collection’s stamp values.
Option 5: Find out the Stamp Values via a knowledgeable Stamp Expert, Dealer or Appraiser #
A lot of serious stamp collectors agree that the best way to find out the stamp values of your stamp collection is to have it appraised professionally.
There are stamp experts or dealers that offer stamp appraisal services in exchange for a fee.
There are some stamp dealers/appraisers who charge you a fee, and if interested, they then try to buy your collection and deduct the fee from it.
Stamps are usually more valuable if… #
In good condition: It may be stating the obvious, but a stamp which is in the same state as when issued by the Post Office (mint with full original gum) will be worth more than one which has been previously hinged or damaged.
They have bright, fresh and original colours: If a stamp’s colour has faded (because of water or sunlight) its value will be significantly reduced.
Issued before 1960: The best way to think of a stamp collector is as an archaeologist of postal history, who consider stamps and covers as valuable artefacts. The most valuable items tend to be rare with a good historical story.
From a country of interest: Extremely rare and early stamps from countries where postal deliveries were infrequent are known as ‘Classics’ and date from 1900 or earlier. In most cases, they are one of the earliest stamp issues from that particular country and, subsequently, they can command a higher price.
The face value is a higher denomination: Stamps with denominations above 1/- (one shilling) are often worth more because of their rarity. In general, decimal currency British stamps with face values in pounds and pence are worth less than those in £sd. Unfortunately, both of these types are often tradedfor well below their face value.
No piece of the stamp is missing: A stamp which has part of its design or a perforation missing will not command a premium price – even if it is extremely rare.
Creases and other damage are minimal: A ‘bend’ or ‘crease’ will significantly reduce a stamp’s value. Lighter ‘wrinkles’ will also devalue a stamp but much less significantly.
They are ‘unhinged’ and not stuck to a page: A stamp which has never had a hinge applied to it is obviously worth more because it will still have its full original gum. When a hinge has been applied, this small, transparent piece of folded paper tends to remove the stamp’s original adhesive, making it much less valuable – even once it’s been removed. Never attempt to pull a hinge off a stamp as you could damage it.
It’s got a unique cancellation on it: Older stamps which are still on the original envelope can sometimes be worth considerably more if a special or rare cancellation mark has been applied. To preserve a stamp’s authenticity, never remove stamps from the original piece upon which it was sent.
It contains a rare error: When a mistake has been made on a stamp design, such as a missing colour or feature because of a printing or production error, these stamps becomes highly collectible and are often worth significantly more than a ‘normal’ issue.
It has perfect perforations: Stamps with beautiful edging, or neat ‘perforations’ as it is known in philatelic circles, tend to be valued more highly. In most cases, the neater the perforations are, the more a stamp will be worth.
It has a light and tidy cancellation mark: When a stamp has been ‘Socked on the Nose’ it means that a circular date stamp cancellation mark has been applied very close to its centre. When carried out in a tidy and light manner – with either the date, place name or location within it, a stamp tends to be worth more.
Stamps are unlikely to be valuable if… #
In poor or scruffy condition: If a stamp has fading, discoloration, marks or tone spots which disfigure its design, and usually occur as a result of poor storage, their worth is massively reduced.
Part of an ‘instant’ or manufactured collection: Sheets of stamps which are themed or marked with a commemorative inscription, marking an anniversary or event, are sold in their thousands. They are hardly ever worth anything significant unless, of course, they contain a rare stamp error.
Released to commemorate a Royal Event (Birth, Wedding, Anniversary): Royal commemorative stamps and sheets are always issued to mark special events. Unfortunately, they are sold in their thousands and, even though they are only on sale for a limited period of time, they are worth little to collectors and dealers.
They are ‘First Day Covers’ from 1970 onwards: Envelopes or cards which have been postmarked and used on the first day of issue (First Day Covers) are often highly-desirable to collectors and dealers, but only if they are rare.
Sold loose or unsorted in a bag: Acquiring large numbers of stamps in this way is known as buying ‘kiloware’ and items like this are sold according to their weight. Unsorted stamps rarely appeal to dealers, who do not have the time to sort through them, but they are popular with beginners.
Stamp Price Guides #
Here is a list of resources to check our stamps value:
Find Your Stamp’s Value:
findyourstampsvalue.com
StampWorld:
stampworld.com
Stanley Gibbons:
stanleygibbons.com
Hobbizine’s U.S. Stamp Value Guide:
values.hobbizine.com
Stamp Identifier – Stamp Value:
stampidentifierai.com
Apfelbaum, Inc.:
apfelbauminc.com
Warwick & Warwick:
warwickandwarwick.com
Stamp Collecting Spot:
stampcollectingspot.com
Freeappsforme’s Stamp Identifier Apps & Websites:
freeappsforme.com
Linn’s Stamp News:
linns.com