Collecting Rare Stamps: Tips for Building a Valuable Collection

Stamp collecting is a fun and rewarding hobby that offers more than just collecting small pieces of paper. It’s a chance to learn about different countries, their history, art, and cultures.

Even if you want to enjoy it casually on weekends or dive deep into it, stamp collecting can be a great choice.

In this guide, we’ll go over some tips on how to build a valuable stamp collection, how to figure out its worth, and the best ways to display and care for your stamps.

Tips for Building a Valuable Collection

There are many challenges and pleasures involved in collecting rare stamp but if it is done correctly, it can be fun.

Even if you are a beginner or already considering yourself a professional, here are several pieces of advice to help you collect stamps and obtain unique items.

1. Do Your Research

But, Stamp collecting must be preceded by stamp knowledge. Learn about their categories, background, how they are acquired, and their significance.

You can read books, go to stamp shows or even talk to other collectors. Another way is also to get acquainted with a stamp club or an online community is also helpful.

2. Set a Budget

Collecting stamps can be expensive especially when they are rare, thus it is advisable to have a budget in mind.

Decide how much you are willing to spend and then adhere to that amount. At times, it is cheaper to purchase stamps in a set than to purchase a stamp individually.

3. Buy from Trusted Dealers

When purchasing stamps, it is also important that you purchase them from reputable dealers. This helps to check that the stamps are genuine and not damaged in anyway.

You may search on the internet for the reviews of other collectors or get suggestions from them. You can also request a certificate of authenticity for added measure.

4. Go to Stamp Shows

Stamp shows are also a good place to find special stamps and people with the same interest as you.

There are ways by which you can get more information and also meet other collectors or dealers through workshops. Sometimes you can come across some quite interesting stamps at these events.

5. Consider Online Auctions

It is always advisable to get into online auctions to look for the stamps but one has to be very careful.

Be very careful who you buy from and check the stamps for wear and tear. When placing bids, also consider shipping costs and other charges.

6. Connect with Other Collectors

Encouraging relationships with other collectors can help you find rare stamps. You can share tips, trade stamps, and learn from others in the community.

Joining a stamp club or online forum is a good way to connect.

Evaluating Your Stamp Collection Value

After you have identified a stamp, you can get an idea of how much it is worth.

However, these values are for stamps in good shape, so it’s important to consider the following factors when evaluating a stamp’s value:

1. Centering

The first thing to check is the centering of the stamp is correct or not or the object that you want to stamp.

Stamps that have equal margin on all the sides of the stamp are more attractive and normally costlier.

The design should be symmetrical, the margins and the picture should be equally spaced. If a stamp is badly placed during printing then the design may be too close to the edges of the stamp.

The stamps of 1857 were issued imperforate and even the well-centered ones may show some touching of the perforations on the designs.

2. Condition

The state of a stamp is a crucial factor when it comes to the collector’s value of the stamp. Holes that are not punched, colors washed out, or paper damaged, a stamp has no flaw, it will be much more valuable.

The best-quality stamps possess a condition that can be described as having excellent centering, the colors are vibrant, and the backs are intact.

Off-center, lightly damaged stamps are also valuable but not as much as perfect ones with no defects at all.

Crumpled, tore or obviously damaged stamps are not preferred by the professional collectors but may be collected by the novices. In general the higher the condition the greater the value.

3. Gum

The gum on the back of a stamp is the glue that was originally used to stick it to an envelope.

The most valuable stamps have their original gum intact, undamaged, and in the same condition as when they were first issued.

Stamps can be graded based on the condition of their gum. If the gum is fully intact and safe, the stamp is considered in unblemished condition.

If the gum is damaged, usually from using stamp hinges, the stamp is called “unused.” If the gum is completely gone, the stamp is considered “unused without gum.”

4. Rareness

The rarity of a stamp is determined by several factors and often requires the expertise of a philatelist.

Stamps with printing mistakes, content errors, or unique perforations are considered rare. Limited-edition stamps, with only a small number produced, are also rare.

Auction price databases can help track how often a stamp is available for sale. As collectors continue to add rare stamps to their collections, they are becoming harder to find.

How to Maintain the Value of Your Stamp Assets

Even if you’re a beginner or an experienced collector, there are several factors to consider when it comes to preserving and storing your stamp assets:

1. Temperature and humidity

Stamps are made of paper and are sensitive to variations of temperature or humidity and can easily be damaged.

Store your stamps in dry and dark areas, where the temperature does not go beyond that of a refrigerator or a car’s interior.

2. Proper Handling

Stamps are fragile, and this makes it easy for them to be damaged in one way or another. Always wash hands before handling the stamp and do not touch the face of the stamp.

It is advised that one should use stamp tongs or tweezers to avoid mishandling your stamps.

3. Mounting and Displaying

If you wish to mount your stamps, then use a quality stamp album or stock book which is made from chemical free paper.

Do not use glue or tape to stick your stamps together because they will end up damaging the stamps.

4. Insurance

However, one must not be very careful that the opposite results in mishaps occurring. Think about getting insurance on your collection in case of loss, theft or damage.

There is insurance for collectors of stamps to make sure that your collection is safe and secure.

If you are to follow these tips, you can be guaranteed that your stamps will be with you for a very long time.

Different Ways to Mount and Display your Stamps

Different Ways to Mount and Display your Stamps

It is useful for collectors to know how to mount stamps correctly. The  different ways to do it are:

1. Stamp Hinges

Stamp hinges are small pieces of paper that fold to create a glue. Stamp hinges are ideal for used stamps and are mounted to the card.

You just stick the hinge at the back of the stamp and then place the stamp on the desired album page. They are convenient and allow for stamping of locations in an easy manner and can be rearranged easily.

2. Stamp Mounts

Stamp mounts are trays that are made of plastic to accommodate unused stamps and they should not have lost their gum. These mounts preserve the gum and you are able to place the stamps in the album without affecting them.

Some mounts are gummed, and some are already gummed for convenience, but most collectors use hinges to facilitate stamp shuffling.

3. Stock-books 

Stamp dealers use stock-books for neat arrangements of the stamps. There are little pockets along the sides of the pages that are thin enough to insert stamps into.

It is perfect for storing extra stamps, but it is a little more costly compared to hinges or mounts.

4. Hinge-less Albums

These albums have plastic pockets that are just the right size to fit stamps in. Stamps can be slid in with tongs and there is no need to use glue or hinges as with scrapbooks.

5. Cover Albums

Postal covers are for stamps and they come in envelopes or packages that have to be posted.

These are used by collectors to display stamps with peculiar postmark. You may attach the covers on blank pages using special photo corners or plastic sleeves.

Stamp collecting is a fascinating hobby that combines art and history. The rarest stamps are those that have a great story behind them because collectors look for stamps with nice backgrounds.

Collecting stamps involves looking for stamp varieties in the best condition possible when starting the collection.

To know how much a stamp is worth, consider its history, quality, and condition, and don’t hesitate to ask an expert for advice if you’re unsure.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *