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Like coins, Stamps too have
a certain internal value. The Rarer your collection, and the better the
quality of stamps, the more valuable they become. If you want a rough
estimate of the value of your collection, then just count the number of
different stamps that you have and arrive at the base price. The value
of the stamps could fluctuate and you may get more or less by selling it
later. If the stamps are damaged or they are just a meaningless
collection, then don’t expect to get anything. This means that the
condition of the stamp is very important and also there must be a
specific pattern in collection if you want it to amount to something
later. Some country stamps are easier to sell than others and command a
better price; you may even get a premium on selling. Popularity is the
key word here. Secondly, if the stamps are hinged, then the value is
likely to go down a little. Stamps that have one straight edge or stamps
where the perforations have not been punched out have low values.
The valuation of the stamp is also determined by the location of the
buyer .There are certain areas where collectors are willing to pay
higher for the same set of stamps. So the stamp value here is determined
by the place the buyer is in . The value of stamps tend to rise during
an auction, where collectors are willing to pay a good price for good
stamps. However, an element of luck is always prevalent in auctions. If
the collection is large and varied, the stamp value is likely to
increase.
Overprints are likely to change the value of the stamp. The value of the
stamp changes because of the surcharge applied. The quantity of stamps
printed and the quantity of stamps destroyed also have bearing on the
value of the remaining stamps. If the number of stamps printed is low
then the collector may have reason to be pleased as there are chances
that the stamp values will be high. Age does not really affect the value
of a stamp, for merely by being old, the value does not increase.
If however the age affects the supply and demand, then it does have a
bearing on its value. As the number of stamps in circulation grow older,
some of them are destroyed or damaged and hence decreases the supply. On
the other hand , if a particular set of stamps is popular and if recent
finds add to the number already in circulation, then the number
increases. If it so happens that the stamp is popular, there could be a
marginal change in the stamp value. A very rare stamp is the Madhubani
Mithila painting in which the denomination, the country and they year of
production are missing.
The Indian Rs.3 stamp was sold for an unbelievable Rs. 23,000.
Commemorative stamps have a higher price than definitive stamps as the
former is only printed in small quantities. Centering of the design in a
stamp greatly affects the value. If the design is not centered---if the
margins around the stamp are not even on all four sides, then the value
of the stamp changes.
The value of a stamp normally grows slowly and takes roughly 5-10 years
to command a premium price. On the other hand , a certain set of stamps
can also take as long as 20 years to reach a high price, but some stamps
can become popular overnight and can command a high price after a mere
15 days. The stamp market is as fickle as the stock market. How the
stamps are maintained, greatly contributes to the price. If they are
neatly stuck in an album in a methodical and orderly fashion, the
collection would obviously sell for more than if they were loose..
Author Mini Swami. copyright
data 2007. Indianchild.com
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