Author:
Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation:
5 August 2021
Update Date:
22 June 2024
Content
Stamp collecting is a popular global hobby and collectors love everything from the aesthetic design of stamps to their rich history. Determining the monetary value of stamps can help you to value them higher and to know the expected price when deciding to sell.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Observe the actual state of the stamp
Evaluate the central position of the design. The better the stamp is in the middle of the white border, the better.You want the stamp to look balanced and sharp overall.
Turn the back of the stamp and look for the adhesive. Adhesive is the glue used to attach stamps to paper. You want this piece of adhesive to be at its best, without breaking or creasing.
Check the stamp. A stamp is a small, transparent folded piece of paper covered with a thin layer of glue, sometimes stuck on the back of the stamp and used to attach the stamp to the album page. A stamp will make the stamp less valuable, even after it is removed.
- If your stamp has a sticker attached, consult a specialist or the stamp dealer before removing it yourself, as you may further damage the stamp.
Look at the sharpness of the contour. Borders are small holes punched along the edges of the stamp that help you tear the stamp from the sheet. Some stamps have more serrated or larger circular holes, but the most important thing is the amount of full aliasing and the sharp aliasing.
See if the stamp has a revocation mark. If a stamp is already in use, it will have a cancellation stamp on the stamp face. The darker the cancellation mark, the lower the stamp value; You need to make sure the stamp is not flawed or has a ruptured mark covering the entire stamp.
Evaluate the color of the stamp. You want a bright and vibrant stamp design. Fading color can be caused by things like sunlight or artificial light, dirt, pollution, or oil on the skin.
Determine the type of stamp. Based on the balance of the stamp design and the density of the stamp, you can tell what kind of stamp is. Grades (stamp novelty): poor, average, good, very good, and excellent.
- Basically, the more imbalanced the design is and the darker the cancellation mark, the closer the rating to “poor” is.
- Great review scores are quite rare, as stamps have to be perfect in every way.
Leave the stamp on the envelope if it's stuck. You don't want to risk damaging the stamp by peeling it off or cutting it. Occasionally, an old stamp, stamped on an envelope with a special cancellation mark will be more valuable than the one that is not used and not on the envelope. Ask an expert at a stamp show or a professional stamp examiner to see if the stamp should be removed. advertisement
Part 2 of 3: Determining the history and rarity of the stamp
Determine the age of the stamp. Easier said than done! You can determine the age of the stamp based on the markings of the stamp design. Search for facts or historical figures, or try to find words on the stamp. The exact year is usually not printed on the stamp, so it is difficult to know exactly how old your stamp is.
- Meet professional stamp dealers if you need more help. The older the stamp is, the more valuable it is - so it's worth the extra effort!
- Stamps printed over the past 70 years, even brand-new ones, may not be valued more than the original stamp.
Determine the country of stamp issue. As with the stamp age, looking for historical facts or figures on the stamp or the word-knowing on the stamp can help narrow the scope of your country identification.
- For example, a photograph of Queen Victoria might be a stamp of Great Britain from the 19th to early 20th centuries, while a photograph of the Hoover Dam may be of the United States in the mid-20th century.
Use reference books to identify a stamp. Depending on the stamp, it may be easier to identify before trying to determine the age and country of origin. After considering the physical condition of the stamp, you should have enough information to look up in the reference book.
- American stamp collectors often use the Scott Specialized Catalog (now also available as an e-book), while British stamp collectors use the Stanley Gibbons catalog. Visit your local library to see what kind of material you can look up.
- You can look up online catalogs and information sources as well, but those sources are not reliable enough. They may not be as recognized or accurate as reference books.
Determine the rarity of the stamp. The rarity of the stamp will depend on the age and quantity of the first print. The rarer the stamp, the higher its value; Some stamp collectors even say that rarity is the most important factor in determining the value of a stamp, far more than the age or age of the stamp. Look up a reference book or ask professional stamp dealers for a stamp's initial print.
- An old stamp is not necessarily rare and valuable. For example, a penny Benjamin Franklin stamp in 1861, is not of much value since about 150 million such stamps have been produced.
Pay attention to the error stamp. While usually you want your stamp to be as perfect as possible, error stamps are the exception. These rare stamps have a flaw in design apart from errors like centering, punching, etc.Fault stamps are extremely valuable because of their scarcity; maybe only 50 or 100 of them currently exist.
- Valuable stamp errors include design errors, such as the map showing the wrong border; Missing mistakes, such as the Thatcher ferry bridge missing from the stamp design; or reverse error, like an American reverse Jenny stamp printing an upside-down image of the plane.
Part 3 of 3: Consult a stamp specialist
Look up an online reference book or resource to determine the value of the stamp. Now that you've identified the stamp and any flaws in its status, head back to your reference book to find out its validity. Look up special "price instructions" for postage stamps, as updated as possible.
- The price guide may not be completely accurate, but you should get a rough idea of how much your stamp might be worth.
Come to the stamp exhibition. These stamp exhibitions take place around the world, and provide a place for stamp-makers to buy, sell, and price their stamps. Stamp dealers often list these exhibitions on their websites and you can check the American Stamp Association (APS) or the American Stamp Traders Association (ASDA) websites to find one. Show held near where you live. Bring your stamp and consult a few different ideas.
Find a stamp expert. In the US, you will want to find a stamp trader who is a member of APS or ASDA. Flick through your directory to "Stamp Collectors" or search online to find a stamp dealer in your area and call to ask for assessment fees. This will not waste much time and gives you the best estimate of the value of your stamp.
- To find a stamp dealer in other countries, do a search online. Organizations like APS, although this is an American group, often list traders (as well as stamp exhibitions) in other countries, such as Canada and the United Kingdom.
