We are often asked the basic question, “is my stamp valuable”?
Particularly when a big sale goes through like the $4.4 million sale of the 1868 1-cent Benjamin Franklin US stamp best known as the Z-Grill stamp.
A tiny piece of paper, from among countless billions of stamps issued since 1840, and with a tiny original value that has become a sought-after treasure worth a life-altering sum.
It’s the stuff that dreams are made of.
And, it is true that there may be more z-grills out there.
Two are known, but as many as around 1,000 were printed.
That’s extremely rare for a postage stamp but another could be found.
The truth is, though, that most stamps remain common-place and low value.
All of them carry a huge amount of information and tell fascinating stories from history.
Priceless!
And most are literally priceless. The vast majority are worth nothing. Some are worth next to nothing.
And a select few are valuable.
If you’re knew to stamp collecting, or you’ve inherited a stamp or postal collection, here are 10 questions you can ask about your stamp before you go out to look for expert advice - that you may have to pay for.
1 - is my stamp appropriately safe and secure?
First things first.
Whatever it is it needs to be in a clean, dry place well away from any and all moisture and out of direct light.
You don’t need to be investing in safe rooms and dehumidifiers (wine safes are a great way to store valuable stamps) before you know you have something of value, but all stamps should be treated with care and respect.
It’s likely that it’s - or they - are stored in an album. Keep it vertically if you can.
Don’t remove stamps affixed with hinges, though that may be appropriate in time, until you know what you’re doing?
2 - Where did my stamp come from?
This isn’t a matter of national origin, but how the stamp came to you.
Stamps of real value owe their value to their rarity or uniqueness.
And, almost all of them are the subject of forgeries and faking.
To sell a valuable stamp you will need to prove it is what it appears to be.
And, in fact, a good yarn can even add value to a stamp.
So take stock of as much information as possible, even if it’s just a family legend, and start to compile it.
3 - Where is my stamp from?
A quick assessment of your stamp then.
Where’s it from?
That’s not always as simple as you might think.
Linn’s Stamp News reckon that more than 700 jurisdictions have issued stamps. Not all of these are current nation states.
But, origin is the first stage of finding out what your stamp is.
4 - How old is my stamp
A general rule of thumb - very general with many exceptions - is that older stamps are rarer and more valuable.
Few stamps are dated as most issues were expected to last for a good deal of time.
5 - What value does my stamp show?
Another general rule is that stamps with higher face values are more valuable.
These stamps were produced in smaller numbers. They’re often larger and more carefully designed.
That makes them rarer, more attractive to buyers and therefore potentially more valuable.
6 - Is my stamp used or unused?
The vast majority of used stamps are “cancelled” with an ink handstamp.
Generally, unused stamps are more valuable to collectors.
But not always. Some stamps that were withdrawn quickly make used examples rarer.
Some cancellations become rare and desirable in their own right - this is a particular interest for Penny Black collectors.
If your stamp is affixed to something - an envelope or piece of paper - don’t try to remove it. The envelope may actually add value, and you shouldn’t carry out any conservation work before you know what you’re doing and what you have.
7 - What condition is my stamp in?
Condition is a complex matter and can be measured on a number of scales.
For the beginner the simple truth is the obvious one - the better the condition of your stamp the more valuable it is.
In fact, almost all collectors are only interested in buying good condition stamps.
For a poor-condition stamp to be valuable is exceptional.
8 - Is my stamp what it should be?
With online resources most people will be able to identify most standard-issue stamps.
Let’s say you have worked out what your stamp is: you know where it is from, the face value, the date, even a full description.
Then you should check carefully that the stamp you actually have actually closely matches the description of what it should be.
And if it doesn’t that might be very good or bad news.
Bad news if it’s a mistake in an unauthorised copy or forgery designed to fool.
But, “error stamps” are among the gems of the collecting scene.
The stamp most non-stamp collectors have hear of - the Inverted Jenny - is just the most well-known error.
Mistakes are almost always rare, and that makes them more valuable.
9 - What’s the last example of my stamp being sold I can find?
Value is difficult.
You will probably find as many different valuations as you ask for.
There are catalogue values. But even these are complex, and should not be regarded as the final word on a stamp.
Some experts like to describe them as relative rather than absolute measures - a £500 stamp might be fairly considered to be five times more valuable than a £100 stamp.
Catalogue values are always for stamps in the best condition.
The reality is that stamps are traded in quite pure markets that are rather volatile.
In short, a stamp is worth what you can get for it.
Who are you selling to? A dealer needs to sell the stamp on at a profit.
What’s the supply? What happens to a "unique" £1-million stamp when another one is discovered?
Many stamps are bought and sold at auction (usually introducing another variable in the form of fees), which involve a gamble of sorts on behalf of buyer and seller.
10 - Do I need an expert?
If you think your stamp is seriously valuable - and you can set your own figure for where that kicks in for you - then you should look for expert help.
I hope that what we publish here inspires readers to do as much homework as they can.
Stamp collecting is a rich, rewarding hobby which opens up a world of history, national identity and more.
And the more you know, the more rewarding the hobby will be in all ways.
If you want expert advice you should expect to pay for it in most cases.
If you want someone to handle a sale for you they will take a fee.
And, naturally, everyone else you deal with is hoping to do what you want to do - find a very valuable stamp that they don’t have to spend a lot of money on.
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