Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Some Notes on Quality and Collectability
Old does not always equal high value and mint is not always more collectable than used. These are just some of the nuances of stamp collecting.
Sure, quality and age affect the overall price of a stamp but not as much as collectability. Consider that postage stamps are typically minted in large quantities, sometimes tens of millions of individual stamps are printed for a single issue. With these quantities produced some stamps will just never be worth more than a few cents each, irrespective of the age of the stamp. Yes, a better quality version of a mass produced stamp may be worth a tad more than a poor quality example – but they are still mass produced, readily available and therefore not highly collectible.
Some things that might make a mass produced stamp more collectable include:
- Overall Quality – Mint Never Hinged (MNH) stamps will typically be worth more than hinged or used mass produced stamps. There are a some exceptions to this rule though which will be discussed below. Other flaws like thin spots or gum disturbance can negatively affect the overall value of a stamp.
- Edges/Corners – If the stamp has a straight edge or corner (came from the side of a sheet) then it may be more collectable since there are typically fewer stamps of this configuration on a large sheet. This all depends upon the page and print configuration though. An example where this does not ring true are the Philippine Internal Revenue Stamps from the 1930’s which were printed in sheets of 3×7 stamps – meaning that the majority of stamps contained edges (Only the center 5 have perforations on all 4 sides).
- Specimen stamps – Comparatively few specimen stamps are produced when compared to the many millions of stamps produced for public consumption. It is this lower mintage that makes specimen stamps more valuable than their mass produced counterpart. While specimen stamps were once required to be distributed amongst UPU member nations they are now often produced solely for collectors. Modern specimen stamps from the Philippines typically have a production quantity of just 1,000 stamps.
- FDC’s and Cachets – FDC’s and cachets containing the stamps and cancellation will typically fetch more than any mass produced stamp on its own – mostly due to the fact that fewer FDC’s are produced.
- Errors/Oddities – Printing errors will typically increase the value since these are more scarce and therefore more highly collectable. A great example of this are the Philippine Kennedy Error Stamps of 1965. A complete set of these stamps in mint condition is worth at most a few dollars. However, I have seen the error stamps advertised for up to $100USD each on multiple occasions. Look out for color shifts, inverted overprints, colors variations, perforation issues and more.
- Centering – Centering is less of an issue on mass produced stamps but makes a difference on stamps that are harder to find and are more collectable. Good centering (equal margins all the way around the stamp) affect the overall presentation and can increase the value of a stamp. This rule is particularly enhanced for imperforate stamps where good margins are sought after.
- Other – Blocks of 4, plate blocks and entire sheets will have a higher value to collectors than individual stamps. Any paraphernalia or artefacts from the design or production of the stamp (proofs, dies, trial runs, etc.) will also command top dollar. Interesting cancellations, commercial overprints or even hand stamp “O.B.” markings can also make a stamp more sought after.
There are a few examples where used stamps (postally cancelled) are worth more than their mint condition counterparts. An example that comes to mind are any of the Aguinaldo Revolutionary Government stamps of 1899 from the Philippines. There are plenty of mint stamps in circulation and they are not expensive to acquire. Used examples are more scarce and examples addressed on envelopes even more so (fetching upwards of $500 each). What makes these used examples so collectable? It is simple…not many survived as mail recipients destroyed communications rather than facing retribution from the Americans during the Philippine-American war (also known as the “insurrection” depending upon which side of the fence you sat on). Some examples of these stamps can be found in the History of Philippine Revenue Stamps article. These should be seen as an exception as mint is generally worth more than used.
So, there you have it, there are many things that can affect the value and price of a stamp. Still the most notable is the overall quality of the item along with it’s scarcity/collectability. You should strive to build your collection with the most presentable and highest quality stamps that you can get your hands on.