While many people start building a stamp collection for the sheer pleasure of collecting and enjoying stamps, there is often that nagging question: what is my stamp collection really worth? And if you have been lucky enough to get any rare stamps, you may want to know the rare stamp value in particular.
As one caveat, it is a point of much debate as to whether stamp collecting should be undertaken as a hobby rather than an investment. While there are pros and cons to both approaches, the real way to measure the value of your stamp collection is how much you have enjoyed putting it together. If you have a variety of stamps that you like and have valued the time you spent finding and compiling them, then your stamp collection is a valuable hobby that has likely helped you have fun and reduce stress in your life.
That said, you can still look into stamp collecting values, just to see how much your collection might be worth. Some patient and careful collectors have been fortunate enough to end up with a collection worth more than what they paid.
The first thing to look at when trying to determine the value of a stamp collection is the general condition of the stamps contained in the collection. If you are trying to build a collection for investment, then you should focus on finding stamps of the best quality available. This takes time and patience in order to see the subtle differences between stamps on the various grading scales.
Another key to stamp collecting values is age. You can often start to get a rough idea of your stamp’s age by seeing if the stamp commemorates a particular era in history. Even the paper of a stamp can give you clues as to how old it is, as different grades were used in different eras. You should also see if you can determine the stamp’s origins, as the country of issue can be a factor in its value.
The gum material on the back of a stamp can also impact how much the stamp is worth. You should look for stamps that have evenly distributed gum that is more complete over the surface of the stamp. For used stamps, you may even want to consider leaving it on the envelope or postcard to avoid diminishing the gum.
You can also look at the centering of the design in order to help you determine stamp collecting values. A well-centered design is valuable, and you should try looking at the stamp upside down to see how well-centered it is. Also, are there any cancellation marks present on the face of the stamp? These marks can interfere with the design if they are too prevalent. Look for light marks, or otherwise try to find stamps that have no cancellation marks at all.
If you truly believe you have a valuable stamp in your collection, you may want to consider having it professionally examined and a value determined. This can be expensive, so it is often a good first step if you are really considering selling the stamp.