Stamp collecting is considered by some a ‘dying hobby’, but did you know that there’s real money in stamp collecting? Just recently, it was reported that a stamp enthusiast from Canada revealed that he has in his possession a rare stamp, one that has not even been seen in stamp auctions - a two cent large ‘Queen Victoria on laid paper’. According to experienced collectors, this item can fetch as much as $1 million. Now, who can say that stamp collecting is a boring and worthless activity? But before you start counting dollars, first things first - how do you know if your stamps are valuable? Here are some tricks and tips on how you can assess the stamps you own and evaluate their worth without having to rely on professional help.
Stamp Magazine
10 Dec 2013
Speculation on Stamps
Stamp collectors may recall the interesting history chapter of August 18, 1966, when the ‘England winners’ World Cup 4d stamp reprints went on sale. It may be surprising to learn that while more than 150 million copies of the original stamp were printed, only 12 million copies of the second printing were issued at the post offices. When this fact became known to the public, speculation ran riot.
Supplies were quickly exhausted and jostling was reported in the queues of post offices. Printed copies were sold at a price of up to 40 times higher than their face value. But all the fuss was for nothing. A great part of the original issue was destroyed or used; the rest went to the hands of stamp collectors and was kept safe. Today, the second stamp is... Read More
9 Dec 2013
The use of modern postal system in Korea started on a rough spot complete with arson and an armed conflict. Right now, stamp collectors love the stamps that come out of Korea, but only few people know the real story behind the stamps and what happened in 19th century Korea, a time when an official stamp system was about to be started.
A check with Korea’s postal history reveals the planned five stamp values that were to be issued in 1884. But of the five, only two values eventuallt appeared in stamp catalogues. The story of the other three and country’s attempt to adopt a modern postal system took an interesting and turbulent turn that will surprise, frustrate and inform stamp collectors and history lovers alike.
The introduction of Stamps to the ‘Hermit Kingdom’
... Read More 24 Nov 2013
It is rather unusual that one of the worlds’ greatest engineering marvel - the Panama Canal - came into existence with the help of some small pieces of adhesive papers. In truth, it was not just some mere pieces but rather postage stamps made during the period. Originally, the plan in the construction of the navigational link to connect the Caribbean Sea towards the Pacific Ocean was not in the Panama area, rather it was in Nicaragua. This is the story of how the diversion came to be.
Initial Construction Efforts
The great developer Ferdinand de Lesseps, a French engineer from the 19th Century, was responsible for the construction of the the Suez Canal. His accomplishment in joining the Rea Sea and the Mediterranean Sea has made a great reduction in the distance and... Read More
