Stamp Investment Tip: French Southern and Antarctic Territories 1968 Space Exploration (Scott #C16a)

   Of the seven countries which claim territories in the Antarctic, four issue  stamps for them. They are: Great Britain (British Antarctic Territory), Australia (Australian Antarctic Territory), New Zealand (the Ross Dependency), and France (the French Southern and Antarctic Territories). Of these, the French territory, also known as French Antarctic is of most interest to philatelists, because most of the F.S.A.T. stamps were issued in modest quantities and many are beautifully engraved. Most stamps issued for the various Antarctic territories are sold to collectors, as only a few hundred scientists reside in research facilities there.

In 1968, the F.S.A.T. issued a set of two stamps honoring France's Dragon Rockets (Scott #C15-16), which should be bought as a triptych (Scott #C16a). 45,000 sets were issued, and Scott '14 prices the unused triptych at $40.- .

Demand for stamps of the French Antarctic is strong in France and among collectors of French Colonies/Area and Polar Topicals worldwide, and the triptych  has obvious appeal as a Space Exploration and Transportation topical. 

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Stamp Investment Tip: U.S. 1935 3c Byrd Antarctic Imperf., Cross Gutter Block (Scott #768)

   In 1933, the U.S. issued a 3c stamp honoring Admiral Richard E. Byrd's Antarctic Expedition (Scott #733). The stamp is notable in that it's design is based on a sketch by America's most famous Philatelist-President, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

The design was replicated in two later issues, an imperforate souvenir sheet of 6 issued at the National Stamp Exhibition of 1934 (Scott #735), and as an ungummed imperforate stamp - one of the notorious "Farley Issues" of 1935 (Scott #768).

    The Farley Issues are interesting because they can be collected as positional pieces, the most popular of which is the cross gutter block. The Farley version of the Byrd Antarctic Stamp (Sc.#768) was issued in panes of 25 sheets of 6, and each pane contained 16 gutter blocks. 267,200 of #768 were issued, so about 28,500 blocks were possible. 

   As these stamps were not gummed, it is likely that most were collected unused, rather than used and discarded, but it's also likely that many of the panes of 150 were broken up and collected as sheets of 6, mimicking the format of the earlier souvenir sheet. Scott '13 values the cross-gutter block unused at $20.00, which seems cheap to me, even if all of the original 28,500 survive.

    Furthermore, the issue has appeal as a Polar/Antarctic topical and as a Map topical.

    Those interested in becoming part of an international community of stamp collectors, dealers, and investors are encouraged to join the "Stampselectors" group at Facebook. The  group hosts lively discussions concerning stamp investment and practical aspects of collecting, and provides a useful venue for those who wish to buy, sell, or trade stamps. 

Stamp Investment Tip: French Southern and Antarctic Territories 1965 Discovery of Adelie Land (Scott #C7)

Four countries claim territory in the Antarctic and issue stamps for their territories. They are Australia (Australian Antarctic Territory), Great Britain (British Antarctic Territory), New Zealand (the Ross Dependency), and France (the French Southern and Antarctic Territories). Of these, the French territory, also known as French Antarctic and abbreviated as F.S.A.T. or T.A.A.F., is of most interest to philatelists, because most of the F.S.A.T. stamps have been issued in modest quantities and many are beautifully engraved. Most stamps issued for the various Antarctic territories are sold to collectors, as only a few hundred scientists reside in research facilities in the Antarctic.

In 1965, the F.S.A.T. issued an attractive bi-colored stamp celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the Discovery of Adelie Land by the explorer Dumont d'Urville (Scott #C7). 60,000 were issued, and Scott '12 prices the unused stamp at $125.00 .

Demand for stamps of the French Antarctic is strong in France, and the Discovery stamp should do well based upon its beauty, historical significance, and appeal to French Colonies and Polar Topical collectors.

Information concerning printing quantities of stamps is often useful in determining which may turn out to be good investments. The StampSelector Scarce Stamp Quantities Issued List (SSSSQIL) currently includes over 9,700 listings of stamps and souvenir sheets with issuance quantities of 100,000 or less.

Stamp Investment Tip: Falkland Islands 1929-31 George V (Scott #54-64)

The Falkland Islands, an archipelago in the South Atlantic off the coast of Argentina, is a self-governing territory of the United Kingdom. While Falkland Islanders comprise a tiny but very affluent population of about 3,000, from a philatelic investment perspective, the Falklands are of interest because they appeal to both British Commonwealth and Antarctic territories collectors.

From 1929-31,  the Falklands issued a set of eleven stamps portraying King George V (Scott #54-64). 8,400 of the 1 pound high value were issued, and Scott '13 prices the unused set at $797.40. #64 alone cats. at $350.-.

I recommend purchase of either the complete set or the high value, in F-VF or better, NH, LH. These were pricey stamps at the time that they were in use, especially during the Great Depression. Most were probably used as postage  and discarded.


Those interested in becoming part of an international community of stamp collectors, dealers, and investors are welcome to join the "Stampselectors" group page at Facebook. The page hosts lively discussions concerning stamp investment and practical aspects of collecting, and is an excellent venue for those who wish to buy, sell, or trade stamps.

Stamp Investment Tip: Falkland Islands 1891-1902 Victoria (Scott #9-18)

The Falkland Islands, an archipelago in the South Atlantic off the coast of Argentina, is a self-governing territory of the United Kingdom. While Falkland Islanders comprise a tiny but very affluent population of about 3,000, from a philatelic investment perspective, the Falklands are of interest because they appeal to both British Commonwealth and Antarctic territories collectors.

From 1891 through 1902, the Falklands issued a set of eleven stamps (plus varieties) portraying Queen Victoria (Scott #9-18). Only 12,000 sets were issued, and Scott '12 prices the unused set at $ 650.75 . Usually, it's possible to find only single stamps from the set, so I've listed those with printings under 100,000, along with their Scott '13 Catalog Values for unused, below:

- 1892 1/2p Green (Scott #9; CV = $19.00 ; 40,000)
- 1891 1/2p Blue Green (Scott #9a; CV = $27.50 ; 60,000)
- 1894 1p Orange Brown (Scott #11; CV = $100.00 ; 18,000)
- 1902 1p Orange Red (Scott #12; CV = $ 16.00; 60,000)
- 1895 1p Venetian Red (Scott #12a; CV = $32.50 ; 61,980)
- 1896 2p Magenta (Scott #13; CV = $7.00; 73,980)
- 1894 2 1/2p Deep Blue- the key stamp from the set (Scott #14; CV =$275.00; 12,000)
- 1894-98 2 1/2p Ultramarine, various shades (Scott #15,15a,15c,15d ; Total 55,980)
- 1891 2 1/2p Pale Chalky Purple (Scott #15d; CV = $225.00; 40,000)
- 1896 6p Yellow (Scott #16; CV = $50.00 ; 12,000)
- 1892 6p Orange (Scott #16a; CV = $250.00 ; 20,000)
- 1896 9p Pale Vermilion (Scott #17; CV = $50.00 ; 18,000)
- 1896 9p Salmon (Scott #17a; CV = $57.50 ; 19,560)
- 1895 1sh Gray Brown (Scott #18; CV = $ 75.00; 19,980)

I recommend purchase of the set, or better singles from it, in F-VF+ NH, LH, or used condition. Few people were collecting stamps of the Falklands a century ago, and most of these stamps were probably used as postage and discarded.

Those interested in becoming part of an international community of stamp collectors, dealers, and investors are welcome to join the "Stampselectors" group at Facebook. The group hosts lively discussions concerning stamp investment and practical aspects of collecting, and is also an excellent venue for those who wish to buy, sell, or trade stamps.

Stamp Investment Tip: New Zealand 1912 1/2p VICTORIA LAND Overprint (Scott #130d)

One of the most tragic episodes in the history of Antarctic exploration was the Terra Nova Expedition headed by Royal Navy Captain Robert Falcon Scott. Scott's party reached the South Pole on January 17, 1912, only to find that they had been preceded by Roald Amundsen's Norwegian Expedition. On their return journey, Scott and his four comrades all perished from a combination of exhaustion, starvation and extreme cold.

Initially, 1p stamps of New Zealand were overprinted for use by the Expedition, as they had been for Shackleton's earlier 1908 Expedition. However, since the postage to certain countries was 2 1/2p, 2,400 1/2p Yellow Green stamps were also overprinted "VICTORIA LAND" (Scott #130d), making this the scarcest of all of the New Zealand Antarctic Expedition overprints. Scott values it unused at $ 1,100.00 and used at $ 950.00. Covers are rare.

The stamp appeals to both collectors of New Zealand and Antarctic topicals. As it's an overprint, it should be purchased conditional on obtaining expertization.

Stamps of New Zealand are collected both domestically and by British Commonwealth collectors worldwide . The nation has a stamp collecting demographic similar to Great Britain's, and the demand for better material should increase dramatically as population aging accelerates. The percentage of New Zealander's aged 60 and over is projected to rise from 18% in 2009 to 29% in 2050.

Those interested in finding a community of stamp investors, dealers, and collectors are welcome to join the "Stampselectors" group at Facebook. The group provides a useful venue for those who wish to buy, sell, and trade stamps, and discuss philatelic investing and practical aspects of stamp collecting.

Stamp Investment Tip: Falkland Islands 1948 Silver Wedding (Scott #99-100)

The Falkland Islands, an archipelago in the South Atlantic off the coast of Argentina, is a self-governing territory of the United Kingdom. While Falkland Islanders comprise a tiny but very affluent population of about 3,000, from a philatelic investment perspective, the Falklands are of interest because they appeal to both British Commonwealth and Antarctic territories collectors.


In 1948, the Falklands issued a set of two stamps celebrating the Silver Wedding of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother). The set (Scott #99-100) is one of the scarcest of the Silver Wedding Omnibus issues, as only 5,000 were issued, and Scott '10 values it unused at $ 111.25 . As a popular topic for British Commonwealth collectors, it's hard to beat the Royal Family, with a stick, sceptre, or other appropriately heavy object, and banking on such loyalty can pay interest.

Stamp Investment Tip: Belgium 1957 Antarctic Expedition Semi-Postal Souvenir Sheet (Scott B605a)

In 1957, Belgium issued a semi-postal souvenir sheet to benefit its 1957-58 Antarctic Expedition (Scott #B605a). This pleasant souvenir features sled dogs resting at outside a Antarctic camp, and doubles as an Animal and a Polar Topical. 82,700 were issued and Scott '10 values the souvenir sheet at $ 175.00 for unused and $ 140.00 for used.

With a population of just under 11 million, Belgium is the world's 15th largest trading nation. Highly industrialized, educated, and affluent, Belgium has a sizable, vibrant stamp collecting community comparable to those of its Northern European neighbors.


This souvenir sheet is well worth accumulating, either VF NH or used. Attractively cacheted First Day Covers exist, for which Michel assigns a hefty premium over the catalog value for used. Fortunately, many dealers don't keep up with Michel, so it may be possible to find a B605a FDC at a very reasonable price.