Stamp Investment Tip: Mexico 1945 Peace Theater Reconstruction (Scott #801-04,C148-52)

In 1945, Mexico issued a compound set of stamps celebration the reconstruction of the Theater of Peace (Scott #801-04,C148-52). 15,000 sets were issued, and Scott '14 prices the unused set at $51.65.

The set has appeal as an Art/Architecture topical.

With a population of about 109 million,  Mexico has a diverse and developing economy, but modernization remains a slow and uneven process. Current challenges include addressing income inequality, crime, corruption, upgrading the infrastructure, and reforming tax and labor laws. Annual GDP growth has averaged about 2% over the last five years, which takes into account a contraction of 6.5% in 2009 due to the global financial crisis. Stamps of Mexico are popular among collectors in the U.S. as well as in Mexico, and those who wish to learn more about Mexican stamps should consider joining the Mexico Elmhurst Philatelic Society International (M.E.P.S.I.). MEPSI provides many useful services for collectors of Mexico, including expertizing Mexican stamps.

  "The Stamp Specialist" blog features buy prices for stamps which I am interested in purchasing. The buy list for Mexico includes the set recommended in this article. Viewing dealers' buy lists every now and then is an excellent way to keep current on the vagaries of the stamp market.

Stamp Investment Tip: Colombia 1954 St. Peter Clavier Souvenir Sheet (Scott #C258a)

  In 1954, Colombia issued a souvenir sheet honoring the 300th Anniversary of St. Peter Clavier's death (Scott #C258a). 10,000 sheets were issued, and Scott '14 prices the unused sheet at $8.00.

   The sheet has appeal as a Religion topical and an Art/Architecture topical. It is grossly undervalued.

A nation of 45 million people, Colombia has been plagued by decades of serious internal armed conflict, drug trafficking, corruption, and gross inequities of income, but has nevertheless racked up annual GDP growth averaging over 4% over the last 5 years. Moreover, until the global financial fiasco cut its GDP growth to 3% in 2009, it had been steadily accelerating, from 2% in 2003 to 8% in 2008. Recently, the government, armed to the teeth by the U.S., has applied a dual policy of combining military pressure with negotiations to cope with the various guerrilla factions within the country. This seems to have worked to some extent, as the number of insurgents has been halved, and the number of homicides and kidnappings drastically reduced. While some argue that the Colombian government is still utterly corrupt, and has violated human rights and supported paramilitary death squads in order to achieve relative peace, it may be that this is par for the course, given the nation's history. A dialogue between the Colombian government and guerrillas of the FARC-EP began in 2012 with the aim to find a political solution to the armed conflict. The Colombian government and rebel groups met in Cuba, and as of November 2013, the talks have been promising. The Government also began a process of assistance and reparation for victims of conflict.The main challenge that the country faces will be that of sharing more of the wealth with the majority of the population so as to develop more of a middle class and political center. Otherwise, it will devolve into a violent, unstable mess.

"The Stamp Specialist" blog features my buy prices for stamps which I am interested in purchasing. I've posted a buy list for Colombia. Viewing dealers' buy lists every now and then is an excellent way to keep up with the vagaries of the stamp market.

Stamp Investment Tip: Spain 1938 Cathedrals Souvenir Sheets (Scott #B108E, B108Ej)

   In 1938, the Nationalist forces under General Francisco Franco were winning over the Republicans fighting the Spanish Civil War, and several semi-postal souvenir sheets were issued which emphasized the Nationalists' patriotism and close ties to the Catholic Church. Among these were two souvenir sheets picturing Spanish cathedrals, a perforated sheet of four and an imperforate version (Scott #B108E and B108Ej). 70,000 of the perforated sheet and 30,000 of the imperforate sheet were issued, and Scott '14 prices them unused at $42.50  and $72.50, respectively.

    The sheets should do well based on the growth of stamp collecting in Spain, as well as among  Art/Architecture and Religion topicalists. 

    I strongly favor all scarce and undervalued issues of Spain and its colonies. The nation has 46 million people, the 9th largest economy in the world, and the most rapidly aging population in Europe, a trend which favors the growth of stamp collecting. Spain was hit by the global financial crisis and its annual GDP growth has been flat for five years, though the economy is beginning to recover.

   Those interested in viewing a list of scarce stamps with printing quantities of 100,000 or fewer may wish to check out the StampSelector Scarce Stamp Quantities Issued List, which currently contains over 9,700 entries. Researching quantities issued data is vital to determining in which stamps to invest.   

  

Stamp Investment Tip: Armenia 1997 1,700th Anniversary of Christianity in Armenia Souvenir Sheet (Scott #549)

In 1997, Armenia issued a set and souvenir sheet picturing Armenian churches and honoring 1,700 years of Christianity in Armenia (Scott 544-48, 549). 100,000 sets and 30,000 souvenir sheets were issued, and Scott '13 prices them unused at $7.50 and $ 5.00, respectively.

I recommend purchase of the souvenir sheet, as it is an attractive Religion and Art/Architecture topical and also appeals to Armenian nationalist sentiment.

Many of the new and newly resurrected nations of Central Asia and Europe have issued quite a few stamps and souvenir sheets in very modest quantities, and some of these represent interesting opportunities for speculation for those who wish to "get in on the ground floor." As these countries have only recently begun issuing stamps, their collector populations are minimal, although they are unlikely to remain so, especially if the countries prosper. The best way to play them is to target popular topicals with low issuance quantities, as these will have worldwide appeal, whether interest in these countries' stamps grows significantly or not.

Armenia, a nation of about 3.2 million, has made steady economic progress in the face of a number of obstacles, including its legacy of dependence on the Soviet Union as a centrally planned economy, a catastrophic earthquake, and an unresolved conflict with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Major economic sectors include agriculture, chemicals, electronics, machinery, and mining, and new industries, such as precious stone processing and jewellery making, information and communication technology, and even tourism are beginning to develop. The economy is also bolstered by investment and support from 5.7 million Armenians living abroad. Annual GDP growth has averaged just under 3% over the last 5 years, although this reflect a contraction of 14% in 2009 due to the global financial crisis.

Those interested in learning more about investing in stamps are encouraged to read the Philatelic Investment Guide ($5), available on Kindle, and accessible from any computer.

Stamp Investment Tip: Panama 1964 Cathedrals Issue (Scott #C300-21,C321a)

In 1964, Panama issued a handsome engraved airmail set and souvenir sheet picturing famous churches, and commemorating the 21st Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church (Scott #C300-21, C321a). 20,000 sets and 17,500 souvenir sheets were issued, and Scott '11 prices them unused at $50.00 and $15.00, respectively.


I favor both the set and the souvenir sheet, as they have multiple market appeal among collectors of Panama, Latin America in general, and Religion topicals. As with all Latin American stamps, there are many collectors who focus on the region as a whole, which supplements demand for the stamps of the individual countries.

A nation of 3.4 million people, Panama is the fastest growing economy and the largest per capita consumer in Central America. Panama's economy, because of its key geographic location, is mainly based on a well developed service sector heavily weighted towards banking, commerce, tourism, trading. The handover of the Canal and military installations by the United States has given rise to large construction projects. Tourism has grown rapidly during the past 5 years due to the government offering tax and price discounts to foreign guests and retirees. The country also has valuable copper and gold deposits, which are beginning to be developed. Annual GDP growth has averaged over 7% over the last 5 years.

I have begun a new blog, "The Stamp Specialist", which will feature my buy prices for stamps which I am interested in purchasing. I've just posted a buy list for Panama, including the set and souvenir sheet recommended in this article. Viewing dealers' buy lists every now and then is an excellent way to keep current on the vagaries of the stamp market.

Stamp Investment Tip: Brazil 1949 Ouro Fino Bicentenary Souvenir Sheet (Scott #687a)

Like Jim Cramer and many other investment analysts, I favor the "BRIC" countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China), but as a stampselector, my take on them is somewhat different. Certainly an investor should endeavor to profit from the economic growth of these countries by investing in mutual funds or by prudently picking stocks, but should he be familiar with stamps, then why not diversify into them as well? After all, unlike a publicly traded company, a stamp (or in this case, a souvenir sheet) can't be nationalized, lose its value due to mismanagement, fraud, dilution, or competition, or go bankrupt. In fact, a stamp's supply must either remain static or diminish over time, so in effect, all are subject to "stock buybacks" by the Fates or Father Time.


In 1949, Brazil issued a souvenir sheet picturing the Church of Sao Francisco de Paula, and commemorating the Bicentenary of the city of Ouro Fino (Scott #687a). Only 10,000 were issued, and Scott '10 values this religion topical at $62.50 for unused and $30.00 for used. As an added "bonus feature," the s/s was issued without gum, making preservation less of a headache. The '49 Church souvenir sheet is, in my opinion, grossly undervalued, and a likely candidate for hoarding and price manipulation in the not-too-distant future.

With 191 million people, Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America, and the world's eighth largest. Political and economic reforms have given the country a brighter future than it had in the bad old days of oligarchical dictatorship. The Brazilian economy is diverse, the country is aggressively investing in its future by generously funding technological research and education, and exports are booming. Annual GDP growth has averaged a little over 5% over the last 5 years.

There are a number of undervalued Brazilian issues with printing quantities of 10,000 to 100,000, some of which have topical appeal, and recommending them for accumulation seems a no-brainer. Brazil looks destined to become an economic superpower, and even if it mirrors the philatelically anemic U.S. and only one out of a thousand Brazilians become serious stamp collectors and one out of a fifty become "non-serious" ones, they'll be competing for their nation's better stamps, only to find that the cupboard is bare.
Note: I've never seen a First Day Cover of #687a, and it's possible that they are rare, because the sheet was issued without gum.
I have recently published a buy list for stamps and souvenir sheets of Brazil, including this issue. Viewing dealers' buy lists is an excellent way to keep abreast of the stamp market.
Those interested in learning more about investing in stamps are welcome to join the Facebook "Stampselectors" group. The group currently has over 1,600 members who engage in trading and lively discussion about the stamp market and practical issues related to stamp collecting.