Stamp Investment Tip: Greenland 1905-37 Parcel Post Issues (Scott Q1-11)

Between 1905 and 1937, Denmark issued parcel post stamps for Greenland, which was a colony until becoming an integral part of Denmark in 1953. Scott lists these issues as two sets (Q1-9 and Q10-11), but one could argue that they actually comprised three separate sets: the 1905 typographed, perf. 12 1/2 issue, the 1916-37 typographed, perf. 11 or 11 1/2 issue, and the 1937 lithographed, perf. 11 issue.


All of the Greenland Parcel Posts (with the possible exceptions of Q6 and Q6a) are undervalued, probably because they've been neglected as "back-of-book" issues, and I've listed their quantities issued and Scott ' Catalog Values for unused below:

• Q1 1916 1 ore Olive Green (56,500 issued -$ 57.50)
• Q1a 1905 1 ore Olive Green, Perf 12 1/2 (10,000 issued - $ 775.00)
• Q2 1916 2 ore Yellow (37,500 issued - $ 325.00 )
• Q3 1916 5 ore Brown (32,500 issued- $ 125.00 )
• Q3a 1905 5 ore Brown, Perf 12 1/2 (5,000 issued- $ 750.00)
• Q4 and Q4b 10 ore Blue (58,000 total issued - $ 40.00 and $ 55.00, respectively)
• Q4a 1905 10 ore Blue, Perf 12 1/2 (10,000 issued - $ 950.00)
• Q5 1916 15 ore Violet (28,000 issued- $ 200.00)
• Q6 and Q6a 20 ore Red (344,000 total issued - $ 17.00 and $ 40.00, respectively )
• Q7 and Q7a 1937 70 ore Violet, Perf 11 (16,500 total issued - $ 40.00 and $ 250.00, respectively)
• Q8 and Q8a 1 krone Yellow ( 50,000 total issued- $ 40.00 and 52.50, respectively)
• Q9 1930 3 krone Brown (40,000 issued- $ 140.00)
• Q10 1937 70 ore Pale Violet (25,500 issued - $ 42.50)
• Q11 1937 1 krone Yellow (Unknown quantity issued - $ 40.00 )
  

The Michel Catalog notes a 1937 70 ore ReddishViolet variety (1,000 issued) which is not listed in Scott, and it might pay to watch out for it. It is actually the scarcest stamp of the entire issue, and an unknowing seller might offer it as the regular 70 ore Pale Violet (Q10), which is 25 times more common.

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