Stamp Investment Tip: Rwanda 1967 Birds Issue (Scott #239-48)

In 1967, Rwanda issued an attractive Birds set (Scott #239-48). 37,500 were issued, and Scott '11 prices it at $18.40 for unused. Animals on stamps are among the most popular of topicals, and increasing in popularity. Also, as a former Belgian colony, Rwanda has some appeal among collectors of Belgium and Area.

While I do not believe that Rwanda will develop a significant domestic stamp collecting base in the near future, I am more sanguine about the prospect long-term. A nation of 10.7 million people, Rwanda received considerable international attention due to its 1994 genocide, in which an estimated 800,000 people were killed. Since then, the country has made a recovery and is now considered a model for developing countries. In 2009, a CNN report labeled Rwanda as Africa's biggest success story, having achieved stability and economic growth. The country is still largely dependent upon agriculture, with coffee and tea being the main exports, although the government has taken an active role in bolstering a growing manufacturing sector. Average income has tripled in the past ten years, and annual GDP growth has been impressive, averaging almost 7% over the last five years.

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.