Stamp Investment Tip: Venezuela 1930-39 Plane and Map Issues

Between 1930 and 1939, Venezuela issued four airmail sets picturing a biplane and a map of the country. All four sets are undervalued, and have multiple market appeal to collectors of Venezuela, Aviation, and the small but growing number of Map-on-Stamp topicalists.

Winchester Security Paper

The four sets are Venezuela's first airmail set of 1930 (Scott #C1-16), the 1932 set of similar design issued on bluish Winchester Security Paper (Scott #C17-40- example pictured at right), the 1937 Surcharged set (Scott #C41-46), and the 1938-39 set issued on white paper without the imprint at bottom, which is pictured above (Scott #C119-26). 30,000, 15,300, 5,000, and 50,000 of these sets were issued, respectively, and Scott '12 prices them unused at $ 24.50, $167.05, $66.00, and $34.45 . Many of these Depression-era sets were probably used as postage and discarded. Few Venezuelans of the time could afford to purchase and save the stamps in unused condition.

With a population of about 26 million, Venezuela is resource-rich, and consistently ranks among the top ten oil producers in the world. Annual GDP growth has averaged almost 10% over the last 5 years, although it has been decelerating recently due to lower oil prices. Under Chavez-style quasi-socialism, the percentage of Venezuelans living below the poverty line has decreased from 48% in 2002 to 30% in 2006. The country has begun diversifying its economy away from its current near-total dependence on petroleum exports, and has spawned a rapidly growing manufacturing sector.

I have begun a new blog, "The Stamp Specialist", featuring my buy lists for stamps which I wish to purchase, including many items from Venezuela .Periodically viewing dealers' buy lists
is an excellent way to remained informed about the state of the stamp market.