Stamp Investment Tip: Romania 1958 Postage Stamp Centenary (Scott #C57)

In 1958, Romania issued a souvenir sheet commemorating the centenary of its first postage stamps (Scott #C57). 30,000 were issued, and Scott '12 prices the unused souvenir sheet at $ 35.00 .

The added appeal to Stamp-on-Stamp topicalists should help to bolster the value of this souvenir sheet.


A nation of 22 million people with a GDP per capita of $ 12,285.- (about 46% of the EU average), Romania is considered an upper-middle income country. Romania's main exports are clothing and textiles, industrial machinery, electrical and electronic equipment, metallurgic products, raw materials, cars, military equipment, software, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, and agricultural products. Though the economy has been hit recently by the global financial crisis, GDP growth has averaged about 3.8% over the last ten years.

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: Indonesia 1988 Butterfly Souvenir Sheet (Scott #1373)

In 1988, Indonesia issued a set and souvenir sheet picturing butterflies (Scott #1371-72, 1373). Only 22,000 of the souvenir sheet were issued, and Scott '12 prices it at $12.00 for unused. Butterflies are among the most popular Animal topicals, so demand for this issue should continue to increase, regardless of what happens to the stamp market in Indonesia.

A recent Price, Waterhouse, Coopers report projects that Indonesia will be one of the world's fastest growing economies over the next forty years. Should this prove accurate, and should a burgeoning Indonesian middle class provide a base for a developing stamp market, then it is likely that the values of the country's better modern souvenir sheets will increase many-fold.

Indonesia is a rapidly developing, though still poor, country of 230 million people, with an annual GDP growth rate hovering around 5%-6%. It is the largest economy in Southeast Asia. While the manufacturing and service sectors are growing rapidly, agriculture still employs more of the working population than either. The country has extensive natural resources, including crude oil, natural gas, tin, copper, and gold. Its major export commodities include oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, rubber, and textiles. Like most emerging market nations, Indonesia faces challenges which will have to be addressed, including corruption and major inequities in the distribution of income.

Stamp Investment Tip: Uruguay 1935 Visit of Pres. Vargas to Brazil (Scott #463-68)

In 1935, Uruguay issued a set of six stamps commemorating the Visit of Uruguayan President Vargas to Brazil (Scott #463-68). The stamps show allegories of "Uruguay" and "Brazil" holding the Scales of Justice. Only 10,000 sets were issued, and Scott '12 prices the unused set at $6.80 .

Most of the sets were probably used as postage and discarded, as Uruguay's economy was in crippled by the worldwide Depression of the '30s, and the only Uruguayans who could afford to collect its stamps were to be found among members of the oligarchy.

With a population of about 3 1/2 million people, most of whom are of European or mixed descent, Uruguay has a stamp collecting population which will probably approach European levels in the years to come. Uruguay is one of the most economically developed, politically stable and least corrupt countries in Latin America, and is moving away from its dependence on agricultural exports and toward development of commercial technologies, especially software. Annual GDP growth has averaged a little over 3% over the last 5 years.

I have begun a new blog, "The Stamp Specialist", which will feature wholesale buy prices for stamps which I am interested in purchasing. It includes a buy list for Uruguay, and 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: North West Pacific Islands

From 1915 through '23, Australia issued 49 stamps for a group of islands in the Pacific called the North West Pacific Islands by overprinting Australian stamps.
These range in value from inexpensive (under $10) to $ for the key stamp, the 1916 2 1/2p Dark Blue with wide crown and narrow "A" watermark (Scott #14).

While quantities issued information is unavailable for most N.W.P.I. stamps, I estimate that those which catalog over $100 had printings in the low thousands or fewer. Since these are all overprints, I advise purchasing them conditional on obtaining expertization if there's any question as to whether the stamps under consideration are authentic. I recommend purchase of the better N.W.P.I. stamps (those which catalog $200 or more).

While the stamps appeal to British Commonwealth collectors generally, the main catalyst for their growth will come from the Australian market. In Australia, the Pacific island nations or territories which the Australians administered or for which they issued stamps are viewed, from a philatelic perspective, in the same way that European collectors view their former colonies.

Australia is a prosperous nation of 22 million people and a diverse economy, with thriving service, agricultural, and mining sectors. Annual GDP growth has average 3.6% over the past 15 years. Recently, there has been considerable growth in mining and petroleum extraction, in part due to increased exports to the resource-hungry Chinese market. It is likely that Australia's stamp collecting population will grow significantly as the nation ages. The percentage of Australians over 60 is projected to rise from 16% in 2000 to 24.8% in 2025, and 28.2% in 2050.

Stamp Investment Tip: French Equatorial Africa 1940-41 Overprint (Scott #80-125)

The important role played by African members of the French Resistance has long been neglected, but it is important to note that some of the first to support the movement were overseas territories in North Africa.

From 1940-41 , French Equatorial Africa overprinted some of its earlier issues "Libre" to produce a forty-six stamp set in support of the French Resistance (Scott #80-125). Only 4,000 sets were issued, and Scott '13 prices the unused set at $494.15 .

The set strongly appeals to French Colonies collectors, as well as World War II topicalists. Furthermore, since the former colony of French Equatorial Africa was granted independence and divided to form the current nations of Chad, Congo, Gabon, and Central African Republic, the set makes an interesting emerging market play as well.

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: Costa Rica 1946 Hospital (Scott #C128-40)

In 1946, Costa Rica issued a set of thirteen airmail stamps honoring the Hospital of St. John of God (Scott #C128-40). 15,000 sets were issued, and Scott '13 prices the unused set at $23.15.

Aside from being yet another grossly undervalued Latin American issue, the set doubles as a Medical Topical.

A small nation of 4 1/2 million people, Costa Rica is unique as the only Latin American country to have escaped the plague of repressive dictatorships and oligarchies endemic to the region. Costa Rica has generally enjoyed greater peace and more consistent political stability than many of its fellow Latin American nations. The government offers generous tax exemptions to those investing in the country,and in recent times electronics, pharmaceuticals, financial outsourcing, software development, and ecotourism have become the prime industries in Costa Rica's economy. High levels of education among its residents make the country an attractive investing location. Annual GDP growth has averaged 5.6% 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 Costa Rica, including 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: Ireland 1922 2sh6p to 10sh Overprints (Scott #12-14, 36-38)

In 1922, the Republic of Ireland issued its first postage stamps by applying a black Gaelic overprint (meaning "Provisional Government of Ireland...1922") to 1912-19 stamps of Great Britain. These are known as the Dollard Overprints, because the stamps were overprinted by Dollard, Ltd.. Of this first issue, the scarcest stamps are the 2shilling 6 penny, 5 shilling, and 10 shilling high values, which Scott lists as a set (Scott #12-14). 20,000 were issued, and Scott '12 prices it unused set at $407.50 ($ 800.- for NH) .

A second set of the high values (Scott #36-38) was also issued in 1922, overprinted in bluish black by Alexander Thom and Company. This second set (CV = $ 2,550.- for unused, $ 4,125.- for NH) is far scarcer than the first and was on sale for only a few days, but quantities issued are not known. While I do not feel that it is necessary to obtain expertization when purchasing the first set (#12-14) because the basic British stamps are also expensive, I advise doing so when purchasing the 10 shilling high value (#38) of the second one.

Both sets represent excellent investments, as stamps of Ireland have a dual market among collectors of both Ireland and British Commonwealth in general. While there are about 6 million people in the Republic of Ireland, there are about 80 million of Irish descent overseas, including over 36 million Irish Americans.

From the 1990s until 2007, the Irish government instituted economic policies which boosted its information technology sector and the country experienced rapid economic growth and became known as the "Celtic Tiger." Currently, Ireland is experiencing a severe recession due to banking scandals and the reverberations of the global financial crisis. As a result, Ireland has averaged zero GDP growth over the last 5 years, the worst of which was 2009, during which its economy experienced a 7% contraction. While it may take years to recover, there are some indications that the worst is over. The European Commission has forecast that the Irish economy will grow by 3% in 2011, which is one of the fastest growth rates predicted for any EU member state.

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: Turkey 1943 President Inonu Souvenir Sheet (Scott #915a)

In 1943, Turkey issued a souvenir sheet honoring Mustafa Izmet Inonu, its second president (Scott #915a). 25,000 were issued, and Scott '12 prices the unused sheet at $70.00. Inonu is remembered as statesman who maintained Turkey's neutrality in World War II, thereby facilitating its recovery from the carnage of World War I, and who presided over Turkey's development as a modern nation.

With a population of about 72 1/2 million, Turkey is perhaps the most culturally European of the Islamic nations, and a likely model for their modernization, economic development, and democratization. The country experienced rapid economic growth between 2002 and 2007, with GDP averaging 7.4%, but this slowed in 2008 to 5% and stalled in 2009 to 1%, due to the global financial crisis, from which the country is recovering. While traditional agriculture is still a pillar of the Turkish economy, it is becoming more dependent on industry. Key sectors include tourism, banking, construction, home appliances, electronics, textiles, oil refining, petrochemical products, food, mining, iron and steel, the machine industry, automotive, and shipbuilding. It is likely that in the future, Turkey will benefit from serving as an economic and cultural nexus connecting Europe, the Near East, and the Turkic (formerly Soviet) nations of Central Asia.


Readers who are on Facebook are welcome to join the "StampSelectors" group, which focuses upon philatelic investing, the stamp market, and practical matters regarding buying and selling stamps. It also offers the opportunity to comment upon this blog and suggest future stamp investment tips.

Stamp Investment Tip: Peru 1907 Issue (Scott #168-76)

In 1907, Peru issued a set of nine stamps picturing monuments and buildings (Scott #168-76). Only 2,000 sets were issued, and Scott '12 prices the unused set at $493.10. In all probability, the vast majority of sets were used as postage and discarded, and it would not surprise me if there were fewer than 500 remaining.

Peru has issued a number of undervalued sets, which I intend to cover in the future. Demand for the country's stamps is boosted by the tendency of many collectors to focus on Latin America as a region.


With a population of 29 million, Peru is an emerging market nation which has experienced significant economic growth over the last 15 years, and annual GDP growth averaging 7.2% over the last 5. Major exports include copper, gold, zinc, textiles, and fish meal. In 2010 Peru's per capita income is about $10,000. Poverty has steadily decreased since 2004, when nearly half the country's population was under the poverty line, although great inequities in income distribution persist. As the trend continues and more Peruvians join the middle class, the country's better stamps should do very well.

I have begun a new blog, "The Stamp Specialist", which will feature wholesale buy prices for stamps which I am interested in purchasing. I've posted a buy list for the Peru, and it 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.