Stamp Investment Tip: Armenia 1993 Hakop Kojoian Souvenir Sheet (Scott #451A)

In 1993, Armenia issued a souvenir sheet picturing a painting by  Hakop Kojoian of David of Sassoun,  a national hero who drove Arab invaders out of Armenia (Scott #451A). He is the subject of an Armenian epic poem, the Sasuntsi Davit, which recounts his exploits.Only 20,000 of the sheet were issued, and Scott '13 prices it unused at $10.00.

This inexpensive souvenir sheet is an attractive Art/Literature 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: Peru 1963 Chavin Ceramics Airmail Semi-Postals (Scott #CB1-5)

In 1963, Peru issued a set of five airmail semi-postal stamps picturing ceramic objects found at the excavations of its Chavin culture, an early indigenous civilization (Scott #CB1-5). The additional non-postal surtax helped to fund the excavations. 30,000 sets were issued, and Scott '13 prices the unused set at $ 5.35.

This currently inexpensive set has appeal as an Art/Archeology topical, and should also do well as Peru continues its economic development. As with all stamps of Latin America, demand is bolstered by the tendency of collectors to focus on the region as a whole.

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.

Stamp Investment Tip: Samoa 1920 Victory Overprint (Scott #136-41)

   Samoa, an archipelago in the South Pacific, is interesting from a philatelic perspective, because it has issued stamps as an independent kingdom, a partially German colony, under New Zealand's administration, and as an independent state.

   Early in World War I, the islands under German domination were occupied by New Zealand troops, and stamps of New Zealand were overprinted for use in Samoa. In 1920, a Victory set was issued (Scott #136-41), by overprinting 30,000 of the New Zealand Victory sets (Scott #165-70). Scott '13 prices the unused set at $38.50.  Though I sometimes recommend expertization of scarce overprints, it's unnecessary in this case because the stamps are inexpensive and the basic New Zealand set is actually worth more than the overprinted one.

   While Samoa's population of just under 200,000 is probably too low to sustain a significant community of stamp collectors, the stamps issued during the kingdom period and as part of the British Commonwealth appeal to British Commonwealth collectors and collectors in New Zealand.

Those interested in viewing a list of scarce stamps with printing quantities of 100,000 or fewer may wish to view 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: French Morocco 1949 Scenes (Scott #B38-41/CB31-34, B41a/CB34a))

  In 1949, the French issued a compound semi-postal and airmail semi-postal set for French Morocco, picturing scenes of their colony (Scott #B38-41/CB31-34). In addition, they issued two souvenir sheets containing the stamps of each set (Scott #B41a/CB34a). The funds from the non-postal premiums were used to fund projects promoting Franco-Moroccan cooperation. 75,000 of the sets and 15,000 of the souvenir sheets were issued, and Scott '13 prices the sets unused at $17.60  and the sheets at $52.50.

Now an independent kingdom of about 32 million people, Morocco has enjoyed annual GDP growth averaging about 5% over the past 5 years. The services sector, especially tourism, accounts for over half of GDP, and other industries include mining, manufacturing, and agriculture. Since the early 1980s the Moroccan government has pursued an economic program toward accelerating real economic growth,reforming the financial sector and privatizing state enterprises.

Better issues of the French Protectorate period have a potential dual market. Currently they are mainly sought by collectors of French Colonies. I expect that they will rise significantly as the stamp market develops within Morocco itself.

Those interested in becoming part of a community of stamp collectors, dealers, and investors are welcome to join the Facebook "Stampselectors" group, which currently has over 1,600 members.

Stamp Investment Tip: India 2000 Indepex Asiana Souvenir Sheet (Scott #1834b)

  In 2000, India issued a souvenir sheet celebrating the Indepex Asiana Stamp Exhibition, and picturing native birds (Scott #1834b). 50,000 were issued, and Scott '13 prices the unused souvenir sheet at $6.00.


All Indian souvenir sheets with printings of 100,000 or fewer should be accumulated, with priority given to those issues which have strong thematic appeal. The Indepex Asiana souvenir sheet has obvious appeal as a Animals/Birds topical and should do very well indeed. India is a rapidly developing nation of over a billion people, and millions of Indian collectors will likely be converted to the insidious cult of Philately over the next decades.

 Those interested in viewing a list of scarce stamps with printing quantities of 100,000 or fewer may wish to view 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.

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: Argentina 1917 Bolivar (Scott #231-46)

  In 1917, Argentina issued a set of sixteen stamps picturing Jose de San Martin, the  prime leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire (Scott #231-46). While printing quantity information is unavailable for this set, I estimate that fewer than 15,000 sets were issued. Scott '13 prices the unused set at $ 186.90.

It is likely that the vast majority of these sets were used as postage and discarded. It wouldn't surprise me if fewer than a couple thousand remain, in any condition.

I continue to favor all better stamps of Latin America as bets on the growth of the region's middle class. As collectors often focus on Latin America as a whole, demand for the stamps of the individual countries is supplemented by the the more general regional focus.

With a population of about 40 million, Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Historically, Argentina's economic performance has been uneven, as periods of high economic growth have alternated with severe downturns. Over the last 5 years, annual GDP growth has averaged a whopping 8.5%. However, over the last 20 years Argentina has weathered several major debt crises and recessions.

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 posted a buy list for Argentina, 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: Cook Islands 1921 Rarotonga Overprint (Scott #67-71)

   In 1921, New Zealand issued a set of five high value stamps for the Cook Islands, which it was administering, by overprinting its postal fiscal stamps of 1906-13 with the word "Rarotonga", the name of the territory's most populous island (Scott #67-71). The set is interesting because it portrays Queen Victoria, though issued years after her death. Only 4,320 sets were issued, and Scott '13 prices the unused set at $317.50 . 
The set  should do well based on its appeal to British Commonwealth collectors and demand from New Zealand.

While the population of the Cook Islands (about 20,000) is probably too low to sustain much of a stamp collecting population, there is significant demand for its stamps among collectors of British Commonwealth in general and in New Zealand in particular, because the islands were a dependency of New Zealand for many years, and still have strong links to that nation.

New Zealand is a modern, prosperous nation of about 4.3 million people, with a GDP of $115 billion. Over the last 10 years, annual GDP growth has averaged about 3%. The economy was hurt by the recent global financial crisis, and is beginning to recover. In 2005, the World Bank praised New Zealand as being the most business-friendly nation in the world. The nation has a stamp collecting demographic similar to Great Britain's, and the demand for better material should increase dramatically as population aging accelerates. The percentage of New Zealanders aged 60 and over will rise from 18% in 2009 to 29% in 2050.

Those interested in becoming part of an international community of stamp collectors, dealers, and investors are welcome to join the "Stampselectors" group and organization page at Facebook. The group and page host lively discussions concerning stamp investment and practical aspects of collecting, and provide a useful venue for those who wish to buy, sell, or trade stamps.

Stamp Investment Tip: Lebanon 1938 Medical Congress (Scott #C75-78)

 In 1938, Lebanon issued a set of four airmail stamps honoring the convening of a medical congress (Scott #C75-78). 30,000 sets were issued, and Scott '13 prices the unused set at $ 22.00.

The issue has multiple market appeal among collectors of Lebanon, French Colonies/Possessions, and Medical Topicals.


A nation of 4.2 million people, Lebanon is noted for its commercial enterprise. Over the course of time, emigration has yielded Lebanese "commercial networks" throughout the world. As a result, remittances from Lebanese abroad to family members within the country total $8.2 billion and account for one fifth of the country's economy. The country has the largest proportion of skilled labor among Arab States. The tourism and banking sectors are the the most important pillars of the Lebanese economy, though they have at times been disrupted by political instability. Annual GDP growth has averaged about 4.8% over the last 5 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.