Stamp Investment Tip: Netherlands Antilles 1948 Wilhelmina (Scott #188-98)

   In 1948, the Netherlands Antilles issued a set of eleven stamps portraying Queen Wilhelmina (Scott #188-98). 20,000 sets were issued, and Scott '13 prices the unused set at $106.10.

   It is likely that most of the sets were used as postage and discarded.

I continue to favor stamps of the European colonies and possessions over the stamps of their mother countries. The quantities issued for the colonies tend to be modest, and worldwide interest in them often grows at a faster rate. For the most part, stamps of the Netherlands Antilles appeals to Netherlands Colonies collectors, but as Curacao is a popular tourist destination, it's likely that in the future, interest in its stamps will grow in the Americas as well.

With about 16.6 million people, the Netherlands is the 16th largest economy in the world. It is an affluent industrial and trading nation, with a well-educated population, and an active stamp collecting community. Its annual GDP growth has averaged about 1% over the last 5 years, reflecting a slowing due to the global financial crisis.

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.