Stamp Investment Tip: Honduras 1953 UN Air Officials (Scott #CO60-68)

 







 In 1953, Honduras overprinted 10,000 of the sets of its United Nations Airmail Issue (Scott #C222-30), creating an Airmail Official set (Scott #CO60-68). Scott '14 prices the unused set at $22.20 .

The main reason that this set remains cheap is that Honduras is still a very poor country, and few of its citizens can afford to collect stamps. As far as philatelic investing goes, it qualifies as a "ground floor opportunity" (as described in one of my "general commentary" articles), for which the best strategy is to minimize risk by buying stamps of the country which have worldwide appeal, such as rarities and popular topicals, and then hope for additional increases in value as the country's situation improves. To some extent, Honduran stamp values are sustained by the tendency among stamp collectors to collect Latin America as a region, rather than focusing on individual countries.

I continue to like the U.N. as a topic, long-term. The market for U.N.-related topicals should grow over the very long haul as institutions of world government develop in order to take on serious (and possibly existential) problems which can only be coped with globally. Despite the present inadequacy, corruption, and ineffectiveness of the U.N., I view its reform and gradual strengthening as a gradual but irresistible trend.

Honduras is a nation of about 7 1/2 million people, which has recently undergone a coup d'etat and constitutional crisis which threatened a reversion to dictatorship. The economy, which is largely dependent on agriculture and mining, has continued to grow, but the distribution of wealth remains very polarized, with average wages remaining low. 50% of the population still remains below the poverty line. Annual GDP growth has averaged 3.5% over the last five years, reflecting a 3% contraction in 2010 due to the reverberations of the global financial crisis.

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 just posted a buy list for the Honduras. 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: Honduras 1964 Olympics (C336-44, C344 Note)

In 1964, Honduras issued a set of airmail stamps and two souvenir sheets honoring the Olympics (Scott #C336-44,C344Note,C344 2nd Note ). 20,000 sets and 5,000 of each souvenir sheet were issued, and Scott '11 prices them unused at $12.55, $40.00,and $50.00, respectively. Also, a small portion of the sets were overprinted for Official Use (Scott #CO111-19; CV = $25.25). The sets and souvenir sheets have worldwide appeal as Olympics/Sports topicals.


Honduras is a nation of about 7 1/2 million people, which has recently undergone a coup d'etat and constitutional crisis which threatened a reversion to dictatorship. The economy, which is largely dependent on agriculture and mining, has continued to grow, but the distribution of wealth remains very polarized, with average wages remaining low. 50% of the population still remains below the poverty line. Annual GDP growth has averaged 3.5% over the last five years, reflecting a 3% contraction in 2010 due to the reverberations of the global financial crisis.

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 just posted a buy list for the Honduras. 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: British Honduras 1922-33 George V Issue (Scott #92-104)

Between 1922 and '33, British Honduras issued a definitive set portraying George V (Scott #92-104). 24,000 of the $5 high value (Scott #104) were issued, and Scott '11 values the unused set at $ 397.75 and #104 alone at $275.00. I recommend purchase of either the complete set or the high value.

The stamps of British Honduras have a potential dual market among both collectors of British Commonwealth in general and British Honduras/Belize in particular, but I believe that for the foreseeable future, most of the demand for its better stamps will come from the Commonwealth collectors.

Belize is a small, developing country of about 320,000 people, with an economy based largely on agriculture, although tourism, construction, and oil production have recently assumed greater importance. Annual GDP growth has averaged about 3.5% over the last 5 years.

Stamp Investment Tip: British Honduras 1882-87 Issue (Scott #13-17)

Between 1882 and 1887, British Honduras issued a set of Victoria definitives (Scott #13-17), of which the 6p and 1sh high values are quite scarce. Only 1,200 of each of #16 and #17 were issued. Scott '10 values the complete set unused at $812.50 unused, and the top values at $ 325.00 and $ 300.00, respectively.


The stamps of British Honduras have a potential dual market among both collectors of British Commonwealth in general and British Honduras/Belize in particular, but I believe that for the foreseeable future, most of the demand for its better stamps will come from the Commonwealth collectors.

Belize is a small, developing country of about 320,000 people, with an economy based largely on agriculture, although tourism, construction, and oil production have recently assumed greater importance. Annual GDP growth has averaged about 3.5% over the last 5 years.


If purchasing one of the two high values, attempt to obtain it in the best condition possible, or try buy a slightly defective example with an F-VF or better appearance at a deep discount. It would not surprise me at all if fewer than 200 of each of these stamps remain, in any condition.