Stamp Investment Tip: U.S. 1993-Present Junior Duck Stamps (Scott #JDS 1-21)

  The U.S. Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program held its first national art contest and issued its first Junior Duck Stamp in 1993, and it has gradually increased in popularity among Duck stamp collectors ever since. More than 27,000 students enter Junior Duck Stamp art contests each year.  It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of students have been educated on the importance of waterfowl and wetlands conservation.  The winning design from the national contest is used to create the Junior Duck Stamp for the following year. Proceeds from the sale of Junior Duck Stamp support conservation education, and provide awards and scholarships for the students, teachers and schools that participate in the program.

   Technically, these stamps are cinderellas. Unlike the regular Federal, State, and Tribal Duck Stamps, the Junior Duck Stamps do not license hunters, but are issued solely as collectibles. Though I seldom recommend cinderellas as investments, the growing popularity of these stamps renders them an exception to this rule.

  I wish to thank the Federal Duck Stamp Office for has generously providing me with information as to "minimum quantities sold" for these stamps, which may be considered to be slightly less than the actual quantities sold. For certain years, no information is available, and it should be noted that the stamps are available for purchase from them for three years after issuance, so those issued from 2011 on are still being sold. I've listed these stamps, their quantities issued, and their Scott '14 Catalog Values, below:

• 1993 $5 Redhead (#JDS1 - Unknown; CV = $85.-)
• 1994 $5 Hooded Merganser (#JDS2 - Unknown; CV = $200.-)
• 1995 $5 Northern Pintail (#JDS3 - 2,493; CV = $450.-)
• 1996 $5 Canvasback (#JDS4 - 2,783 ; CV = $550.-)
• 1997 $5 Canada Goose (#JDS5 - 2,804; CV = $500.-)
• 1998 $5 Black Duck (#JDS6 - 223; CV = $500.- )
• 1999 $5 Wood Duck (#JDS7 - Unknown; CV = $ 525.-)
• 2000 $5 Northern Pintail (#JDS8 - Unknown; CV = $350.-)
• 2001 $5 Trumpeter Swan (#JDS9 - 18,928; CV = $85.-)
• 2002 $5 Mallard (#JDS10 - 21,667; CV = $55.-)
• 2003 $5 Green-winged Teal (#JDS11 - 21,466; CV = $35.-)
• 2004 $5 Whistling Duck (#JDS12 - 25,035; CV = $27.50)
• 2005 $5 Ring-necked Duck (#JDS13 - 28,456; CV = $25.-)
• 2006 $5 Redhead (#JDS14 - 27,720; CV = $15.-)
• 2007 $5 American Widgeon (#JDS15 - 17,567; CV = $12.-)
• 2008 $5 Nene (#JDS16 - 31,499; CV = $12.-)
• 2009 $5 Wood Duck (#JDS17 - 21,389; CV = $12.-)
• 2010 $5 Hooded Merganser (#JDS18 - 30,519; CV = $10.-)
• 2011 $5 Ring-necked Duck (#JDS19 - 15,486; CV = $10.-)
• 2012 $5 Northern Pintail (#JDS20 - Unknown; CV = $ 10.-)
• 2013 $5 Canvasback (#JDS21 -  Unknown; CV - $10.- )

  From a philatelic investment perspective, the Duck Stamp collecting community is interesting because it represents an atypical crossover market which includes collectors of  U.S. stamps in general, U.S. Revenues, Duck hunting collectibles and Wildlife art. Because revenues from the sales of the stamps are used to purchase and protect wildlife habitats, it may be considered a "green" collectible, and Duck stamp collecting is actively promoted by the Department of the Interior's Fish and Wildlife Service. I estimate that currently there are between 8,000 to 10,000 "serious" Duck stamp collectors in the U.S., and many others who buy them to them to fill spaces in their general U.S. albums.

Those interested in learning about investing in stamps should read the Guide to Philatelic Investing ($5), available on Kindle and easily accessible from any computer.   
  

Stamp Investment Tip: Turkmenistan 1993 Caspian Seal Issue (Scott #34-38, 38a)

  In 1993, Turkmenistan issued a set of 6 stamps honoring the World Wildlife Fund, and picturing Caspian Seals (Scott # 34-38, 38a). 30,000 sets were issued, as well as 5,000 booklets (Scott #38a). Scott '13 prices these unused at $10.15  and $32.50, respectively.

   I recommend purchase of both the set and the booklet, although the booklet is certainly the more alluring of the two from an investment perspective. The stamps picturing these cute aquatic mammals appeal to Animal topicalists and Eco-topicalists. According to the American Topical Association, Animals are the most popular topical subject among stamp collectors, and there are quite a few who specialize in WWF issues.

I believe that focusing on scarce popular topicals is a prudent means of speculating on stamps of the newly independent nations of Central Asia. Whether or not demand develops within these countries for the stamps that they issue, there will always be worldwide demand for their most popular topicals.

A nation of 5.1 million, Turkmenistan is a largely desert country with nomadic cattle raising, intensive agriculture in irrigated oases, and huge gas and oil resources. It possesses the world's fourth largest reserves of natural gas, and is also the world's tenth largest producer of cotton. As in the Soviet era, central planning and state control pervade the system, although there is gradual progress toward greater privatization. Annual GDP growth has averaged over 8% over the last 5 years, mostly due to increasing demand for the country's oil.
 
 The Stamp Auction Bidders and Consignors Union (SABACU)  serves as  a forum for discussing stamp auctions and also represents the interests of stamp auction bidders and consignors. All stamp collectors and stamp dealers are welcome to join.

Stamp Investment Tip: India 2002 UN Climate Change Souvenir Sheet (Scott # 1978a)

In 2002, India issued a souvenir sheet honoring the UN Climate Change Convention, and picturing Indian native trees (Scott #1978a). 50,000 were issued, and Scott ' prices the unused souvenir sheet at $5.00.

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 UN Climate Change Convention  souvenir sheet is both a United Nations and Flora topical (as well an an "Eco-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: Azerbaijan 2007 Polar Bear Souvenir Sheets (Scott #860a, 861)

In 2007, Azerbaijan issued two souvenir sheets picturing Polar Bears (Scott #860a, 861). 10,000 of the first and 30,000 of the second were issued, and Scott '13 prices the unused sheets at $ 15.00 and $ 6.00, respectively.

The topic selection is a bit asinine, since Polar Bears are not native to Azerbaijan. Nevertheless, these sheets make interesting and low-risk speculations based on their appeal as Animal topicals, and as  bets on the economic growth of Azerbaijan and the development of a stamp market there. This recommendation is consistent with my belief that one of the best ways to play the new and newly resurrected countries of Europe and Asia is to focus on popular topicals with low printings.

Azerbaijan is an oil-rich nation of about 9 million people, which also has significant reserves of natural gas and various minerals. Agriculture and tourism are also important to the Azerbaijani economy. The country shares all the problems of the former Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. It has begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. Annual GDP growth has averaged a stellar 16% over the last 5 years, largely based on the frenetic development of the country's oil wealth - an estimated 7 billion barrels of reserves.

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.

General Commentary: How Green is Your Collection? The Case for Eco-Topicals

As man-made threats to the environmental health of the planet become more and more evident, it seems reasonable to assume that interest in collecting stamps which are thematically related to preserving the environment will also tend to increase. Though generally, the issuance of stamps which have subjects directly related to environmental preservation is a recent phenomenon, there are many topical areas which are indirectly related.

Among the earliest stamps issued which most directly relate to conservation are stamps of various countries celebrating the natural beauty of their national parks, such as the U.S. 1934-35 National Parks sets (Scott #740-49 and 756-65) and those of Japan (issued from 1936 on). While certain National Parks issues may warrant a closer look by investors, "scenes stamps" are not among the most popular topicals.

According to a recent survey taken by the American Topical Association (A.T.A.), the most popular stamp collecting topical among U.S. collectors is Animals, the fifth most popular is Flora, and the subgroups of Birds, Marine Life, and Insects are also very popular (at 7th, 12th, and 14th places, respectively). These topicals certainly are ec0-related, although it is possible that not all collectors who focus on them consider themselves environmentalists. Unfortunately, no similar survey has ever been taken internationally, but it seems likely that global interest in these topical areas is roughly the the same.

Collector demand for pro-conservation stamps which picture animals has bolstered the market for better recent stamps and souvenir sheets honoring the World Wildlife Fund issued by various countries. In the U.S., demand for Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, also known as "Duck Stamps", has remained strong, to the extent that their issuance has expanded beyond the Federal government to include many states and some Native American Tribal Lands. Since 1993, the Fish and Wildlife Service has also issued "Junior Duck Stamps", which are basically labels designed by teens and children, with no validity as revenues. The program has proven successful solely on the basis of sales to collectors, and some of these stamps have increased dramatically in value. Several of the earliest Junior Ducks currently retail for around $500 each, which is quite impressive when one considers that they're basically glorified cinderellas. All of the U.S. Duck stamp programs support environmental conservation, since the funds derived from the sale of the stamps are used to purchase wetlands, but to what extent this beneficial aspect affects collector demand is impossible to gauge.

In my opinion, the interest in topicals related to the environment will continue to increase, and the best way to benefit from the trend will be to aim for the scarcest stamps and souvenir sheets issued by countries with growing collector populations, thereby benefiting from growth in both demand for the topicals and the economic growth of the issuing countries.

Stamp Investment Tip: Belarus 2002 International Ecotourism Year booklet (Scott #453a)

In 1992, Belarus issued a stamp celebrating the International Year of Ecotourism (Scott #453) in sheet and booklet form. While the sheet stamp is relatively common, with 66,740 issued, only 3,500 of the booklet (Scott #453a) were produced, and Scott '11 values it at $10.00 .

The issue has appeal as a combination UN and "Eco-topical." It is often the case that booklets are ignored for a while if the basic stamps are more commonly available in sheet form, and then rise later when collectors are shocked to realize that they have empty spaces in their albums where the booklets are supposed to be, and then proceed to go on a rampage.


A nation of about 9.5 million, the Republic of Belarus retains a largely state-controlled economy, although it's government has committed to gradual privatization. Important sectors include manufacturing of heavy machinery, agricultural products, and energy production and transport. Recently, the Belarusian economy has shifted into sustained high gear, along with Ukraine, Russia, and many other Commonwealth of Independent States economies. The economic boom provided by mineral wealth of Russia and other CIS nations and Belarus' key location as a transit route between the EU and Russia have enabled it to sustain this impressive growth. Annual GDP growth has averaged about 7.5% over the past 5 years.

Many of the newly independent and newly resurrected nations of Europe and Central Asia have issued popular topical sets and souvenir sheets in modest quantities, and most are currently very inexpensive. I view such issues as low-risk speculations, as only time will tell whether either the development of stamp markets within these countries or topical appeal will push them significantly higher. In a sense, they're comparable to penny stocks, but not as risky.

Those interested in learning about investing in stamps should read the Guide to Philatelic Investing ($5), available on Kindle and easily accessible from any computer.