Stamp Investment Tip: Ecuador 1936 Quito Philatelic Exhibition (Scott #352-57/C43-48)

   In 1936, Ecuador issued a compound set of triangular stamps celebrating the Quito Philatelic Exhibition (Scott #352-57/C43-48). 10,000 sets were issued, and Scott '14 prices the unused set at $50.50.

   As with many issues of Latin America, the set is grossly undervalued.

   Many who collect Ecuador also collect stamps of South America, Central America, or all of Latin America, so demand tends to be more generalized than usual. This is not to say that there isn't demand originating from collectors focusing on the individual country as well, but rather that the tendency to collect the whole region is an important factor to consider.

   Ecuador, a democratic republic of 13.6 million people, is considered a medium-income country, with about 38% of its population living below the poverty line. Ecuador's natural resources include petroleum, fish, shrimp, timber and gold. In addition, it has a prosperous agricultural sector, producing bananas, flowers, coffee, cacao, sugar, tropical fruits, palm oil, palm hearts, rice, roses, and corn. While Ecuador's economy suffered during the 2008-09 financial crisis, weathering a default and repurchase of its debt at a discount, it seems to be recovering. Annual GDP growth over the last 5 years has averaged about 5%.

  "The Stamp Specialist" blog features wholesale buy prices for stamps which I am interested in purchasing, as well as links to other dealers' buy lists.  Viewing such buy lists every now and then is an excellent way to keep current on the vagaries of the stamp market.

Stamp Investment Tip: Ecuador 1945 Red Cross Issue (Scott #440-43/C131-34)

   In 1945, Ecuador issued a compound set of eight stamps honoring the International Red Cross (Scott #440-43/C131-34). Only 10,000 sets were issued, and Scott '13 prices the unused set at $58.40.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is an international humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide which was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and to prevent and alleviate human suffering, without any discrimination based on nationality, race, sex, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. From a philatelic investment perspective, the support of almost 100 million of people for this movement creates a significant collector base for better Red Cross/Red Crescent topicals. This topical appeal, as well as the growth in interest in stamps of Latin America, should bolster the value of this currently inexpensive set.

Ecuador, a democratic republic of 13.6 million people, is considered a medium-income country, with about 38% of its population living below the poverty line. Ecuador's natural resources include petroleum, fish, shrimp, timber and gold. In addition, it has a prosperous agricultural sector, producing bananas, flowers, coffee, cacao, sugar, tropical fruits, palm oil, palm hearts, rice, roses, and corn. While Ecuador's economy suffered during the 2008-09 financial crisis, weathering a default and repurchase of its debt at a discount, it seems to be recovering. Annual GDP growth over the last 5 years has averaged about 5%.

I've begun a new blog, "The Stamp Specialist", which features wholesale buy prices for stamps which I am interested in purchasing, as well as links to other dealers' buy lists.  Viewing such buy lists every now and then is an excellent way to keep current on the vagaries of the stamp market.

Stamp Investment Tip: Ecuador 1944 Hospital Surcharge (Scott #B1-6/CB1-5)

   In 1944, Ecuador issued a surcharged compound set of semi-postals and airmail semi-postals to provide funds for the Mendez Hospital (Scott #B1-6/CB1-5). Only 2,500 sets were issued, and Scott '13 prices the unused set at $47.00.

    The set is grossly undervalued, and should do well based upon the growth of interest in Medical Topicals as well as in stamps of Latin America in general and Ecuador in particular.  While I generally recommend obtaining expertization when purchasing scarce overprinted stamps, doing so in unnecessary in the case of this set, because it is inexpensive and not significantly more valuable than the un-surcharged sets that comprise its basic stamps.

   Ecuador, a democratic republic of 13.6 million people, is considered a medium-income country, with about 38% of its population living below the poverty line. Ecuador's natural resources include petroleum, fish, shrimp, timber and gold. In addition, it has a prosperous agricultural sector, producing bananas, flowers, coffee, cacao, sugar, tropical fruits, palm oil, palm hearts, rice, roses, and corn. While Ecuador's economy suffered during the 2008-09 financial crisis, weathering a default and repurchase of its debt at a discount, it seems to be recovering. Annual GDP growth over the last 5 years has averaged 4.5%.

I've begun a new blog, "The Stamp Specialist", which will feature wholesale buy prices for stamps which I am interested in purchasing. 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: Ecuador 1935 Bolivar Monument Overprint (Scott #331-38, C35-38)

In 1935, Ecuador overprinted some stamps of its 1930 Centenary and 1930-44 Plane Issues, producing 5,000 compound sets celebrating the unveiling of a monument to Simon Bolivar, the "George Washington of South America" (Scott #331-38, C35-38). Scott '11 prices the unused set at $87.90 . The set should do well, as it honors a man who is perhaps the most popular South American of all time.

Many of those who collect Ecuador also collect stamps of South America, Central America, or all of Latin America, so demand tends to be more generalized than usual. This is not to say that there isn't demand originating from collectors focusing on the individual country as well, but rather that the tendency to collect the whole region is an important factor to consider.

Ecuador, a democratic republic of 13.6 million people, is considered a medium-income country, with about 38% of its population living below the poverty line. Ecuador's natural resources include petroleum, fish, shrimp, timber and gold. In addition, it has a prosperous agricultural sector, producing bananas, flowers, coffee, cacao, sugar, tropical fruits, palm oil, palm hearts, rice, roses, and corn. While Ecuador's economy suffered during the 2008-09 financial crisis, weathering a default and repurchase of its debt at a discount, it seems to be recovering. Annual GDP growth over the last 5 years has averaged almost 5%.

I've begun a new blog, "The Stamp Specialist", which will feature wholesale buy prices for stamps which I am interested in purchasing. The first such buy list is for Mexico, and includes the stamp 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: Ecuador 1929 Plane (Scott #C8-15)

In 1929, Ecuador issued its second airmail set, picturing a plane over the River Guayas (Scott #C8-15). Only 2,000 sets were issued, and Scott '10 prices the unused set at $ 169.70 . This is yet another example of an absurdly undervalued Latin American issue, which should do very well as the economies of the region continue to grow.


Many of those who collect Ecuador also collect stamps of South America, Central America, or all of Latin America, so demand tends to be more generalized than usual. This is not to say that there isn't demand originating from collectors focusing on the individual country as well, but rather that the tendency to collect the whole region is an important factor to consider.


Ecuador, a democratic republic of 13.6 million people, is considered a medium-income country, with about 38% of its population living below the poverty line. Ecuador's natural resources include petroleum, fish, shrimp, timber and gold. In addition, it has a prosperous agricultural sector, producing bananas, flowers, coffee, cacao, sugar, tropical fruits, palm oil, palm hearts, rice, roses, and corn. While Ecuador's economy suffered during the 2008-09 financial crisis, weathering a default and repurchase of its debt at a discount, it seems to be recovering. Annual GDP growth over the last 5 years has averaged almost 5%.


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 Ecuador, 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.