Stamp Investment Tip: Chile 1948 Flora and Fauna Issue (Scott #254-55,C124)

  In 1948, Chile issued a compound set of three se-tenant blocks of 25 stamps honoring the centennial of Claudio Gay's "Natural History of Chile" (Scott #254-55, C124). Though quantities issued information is not available for these stamps, I estimate that 20,000 or fewer sets were issued. Scott '14 prices the unused set of three blocks at $110.-  ($ 60.00  for 254-55, and $ 50.00 for C124).

   The set has obvious topical appeal for Flora/Fauna topicalists. According to the American Topical Association, the "Animals" category of topicals is the most popular among U.S. collectors.

   A nation of 17 million, Chile is considered the most "European" Latin American nation, and the proportion of stamp collectors within the population is moving towards European levels. Major sectors include agriculture, fishing, forestry, mining, finance, and tourism. Although economic inequities common to most Latin American nations persist, the government favors gradual reform, and has a record of implementing sound economic policies. Annual GDP growth has averaged 3.2% over the last 5 years.

 "The Stamp Specialist" blog features my buy prices for stamps which I am interested in purchasing. I've posted a buy list for Chile. 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: Poland 1955 International Philatelic Exhibition Souvenir Sheets (Scott #B104-05)

   In 1955, Poland issued a set of two souvenir sheets honoring the International Philatelic Exhibition, held in Warsaw (Scott #B104-05). 73,600 sets were issued, and Scott '14 prices the unused set at $ 21.75.

   One of the sheets pictures pansies, giving it additional appeal as a Flower topical.

  With 38 million people, Poland is one of the fastest growing economies of all of the formerly Communist countries, with annual GDP growth averaging about 5.5% over the past 5 years. The nation has steadfastly pursued a policy of liberalizing the economy, and was not severely impacted by the recent global financial crisis. It is likely that Poland will be one of the world's fastest growing economies over the next several decades.

  Better stamps of Poland should rise in value as the country prospers and the population of Polish stamp collectors increases. Interest in Polish history and national pride are important elements in the culture of this oft-conquered people, and there are some 10 million Polish-Americans with ties to the country.

  Those interested in viewing a list of scarce stamps with printing quantities of 100,000 or fewer may wish to check out 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: Newfoundland 1857 Pence Issue (Scott #1-9)

  

   Newfoundland issued its first stamps, the "Pence" Issue,  in 1857 (Scott #1-9). These pictured the Rose, Thistle, and Shamrock, representing the union of England, Scotland, and Ireland, a fitting symbol since many of the early immigrants to the colony were of Scottish or Irish descent, and wished to discard archaic hatreds as they made their way in the New World. The set includes the first triangular stamp issued in the Americas, the 3p Green (Scott #3).


   All of the stamps of this issue are scarce to rare, and worthy of consideration as investments. Five of the stamps (Scott #2, 4, 6, 7, and 9) are somewhat pricey, and the best way to purchase them is probably as used VF-appearing seconds with minor faults such as shallow thins or unobtrusive creases, if such can be had for 10% to 15% of catalog value. Should there be any doubt as to authenticity, insist on making the purchase conditional on obtaining expertization. There are some fairly convincing forgeries of this issue, especially by Sperati.

   I've listed these stamps, along with printing quantities and Scott '14 values for unused and used, below:

• 1857 1p Brown (Scott #1: 70,000 issued; $120.-  for unused; $ 200.-   for used)
• 1857 2p Scarlet Vermilion (Scott #2: 3,000; $ 17,500.-  for unused; $ 5,500.- for used)
• 1857 3p Green (Scott #3: 16,000; $475.-  for unused; $ 475.- for used)
• 1857 4p Scarlet Vermilion (Scott #4: 5,000; $11,500.-  for unused; $ 3,750.- for used)
• 1857 5p Brown Violet (Scott #5: 11,000; $ 300.-  for unused; $ 375.-  for used)
• 1857 6p Scarlet Vermilion (Scott #6: 5,000; $ 22,500.-  for unused; $ 4,750.-  for used)
• 1857 6 1/2p Scarlet Vermilion (Scott #7: 2,000; $ 4,500.-  for  unused; $3,750.-  for used)
• 1857 8p Scarlet Vermilion (Scott #8: 8,000; $ 450.- for unused; $ 475.-  for used)
• 1857 1sh Scarlet Vermilion (Scott #9: 2,000; $ 45,000.- for unused; $ 10,000.- for used)

  Many of the better stamps of Newfoundland were issued in modest quantities. I intend to revisit them in the future, as I am "doggedly bullish" (to badly mix metaphors) about better British North America in general. This area is very popular among collectors of both Canada and British Commonwealth, and the better items represent solid investments, as interest in stamp collecting in Canada is much stronger than it is in the U.S. .

  With a population of about 31 million, Canada is one of the world's wealthiest countries, and is one of the world's top ten trading nations. GDP growth has averaged just over 1% over the past five years, which takes into account the decline of 2.9% in 2009 due to the global financial crisis. Canada's population is expected to age significantly over the next decades. Canadians over 60 are projected to increase from 16.7% of the population in 2000 to 27.9% in 2025, and 30.5% in 2050. Consequently, in the future, many more Canadians will be spending time working on their stamp collections on cold winter days.

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

Stamp Investment Tip: Rwanda 1966 Flowers (Scott #151-60)

In 1966, Rwanda issued a pretty set of ten stamps picturing Native Flowers (Scott #151-60). 35,000 sets were issued and Scott '13 prices the unused set at $14.10.

The set has potential market appeal among collectors of Flower Topicals, Rwanda, and Belgian Colonies/Area. According to a recent survey, Flowers are the 5th most popular topical collecting category among U.S. collectors, and it's likely that this popularity is roughly the same internationally.


While I do not believe that Rwanda will develop a significant domestic stamp collecting base in the near future, I am more sanguine about the prospect long-term. A nation of 10.7 million people, Rwanda received considerable international attention due to its 1994 genocide, in which an estimated 800,000 people were killed. Since then, the country has made a recovery and is now considered a model for developing countries. In 2009, a CNN report labeled Rwanda as Africa's biggest success story, having achieved stability and economic growth. The country is still largely dependent upon agriculture, with coffee and tea being the main exports, although the government has taken an active role in bolstering a growing manufacturing sector. Average income has tripled in the past ten years, and annual GDP growth has been impressive, averaging over 7% over the last five 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. 

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: Bulgaria 1953 Medicinal Flowers Souvenir Sheet (Scott #843a)

In 1953, Bulgaria issued a souvenir sheet picturing Medicinal Flowers (Scott #843a). 50,000 were issued, and Scott '12 prices it unused at $55.00 .

Aside from being an investment in Bulgaria's economic development, the souvenir sheet also appeals to collectors interested in either Flower or Medical topicals. I think it likely that interest in Medical Topicals will trend upward as the number of medical professionals increases.

Since the fall of communism, Bulgaria, with a population of about 7.6 million, has experienced rapid economic growth, although its GDP per capita is only about $13,000, about 40% of the European Union average. It has an industrialized, open free-market economy, with a large, moderately advanced private sector and a number of strategic state-owned enterprises. The World Bank classifies it as an "upper-middle-income economy." Tourism is a steadily growing, and the country also benefits from rich natural resources, a highly educated population and an export-oriented agricultural sector. Annual GDP growth has averaged 2.5% over the last 5 years, reflecting a recent major contraction due to the European debt mess.

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: Philippines 1979 Flowers (Scott #1411-16)

In 1979, the Philippines issued a set of stamps picturing native varieties of Mussaenda flowers (Scott #1411-16).

Only 50,000 were issued, and Scott '11 prices the unused set at $10.95. It is likely that most were used as postage and discarded.

From the perspective of philatelic history, the Philippines is interesting because it has issued stamps under Spanish dominion, U.S. Administration, Japanese Occupation, and as an independent nation. It is also compelling as an area of research for the philatelic investor, because of its rapid economic growth, and because it has issued a number of scarce yet overlooked issues, including some modern popular topical sets, such as the Flower topical issue featured in this article.


As a newly democratic and newly industrialized country of 92 million which is moving away from from its centuries-old complete dependence on agriculture, the Philippines could turn out to be one of the most successful emerging markets in the Pacific Region. The government tends toward fiscal conservatism coupled with long-term economic planning, and annual GDP growth has been around 6%-7%. Barring extreme political instability, it is likely that the Philippines will be one of the fastest growing economies over the next decades.


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 Philippines, and it includes the set and souvenir sheet 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. Those interested in joining a community of stamp investors, dealers, and collectors are welcome to join the "Stampselectors" group at Facebook. The group provides a useful venue for those who wish to buy, sell, and trade stamps, and discuss philatelic investing and practical aspects of stamp collecting.

Stamp Investment Tip: India 2005 Flora/Fauna Miniature Sheet (Scott #2101a)

In 2005, India issued a miniature sheet picturing animals and flowers (Scott #2101a). 100,000 were issued, and Scott '11 prices the unused sheet at $11.00 .


Over the last decade or so, India has issued a number of souvenir sheets in quantities of 50,000 to 100,000. I intend to recommend some of them in future articles. While India's stamp market is heating up, the process has been more gradual than that of its neighbor, China. Had a comparable popular topical souvenir sheet been issued there it would probably retail for at least 50 to 100 times the current cost of this Flora/Fauna sheet.

This souvenir sheet should be targeted for aggressive accumulation as a grossly undervalued popular topical issue from a nation of 1.2 billion people which is becoming an economic superpower. I think that in certain respects, the Indian stamp market resembles the Chinese stamp market of 20-25 years ago. In the coming years, the "serious" stamp collecting population of Indians will number in the millions, if not tens of millions.


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

Stamp Investment Tip: Indonesia 1989 Flowers Souvenir Sheets (Scott #1378)

In 1989, Indonesia issued a set and souvenir sheet picturing flowers (Scott # 1376-77, 1378). Only 20,000 of the souvenir sheet were issued, and Scott '11 prices it unused at $35.00. Flowers are a very popular collecting topic, so demand for this issue should continue to grow on that basis alone.

A recent Price, Waterhouse, Coopers report projects that Indonesia will be one of the world's fastest growing economies over the next forty years. Should this prove accurate, and should a burgeoning Indonesian middle class provide a base for a developing stamp market, then it is likely that the values of the country's better modern souvenir sheets will increase many-fold.

Indonesia is a rapidly developing, though still poor, country of 230 million people, with an annual GDP growth rate hovering around 5%-6%. It is the largest economy in Southeast Asia. While the manufacturing and service sectors are growing rapidly, agriculture still employs more of the working population than either. The country has extensive natural resources, including crude oil, natural gas, tin, copper, and gold. Its major export commodities include oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, rubber, and textiles. Like most emerging market nations, Indonesia faces challenges which will have to be addressed, including corruption and major inequities in the distribution of income.

Stamp Investment Tip: 2005 Azerbaijan Orchids Souvenir Sheet (Scott #792a)

In 2005, Azerbaijan issued a set and souvenir sheet picturing Orchids (Scott #789-92 and 792a). 20,000 sets and 10,000 souvenir sheets were issued, and Scott '11 prices them each unused at $6.75. Both make interesting and low-risk speculations based on their appeal as Flower 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 21% over the last 5 years, largely based on the frenetic development of the country's oil wealth - an estimated 7 billion barrels of reserves.

Stamp Investment Tip: People's Republic of China 1964 Peony Souvenir Sheet (Scott #782)

In August of 1964, about a year and a half before the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, the People's Republic of China symbolically fulfilled its broken promise to let a few flowers bloom, by issuing a set (Scott 767-81) and souvenir sheet picturing paintings of Peonies (Scott #782). Only 30,000 of these beautiful Flower topical souvenir sheets were issued, and Scott '10 values the unused souvenir sheet at $ 1,200.00 .

Most were sold to American and European collectors, because philately was discouraged in the P.R.C. at the time. Like the Ping Pong souvenir sheet (Scott #566a) tipped earlier in this blog, this sheet is white-hot right now, and tipping it is actually a boringly safe recommendation. Unless China has another revolution or the sky falls on it somehow, the Peony Souvenir Sheet will continue to soar, the only pertinent question being how far and how quickly.