Stamp Investment Tip: Tibet

Tibet is termed an "autonymous region" of the People's Republic of China by that country's government. It is frequently in the news, as well it should be, since its brutal occupation by the Chinese represents the biggest land grab in recent history, as well as one of the most reprensible modern examples of cultural and political repression.

As an independent nation, Tibet produced 18 stamps (plus varieties) from 1912 until the Chinese invasion in 1950. The stamps were printed on rough native paper, and inclusions are normal, and do not detract from the value unless they seriously obstruct the design or have seriously damaged the paper. While printing quantity information is not available for these issues, I would conservatively estimate that no more than a few thousand of the scarcest stamps were produced, and that quantities issued on the others range upward into the low tens of thousands. Unfortunately, excellent counterfeits exist, so I recommend focusing on the most expensive of the Tibetan stamps (those that catalogue $250 or more), and requiring expertization as a condition of purchase.

While there are only about 3 million Tibetans (probably not enough to sustain a strong demand for their stamps), the stamps of Tibet also appeal to specialists in Europe and the U.S. . In addition, there is also a potential market among the millions of people throughout the world who either have an interest in Tibetan Buddhism or who sympathize with the cause of Tibetan Independence. The stamps remain undervalued because of the ubiquity of counterfeits and the consequent cost and inconvenience of obtaining certificates. As in similar cases with certain other countries' stamps, the cream will eventually rise to the top.

Stamp Investment Tip: China - Offices in Tibet (Scott 1-11)

From 1909 to late 1911 China occupied Tibet and the Dalai Lama and his Government fled to India. For approximately two years, five Chinese Post Offices operated in Central Tibet and a Chinese Post Office at Chambo (Eastern Tibet) was open in 1913 and 1914.


Initially, the post office used regular stamps of Imperial China, but in 1911 a set of eleven stamps (surcharged in three languages) was introduced for Tibet (Scott #1-11). The set is very scarce and almost never sold complete. As the purchase of any overprinted stamp entails the risk of buying a fake, I recommend purchase of only those stamps in the set (including the two rare varieties) which are costly enough to justify obtaining expertization. I've listed these, along with printing quantities (when known) and Scott '10 Catalog Values for unused, below:

-1911 3p on 1c Ocher, inverted surcharge (Scott #1a; Very Rare; Scott '10 CV= $ 3,500.-)
-1911 3a on 16c Olive Green, large "S" in "Annas" (Scott #6a; Rare; Scott '10 CV= $1,250.-)
-1911 12a on 50c Yellow Green (Scott #9; 12,000; Scott '10 CV= $ 175.- )
-1911 1r on $1 Red and Pale Rose (Scott #10; 4,800; Scott '10 CV = $ 475.- )
-1911 2r on $2 Red and Yellow (Scott #11; 3,704; Scott '10 CV= $ 900.- )

The dispute between China and Tibet over the matter of Tibet's sovereignty has been ongoing for centuries, and it was following the issuance of these stamps that Tibet regained some of its autonomy and began issuing its own stamps in 1912.

I am confident that the Offices in Tibet stamps will do very well over time, mostly due to continued growth in demand for stamps of China. Interest in Tibet and its stamps may also help to push them higher.

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