Philately is a popular hobby around the world, and collectors really enjoy the aesthetic and historical value of a postage stamp. Determining the selling price of the stamp can help you appreciate the item and get accurate pricing information if you want to sell it.
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Method 1 of 3: Observing His Physical Condition
Step 1. Check the placement of the design
The neater the design of the center of the stamp that sits within the white border, the better. Stamps should look balanced and neat.
Step 2. Turn the stamps over and see the condition of the glue
Stamp glue is glue that sticks to the back of the paper. This glue should look perfect, with no streaks or wrinkles.
Step 3. Check the stamp hinges
This is a small, transparent crease with a little glue on it, and sometimes glued to the back of a postage stamp so that it can be pasted onto album pages. A hinge on a stamp will make the stamp appear less valuable, even when it is removed.
If your stamps have hinges, consult a philatelist or stamp specialist before removing them yourself as this will damage your stamps
Step 4. Pay attention to the neatness of the perforations of the stamps
Perforations are small holes on the edges of postage stamps and are used to help remove the sheet. Some stamps have large perforations, but it is important to ensure that they are intact and clean.
Step 5. Look for traces of use
If a postage has been used, you will find a stamp on the surface of the design. The bigger the mark, the lower the price of the stamp; You have to make sure these marks are not too thick or cover the stamp design.
Step 6. Evaluate the color quality of the stamps
The image on the stamp must be bright and striking. Color fading is usually caused by sunlight or artificial light, dust, pollution, or oily skin.
Step 7. Determine the quality level of the stamps
By observing the quality of the design and the former installation, you can determine the level of quality of the stamps. There are several levels that can be used: bad, average, good, very good, and perfect (the conditions haven't changed at all).
- In general, the poorer the quality of the design placement and postage marks, the worse the overall quality.
- Perfect condition is very difficult to find because stamps have to look perfect from all aspects.
Step 8. Leave the stamps on the envelopes if they have not been removed
Don't risk damaging the stamps by removing or cutting them. Sometimes, old stamps that are stuck to envelopes with special stamps have a higher value than stamps that have not been attached or removed. Seek an expert opinion or have a professional assess the value of the stamps to see if they should be removed.
Method 2 of 3: Finding out the History and Scarcity of Stamps
Step 1. Find out the age of the stamp
It is much more difficult than you might think! You may be able to determine the age of the stamp based on the design. Look for historical records or figures, or read the words listed there. The year of manufacture is not usually written on the postage. So, figuring out the exact age of a stamp is sometimes very difficult.
- Go to a stamp expert if you need extra help. The older your stamp, the higher the price – the results will be well worth the effort!
- Stamps printed in the last 70 years, even in the best condition, may not cost more than their original value.
Step 2. Determine the country of origin of your stamps
Just like searching for the age of a postage stamp, look up historical records or famous figures associated with your stamps – knowing the language spoken can help you narrow your search to the country of origin.
A photograph of Queen Victoria, for example, is likely to be from the early 19th century or late 20th century in Great Britain, while a photograph of the Hoover Dam could be from the medieval United States
Step 3. Identify stamps from reference books
Depending on the type of stamp, it may be easier to identify the stamp before determining its age and country of origin. After checking the physical condition of the stamp, you will have enough information to look it up in a reference book.
- Stamp collectors in the United States typically use the Scott Specialized Catalog (now available in digital versions), while British philatelists generally use the Stanley Gibbons Catalog. Head to the nearest library to see what options you have.
- You can look for sources of information through the internet and catalogs, but don't be too sure. The information you get may not be as accurate as the information in the reference book.
Step 4. Determine the rarity of the stamps
The rarity of the stamps depends on the age and number of early prints of the stamps. The rarer the stamp, the higher the price; some stamp collectors even say that rarity is the biggest factor in determining the selling price of a stamp, and is far more important than condition or age. Check reference books or contact a professional philatelist to find out the number of your early stamps.
An old stamp is not necessarily rare and of high value. Benjamin Franklin's 1-cent stamp sold in 1861, for example, was of little value because 150 million copies had already been printed
Step 5. Pay attention to the printing errors on the stamps
While you generally want stamps to be in perfect condition, typos are an exception. Stamps that have a typographical error in their design, not image placement or perforation holes, are considered rare. Misprinted stamps are of great value because they are rare; maybe there are only 50 or 100 such stamps in the whole world.
Stamp printing errors that skyrocket their value usually lie in their design, such as a map with the wrong country borders; omissions, such as the Thatcher Ferry bridge stamps which did not include a bridge image in the design; or inversion, such as the American Inverted Jenny stamp which prints the image of a double-winged aircraft upside down
Method 3 of 3: Consult a Stamp Expert
Step 1. Look for information through reference books or sources on the internet to determine the selling value of stamps
Once you've identified the stamps and assessed their condition, go back to the stamp reference book to find out their resale value. Look for a special “price guide” for stamps, the newer the better.
Stamp pricing guides may not be 100 percent accurate, but you can start guessing at the price of your stamps
Step 2. Come to a stamp exhibition
Stamp conventions are held around the world and are a place for philatelists to buy, sell, and value their stamps. Stamp sellers often list events on their websites. You can visit the American Philatelic Society (APS) or American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA) websites to find events near you. Bring your stamps and ask for opinions from several people.
Step 3. Have a stamp expert estimate the price of your stamps
In the United States, you should look for sellers who are members of the APS or ASDA. Open your phone book and look for the “Stamps for Collectors” section or search the internet to find a seller in your area, then call them and ask them for postage rates. This doesn't take much time and can give you an accurate estimate of the selling price of your stamps.
