Posts Tagged ‘philatelist’

Except for the stamps that you bought at the post office, it is possible to sell stamps and covers in the same places that you purchased.

That means, sell them back to dealers, advertising or sale in the philatelic exhibitions, or sell them to other collectors at the meetings of your stamp club, have a dealer to sell them at auction, or offer them yourself in an Internet auction. Each stamp show, the dealers are there to buy and sell.

There is lot of sales opportunities by using the so-called “circuit books,” a part of the services of some of the philatelic organizations, and then the organization is moving forward with other collectors in the mail. Beneficiaries may choose what to buy send money to the organization, brochures and sends them to the next collector. Circuit books are an excellent way to sell low and middle price of stamps and covers.

Run an ad in a few publications is an inexpensive way to sell stamps. It is a good idea to try and find the best market for your stamps before its time – corresponding to what you have the best potential buyers. For example, offer your collection United Nations a dealer who specializes in Britain is likely to be a waste of time, although sometimes a dealer is willing to buy “outside” in his area if the matter is something that could be delivered quickly. Maybe the dealer may sell to another dealer at a future stamp show.

It will be advantageous for you to organize your stamps in very specific groups, and then offer for sale separately, rather than mixing together different countries and promote it as “the world.” Sometimes it is best to break it up by categories popular news – a group of birds, or trains, rather than a country collection. The reading ads on the market is a good way to get an idea of what sells, and how, so you can price your collection accordingly. The values listed in places like the Scott catalog are estimated retail price of – that you might spend to buy the stamps in very good condition. It is not the price a dealer would pay you, and it is certainly not the purchase price for stamps and less good condition.

A few words on the stamp value: value depends on the condition, on the quantity available, as well as market demand. These factors offset each other. For example, if there are only a few examples of a certain stamp, and everybody wants one. People are so eager to have they will not mind so many flaws. But if there are millions of mint copies still available, then nobody is going to pay top dollar for your stamp or cover.

There may be a lot of copies, and if they are not popular to collect, it does not matter if the stamps are perfect or imperfect, nobody wants anyway! If there are a lot of copies, and stamps are popular, then the best copies command the best prices, but less perfect copies will always be a market. All this is common sense.

There are “modes” and trends of stamps that in other markets and stamps you can not sell today can have their turn at some future time, when circumstances change. But, remember that this is supposed to be a hobby, something to be in the show for fun, not for future profits. Collect for fun and you will never be disappointed.

The 1910 commemorative issue of Italy, issued to commemorate the National plebiscite of the Southern States, in 1860, bear a likeness of Garibaldi, one of the world’s patriots and the idol of the Italian.

Garibaldi was born at Nice, France, on July 4, 1807.  He was the son of a fisherman and was not well educated.  In early youth he was a sailor.  Condemned to death in 1834 for his share in the Mazzini affair, he escaped to South America.

In 1848, he returned to Italy to engage in the war against Austria.  In 1849 he took part in the Mazzini war but had to flee from Rome with 4000 of his troops.  During his flight his wife died from privation and fatigue.

He then went to the United States where for a time he engaged in making candles for a living.  Returning to Italy, he settled on Caprera Island, which was later purchased and presented to him by admirers.

In 1860 he was proclaimed dictator of the Two Sicilies but acquiesced in its annexation to Italy, declining all honors and retired to his island home.

He fought, unsuccessfully against the Austrians in the Tyrol.  In 1867 he attempted the rescue of Rome, but was defeated by the French and pontifical troops.  He fought in 1870 with France against Germany.

He held a position in the French Assembly, later going back to Italy, holding a seat in the Italian Parliament.

Stamp catalogues are extremely helpful aids for the collector. A stamp catalogue helps the philatelist learn about the stamps he has already collected and helps him select which issues he would next like to acquire.  By finding the listing of a stamp in a catalogue, the collector can learn when a stamp was first issued, what a commemorative honors, what kind of printing was used to manufacture the stamp, what the perforations are, what, if any, watermark is present, whether or not the stamp is part of a set, and if so, how many similar stamps are included in that set, and other relevant features.

Catalogues also list valuations of each stamp.  The prices are a guide and do not necessarily indicate the retail or wholesale market value of a stamp.  Each stamp has an identification number, and by knowing that number and the catalogue name, it is very easy to find and identify any given stamp.

Stamp catalogues are either general or specialized.  The general catalogue lists stamps from all over the world, while the specialized catalogue concentrates on one specific area, country or on a certain topic or type of stamp.  Specialized catalogue descriptions are usually much more extensive and contain more detailed information about every stamp listed.  They are therefore of great importance to the philatelist who intends to specialize.

Some of the stamp catalogues used throughout the world are SCOTT Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue from United States, Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue from Great Britain and Michel Stamp Catalogue from Germany.