When it comes to stamp collecting, the value of stamps is more important to some collectors than others.
When collectors ask me “What is the value of such and such a stamp?” I usually tell them that three factors determine what a stamp can be bought and sold for.
- Supply
- Demand
- Condition
These are the three factors in the time-honored equation that determine the value of a stamp. Many people who do not collect stamps mistakenly believe there is a fourth factor… age.
The age of a stamp may or may not determine the value of a stamp. If, over the years, the stamps have disappeared and have become difficult to find, if there is no known supply, then age will indeed influence supply.
If tens of millions of a stamp were printed in 1882, how many have survived? Perhaps quite a few. But what if just tens of thousands of a stamp were printed fifty years later, in 1932? The supply naturally declines.
And then, stamp collecting values are driven by demand from collectors. Take two stamps, each of which had a printing of two million copies, and let’s say roughly the same number of these stamps have survived.. If collectors are more interested in one than the other, it will command a higher price, even though supply is the same.
Condition is a significant factor in determining the value of stamps. The slightest flaw can erase a high percentage of a stamp’s value. On the other hand, exceptional condition, such as a particularly fine gum, a crisp, vibrant color or exceptional centering means this is a stamp which will command a premium price.
People who are curious to learn “what are stamps worth” need to keep all of these factors in mind.
