Increase the Value of Your Stamp Collection

Millions of people enjoy stamp collecting. Stamp collecting has been around for as long as there have been stamps. Essortment described the beginnings of stamp collecting as, "Stamp collecting began at the same time that stamps were first issued, and by 1860 included thousands of collectors and a number of local merchants catering to their desires." Stamp collecting is a hobby full of tradition. Yet, it is also possible to build value into your stamp collection.

Depending on your past stamp collecting habits, your stamp collection may or may not currently be very valuable. Many hobby stamp collectors, collect stamps simply for the love of it. While hobby stamp collecting is fun and rewarding, it does not always lead to a collection containing rare or highly valuable stamps. If you greatly enjoy hobby stamp collecting then increasing you stamp collection's value may be fairly easy.

The first step is to analyze your current stamp collection. During this analysis, look for any stamps that are older or rare. Purchasing rare and/or older stamps is a great way to add value to your stamp collection. When searching for older and/or rare stamps, a good place to start is your local stamp dealer. If you do not have a local stamp dealer then check to see if you have a local stamp club. If neither of these are available then you can call or email a stamp dealer.

It is glaringly obvious that I did not list the internet as a potential source of rare and/or valuable stamps. Like most collectible items, there are people who will try to rip off stamp buyers. If you are new to buying rare and/or valuable stamps then the internet is probably not the best place to start. Once you increased your knowledge and feel comfortable taking the added risk, the internet may be a great place to search for rare and/or valuable stamps.

Proper maintenance can also add value to your stamp collection. You may have stamps in your collection that have some value now. These stamps can easily be hidden gems. Proper maintenance and time can turn these hidden gems into bright, shining diamonds. Even if your stamp collection contains a rare stamp, poor condition can greatly reduce or even kill the stamp's value. There are many commercially available storage containers. However you choose to store your stamps, remember heat and humidity are enemies of stamp collections everywhere.

When looking to increase your stamp collection's value, pay close attention to the supplies that you use. If you are new to stamp collecting then you may not have any stamp collecting supplies. When you begin stamp collecting, supplies are not a necessity. As your stamp collection evolves, you may find some stamp collecting supplies useful. When trying to increase your stamp collection's value, supplies such as stamp tongs, stock books, and magnifying glasses can help protect your stamps.

When increasing the value of your stamp collection, research is also very important. Research helps to uncover your stamp collection's hidden treasures. While exact numbers are not known, it is believed that most stamp collections have semi-valuable stamps. The stamp collection's owner just does not know it. In many cases, these stamp collector's either traded for stamps or inherited a relative's stamp collection. Researching each stamp in your stamp collection, will expand your experience, awareness of stamps available, and give you a feel for how much your stamp collection is worth.

For decades, stamp collecting has provided collector's with years of fun. At some point, you may choose to increase the value of your stamp collection. Increasing your stamp collection's value includes properly maintaining your stamp collection, analyzing your current stamp collection, researching each stamp in your collection, and seeking professional dealer advice will help to ensure that your stamp collection raises in value. These steps will also help to ensure that you do not fall prey to unscrupulous con artists.

References
The History of Stamp Collecting. n.d. Essortment.com. Retrieved on December 8, 2009 from http://www.essortment.com/all/stampcollecting_rtgu.htm