Stamps

July 20, 2023

Prior to mom moving to an assisted living center my sister came to help her downsize.   Mom was reluctant to donate over 90 years of memories and my sister came up with a way to make parting with the treasures more palatable.  All the sibs and grandchildren were connected to a group text called “who wants this”.  As the two of them worked through what would be kept and what was to be given away, photos were posted on the group, and we could respond if we would like to have the item.  The items ranged from pictures and nick-nacks to things obtained while mom and dad were on mission trips around the world (mom visited 92 different countries).  I arrived toward the end of the month long task to pick up items I had selected as well as the special items mom set aside for me.  Most of the “good stuff” had been selected, but there was a small steamer trunk filled with canceled stamps.  Since no one else wanted to mess with them I said I would take the stamps and find out what they were worth.

When I went online, I found stamp collecting is part of the field called philately, which is the study (or combined study and collection) of stamps.  Stamp collecting has been one of the world’s most popular hobbies since the late nineteenth century and the rapid growth of postal services around the world.   A philatelist may or may not collect stamps.  Most casual stamp collectors accumulate stamps for personal enjoyment and tend not to worry about the details.  A large comprehensive collection will require some philatelic knowledge and will usually require areas of philatelic study.  Postage stamps can be collected for their historic value, or for the wide range of ships, horses, birds, kings, queens, and presidents that are represented on the stamp.  Sales of stamps are an important source of income for some countries whose issues exceed their postal needs.  Their designs are made to appeal to collectors.

The Penny Black was the first postage stamp, issued by Britain in May 1840 and pictured a young Queen Victoria.  It was produced without perforations (imperforate) and had to be cut from the sheet with scissors.  While unused examples of Penny Black are scarce, used examples are common and depending on their condition may be purchased for US$20 to US$200.  It is suggested John Bourke, Receiver General of Stamp Dues in Ireland, was the first stamp collector.  Bourke assembled a book of the existing embossed revenue stamps, ranging in value from 6 pounds to half a penny, as well as the hand stamped charge marks that were used with them, in 1774.  His collection is preserved in the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin.  Stamp collecting began along with the first stamps issued and by 1860 thousands of collectors and dealers appeared around the world as this new study and hobby spread.  By the early 2000’s stamp collecting was in decline, but now seems to be making a revival among the millennial audience.  We have three stamp collecting outlets near me.  When I called only one bothered to call back.  They told me stamps no longer had value (except pre-civil War stamps) beyond their face issue.

Thoughts:   As I perused the stamps from mom, I noticed they were all canceled.  When I mentioned this, my brother told me how dad had gone through the case and retrieved all the unmarked stamps and used them to post letters.  Apparently, he had learned the same information when mom inherited them.  For several years dad had placed a variety of stamp values on the envelope adding up to the current cost to post a letter.  I noticed online there were many sites advertising stamps for sale, but I did not find any who offered to buy my collection.  Hobbies come and go and except for rare specimens’ collection is not a profitable investment.  Nothing is of real value until you sell it (including stocks) and like most things we collect, we do it for personal enjoyment.  That is true for stamps, buttons, thimbles, and spoons.  My son will someday consider what to do with my own collectables.  I wish him luck.  Act for all.  Change is coming and it starts with you.