Collecting Stamps 2

Now that I am into the second month of collecting stamps, I have been pleasantly surprised to discover several interesting facts about stamp collecting.

First, I have discovered that most used stamps from 1948 to 1998 are valued at 25 cents. Unused stamps are sometimes valued at the same price as used stamps, but you and I know that in the open market, unused stamps should cost more to buy.

Second, I also discovered that some of the stamps that one would normally think of them being not worth too much, are actually worth lots more if, for example, the stamps have errors on them, such as missing colors, like the black or colored ink was overlooked when the stamps were printed.

Third, in the internet, on Ebay, I discovered that sometimes you will find whole sheets of stamps for sale at what I consider reasonable prices. I found that stamps such as the ones shown in this article may have a Scott value of 20 cents, will be found to be for sale on Ebay for $1.00, plus another $1.00 for postage!

So, buy some stamp magazines from Barnes and Noble for example and check the major stores which advertise stamps in bulk and you may find the stamps you may be looking for, a whole lot cheaper.

You should also check out the stamp stores in your city and you may strike a good deal with the store owner. Also, you may want to join a stamp club and I am sure, if you make friends with some of the stamp collectors, you may get a fair deal in dealing with them. But always, remember “buyer beware”.

I checked out the 2005 “The Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps” from the library and discovered the following information from the stamps shown above.

8 cent Electronic Routing Stamp has a caption: “U.S. Postal Service 8 cents”

1. Scott Catalog Number: 1495 (Everybody uses the standard basic information found in the Scott Catalogue of U.S. Stamps)
   1. The 2005 value of this stamp is: 20 cents, either new or used. (Sometimes you find that the value of an used stamp is worth the same as an used stamp! Supply and demand at work, I suppose.).
   2. This stamp is one of the first to have a short description of the stamp on the backside, as well
   3. There are no known errors of this stamp
2. 8 cent Postrider (Man on horseback with a bugle with a caption:

“Rise of the Spirit of Independence”)

1. Scott Catalog Number: 1478
   1. The value of this stamp is: 20 cents, new or used
   2. There are no known errors of this stamp
2. 8 cent Angus and Longhorn Cattle with a caption: “Rural America”
   1. Scott Catalog Number: 1504
   2. The value of this stamp is: 20 cents, either new or used
   3. There is a known error on some of these stamps where the Brown and Red Green inks were accidentally omitted, thereby having a value of $950!
3. 8 cent Transistors and Printed Circuit Board with a caption:

“Progress in Electronics”

1. Scott Catalog Number: 1501
   1. The value of this stamp is: 20 cents, either new or used
   2. There are a couple of errors on some of these stamps.
      1. If the Black Ink is missing the value of the stamp increases to $450!
      2. If the Tan and Lilac inks are missing, the value of the stamp is $1,100!