The value of stamps

As part of a diversification strategy, an investment in stamps is certainly recommended for spreading risk. The value of stamps in the medium and higher price categories have been surprisingly stable over the years, even when adjusted for purchasing power and despite a marked decline in collector purchases. However, choosing the right stamps for investment is crucial if you hope to make a profit.

For a safe investment, you need to understand the collection area in which you’re interested. It’s also important to know that the stamps most suited to investment are not available in large quantities and are usually only offered at major auctions.

Not all stamps are ideal investments. Suitability can depend on the year of issue and the collection area, as well as condition.

Of particular interest are:

• Stamps from 1840 and 1870 in very good condition.

• International standard values, i.e. special stamps in small editions with issue dates up to 1950.

• First-class collections that focus on one country or region, and ideally on one period.

• Stamps from the old German states, Swiss stamps and other special rarities.

To be on the safe side and achieve a guaranteed return, seek professional advice from a specialist or auction house. The years of experience of our philatelists and our constant observation of the market guarantee an optimal result. If you are considering investing a large sum of money in historic stamps, seek our professional advice.

To estimate the approximate value of a stamp collection or single stamp, we take several factors into account. First, we check whether the collection has been systematically built up by area and period. It is also an indication of the quality of the collection if a lot of time and money has been spent and the stamps are in good condition. We pay special attention to our search for rarities. These are, of course, particularly sought after and can be sold accordingly.

Current market trends are also taken into account. Read about the factors that determine value.

Determining the value of a collection can be incredibly challenging for hobbyists and laypeople. Our expert philatelists have years of experience and know the current market prices and relevant criteria when determining value.

Let us help you discover how much your stamps are worth!

Forgeries are occasionally found in a stamp collection, but they aren’t necessarily worthless. Philatelists consider some forgeries to be special collector's items and can even be more valuable than the original stamp. For example, the works of the famous stamp forger Jean de Sperati are almost indistinguishable from the originals and are often auctioned as ‘Sperati forgeries’, often fetching high prices.

These works of art were created with such precision that they remain unrecognised in many collections to this day. Valuable forgeries are even listed by value in catalogues and specialist literature.

Read more about the different types of forgery and how you, as a collector, can spot them.