Wednesday, April 17, 2019

How To Identify Rare Postage Stamps

By Scott Wagner


Over the years, stamp collectors continuously dream of finding valuable stamps. They focus more of their energy and time towards getting them. However, to find and identify Rare Postage Stamps is difficult. It requires one to have skills and knowledge of philately. It is important to note that they are becoming rare due to various factors like errors in printing, content and perforation.

The age of a stamp can make it become rare. Those which were used in the ancient times have become infrequent as compared to those used recently. They are becoming rarer since many collectors have kept them in their permanent collections. This has led to an increased value of such stamps and their cost continuously increase.

One needs to differentiate each stamp from others. This requires one to identify the mint and used ones. A mint or unused stamp is considered to be fine and best condition. Such a stamp is rarer and has a greater value as compared to the used ones. You should closely examine a stamp to differentiate them. A mint stamp will have no defects and should have the original gum. This makes them cost expensively as compared to the old ones.

There is a need for one to measure the number of perforations on the edge of a stamp. This task needs to be done by use of a perforation gauge which gives ideas on those with similar and different perforations. Additionally, comparing them, those that look similar might be having different perforations. This makes the rare a factor that improves its value in a great way.

You should take time and research your stamp. This will help determine how common it might be. Among the many sources of information to consider, Scott catalogs should be the first reference resource material. You will realize that the rarest stamp in the world is one made in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six which is the most expensive.

One needs to check on the printing errors. The printing sometimes would have some mistakes leading to the printing of wrong details on a stamp. They would get distributed before the mistakes are realized. An example of such a case is when inverted Jenny an airmail stamp which had a pane of one hundred printed upside down prints. This mistake resulted in increased value to the stamp.

It is necessary for one to check the content error. Take time to compare the content of your stamp with what is provided on the Scott catalog. For example, there are some sheets that were mistakenly printed with images of rodeo star Ben Pickett issued in year one thousand nine hundred and ninety-four. They were required to have the image of his brother Bill which as well increased their value compared to the rest.

Use of the Scott Catalog is one of the best ways to acquire the needed information and be informed on how to differentiate a stamp from another. It is important to note that the information provided on this reference material is updated annually. Therefore, any information you would wish to check is readily available to help identify their values.




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