How to Determine Stamp Values

  1. Identify the stamp.
  2. Find out when was the stamp issued.
  3. Know the stamp’s age and material used.
  4. Determine the centering of the design.
  5. Check the stamp’s gum.
  6. Determine the condition of the perforations.
  7. See if the stamp has been cancelled or not.
  8. Find out the rarity of the stamp.

Then, What stamps are worth a lot of money?

The 10 Most Valuable U.S. Stamps

  • The Inverted Jenny. (Courtesy of Siegel Auction Gallery) …
  • 1847 Issue Block of 16 of Ben Franklin. …
  • Almanac Stamp of 1765 or 1766. …
  • ‘Blue Boy’ Alexandria Postmaster’s Provisional. …
  • 1869 Pictorials—Inverted Center Errors. …
  • Two-Cent Blue Hawaiian Missionary. …
  • 1860 Stolen Pony Cover. …
  • Pan American Inverts.

Are old stamps worth any money? You might find that the stamps in your collection of significant catalog value are worth much less than you believed. “Buy the best you can afford,” isn’t just a casually tossed-off phrase, but words to live by in stamp collecting. Inferior quality stamps are, in fact, nearly worthless.

Keeping this in consideration, What Year stamps are valuable?

Most Valuable Stamps in the World

  • 1904 6d Pale Dull Purple I.R. Official. Value: $535,204.
  • 1897 Red Revenue One Dollar Small. Value: $889,765.
  • 1868 George Washington B-Grill. Value: $1.035 million.
  • 1918 Inverted Jenny. Value: $1.593 million.
  • 1859 Sicilian Error of Color. Value: $2.6 million.

What are the most valuable 3 cent stamps?

Though stamps were issued long before the Civil War, there was no single, official first-class rate until 1863 — when it was set at 3 cents. The rarest three-center, an 1867 rose-colored likeness of George Washington, is worth $45,000 in mint condition. But most old 3-cent stamps bring under $50, says Mr. Katz.

How do I sell rare stamps?

If you know you have rare stamps, you can sell them through several means:

  1. Local Dealer: Dealers handle both collections and individual stamps. …
  2. Mail Order Dealer: If you’re not going local, consider working with a mail order dealer. …
  3. American Philatelic Society Circuit Sales: …
  4. Auction House:

How do I get a stamp collection appraised?

Look for an appraiser through authoritative sources like official stamp collection societies. The American Philatelic Society notes you may pay anywhere from $75 to $250 an hour to have the stamps/collection appraised. Some local groups, like the Northern Philatelic Society, may offer free appraisal services.

Are old stamps worth anything if postmarked?

Yes. Used stamps have a value as a collectible even if they can not be used again in mailing letters. Old postage stamps, especially the rare stamps, are worth more than the newer stamps. …

Are old used stamps valuable?

How much is an old stamp worth? Stamp dealers have the list of criteria that are used to determine the price of the philatelic items. These are condition, age, rarity or grade. Sometimes used postage stamps are more valuable than their mint editions.

What German stamps are worth money?

Most valuable German stamps

  • $1,545,000. Baden 9 Kreuzer error stamp, 1851. …
  • $389,183. Oldenburg 1/3 Gr. …
  • $176,000. Audrey Hepburn stamp, 2001. …
  • $112,394. “Kerstfest” error stamp, 2016. …
  • $65,500. 2-mark Germania stamp with quatrefoil watermark, 1920. …
  • $60,790. 5m Kaiser Wilhelm II invert error stamp, 1905. …
  • $44,957. …
  • $30,300.

What is the value of 3 cent stamps?

Most United States 3cent stamps have a value of under $50 and often sell at between 65 and 90 percent of face value. The exceptions are rare stamps such as an 1851 3cent stamp featuring a side-view portrait of George Washington.

How do I sell old stamps?

Here are 6 of the best places to sell old stamps:

  1. A Collector. If you’re able to contact a collector directly, this may save you a lot of time. …
  2. A Dealer. Selling to stamp dealers is the fastest way to gain immediate money. …
  3. On Consignment. …
  4. A Stamp Show.
  5. An Auction House. …
  6. An Online Auction. …
  7. Know Your Stamps’ Worth.

Does anyone collect stamps anymore?

Stamps are still used occasionally, if rarely saved or savored. … Stamps were, and sometimes still are, things of beauty and history, links to distant places that spawned a global hobby known as philately, or, simply, stamp collecting.

How do I sell unused stamps?

The easiest way to resell stamps is to use a stamp buying service. They purchase unused stamps from leftover marketing campaigns, wedding invitations, and stamp collections. They will offer you cash for your unused postage stamps, and have no limits on how much they can buy. Turnaround is fast, typically within 1 week.

Is there a market for cancelled stamps?

Cancelled stamps do have value but it is usually far less than stamps without cancellation marks on them. The value attached to a cancelled stamp will depend on the stamp’s rarity and desirability for collecting. … Indeed, rare old stamps can be worth high amounts of money.

How do you value a stamp collection?

Contact the Philatelic Traders’ Society by visiting its website. They will be able to give your collection an ‘appraisal’ for free and give you advice as to whether or not your collection may be worth something.

What Irish stamps are valuable?

Most valuable Irish stamps

  • $12,500. 2d coil stamp, 1935. …
  • $5,283. 5p New York World’s Fair stamp, 1964. …
  • $3,521. 60c Captain Jack White stamp, 2014. …
  • $3,000. 10s dull gray blue seahorse stamp, 1922. …
  • $2,033. Christmas 21p in imperforated block of 4, 1986. …
  • $1,980. 24p 350th anniversary of Company of Goldsmiths stamp, 1987. …
  • $1,800. …
  • $1,588.

What Chinese stamps are valuable?

Most valuable Chinese stamps

  • $2,000,000. The Whole Country is Red stamp, 1968. …
  • $933,000. 10¢-on-9-candareen dark green stamp, 1897. …
  • $878,908. Red revenue large figures surcharge $1 on 3c stamp, 1897. …
  • $820,000. Olive-colored Queen Victoria’s Head, 1864. …
  • $463,000. 5 cash Elephant Essay, 1878. …
  • $444,477. …
  • $428,654. …
  • $305,707.

How do I sell my stamp collection?

If you know you have rare stamps, you can sell them through several means:

  1. Local Dealer: Dealers handle both collections and individual stamps. …
  2. Mail Order Dealer: If you’re not going local, consider working with a mail order dealer. …
  3. American Philatelic Society Circuit Sales: …
  4. Auction House:

What is a 4 cent Lincoln stamp worth?

Mavin found 94 sold results for “Lincoln 4 cent stamp”. Prices range from $0.01 to $500.00. The estimated market value is $12.49.

Can you use 3 cent stamps?

1-cent and 3-cent stamps are commonly used to add postage to older stamps when the value of the stamp is no longer sufficient to meet current postage rates. Stamps that do not have a visible face value.

Is a stamp collection worth anything?

You might find that the stamps in your collection of significant catalog value are worth much less than you believed. “Buy the best you can afford,” isn’t just a casually tossed-off phrase, but words to live by in stamp collecting. Inferior quality stamps are, in fact, nearly worthless.

How much is a stamp collection worth?

Stamp collections are typically categorized by value: High (worth more than $3,000): Auction houses typically accept only high value collections. Medium (worth $1,000-$3,000) Low (worth up to $1,000)

What is the rarest stamp?

The rarest stamp in the world is returning to Britain for the first time in almost 150 years. The British Guiana 1c Magenta (1856), dubbed the “Mona Lisa of the stamp world“, is believed to be the most valuable man-made item.

What should I do with old stamps?

What To Do With Old Stamps

  1. Display Them. If you’re creative, the options for display are near endless. Some stamps are absolutely beautiful and intricately designed. …
  2. Sell Them. If you have the time and interest, you can try to sell your stamps . …
  3. Donate Them. Sending them to a charity you believe in is a great option.