How to Determine the Value of a Stamp

Determine the age of the stamp. Easier said than done! You can determine the age of the stamp based on the markings of the stamp design. Look for historical facts or figures, or try to figure out the words on the stamps. The exact year is usually not printed on the stamp, so it can be difficult to know exactly how old your stamp is. ^[9]

• See professional stamp traders if you need more help. The older the stamp, the more valuable it is – so it’s worth the extra effort!
• Stamps printed within the last 70 years, even brand new ones, may not be valued more than the original stamp. ^[10]

Identify the country that issued the stamp. As with stamp age, look for historical figures or facts on stamps or words–knowing the language of stamps can help you narrow down your country identification. ^[11]

• For example, a photograph of Queen Victoria might be a UK stamp of the 19th-early 20th centuries, while a photograph of the Hoover Dam might be of the mid-20th century America.

Use a reference book to identify a stamp. Depending on each stamp, it may be easier to identify it before trying to determine the age and country of origin. After reviewing the physical condition of the stamp, you will have enough information to look it up in the reference book.

• American stamp collectors often use the Scott Specialized Directory (also available as an e-book), while British stamp collectors prefer the Stanley Gibbons catalog. Go to your local library to see what kind of materials you can look up.
• You can also look up online resources and directories, but those sources are not reliable enough. They may not be recognized or accurate as reference books.

Determine the rarity of the stamp. The rarity of the stamp will depend on the age and quantity in the first printing. The rarer the stamp, the higher the value; Some stamp collectors even say that rarity is the single most important factor in determining a stamp’s value, much more than the newness or age of the stamp. Consult a reference book or ask a professional stamp dealer for a stamp’s original printout. ^[12]

• An old stamp is not necessarily rare and valuable. For example, the 1 cent Benjamin Franklin stamp of 1861, is not worth much because about 150 million such stamps have been produced. ^[13]

Pay attention to the error stamp. While normally you want your stamps to be as perfect as possible, error stamps are an exception. These rare stamps have a design flaw in addition to errors such as centering, punching, etc. Error stamps are extremely valuable because of their rarity; maybe only 50 or 100 currently exist. ^[14]

• Valuable stamp errors include design flaws, such as a map showing the wrong border; omissions, such as the Thatcher ferry bridge missing in the stamp design; or an inversion error, like the American reverse Jenny stamp with an upside-down plane.

Look up reference books or online resources to determine the value of the stamp. Now that you have identified the stamps and any flaws in their condition, go back to the reference book to learn its value. Look up the special “price guide” for postage stamps, the more up-to-date the better.

• Stamp price indications may not be entirely accurate, but you will get a rough idea of how much your stamp might be worth.

Come to the stamp exhibitions. These stamp exhibitions take place around the world, and provide a place for stampists to buy, sell and value their stamps. Stamp dealers often list these exhibitions on their websites, and you can check the websites of the American Stamp Association (APS) or the American Association of Stamp Dealers (ASDA) to find one. Exhibition held near where you live. Bring your stamp and consult a few different opinions. ^[15]