Cheap - But Hard To Find

Most of us have one or two inexpensive stamps we just cannot find for love nor money.

Mine is MNH Pitcairn Island #38 - SCV $1.00



I found this one on StampWants for $.65 plus $1.50 shipping. I'm almost ready to buy it.

What is your nemesis?

Nice looking stamp! Although I don't know if I would pay more than double catalog (after shipping) for it. But if it fills a long missing gap in your album, I suppose it's worth it.

As you may know, there is also a #20 that is almost identical (except for the watermark) at lower cost. (Just be sure you're getting the right stamp.)

I have an old 1983 Scott WW Catalog where the #38 is shown at a value of $2.00 (unused). So if the current SCV is only $1.00, the stamp has lost half it's value over the past 27 years.

swabbie, it isn't hard to find at all. I just bought one a minute ago.





Here's where it gets funny...I had several items I was going to be purchasing from that seller anyway, so when it arrives, I'll send it on to you.

I'd say, "that's what clean living will get you" but I can't type it with a straight face...

These two.
Rescued by Philb on the Austrian
(the cat value has trippled since I have been looking for it)
both had min cat value

still looking for the Franco

Very interesting topic!

In our Australian Stamp News magazine we have Mike Lee that does a monthly article and his last 4 articles have been on this very topic.

It is amazing how many stamps are cheap, but hard to find.
Some of these stamps are very small in numbers but not many people know about them so they are not popular, so they do not cost very much when trying to buy them. New discoveries that are just too new! One day they definitely will not be cheap ~ & still hard to get. KGV

No criticism intended, John,
but I would suggest a lot of Philatelic journalists
trawl forums like SCF for inspiration.
We discussed this topic a year ago on SCF.
Any stamps he brought to attention by Mike you care to share?
I'd be interested.

Just by memory Rod.

All personalized stamps with tab attached. That have a private image on the tab.

The 1999 $1 Kola with a greetings tab was used as an emergence print a couple of years on that has an over print International Post on it with tab attached is the one to get.

Faces of Australia 2000 set of 25, 45c stamps got a mention. With the lady with child and the 2 babies, Mike is suggesting that these 2 are the hardest for him to find.

The self adhesive Inter Post stamps and 2nd letter rate weight to N.Z Inter Post got a mention as well.

All stamps in used condition.

Just what I remember, there is a lot more. At the time I was doing International Post stamps so my memory is a bit bias.

I hate to complicate things (I lie: I love to ), but that Pitcairn ½d stamp is listed in Gibbons at 80p for the green and reddish lilac, and £1.25 for the green and reddish purple shade. The watermark change of 1963 is listed at 65p.

Thanks John,
the faces of australia makes sense.
I felt they would be keepers when they were first released.
I'll keep your post for reference.

Oh you mean the Cordyline Terminalis ?

Used by the postmaster of Pitcairn to make envelopes.

Often I find that after successfully getting a item I have been chasing for a while, another, cheaper one turns up just after (but I'm not complaining). If I pay $10 and then see one for $5, I just rationalise by saying that if I didn't think it was worth $10, I wouldn't have paid $10 for it in the first place.

This has happened to me often enough, too. I think that, if I'm happy with the item - whatever it is - then that's the end of it. I could go on gnashing my teeth at having spent a dollar more than I need have, but what's the point? Only gives me ulcers, and doesn't change anything.

rod, I think I have a couple of those...franco's..

You know folks, the issue here seems to be that a number of us need in-expensive stamps to fill our collection. But it is nuts to pay .50 plus a 1.00 in postage for a .20 stamp..

I suggest we put together a want list of the cheap stuff. we can circulate it through here, see what people have, we could possibly send our want list to a couple of dealers. if we have a big enough list we can make this worthwhile..
I volunteer to keep a spreadsheet for everyone.

Any interest?

Nice thought but probably won't work SV.
I doubt you have the 1p40 Franco :)

rod..let me check.. I have a boat load of purple francos.

let me rephrase that.. in the 70's and 80's I collected Spain and I recall I have at least to stock pages with Franco stamps. It is possible I may have it. Though I would like to hear the reason why you don't think I have it.

I think that's an excellent idea.
Many collectors concentrate on one or maybe a few different countries or themes but most of us have accumulated lots of stuff in which we have little interest but kept it anyway.
It's far better to give it to someone who needs it to complete a set.
But what do I know I'm new here.