Real Modern Stamps To Collect

Hi all!

I'm calling myself a newbie collector as I'm back in stamps collection since 4 years now. I'm collecting some countries as used stamps (GB, Germany, Australia) and also some mint real modern countries (so, the actual years): Austria & Spain or WWF as topic. I enjoyed up to now searching for kiloware, good sources (not always) finding adds or exchanging used stamps but in the near future (1-2 years) my time will be limited and therefore I will go with my used stamps a bit in stand-by.
Therefore I would like to start with 2011 to buy the mint stamps releases for a number of 3 or 4 countries extra to my Austria & Spain but I didn't decided yet on which. I'm also looking to buy them directly from postal authorities because anyway it's hard to say you'll go profitable but, at lest, it will be bad to be 4 times unprofitable as for many countries dealers prices are 4 times the face value stamps for new issues.
I'm not intending to make a profit for it, I don't really see how as usually you end up selling them to a percentage of the face value, but also I don't want to end up buying just a piece of paper that nobody want it. It's just so: if the time come and I don't want to collect them anymore to have the chance to sell them and go one with another topic or country.
I was looking for a hint, something like "top countries collected" but didn't found much. I know that it's best to buy for countries with a big population because the change of "demand" is high but, just for example, Austria it's not a big countries but still there are many collectors and therefore the demand is still high.
I'll be curios to find how and what are you collecting in terms of new issues.

Thanks a lot,
Ionut

The Republic of Panama. Fun, well-designed stamps.

I collect my own country, USA. I never really was interested in other countries stamps, unless it relates to a topical collection. I could always use any excess stamps as postage down the road if I decide to stop collecting, which is doubtful after 25 years.

Hi ionut77

I have downsized my collection to a few countries that I want to specialize in more. Those countries are Canada, Belgium, GB, Germany, Iceland, Greenland, Hawaii, Australia, NZ and US airmails only.

I still think that I collect too many countries lol. Anyway, I collect for the shear pleasure of the hobby. Value generally comes later if you are really keen on specializing and that is when a collector will usually go for the more pricey items.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Hi ionut77, and welcome.

Value is a matter of luck - but you'll probably only get a fraction of face value if you do sell, even of new modern stamps.

So if I was you I'd go for countries with stamps that you like. Why not go to your local librtary and look through recent stamp catalogues to see what appeals to you?

My personal favourites in Europe are Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia. But you could also consider countries in other parts of the world - Japan (very attractive but their postal authority doesn't seem to like selling stamps to collectors!), Australia, New Zealand, India, etc etc.

For me the cardinal rules are - collect what you enjoy, how you enjoy it, don't collect to make money (you won't), and try not to spend too much more than you can afford!

Hello & thanks a lot for all your valuable answers.
David, you are right and I have no dreams with winning with stamps. Regarding the modern ones, I think one have more chances to win at lottery that making a fortune. At least for sure not for somebody like me that have no desire to invest money but just spend some money for my pleasure.
I also took a lot of time to see the stamps, find out the philately shops over the net. A good and valuable source was this one:
http://europa-stamps.blogspot.com/
because from there one can go to each country philately shops.
I also tought to go on with countries with stamps I like. As candidates I have choosen italy, france, gibraltar, finland, NZ, Rusia, Ireland & Iceland....
The stamps have good designs and (except France, that is a mistery for me... 8 booklets in one year ?!?!) they are not really expensive countries.
As they are still quite many i'd have to reduce the number of countries by half... so i'm still evaluating.

Cheers & thanks!

P.S.: Even so, I saw Romania 2009 sold on ebay Austria for 170 EUR after a good battle so sometimes it can go good (sure,beyond the SF catalog price but better than the face value I think). Why was so... I have no clue. I think it was just on the right time there.

David,

I like collecting stamps from Japan, but why is Japan tentative about selling stamps to collectors?

Donna