So What Makes...

So what makes stamps valuable, or collectible? I dont know much about stamps and check over here frequently and was wondering what drew you hardcore stamps collectors to the things you collect

Collecting stamps is refers to the stamps and stamp collecting, sorting and research.Each country issued stamps, choose the best, the most beautiful, most representative or memorable things, passes elaborate design, show on stamps. The content is involved in politics, economy, culture and military etc,stamp is contain rich knowledge of small encyclopedia.
Collecting stamps is one interesting collection activities, whether to get them with the eager expectation, whether to appreciate others collection, or show own treasures, meet new friends by collecting stamps,all of your life to add endless spice. Collecting stamps is the way of acquiring knowledge,through small paper display profound world, from one side reflects the historical process. Collecting stamps is a comprehensive knowledge and a stamp from design, the content, the significance and the aesthetic, to its design and historical background, printing process and technology, etc, the crystallization of the wisdom of human beings...

As a stamp dealer,collecting stamps is one investment activities,too.

Collectability, I guess, is an individual thing. You either like a stamp or you don't.
What makes a stamp valuable, comes down to supply and demand. If you have a stamp that everybody wants and there is not enough to go round, the price goes up. There are some stamps that have low mintages, but nobody wants them anyway, so the price is low too.

Steve

I am not sure but does the location of the markings in the stamps matter in terms of its value?

As far as what "makes" a stamp valuable, I am still learning that concept, as a new collector. I know what makes one valuable to ME, and I think that most collectors feel that way. There are the experts that are only interested in how much a stamp is worth in money, but from the ones I've met, most are more interested in their own reasons. For example, I am collecting at least one stamp from every country. If I have them all except for say England, then it would be worth a lot to me even though its only "worth" 10 cents.

As to why I do it, I love the history with stamps. I have always been a huge paper lover (sounds weird, doesn't it?) and stamps are paper with a story to tell. Not in words, but in a little 2 inch square of pictures, symbols, and art. I also think its important to pass on our history to the next generation and stamps are just one more way of doing that. They are a great teacher of the world's communication history.

And this is one hobby that every single one is worth at least something, even if its just a few cents. I think thats another reason its so popular. And they are easy to acquire, store, and display, versus someone who collects guns, for example.

I'm glad you asked this question, I am a complete novice and I am interested in the replies.

In the final analysis I think a stamp's value is a direct result of the good old fashioned concept of supply and demand.

There are some issues (like the U.S. Zepps) that are actually quite plentiful both used and mint, but whose popularity keeps the price way up. The opposite is also true.

IMHO, the whole PSE certification fad has created an artificial boom in the prices for some issues - some day it will probably go bust.

Laswabbie--

Do you really mean certification? or grading? Tom & I agree that the pricing for graded stamps has run amuck, but paying a few bucks extra for something that has been certified seems worth the expense to me.

Stefanib123....You may be a new collector, but I think you summed it up very nicely!