Burundi Stamps

Another stamp collector, not from this site, mentioned that the Burundi stamps though very nice are worthless. Is this true and why?

Burundi has been issuing stamps since 1961, and although there are many minimum-value stamps (like all countries), there seems to me to be many collectable items.

I don't call modern issues with catalogue values over $20 each "worthless". Besides, each to his own!

That is clearly an opinion and not based on fact. I cannot speak for that collector regarding their reasoning. However, some background might help.

Burundi stamps tend to have a higher average catalog value because they issue a wide variety of traditional topicals (e.g., butterflies, animals, flowers,UPU...). A lot of topical collectors feel their stamps are well-designed and reasonably well-printed, so Burundi stamps usually don't get lumped into the "wallpaper" category. So you will find many Burundi sets cataloging in the double-digit values ($10+).

Some Burundi stamps are also involved in speculative activity, which is the main reason why I don't aggressively pursue Burundi stamps even though I collect worldwide. For example, the 4 types of 1983 WWF issues (original, overprint, imperforate) still catalog around $1000 for both MNH and used. How often do you see CTO sets retailing for that range?! The key is the last stamp in each stamp, as most of these issues were packaged so that the last time was NOT included.

That being said, my unsolicited advice for anyone purchasing Burundi stamps is to be patient and wait out the speculative activity. Go concentrate on topicals from other areas until the speculative activity leaves on the Burundi stamps. Or, you can be extremely disciplined -- the key is to avoid competing with speculators and other topical collectors (who tend to bid through the roof if they find a stamp they like).

We hear many opinions regarding our hobby...I have heard comments from European collectors that "hinged" stamps are worthless..well they seem to have a market here in the U.S. Some of the independant African countries do put out an awful lot of stamps...for example I have a 1992 worldwide album that has TWENTY pages of Tanzania...Bruce Lee, Elvis, Popes, chimps, you name it..to each his own..but its hard for me to take those stamps too seriously..and how many will I see that are not cancelled to order ????

I, for one have some beautiful stamps from Burundy.

I like all stamps and my feelings are "to each his (or her) own. I don't think any stamps are worthless if they are part of someone's collection.

Dianne

Nice words Dianne. (applause)

Absolutely, one person's trash is another person's treasure. Collect what you like and don't worry about the "value".

It's interesting you should start this thread, as I recently realised that one set of stamps in recent years was bucking the trend of other giraffe-related stamps.

Catalogue values and actual prices of giraffe related stamps have a tendency to come down considerably post-1960 or thereabouts, with most issued being capable of being picked up for a few pounds or so. When compiling my list, however, I was staggered to find a set from 1982 where a mint set catalogued at £630...for 13 stamps.

Sure enough, it was a Burundi set - and this is despite being able to buy earlier sets for more sensible prices - there's a 1964 set featuring a giraffe which catalogues at around £20.00 which I picked up for £5.00 or so, and another, much larger, set in 1971 at around the same figures. Both are nice designs (I haven't seen the 1982 set, so can't comment) - the 1964 set is below.

Once again thanks to all, for all this interesting feedback. Ray

GS-

Is this the 1982 giraffe to which you are referring?



I'm not at home right now, so I borrowed this scan from a current eBay [edit: Bidstart] seller...certain values in the 1982 set appear to be quite expensive, but the giraffe is not too bad (and that is without doing any due diligence in searching out prices).

C.

P.S. I don't know that being home would have helped...it would be a shot in the dark that I happen to own this stamp. I didn't recognize it when I saw it.

Wonderful page giraffstamps.

Dianne

Cjd,

Almost certainly - I don't know the story of why it's so horrendously expensive. Is it just a fad that will pass? What incentive is there for the catalogue issuers such as Stanley Gibbons and co. to reduce prices, given that their sales prices are based on their catalogue prices?

GS

GS-

2008 Scott lists your giraffe (#590) at US$3.00 unused, and the overprinted WWF version (#590a) at $10.00 unused.

80+% of the CV in the basic set is in the high value hyena, at $600 out of a $720 set. A handful of the high values in the WWF-overprint set have CVs in the three digits.

I thought the air had already gone out of the WWF balloon, but maybe not.

Scott backs up k's assessment of speculation with a note below the listings claiming, "Apparently there is speculation in these two sets." It goes on to note that imperfs of each set are offered at 5-7 times the above prices.

Scott seems to have less at stake in the CV department than outfits like SG that publish but also sell. There must be temptation to look at your particular stocks before adjusting catalogue prices, but I don't have any evidence on which to base that.

I use SG's British Empire catalogue, but only for information, not for values.

C.

Here we go with the old "value" saw again. All that has been said here is valuable in its own right. We really have to be careful how we toss the term, "value", especially around neophytes that we do not wish to discourage by misunderstanding of terms we collectors take for granted but yet can't agree on definitionally.

This is an important point. This is what happens when there is speculation. A group of "investors" (pseudo-collectors) will try to corner and manipulate the market by first hoarding one or two high denomination stamps in the set and in the process, distributing the other stamps as short sets. You don't actually have to corner the market. All you have to do is create the "semblance" of demand/scarcity.

The catalog value assigned to the stamps in the short set are a coat-tail effect. Of the 13 stamps in the basic set, the other 12 are actually relatively plentiful. To put things in perspective, I purchased the first 12 stamps in the set about 5 years ago for something like 50c. Without the high denomination stamp, the other stamps simply do not command the catalog value assigned. This is why I refer to this set as an example of some of the speculative activity in modern Burundi.

Bottom line -- get the stamps because you like them, not because of their supposed assigned catalog value. The true value of the stamp is in your personal enjoyment and appreciation of the stamp. That's a value that cannot (should not) be dictated by any assigned catalog value.