Free Online Access To Global Stamp Catalogs And Valuations

Hello again.

Before I start, I would like to apologize for sounding so ignorant and selfish in what I am about to ask, but I just need to know. Why can't I go online and find an instant valuation for any stamp for free?

I am asking, because I have been looking at software and catalogs considering what to buy, so that I can identify and value my stamps.

I have stamps from all over the world, so I need something that will let me identify any stamp. I have looked at software, and some people are charging almost 100 bucks per country.

Now, I'm not trying to rant here, but, if you said to any random person on the street, "name a hobby", I think there is at least an 80% chance that "stamp collecting" would be their first answer. So, how comes just based on fan following alone, that there is no real definitive solution.

I see software, that claims to have over 100 countries, and over xxxx stamps, but none of them say "every last stamp in the world, yes we promise you never have to buy anything else." and just have done with it.

I have been trying to think, as a novice amateur, what could be the cause.

Is it because of trade marks or something like that? as in licenses to use "SCOTT" numbers in your software? if so, why don't "the people" so to speak, just come up with their own system?

Is it just down to the size of the tast? or something else?

I really don't want to come off the wrong way, but I think, with some time, even I could eventually come up with a program that identifies stamps and values them for you. I am just a bit amazed, that this is so hard.

To be a bit humble, yes, it is a mammoth task to catalog and keep up to date every last stamp in the world, I can really appreciate that, and I know there is some fan made stuff that is real great, it just seems a bit frustrating and hard to understand for me is all.

So, I would like to ask. How is it that you can't just find out what any stamp is worth in seconds and for free?

I would imagine, that a fully comprehensive website for example, could earn an absolute bomb on advertising revenue by offering such a service.

Am I making a good point here? or does this kid still have a lot to learn? Is it all just down to experience and practice, and lots of catalogs and things?

Also, can you recommend any software, or system, for a new guy like me, who is interested in identifying and valuing world stamps? Ideally as comprehensive as possible, and for less than a thousand bucks.

Thanks

There are so many factors when it comes to valuing a stamp that the number of variations would be impossible to catalogue. There are entire reference books written up on single stamps - think of items such as the Penny Black and Cape Triangulars - trying to value all the variations and formats just for these two would be a feat on its own. If you are just looking for a simplified value then online auctions/dealer sites and a catalogue is your best friend.

So asking what a stamp is worth is always going to boil down to how much someone is willing to pay for it. Yes the top catalogues give some indication as to which stamps will sell for more but in know way are they true prices. For a single stamp the price can vary in the many thousand of $$$

You would also have to factor in things such as postmarks for used stamps - which are specialties in their own right.

I like the idea of an application being able to identify a stamp for you but being able to value it would in my opinion be impossible.

To know the value of the stamps goes hand in hand with knowing as much about them as possible.

Drew

Two basic reasons:

#1. Reason Three words: International Copyright Law.

Without getting into a complex explanation, years , no centuries ago, companies such as Scott's Publishing, Stanley Gibbons, Michel, and few others... all publishing companies (some 19th century) ... developed the series of catalogue numbers most collectors use today. The numbers are not "public domain".

Reason #2: If collectors hadn't narrowed down the system to using just these few general catalogs, and then referring to specialist segment catalogs (i.e.: American Airmail Catalog, Machine Cancel Society specialized handbooks, Bale, etc.) No one would really be able to buy/sell/trade/catalogue stamps/postal stationary/revenues... it would be total chaos. Even now, Scott's depends on stamp societies to help amend, update or even create new sections for their catalog.

Here's an exercise to try for a year. Pick one country, any country. Build your database and numbering system .. without infringing on any of the known publishers (Scotts, Michel, Gibbons, etc.) Track all new issues, Revenues, Postal Stationary, every segment of stamp issued. Track every new issue error and add a sub variety number. Track their buy/sell/auction prices -- worldwide for a year. Now, multiply that times 192 stamp issuing countries. Are you beginning to see the problems?

Hal

The reason behind this is simple.. no catalog or software product has every last stamp. They are constantly being produced.

If you have looked at EZStamp, he has a list of what countries are complete and to what scott number some go up to.
I know for a fact that his Indo-China and Veit-Minh countries are complete, because I made the databases..

StampStudy has just about covered it.

I'd simply add that, even for 'dead' countries, the last word hasn't been written, and often won't be ... for many years. Take my own pet collection, Barwani. It's been philatelically dead since 1948. However, at the moment I have four stamps of Barwani before the editor of Gibbons for consideration for listing. These aren't obscure errors, or shades either: they are distinct, major number items.

Do you have scans of those tony? And how did you come about them?

I'm intrigued..:)

Mindpsyche, I've discussed them in various places. It all gets a bit technical, but there are at least three stamps (two ¼ Annas and a ½ Anna) that belong before SG 1. Then there's a 1922 1 Anna vermilion, on laid paper



and a ½ Anna



probably from around the time of the 1921 ¼ Anna green, SG 3, but in quite a different shade and paper.

And I'll take any odds these are aren't listed in any of the free online catalogues

Where did they come from? All over the place. One of the pre-SG 1 ¼ Annas, I bought at a Spink (London) auction for a four-figure sum (in £s): it was correctly identified, and I had to fight for it. The 1 Anna above was offered to me privately by an ebay seller I buy from occasionally. I offered him a four figure price (in $US) for it, and he accepted. The ¼ Anna above I bought on ebay for a few tens of $US, and this block of unlisted ¼ Annas



came in a mixed lot of Barwani (pretty cheaply, but I can't recall the price) from a Canadian auction some years ago.

The moral is: Don't put all your faith in online catalogues, or even printed ones, for that matter. Make yourself an expert in a corner of the philatelic world, and with luck and good management, you'll make worthwhile discoveries - that pay for the occasional extravagance

Hello all, sorry for the delayed response, my computer decided it had seen enough of this world.

Yes, I can see how this would be an giant task, specially seeing as the value of every single stamps if probably fluctuating on a monthly basis, and new ones coming out all the time.

It still seems to me like there could be something though, a basic listing. See, I am less than 3 months in to stamp collecting as a hobby, I really don't know much at all, but I'm slowly learning and building a collection.

My problem is, there does not really seem to be anything for me as a 'noob' that will meet my needs.

As @StampStudy pointed out, some stamps have entire books on them, but would it not be possible to make something simple, something that can tell you: ''What you have is a penny black, and is worth $30 to $6million bucks, give or take.'' or ''That is a worthless''.

I looked at Ez stamp, and it looks like a great piece of software, but the price tag for world stamps is insane to me. If there are many people willing to pay 80 to 1000 bucks, I would imagine that could fund an up to date system of some kind.

I just don't really get how I am going to get good at knowing what I have and what it is worth give or take. I have a kind of loose idea, but that is about it.

I recently purchased a MNH 1938 superman stamp, for $3 bucks, free postage. I suspect I probably paid a little more than it is worth, or a little less, give or take. However, I also purchased a sheet of 50 pre canceled stamps from Hungry 1978, that cost me about a buck, I have no idea if they are worthless, worth a buck, or if I got a good deal, or am a multi millionaire yet :P hehe.

I have been looking around a lot, and have learned a bit, but I guess I still have a lot more to go.