How Old Are You And Whats Your Gender? Will Philately Die?

Male 36 years old.

I think that philately will never die. As time goes on I see more "flyspeck" valuation happening. Specialist clubs like cancellations, pre-cancels, perfins, and the like still restrict their sharing of information. That is understandable because there is little reward for the time consuming work to provide valuable information. Given time, their model of cash for info will become obsolete.

Info as other posters have provided proves that the number of global as well as U.S. based collectors is actually increasing.

The advent of the information age allows the dissemination of desirable stamps to be more available to everyone. Within a short period of time, I think that the most desirable stamps will be consumed quickly. Never before has the totality of the market of stamps been so available. Not long from now, this change in availability will cross the threshold where the valuable stamps are no longer sold at a discount.

I believe that the pristine stamps will soon be consumed. After that, the value of all stamps will rise as long as the number of collectors grows. Considering that more people are becoming wealthy enough to buy collectible items, I believe that their value will continue to grow.

Unlike a rare car, stamps can never be restored to original condition. A rare car is almost always more valuable in a restored condition. Stamps are the opposite. Stamps are valued based upon how "original" they are. An early 1900s car will be in poor condition regardless of how well it was stored. Any stamp can be stored such that it remains in pristine condition. Yes, regardless of how well stored every stamp is, it will experience noticeable aging. However, the slow degradation of stamps allows for the rarity of exceptional storage conditions to be evident. Rare storage/collecting conditions creates a market of exceptional stamps that command a premium along with centering, non-hinged, and whatnot.

The number of exceptionally well preserved stamps will never increase. The number of willing collectors is increasing. As time goes on the number of low value stamps for sale will increase as their value increasing makes them worthwhile of selling. However, I believe that the number of high value stamps will become even more scarce. The supply can only diminish, the demand is known to be increasing.

What DNA and others have written on this thread is likely true, but we should keep in mind that the internet phenomenon piggy backs on the existence of a modestly priced and relatively secure worldwide delivery network, mostly by postal administrations. Of course, so does a lot of other business globally.

Major disruption of that system could be a game-changer. Of course major disruption of that system would create so many other huge problems that the effect on stamp collecting would quickly be forgotten as we scramble to survive the upheaval.

But it's worth remembering how much rides on maintaining a secure and relatively cheap delivery system. Right now we just exclude certain countries whose postal systems are crippled by theft, corruption, and inefficency. But what if that number of ostracized countries reaches a certain tipping point? If the delivery system becomes too expensive or undependable, we would be back to local or regional networks/markets.

We take for granted the rule of law and mostly non-corrupt administrators. That can change.

I am a 34 year old female =) I started collecting when a HUGE collection was passed over to me and haven't been able to stop since =)

landstuhl0526, I'm jealous. Having a collection passed on would be very cool.

Hieronymus, I agree with you on many points. However, I disagree that it is likely possible that physical handling of goods could cease to occur. As we can see during the "revolution" of the internet and package handling systems, individuals and companies shipping goods is actually increasing.

"Shipping" of correspondence through the USPS is now limited to mostly legally necessary items. Other applications are now mostly met with email. I still have relatives that prefer to send a physical card/letter. The number of people that prefer that method seem to be dwindling.

The value and profit of shipping goods have proven themselves as a business model by the success of UPS and FedEx and the like.

Due to the efficiency that makes these business models profitable, physical stamps are nearing extinction. Besides philatelists, there will always be a small group of people that prefer to use stamps to mail correspondence. There's just something more personable about receiving a $5 bill enclosed in a card from a distant uncle/aunt/etc.

It seems possible that the USPS may become a novelty instead of a mainstay. Government run services are often known more for their notariaty than their profitability. Our society's method of compensating competent government employees doesn't compare to what they can earn in the private sector. That's a loaded discussion that should have it's own thread and may not be appropriate for this forum.

"But it's worth remembering how much rides on maintaining a secure and relatively cheap delivery system. Right now we just exclude certain countries whose postal systems are crippled by theft, corruption, and inefficency. But what if that number of ostracized countries reaches a certain tipping point? If the delivery system becomes too expensive or undependable, we would be back to local or regional networks/markets."

Those statements are very debatable. I don't see it as possible in the US, but it does apply to many other countries. It certainly seems applicable to the many pseudo-countries such as those located in the middle east and elsewhere.


The current system of shipping physical items depends on how efficient it is. I love stamps, but having computer recognizable postage is what makes the system profitable enough to be what we have today. I can ship an item anywhere in the world for far much less than it would have cost a decade or so ago. When my parcel arrives at a shipping center, the very efficient machinery sorts it automatically into a group that minimizes many factors that affect the shipping cost.

Packages/parcels are sorted into groups that are extremely efficient. Sorting time is reduced into fractions of a second. Without computerized postage, the profitability/economics of modern shipping isn't possible. That spells the demise of hand written and individually stamped postage, but does allow for the sale of goods that are cheaper than acquiring local.

There are many different arguments to be made concerning modern postal usage, but I don't think that any will become completely obsolete.

Im 22, Male,
Do I think philately will die out? hmm personally I do but after I have passed, take for example where I live, the UK, around my area there are no stamp shows, the closest stamp club is roughly 7-10 miles from my house and its virtually empty each and every time I have went. The only commemorative stamps I can buy are online via auction sites because the post office and the surrounding post office's within a 6 mile radious (that is when I gave up looking) do not stock them, they only stock the basic definitives 2nd class and 1st, and when I receive parcels or send them they always use the gold parcel label I ask them not to use them but they say that is the norm now, I personally like to see interesting stamps with nice design's on and look for variety's, I also dont have a car (as the insurance is way overpriced) hence why I stopped at the 6 mile radious looking for comm's, I cannot even go to stamp auction houses as they are too far away, and plus I personally like to visually inspect them before I bid, what would happen if I won a few boxes at auction....would the train inspector let me on? no because it is a health and safety matter, Another example is my generation,80% of them all want to play on their play station's or Xbox's, pc's for facebook etc, I just personally wish I was born 40 years before I was.....as then I could of really enjoyed stamp collecting in the 'good old days' as they say. Well my Rant over.
Turbo

Such a pity. Sounds like a sad state of affairs for stamp collectors there in the UK.

I find the UK comments difficult to believe. Every month Stamp Magazine and the Stanley Gibbons magazine have dozens of listings for stamp fairs, shows and auctions. Surely given the broad reach of the UK rail network it should be possible to get to one or more of these.

Philately will not die, and is not dying. It is just changed. Different. And there is nothing wrong with that. Yes, there are fewer retailers, but a very large number of reputable dealers, shows, fairs, auctions, and online sales. Identify a dealer in a nearby city and develop a personal relationship. That dealer will show you material in person before you buy. Go to live auctions. If you buy a lot, they will ship it home for you. Find a large club in the nearest large city and go every two months by rail. It can be done, if you wish it.

DNA,

We may be talking past each other. My concern is with political upheaval or other kinds of socio-political disruption. Clearly right now package and mail delivery by government postal service and private for-profit businesses is "working" pretty well.

I simply wanted to point out that we take for granted the rule of law and relative political stability and relative honesty among those who run the systems. The countries where that stability and security does not exist we simply exclude from our "deliver to" lists. What happens if a dozen countries on that list swells to a hundred??

Will it happen? Perhaps not, perhaps probably not. But it could. For much of history mails were either not dependable or very expensive or both. I wanted to remind us how much we take for granted the delivery network that operates today. We ought not take it for granted and we should recognize that without it, the internet stamp market that exists today would evaporate overnight.

I, for one, keep that in mind when I ask myself, "what kind of market, what kind of demand for my stamps will be around when I'm ready to sell my collection."

46 year old male in the U.S.

I go to a half dozen or so stamp shows and buy lots of postal history and FDCs from ebay. There is sometimes lots of bidding wars and with millions of stamps and covers on sale at ebay and Delcampe, I think there are many decades left before any real trouble begins.

Larry

TurboJay, cjpalermo1964, malariastamps, welcome! Good argumentation points. Thanks for contributing.

Hieronymus, We are probably talking past each other a bit.

"I simply wanted to point out that we take for granted the rule of law and relative political stability and relative honesty among those who run the systems"

That is a very valid argument. Personally, I don't see it as being possible to disrupt the trading of stamps inter nor intra nationally. The world has realized the benefits of altruism and globalization. Nearly every nation-state is finding the benefit to its economy and citizens' quality of life by doing so.

There will always be unrest and conflict. Could a major disruption occur, yes. Will it expand to include many nation-states? I don't think that conflict will ever get that bad. There is just too much to be gained through globalization for everyday citizens all the way up to corrupt leaders to not join the progress and benefit from globalization and stability. Are my thoughts speculation, yes. However, further globalization generally benefits all and is a very strong motivator. Recent history has shown how globalization has been adopted as beneficial more so than continuing isolation.

I believe that the future demand for valuable/historical postage stamps will only increase for reasons that I have stated previously. From the current trends, I believe that stamp values will generally increase. It is possible that demand will decrease, but I never see it occurring such that stamp values will drop as much as they have due to the internet/information age. I believe that the market is currently saturated and will soon begin an upward trend in value. The availability of discontinued stamp issues will never increase. People love owning pieces of history. It seems to be human nature to cherish our past.

Unless an apocalypse occurs, I don't see collectible stamps ever becoming valueless.

cjpalermo1964,
This one is for you buddy,I currently study at college and live of hardship allowance, £33.64 per 2 weeks (14) days, I live with family members who support me by giving me the food I eat, clothes and basics, toothpaste, soap. In return I give them all of my hardship allowance. At christmas and my birthday I ask for money as that is the only money I have to not spend on things like food etc, that money I get from christmas and my birthday is spent only on stamps, I would say I get £20.00 if im lucky for christmas and £10.00 on my birthday. Once in a blue moon I will play the £2.00 lottery, if I win then the winnings minus the £2.00 will be spent on stamps, usually kiloware or bundleware if I get a big. I cannot afford to travel unless it is free, I dont ask any family members for anything as they are already pushing the boat out for me. I have been trying to get a job for a very long time but as I have not got any experience in anything except civil engineering they will not let me get to interview stage, or even reply to me for that matter. Things can only get better from here as at present im on the lowest rung of the ladder, once I am qualified after I finish college and then progress onto university I will then get burserys and grants, after I qualify after 4 years of studying at university and hopefully find a job I will be buying as many stamps as I possibly can get my hands on, once I have qualified then I can hopefully set my own stamp shop up or gathering place for philately local to me, and then reap the reward of teaching new generations who will carry philately on way after I am gone, even if 10 people who I have taught tell 2 people each about the rewards of philately then it will be 30 extra people to carry the hobby on. Big ambitions but if it comes true, my life will be complete.....

TurboJay, your financial situation sounds challenging, but it was not mentioned in your original post. From the original post it sounded only as if you were not aware of many resources, whereas from publications, it appears there are lots. Your ability to fit your hobby and passion into your budget is admirable. I wish you the best in advancing your education and career.

Hmm. Well, I'm not a long-time stamp collector as most of you are - I just dabbled in it as a boy and then other things took over for a while. But coming from the antique car collecting hobby, in which I am very active, we are seeing the same problem. It's particularly a problem with cars as the old gents making replacement parts are dying off, and with them, the skills to make things with their hands and machines. I do see some younger people coming along and joining in small numbers, but it's really not sufficient to ensure the survival of the hobby. And those younger people are more interested in buying the parts, not in making them or learning how to do the detailed work it takes to restore a car. So... yeah... that hobby is going to wither over time. Similarly, I think stamp collecting may be facing the same fate, though perhaps to a lesser degree. Neither will ever go away entirely, it will just become a lot smaller world of people.

43, male. This is my second time round with philately. Introduced by father when I was a kid, collected through high school, a bit in university and grad school, by 2003 had quite a nice medium-level worldwide collection. Sold it in 2004 to support business I was trying to establish. Business ran til 2008, then closed. Father passed in 2009 and I inherited his collections (and dealer stock) which rekindled my interest. Got new job late 2008 and by 2012 made it to middle-management so have some discretionary income again. Now rebuilding collection, still collect worldwide and current focus is on French empire and early post-colonial issues.

I don't think philately will die, the internet has changed the way the hobby is structured (probably for the better, though caveat emptor is now more than ever essential in acquisitons). Creation of a truly global marketplace combine with the spread of the hobby to new areas of the world balances out its relative decline in the West. Plus I think when baby boomers start retiring in force in a few years, demand for what can be a relaxing, inexpensive hobby will grow again in the West, and many will remember their early childhood collections and -rediscover- the hobby, and quite likely expose it to grandchildren etc. But in the end we enjoy the hobby for the joy it brings us in our lives, and so long as we keep focused on the hobby aspect of it then what the future may hold is less of a concern.

cjpalermo1964,
Very true my friend, I should of really explained in my first post, you are completely right, Have a great day buddy.
Turbo