Israel 7-9- Why Is This Set So Overpriced?

For years, dealers have priced Scott 7-9 far above every other stamps for Israel. Currently most retail lists have it t least at $125 for a hinged set, much higher for NH. I listed a nice NH set on ebay recently with a low start and a reserve of $70- it did not even meet that. Got bid up to $38. Do a search on closed sales and it looks like a lot of those listed go begging. It apparently is just not all that scarce.

How do they justify the retail prices? Wondering..

I heard that they were highly speculated on by speculators beginning from when they were first issued.

There are few collectors of Israel non-tab singles. Most collectors want tabs, teh demand for stamps without tab is virtually zero. With tabs, this set is not common at all. Most of what you do see is forgeries, so buyers will mostly want a certified set. I didn't see your particular auction, but many of the sets of 7-9 on E-bay are clear forgeries.

I know for sure the tabs are scarce for this issue. It just seems to me that the prices for un-tabbed are possibly kept artificially high by some dealers.

This happens in PRC China. A lot of the sets selling for hundreds of dollars are just not that scarce. My set was not certified but I bought it from a leading dealer some years back. I was sort of shocked at how poorly it did.

Also, in order for something to sell for a decent price, you need at least 2 people to see the item and want it during the bidding period. There just aren't that many people looking for singles, and there might have been other copies for sale at the same time. You might want to try listing it for longer with a Buy it Now price just above your reserve, and then enable make an offer. You might get your reserve price that way.

So ugly stamp , just don't buy them

The un-tab stamps catalogued $190 hinged in 2010. The market is very soft for Israel and not happening without tabs. In the past the stamps of Israel were in big demand and speculation and admiration. The stamps show ancient Judean coins and are quite striking.

Buyers on ebay don't seem to want to pay over 50% of cat for anything, and Israel is worse than most countries.

It is interesting in that it says "Hebrew Post" on the stamps. Is not Scott # 8 found with both double and single tabs? Also, note the Arabic on the bottom right of the stamps.

That is because they didn't know what the name of the country would be when they printed the stamps. One of the reasons that these are so expensive is the fact that they have a very high face value. The top value is 1000mil, while a normal letter was 3 mil.

Hi

My aunt started me collecting stamps. She worked for a milliner and would get stamps from all over the world. On a visit to New York she decided that it would be nice if I collected stamps. We went to Minkus at Gimbels Department store. She purchased a Minkus album for me and my first stamp. A used, but very light cancel, Israel Scott 9 (no tab) for 50 cents.

Jerry B

I believe that 1000 Mils = 1 Lira

I put the set out at a Buy It Now price of $90 with option for counteroffers. Nothing. I reduced the BIN to $70, still nothing. It has had nearly 100 views, nothing.

Right now you can go to any site selling Israel material and find a NH listed for no less than $125-150.

I freaking don't get it..

1) Early Israel stamps without tabs are hard to sell.

2) By restricting sales to US only, you dismiss a very large percentage of worldwide stamp buyers.

Just saying.

[quotes]... Right now you can go to any site selling Israel material and find a NH listed for no less than $125-150 ...[/quote]

Two choices: wait for your price (eg for prices to 'recover'), or move your merchandise. Not everyone is in a hurry. Cheers,

Market for Israel is at an all time low point. No tab stamps are even worse. "Momen" who has a big time high end loyal following on ebay did manage to auction a set for $62. Also, there are tons of forgeries/replicas out there. Stamp collecting evolves.