Dynamic Stamps Markets

As always - but particulary with dynamic stamp markets - there is no substitute for knowledge of what you're doing.

It's an old story, but a dood one: the Jammu & Kashmir Circular types dating from 1866 have always been popular with collectors, and forgers. Corrupt Jammu & Kashmir state officials seem to have produced forgeries of the Circular types, which they 'introduced' into supplies of the genuine types. These forgeries were known as the Missing Die types, because they didn't agree in type with the legitimate issues, although they appeared on similar papers and inks. Here are specimens of the 4 Anna red Missing Die and genuine article:



In the so-called Missing Die forgeries, the central character (probably represeting a '4') aligns differently from the letters above.

And as for dynamic, the genuine stamp ten catalogue years ago (in 2008) was listed at £95, but this year (2017) is at £150. But only if you have the knowledge ...

Bumping this up, as the current issue of Kelleher's Stamp Collectors Quarterly has a concise summary, in David Coogle's column, of present worldwide economic conditions as well as the strength and weakness of different stamp markets. I found nothing in his story to disagree with. Most relevant to me, it indicates that caution on GB stamp prices is in order. What do other readers think?

I read Coogle's column last night. I must admit I was surprised at how thorough and interesting, just from a global economic point of view, that it was. There was a lot of apparent good insight in there.

Being primarily an early US collector, all I can say is the US economy is strong and that is obviously helping things.

The key values from most countries will always be in demand. The high value Australian Kangaroos are red hot, try finding the bi-colored £1 Roos for a bargain. The KGVI commonwealth keyplates and KGV keyplates will always fetch good money as well.

Precancel stamp market = robust !

I collect GB pre2000, but not as an investment. The only two stamps I have that I thought might have beaten inflation and increased in value both appear to have dropped in value in the last five years though in the circles I move in £5.00 oranges don't occur often enough for me to be absolutely sure. As a collector I recently got a collection of about half the QE pre decimal commems very lightly mounted mint in a fine 22 ring binder for 50pence. If I was looking for an investment field it would not be stamps.