A Few Pick-Ups And Maybe A Question

I was planning to go to the ASDA yesterday but couldn't make it due to family stuff. So I went today and walked around looking for cheap pick ups. In the end these are the stamps I picked up.

Hope I'm posting these in the correct section.

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#696

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#700

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#239

I am planning on getting more stamps, already got my eye on a #573. But I'm not sure if I should save for a high grade or settle for a mid grade. I don't see myself spending hundreds on a single stamp, but is it really worth it? I don't want to say I'm buying stamps as an investment, but I would also like to have something that will maintain its value.

Thanks for staying and lreading my rambling.

The only rule when buying stamps is there are no rules. If you like something buy it. There is no penalty for buying what you like and you get to admire it more than anyone else. As far as maintaining its value, best of luck.

Yes as a hobby for pleasure. As for the money aspect. Forget about it.

Buy the best you can afford. Much better to have one great stamp in your album than one great stamp in your album and one "mid-grade" stamp in your duplicates box, and that's what happens when you buy lower quality . . . but if you know you'll be happy forever with a lower quality stamp, then go for it!

Just my own personal opinion here; but buying without getting ripped off is important, and wanting to have something of some monetary value is ok as well too. That said, if you are looking for an investment; stamps may or may not be the right way to go about it; I'd argue that they are not but others may disagree. Ok to buy a stamp you can appreciate but just be aware of those dealers/sellers that will take advantage of collectors. That said; everyone has their own budget constraints and criteria for what they want to collect, in what grade, topic, years/age, countries, and so forth.


Again just my personal opinion, but based on the stamps you posted; you are just getting in to the hobby? I'd set some sort of parameters for yourself at least early on. Are you ok having used stamps, stamps without perfect centering, or only mint never hinged "gems"? Do you want to collect US only, or world-wide, or just a specific country? There is no right answer of course, that lies with you and what you get the most enjoyment out of. (Emphasis on what you get the most enjoyment out of.)


Long and short of it; if you collect for the sheer enjoyment out of it, you may very well create a collection with some monetary value, but you'll have a lot of enjoyment putting it together; upgrading, looking for new stamps and so forth along the way. That's hard to put a price on!

Tend to ramble, but hope you find that helpful.

I'll tell you that I get just as much enjoyment mounting and admiring a $.25 cent stamp as I do stamps with a lot more monetary value.

I am planning on getting more stamps, already got my eye on a #573. But I'm not sure if I should save for a high grade or settle for a mid grade.
Any worthwhile stamp investment would require
1. Future demand
2. Rarity
3. Pristine, post office fresh perfect condition
Not the league 99.99% of collectors are in.
When do you plan on collecting on any possible investment? Auctions tend to feature "The estate collection of the LATE Mr.xxxx"
Enjoy the hobby, collect whatever you like, try to limit the area of collection and keep looking for worthwhile bargains and avoid what looks to good to be true.

I agree with Philazilla--buy the best quality you can afford. Forget about the investment angle--just from the viewpoint of your own collection it's better to spend a little more now than feeling you need to upgrade later.

axc77, I hope you bought the blue stamp in the OP as a #230 and not a #239 as you stated.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

@Andyrich74 I used to collect more as a kid but never got into the older issued stamps. I feel my collection should be more mature now if you can call it that.

@Rhett looked like I mistyped, its a #230

All good advice, but this one - "try to limit the area of collection" - is very difficult! Too many interesting avenues to go down...

I collected only Commonwealth for more than 40 years (starting at age 9) before I finally got interested in anything else. That first area was Scandinavia- Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Sweden. I really thought that was as far as I would ever stray. That plan didn't last long lol, it's hard to set limits.