French Polynesia Stamps - Inquiry On Starting A Collection

I began buying a few stamps from a dealer who had stock of current and older stamps (going back to about 2005) from French Polynesia. I have enjoyed them so much I decided to get a standing order of French Polynesia's annual series of stamps each year. I can always cancel according to the seller.

I saw that there was an old thread a collector of French Polynesian stamps started and folks to show what they had. Wondering if anyone else collects from this nation. Also, although I do not collect stamps primarily for investment purposes, I would like to know if they tend to have some chance of gaining a premium. I have noted this has happened with a few from the past 15 years but then I was told by one staff member from a very reputable and well-known dealer modern Worldwide stamps are a hard sell. Again I have no expectation of getting rich from my stamp collections, BUT it would be ncie to alert my heirs of anything that may be worthwhile to sell online or bring to a dealer in say 30 years.

And if you have a beautiful stamp from French Polynesia PLEASE SHARE!!! Would love to learn more about this country's philatelic contributions as well the nation itself.

http://goscf.com/t/9315 br /

99% "no." Most modern (the definition of that is disputed, but I'll say post 1960) stamps are just printed in numbers too high (millions to hundreds of millions) to be worth anything significantly more than face value. You do find the odd exception, such as EFOs (errors, freaks, oddities), or when political winds change (several Chinese stamps come to mind). Adding to this is the tendency of certain African and Pacific nations (among other geographies) to just pump out issues as a revenue source doesn't help matters.
If you're looking for appreciation (IMO anathema to the concept of "hobby"), I'd suggest going pre-1960. Others here will have their own advice for you, of course. FP has some nice issues, enjoy them knowing that in the worst case, your collection will eventually be someone else's problem.

I have French Oceania/Polynesia as part of my French area collection. I've tended to pick them up in relatively long runs at auction. The stamps aren't financial turkeys by any means, but I shouldn't expect them to make money - still less so if I were buying them at face value. The enjoyment of the designs is the main thing.

I don't collect French Polynesia per se, but I do have some stamps from there in my "Random Stuff That I Like" collection. Here's my personal favorite, Scott #720, and the related souvenir sheet, Scott #761a.


And here's a nice cover that I bought a few months ago.

Thanks all for the responses. Lovely unused and used stamps.

So far buying them online and trying the standing order route for convenience and just enjoy them as I like the designs and topics of the stamps.

As for the investment value, all confirmed what I thought. Not complete turkeys but of worldwide stamps a country that at least looks to keep its face value with tony premium (a little more for a few others --- and not all are errors!).

Here are the two French Oceania issues from the French colonial omnibus series commemorating the 1939 New York World's Fair (I have a topical collection of stamps of the Fair).

One might argue these have nothing to do with French Oceania/Polynesia as they were constructed by Albert Decaris* half a world away in Paris and were identical for Cameroun, Guadaloupe, and Indochina as well as almost every little bit of French territory in between...

issued 10 May 1939
Scott 124 &125 Yvert 128 &129




*I can't resist noting here as an aside that Decaris, the designer & engraver of this one, was the last winner of the Olympic gold medal in Painting & Graphic Arts, Engraving and Etching subcategory, in the London Olympics of 1948. The IOC discontinued the arts competitions after '48. Is he the only stamp designer to ever medal?

Here are several from my album

One more about paintings from the 19th century, 1982

Tahitian Woman, by Maximilien René Radiguet (1816-1899)
Souvenir of Tahiti, by Sébastien Charles Giraud (1819-1892)
Fabric Threshing, by JL Le Jeune
Papeete Port, by Constance Gordon Cumming (1837-1924)

Thanks for sharing - lovely stamps! I will post soon some of the ones I have already.

Collecting French Polynesian stamps is 99% non investment. The other 1% is investment such as 1973 medical non issue stamp, only 50 exist in the world...Another one is 1989 Copra stamp sheet is very rare, it was taken out of circulation after lawsuit. Few exist today & they were very expensive.
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French Polynesian stamps are colorful & well designed. They're excellent in quality with low mintage. Denomination are usually 100F, the highest denomination is 600F. French Polynesian post office released only 50 issues per year, a lot less compared to other nations.
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Miss Tahiti Committee is very involved with Philatelic Center of French Polynesia. They do a lot of promotion on stamp hobby & host various of stamp shows & Expo throughout Tahiti. Stamp calendars are issued every year by the Miss Tahiti Committee. There are dozens of stamp clubs on Tahiti. Stamp hobby is very popular in Tahiti, a lot more active compare to rest of the world.
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Philatelic Center of French Polynesia is the main source where collectors around the world purchases FDC, stamp & stamp sheets. The prices is the lowest in comparison with other places because they sell it base on stamp value, they are non profit organization & does not make profit. They received 50,000 orders every day. 90% of their customers are French speakers. There are only 8 staff in this busy org. Also, they issued Stamp news letter each month (free). It's written in French.
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The French Polynesian post offices are also very active. The worked closely with the government hosting various of stamp activities such as inviting Engrave Artists to meet with Stamp Collectors. Autograph/photo op were given. Linn News letter (USA) was invited to Tahiti a few years ago. I personally love French Polynesian post offices because they build personal relationship with stamp collectors. It's not un common to meet staff's family members at picnic or Heiva festival. Everyone know each other by first name. It's a small island where everyone knows each other.
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Anyway, hope you will enjoy French Polynesian stamp collecting and try not to think it as investment or profit. A friendly advice, you might want to learn some French because all the stamps are written in French.

Love & Peace,
French Polynesian Stamp Club.

At least my avatar contributes to this thread.

- Lance

Dear Lance,
Nice profile photo. Your profile photo is a 1974 French Polynesia stamp, it was dedicated to d'Atimaono Gulf Course on the island. This golf course hosted several international tournaments, It is also open to public. Some of my friends attended this golf before, it is one of most beautiful gold course in the world. It is one of my favorite stamp because of excellent designed & colorization of 1970's, but the denomination is 16F which is a little unusual. Most Polynesian stamps are usually in 100F denomination.
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Love & Peace,
French Polynesian Stamp Club

I am also a collector of Tahiti/French Polynesia and also Pitcairn Island stamps mostly because of the Mutiny on the Bounty connection. Just like the mutineers, island life fascinates me. My French Polynesia collection is about 90% complete except for the early Tahiti issues which are quite expensive. By the way, why was that Copra stamp involved in a lawsuit? I have a single (SC 505) valued at $55.

The young women pictured was not happy about the exposure and had not signed a release form. Went to court and won. Issue withdrawn.

As your OP is a year old, I will say that in the next 29 years you may have a handle on that question. That said, just alert your family to the possibility there may be value and to check with (insert active 2052 dealer's name) or (insert active 2052 dealer's name) to verify. Do not tell them it is a 1.8 million dollar collection unless it is. Of course with current rate of inflation, 1.8 million dollars may cover the cost of a postage stamp or stick of chewing gum.

Edit: You could also use this as a start to a topical collection such as golf: