Stamp collecting is a very smart investment. The thing that most out there ignore is that they don’t invest in education and just buy stamps. Don’t buy garbage stamps that exist in billions. The true collectible ones are specific stamps , either mint or with beautiful cancels and in certain periods. Also, many people confuse investment by just buying the expensive ones. Even a stamp that is worth 1 dollar if you buy it thousand times and next year is worth 2 dollars, then you have doubled the profit. Invest in studying not only in purchasing
Through collecting stamps I unknowingly self educated about the world at large. Geopolitics, world leaders, geography, history, plants and animals. The list goes on. Although I divested myself of my collection, I'm grateful for the legacy it left through the process of collecting.
So true, Leven. Very good you put the numbers there. Media has such impact in directing our thinking, thoughts and meaning. We are not dead, philately is not dead. Thank again for a wonderful informative video!
Another great (and uplifting) video, my friend! To me, collecting stamps is an everyday joy as I go through my collections, travel through time and wonder before their beauty!
Don't go in stamp collecting to make money. Just enjoy the hobby. In my personal experience, if you are a serious collector, your collection will get valued more over long periods of time. Cheers.
As an economist and a philatelist, I hear it all the time…that after all these years, my collection must be worth a lot. I’m continually frustrated by this logic. My collection is worth a lot to me but that does not translate to market value. But…we don’t impose that profit making criteria on other hobbies. Talk to anyone involved with golf and tally up the costs: green fees, club dues, the latest/greatest clubs, … not to mention the clothes. No one ever expects most folks involved in the hobby of golf to make it a profitable endeavor!
Yup. The only people who make money from golf are those involved professionally. The vast majority of golf enthusiasts are not and do it for the love of the game.
Good point. Pleasure, or fun is difficult to quantify, or university define. Philatelily is more than just collecting stamps. It is an art. H.E. Harris is the father of all collectors existing today. FDR brought philatelily mainstream for millions .
Thanks for your informative video, Leven. It is true that on the surface it seems as if the demographics of stamp collectors especially at clubs etc are much older, but there are many people in the world, and many children of stamp collectors will surely pick up the hobby, and as you said there is still huge activity in the philatelic market. I think it is a simplification to say stamp collecting is a dying hobby. I wonder whether anybody went to the trouble to do proper research on the issue. Anyway, I enjoyed your video.
@@LevenParker Wow! That is a significant amount of collectors! Leven, is there a reference to this estimate, and do you possibly know what the demographic is of the existing collectors worldwide? Sorry for all the questions!
@GreatStampAdventure wall street journal said 60 million in 2013. They don't do a demographic breakdown but Linns estimates 5m in America and the wsj article said 20m in china
People who attend clubs are invariably of the 'older' variety. That is because that is how it was done for decades and it is what they are used to. Teaching old dogs new tricks comes to mind. Younger collectors do pretty much all their business online these days. I've never attended a club in my life, and I'm 62.
I'm from Bangladesh, i can tell you that it is opposite here, stamp collectors are increasing significantly. Due to social media we have many groups that unite the collectors. Last year FIP hosted international stamp exhibition. I saw lot of young stamp collectors like me. Another thing is domestic registered letter here cost just 10-20 ৳ (15 us cent).
I have seen the same thing on another platform where i have 34k followers. I have a lot of global interest in collecting from mostly Europe because I am English language but also Asia. It's good to know the hobby is growing
I have been collecting stamps for over 60 years. I don't care what my collection is worth because it has proved for years of fun, learning and interest. Hopefully my health will be good enough for me to continue chasing more of those exquisite pieces of paper. I am not going to sell my collection and when I am dead won't care if my children decide just to burn it.
Consider having some instructions on disposal for your heirs. There are around a dozen different philatelic libraries in the US that might want your collection. Also the American Philatelic Society. Similar societies exist in many other countries.
Stamp collecting is far from dead yet as there are still many thousands of keen collectors across the world. But I have been collecting stamps for many years and have a large collection now which I have spent a lot of money on. But it would definitely sell for a lot less money than I paid for it. Some countries on which I specialised in such as France and Germany have become very unfashionable in the UK and a valuable collection of France worth £5000 10 years ago would struggle to fetch even £2000 now. Modern post WWII Germany fares even worse with an unmounted mint almost complete collection of Berlin costing me £1500 at auction 10 years ago now struggling to fetch even £300. British Commonwealth countries have fared better but even GB stamps have suffered in the UK with classic stamps selling for half the price they did 10 years ago. So the hobby is certainly waning as more and more quality material is entering the market every day from deceased collectors with excellent collections but the number of new collectors coming through to replace them is far less. Supply and demand will trigger falling prices inevitably but it will be patchy, as favoured areas will attract more interest so their prices may still increase in the short term whilst less favourable areas will fall more quickly than would be expected.
I don't know that the hobby is "waning." However, certain countries do go through hot periods where seemingly everybody is collecting and then things go cold. Also recall that like most other collectibles, we buy stamps at retail and sell at wholesale. Dealers have to make money to stay in business.
@@nztrekker I buy and sell at the same price as dealers at auction so there is no differential between what I pay for a collection and what they pay. So the auction price falling is a real fall and not distorted by any wholesale and retail differentials. The difference between myself and a dealer is that he can sell at higher prices retail than I can, as I am forced to sell wholesale as well as buying at wholesale prices. So those price falls reflect realisations at auction as I never pay retail price for any of my stamps from dealers. But some countries particularly in British Commonwealth are holding their prices well and earlier material in fine condition is still appreciating steadily in value as a general rule. Foreign particularly Europe has become very undesirable in the UK by contrast with many foreign collections struggling to fetch reserve these days. As my collection is heavily weighted towards foreign material that is bad news for me as I start to consider selling more than buying nowadays.
@@peterhugo2078 Thanks for your reply. It appears that we have different situations, with you in the UK and me in USA/Colorado. But an example similar to your experience with Europe. In 2018, I began to downsize a rather large world wide collection based on Parts I through V (1840-1965) of the Scott Big Blue International albums. I sent off all my French material; France, offices, colonies; except for St. Pierre & Miquelon. First auction, it did not sell. 2nd time, it did sell. After seller commission, I netted less than $800 US on a Scott catalog of $12,500 US. I had hoped for a 10% return, considering that only a few items had minor defects. What I learned, and have continued to track, is that the French market is cold.
@@nztrekker absolutely and is true for most European countries outside the UK. Brexit seems to have dented demand here for those countries even further and Europa issues have fallen off a cliff. It is rare to see an omnibus lot of Europa sell at any price nowadays which is unfortunate as I have a large and complete collection of that these with additional blocks and useful duplication. But my biggest investment has been in French stamps and their collapse has almost matched that of modern Germany. Even choice items in perfect condition struggle to make 10% of catalogue value and collections fall well below that figure. Only by offering low estimates do they sell at all. I have a much more modest collection of French Colonies but ironically they have held their value much better and can even attract keen bidding. I would have a very different perspective on the stamp market if I had followed the crowd and bought British Commonwealth, especially pre 1937. They continue to rise in value year on year.
Stamp collecting is a very smart investment. The thing that most out there ignore is that they don’t invest in education and just buy stamps. Don’t buy garbage stamps that exist in billions. The true collectible ones are specific stamps , either mint or with beautiful cancels and in certain periods. Also, many people confuse investment by just buying the expensive ones. Even a stamp that is worth 1 dollar if you buy it thousand times and next year is worth 2 dollars, then you have doubled the profit. Invest in studying not only in purchasing
Through collecting stamps I unknowingly self educated about the world at large. Geopolitics, world leaders, geography, history, plants and animals. The list goes on. Although I divested myself of my collection, I'm grateful for the legacy it left through the process of collecting.
That has definitely been my experience with collecting
So true, Leven. Very good you put the numbers there. Media has such impact in directing our thinking, thoughts and meaning. We are not dead, philately is not dead. Thank again for a wonderful informative video!
The volume of material is staggering. No other collectible has that volume of material
Another great (and uplifting) video, my friend! To me, collecting stamps is an everyday joy as I go through my collections, travel through time and wonder before their beauty!
Same
Don't go in stamp collecting to make money. Just enjoy the hobby. In my personal experience, if you are a serious collector, your collection will get valued more over long periods of time. Cheers.
As an economist and a philatelist, I hear it all the time…that after all these years, my collection must be worth a lot. I’m continually frustrated by this logic. My collection is worth a lot to me but that does not translate to market value. But…we don’t impose that profit making criteria on other hobbies. Talk to anyone involved with golf and tally up the costs: green fees, club dues, the latest/greatest clubs, … not to mention the clothes. No one ever expects most folks involved in the hobby of golf to make it a profitable endeavor!
Lol I have used that same golf comparison many times and I fully agree.
Yup. The only people who make money from golf are those involved professionally. The vast majority of golf enthusiasts are not and do it for the love of the game.
Good point. Pleasure, or fun is difficult to quantify, or university define. Philatelily is more than just collecting stamps. It is an art. H.E. Harris is the father of all collectors existing today. FDR brought philatelily mainstream for millions .
Thanks for your informative video, Leven. It is true that on the surface it seems as if the demographics of stamp collectors especially at clubs etc are much older, but there are many people in the world, and many children of stamp collectors will surely pick up the hobby, and as you said there is still huge activity in the philatelic market. I think it is a simplification to say stamp collecting is a dying hobby. I wonder whether anybody went to the trouble to do proper research on the issue. Anyway, I enjoyed your video.
Thank you for watching as always and current estimates of global collectors is somewhere between 20 and 40 million. That's pretty significant
@@LevenParker Wow! That is a significant amount of collectors! Leven, is there a reference to this estimate, and do you possibly know what the demographic is of the existing collectors worldwide? Sorry for all the questions!
@GreatStampAdventure wall street journal said 60 million in 2013. They don't do a demographic breakdown but Linns estimates 5m in America and the wsj article said 20m in china
@@LevenParker Hi Leven. Thanks so much for the information! Wow, MANY collectors in China!
People who attend clubs are invariably of the 'older' variety. That is because that is how it was done for decades and it is what they are used to. Teaching old dogs new tricks comes to mind. Younger collectors do pretty much all their business online these days. I've never attended a club in my life, and I'm 62.
I'm from Bangladesh, i can tell you that it is opposite here, stamp collectors are increasing significantly. Due to social media we have many groups that unite the collectors. Last year FIP hosted international stamp exhibition. I saw lot of young stamp collectors like me.
Another thing is domestic registered letter here cost just 10-20 ৳ (15 us cent).
I have seen the same thing on another platform where i have 34k followers. I have a lot of global interest in collecting from mostly Europe because I am English language but also Asia. It's good to know the hobby is growing
I have been collecting stamps for over 60 years. I don't care what my collection is worth because it has proved for years of fun, learning and interest. Hopefully my health will be good enough for me to continue chasing more of those exquisite pieces of paper.
I am not going to sell my collection and when I am dead won't care if my children decide just to burn it.
Consider having some instructions on disposal for your heirs. There are around a dozen different philatelic libraries in the US that might want your collection. Also the American Philatelic Society. Similar societies exist in many other countries.
@@nztrekker Thank you
The great mistake many people do is to confuse their hobby with financial investment. If you want to invest, go for the stock market.
I absolutely agree
Stamp collecting is far from dead yet as there are still many thousands of keen collectors across the world. But I have been collecting stamps for many years and have a large collection now which I have spent a lot of money on. But it would definitely sell for a lot less money than I paid for it. Some countries on which I specialised in such as France and Germany have become very unfashionable in the UK and a valuable collection of France worth £5000 10 years ago would struggle to fetch even £2000 now.
Modern post WWII Germany fares even worse with an unmounted mint almost complete collection of Berlin costing me £1500 at auction 10 years ago now struggling to fetch even £300. British Commonwealth countries have fared better but even GB stamps have suffered in the UK with classic stamps selling for half the price they did 10 years ago.
So the hobby is certainly waning as more and more quality material is entering the market every day from deceased collectors with excellent collections but the number of new collectors coming through to replace them is far less. Supply and demand will trigger falling prices inevitably but it will be patchy, as favoured areas will attract more interest so their prices may still increase in the short term whilst less favourable areas will fall more quickly than would be expected.
I don't know that the hobby is "waning." However, certain countries do go through hot periods where seemingly everybody is collecting and then things go cold. Also recall that like most other collectibles, we buy stamps at retail and sell at wholesale. Dealers have to make money to stay in business.
@@nztrekker I buy and sell at the same price as dealers at auction so there is no differential between what I pay for a collection and what they pay. So the auction price falling is a real fall and not distorted by any wholesale and retail differentials. The difference between myself and a dealer is that he can sell at higher prices retail than I can, as I am forced to sell wholesale as well as buying at wholesale prices. So those price falls reflect realisations at auction as I never pay retail price for any of my stamps from dealers. But some countries particularly in British Commonwealth are holding their prices well and earlier material in fine condition is still appreciating steadily in value as a general rule. Foreign particularly Europe has become very undesirable in the UK by contrast with many foreign collections struggling to fetch reserve these days. As my collection is heavily weighted towards foreign material that is bad news for me as I start to consider selling more than buying nowadays.
@@peterhugo2078 Thanks for your reply. It appears that we have different situations, with you in the UK and me in USA/Colorado. But an example similar to your experience with Europe. In 2018, I began to downsize a rather large world wide collection based on Parts I through V (1840-1965) of the Scott Big Blue International albums. I sent off all my French material; France, offices, colonies; except for St. Pierre & Miquelon. First auction, it did not sell. 2nd time, it did sell. After seller commission, I netted less than $800 US on a Scott catalog of $12,500 US. I had hoped for a 10% return, considering that only a few items had minor defects. What I learned, and have continued to track, is that the French market is cold.
@@nztrekker absolutely and is true for most European countries outside the UK. Brexit seems to have dented demand here for those countries even further and Europa issues have fallen off a cliff. It is rare to see an omnibus lot of Europa sell at any price nowadays which is unfortunate as I have a large and complete collection of that these with additional blocks and useful duplication. But my biggest investment has been in French stamps and their collapse has almost matched that of modern Germany. Even choice items in perfect condition struggle to make 10% of catalogue value and collections fall well below that figure. Only by offering low estimates do they sell at all. I have a much more modest collection of French Colonies but ironically they have held their value much better and can even attract keen bidding. I would have a very different perspective on the stamp market if I had followed the crowd and bought British Commonwealth, especially pre 1937. They continue to rise in value year on year.
Forever stamp is only good investment now. You can sell forever stamp 1-2 dollars each in 10: years from now. Since stamp go up twice a year?
Stamp Collecting is dead, but Proof & Rare stamp aren't dead
@lanuiiohu 20-60 million collectors is not what I would consider dead.