Information is King
When it comes to choosing what to buy, as with many other things, information is King. You cannot spot a bargain if you do not know the value of an item.
When it comes to stamps, there is more to it than simply the catalogue price of the stamp.
For a start there are many different catalogues and the country it is produced in will influence values. A British catalogue will value a penny black higher than will an American Scott catalogue.
The condition of the stamp is very important and the effect of the condition is variable. For commoner stamps, you will not get much for a stamp unless it is pristine, but for the rarer ones, supply and demand will boost the value of a less-than-perfect stamp.
The supply of Victorian stamps is fixed, the number of collectors is not.
Mint is not necessarily best, especially if the gum is not intact.
A used stamp with an unusual cancellation can multiply the value of the stamp, but you have to be able to recognize it!
Books can be expensive, especially those with a limited distribution. But the cost of not having the pertinent information can far outweigh the cost of buying it, especially over time.
Some information can be obtained for free of course over the internet. Some information can be obtained at the local library. Some catalogue companies also have an online offering, though this might be subscription based.
Though values tend to increase with time, relative values are more stable and even an old catalogue can still contain valuable information.
For British Queen Victoria stamps, the Specialized Catalogue produced by Stanley Gibbons is really a 'must have' although if you cannot get the latest copy of this or any other catalogue, you may still be able to get an older copy on ebay.
Many Victorian stamps for sale on ebay are from the USA and quote the catalogue numbers from the Scott Catalogue. Unfortunately the numbering system is jealously guarded and at least one website has been closed down for providing a cross-reference list.
It is possible to work out some of it from items listed (although not all of the listings are accurate) but if you are bidding on many items it may be worthwhile getting copies of the catalogues you need even if only an old ones.
The other side of the coin is, if you buy a new catalogue and still have a previous version, you can sell it on ebay.
When it comes to stamps, there is more to it than simply the catalogue price of the stamp.
For a start there are many different catalogues and the country it is produced in will influence values. A British catalogue will value a penny black higher than will an American Scott catalogue.
The condition of the stamp is very important and the effect of the condition is variable. For commoner stamps, you will not get much for a stamp unless it is pristine, but for the rarer ones, supply and demand will boost the value of a less-than-perfect stamp.
The supply of Victorian stamps is fixed, the number of collectors is not.
Mint is not necessarily best, especially if the gum is not intact.
A used stamp with an unusual cancellation can multiply the value of the stamp, but you have to be able to recognize it!
Books can be expensive, especially those with a limited distribution. But the cost of not having the pertinent information can far outweigh the cost of buying it, especially over time.
Some information can be obtained for free of course over the internet. Some information can be obtained at the local library. Some catalogue companies also have an online offering, though this might be subscription based.
Though values tend to increase with time, relative values are more stable and even an old catalogue can still contain valuable information.
For British Queen Victoria stamps, the Specialized Catalogue produced by Stanley Gibbons is really a 'must have' although if you cannot get the latest copy of this or any other catalogue, you may still be able to get an older copy on ebay.
Many Victorian stamps for sale on ebay are from the USA and quote the catalogue numbers from the Scott Catalogue. Unfortunately the numbering system is jealously guarded and at least one website has been closed down for providing a cross-reference list.
It is possible to work out some of it from items listed (although not all of the listings are accurate) but if you are bidding on many items it may be worthwhile getting copies of the catalogues you need even if only an old ones.
The other side of the coin is, if you buy a new catalogue and still have a previous version, you can sell it on ebay.
A few notes on buying from ebay if you have not previously:-
| 1 | You are likely to be surprised how cheap some things can be. |
| 2 | It is not as difficult as you might think, just click on one of the 'ebay' ads you can see on these pages to get started. |
| 3 | There are different versions of ebay, ebay.com primarily items from the USA, ebay.co.uk for the UK etc. |
| 4 | Make sure that the Seller will ship to your location (and how much for) before bidding. |
| 5 | Make sure that you are able to pay for the items in an acceptable manner before bidding (PayPal can make this much easier). |
| 6 | As with any auction, do your best to verify information provided for yourself and don't be afraid to question anything that looks wrong. |
| 7 | Don't get 'carried away' in a 'bidding war', decide what you will go up to and stick to it. |
| 8 | You can get a very wide range of things on ebay, and once signed up, you can sell your unwanted items as well. |
| 9 | Ebay is not the only company with online auctions, though they are by far the biggest and best known. Stanley Gibbons for example also have an online auction. |
Please use the 'Navigation' links at the top-left of the page to find the sections that interest you. Happy Hunting !