Stamp collecting

davidlacey

Id say you have heard this a million times but, is there any value in collecting current irish stamps and first day covers in years to come, as i enjoy collecting but would like to consider it a long term investment...

MasterSun

yes, here is a recent example
if you had bought "N" rate stamps before 2nd April 2013, you would have made a minimum return of 9% by now.

Missent

Davidlacey

Generally speaking, collecting modern FDCs and mint stamps is not a good investment idea as they are widely available and demand is less than supply. At auction sales, lots of FDCs from about the mid-1960s onwards are usually available at a substantial discount to cost.

The other factor to bear in mind is that the number of collectors is in decline and that demand for such items is likely to fall further as the years go by.

However, as recent auction results have shown, there are areas that might be tackled for investment such as the Far East (esp. China, Hong Kong, Brunei, etc.) where prices are soaring and you might have missed the boat already. If I was trying to invest, I would try to identify a country where the interest in collectables is likely to rise due to increased income and put away a few items there.

As in all collectables, quality is vital and I would go for a few good items rather than simply putting away modern issues. In the case of Irish items, my own view is that the social history aspect of philatelic material (i.e. entire letters etc.) is where any long-term investment results might be likely to arise.

Just my tuppence worth!

Marymoll

I always wondered about stamps and the value. After my dad passed away (15 years ago) we found a collection book he had. He began his collection when he was around 9, so we're talking over 60 years ago ! there is a whole book of them ( maybe around 400+ stamps), i dont know anything about them, but they are from all different countries. Its in ok condition for the age of it . would there be value in this book ? other then the sentimental value it holds

Judgement Day

Marymoll wrote: »

I always wondered about stamps and the value. After my dad passed away (15 years ago) we found a collection book he had. He began his collection when he was around 9, so we're talking over 60 years ago ! there is a whole book of them ( maybe around 400+ stamps), i dont know anything about them, but they are from all different countries. Its in ok condition for the age of it . would there be value in this book ? other then the sentimental value it holds

Pictures? Apart of the the stamps themselves, the condition that they are in is important i.e. how they were mounted in the stamp album. Some people stick them in with glue! So put up some pictures and somebody should be able to help out with a value.

Marymoll

Tanks for reply will try upload a pic or 2 tomorrow , be interesting to see what others think