Paid
Advertisement
We are happy to provide answers to some of the questions
we most commonly receive. While we are not a research service,
additional questions of a general nature may be sent to doris@stamps.org.
Specific questions about APS departments or services should be
forwarded to the appropriate staff member as listed at Headquarters
Staff .
|
History
Fundamentals
- Removing
Stamps from an Envelope -- Soaking
- Choosing
an Album
- Identification
of Stamps -- Country of Issue, Catalogs
- Stamp
Characteristics -- Centering/Condition, Colors,
Gum, Perforations, Tagging, Watermarks
- Types
of Stamps -- Semipostals, Cut Squares, International
Reply Coupons, Christmas Seals, Revenue Stamps
- Terminology
-- Cachet, Frank, Grill, Selvage, Tied
- Getting
Youth Started
United
States Stamps
|
Buying
/ Obtaining Stamps
Valuing
/ Selling Stamps
Advanced
Information
Trivia
|
HISTORY
Q.
Who invented the postage stamp? What country issued the first
postage stamp and when?
Sir
Rowland Hill is generally credited with the idea of requiring
prepayment of postage and the use of postage stamps to show
this payment. Previously the recipient of a letter had to
pay for delivery and a large portion of the mail was refused.
(Some people devised codes to convey messages on the outside
of the letter so when the postman showed the letter to the
intended recipient, the letter could be refused but the message
was still received.) Hill advocated lowering the rates but
requiring payment in advance. Great Britain issued the first
postage stamps in 1840. Nicknamed the Penny Black, the stamps
cost 1 pence and showed Queen Victoria. Although first to
be issued, these stamps are not tremendously valuable as millions
were used. Today a nice used copy can be obtained for around
$50.
Q.
In what year and in what city was the first U.S. postage stamp
made? Also, what image was on the first U.S. postage stamp?
The first
two U.S. stamps were printed by Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and
Edson and were issued July 1, 1847. The five cent red brown
pictured Benjamin Franklin, the first U.S. postmaster general,
and the ten cent black depicts George Washington. At that
time stamps were not issued in a specific city on the first
day of release.
FUNDAMENTALS
Q.
Do self-adhesive stamps soak off?
The
answer is yes for almost all U.S. self-adhesives but patience
and experience definitely helps. The first U.S. self-adhesive
(1974 10-cent dove) and some self-adhesives from other countries
should not be soaked as these stamps will separate into layers
of paper before coming off the envelope. The recent Sonoran
Desert stamps are among the most difficult to soak and definitely
benefit from the use of warm water. For information on how to
soak see our pamphlet Three Tips
for Stamp Collectors: Soaking Stamps.
Q.
What album would you recommend I purchase?
No
single album is best for every collector. Many options exist
ranging in price from under $20 to more than $1,000. And an
album that may be best for you now might be inappropriate
for you in ten years. Specific tips are provided in our brochure
Three Tips for Stamp Collectors.
Q.
I have a postage stamp without any country's name. How can I
determine where it is from?
Only
one country is permitted to issue postage stamps without including
their name. This is Great Britain because it was the first country
to issue postage stamps in 1840. In place of the country's name,
Great Britain is allowed to simply include an image of the ruling
monarch (frequently in the upper right hand corner of the stamp).
Remember that many countries do not use English and thus you
may not recognize the name. An on line country stamp identifier
is available at http://www.geocities.com/iswsc1/iswsc_ident.html.
Q.
What does F-VF mean?
Fine
to Very Fine. The term is one of several grades generally
used to refer to the centering of a stamp although it may
also be used to refer to the stamps overall condition. Typical
terminology follows although some collectors and dealers will
use additional categories such as extra superb or good (between
average and fine):
Average
(Avg) - The design is cut into by the perforations
Fine - Design is clear of all perforations but not well centered
Fine to Very Fine (F-VF)
Very Fine (VF)
Superb - Perfect centering
Q.
What is the difference between carmine and red? Are there any
color guides available to help me distinguish colors?
There
are several color guides available from dealers who sell supplies,
but some catalogs use different names to refer to the same
colors. Exposure to light may also cause stamps to fade. The
best solution may be to try to make a reference collection
of stamps with known colors. (Damaged stamps are fine.) However,
in the end if the color makes a significant difference in
value you will probably need to get the stamp expertized.
More information on having stamps expertized is available
at the expertizing
area of our site.
Q.
How can I tell the difference between stamps issued both with
regular gum and as self-adhesives?
Assuming
the stamps have been used and soaked off the paper, take a
look at the perforations. When water-activated stamps are
separated the perforations do not break perfectly evenly.
Most self-adhesive stamps are die cut so all the perforations
will be exactly the same shape.
Q.
I have a stamp without any perforations. Is this a valuable
error?
Possibly,
but not necessarily. Although U.S. stamps were first issued
in 1847 the first U.S. stamps to be perforated were not issued
until 1857. And some imperforate stamps have been issued since
that time. Imperforate errors are known on a number of U.S.
stamps and typically range in value from about $10 to $1,000.
Most stamp catalogs indicate whether a stamp should have perforations.
Q.
What does it mean for a stamp to be tagged? How do I determine
this?
Tagging
is coating applied on or in the paper or ink of postage stamps
to help machines detect and cancel the stamp. For U.S. stamps
a shortwave ultraviolet light is needed to detect the tagging
which is usually zinc orthosilicate.
Q.
What is a watermark? How do I determine if a stamp has a watermark?
Is it safe to use lighter fluid to detect a watermark?
Some
paper is manufactured so that certain parts are intentionally
slightly thinner than others. These thin parts form a pattern
such as a country's coat of arms or initials. Watermarked
paper is one method to discourage counterfeiting of stamps.
Sometimes the pattern can be seen by simply holding a stamp
up to light as is normally the case for watermarked bond paper.
Watermarks on stamps from Italy are among those most easily
seen. For stamps with tougher to see watermarks the most common
method of detection is to use a fluid. The watermark should
be easiest to see when the fluid first wets the stamp and
when the stamp dries as the thinner portion of the stamp absorbs
liquid quicker and dries quicker.
Most
commercial watermark fluids are toxic, flammable or contain
hazardous materials that are only marginally safer than the
traditional solvents such as lighter fluid and benzene. Recently,
Clarity watermarking fluid was developed at the request of
the American Philatelic Society to address these concerns
and is available from many philatelic supply dealers. Further
information is also available from www.ptlp.com.
Q.
What are semipostals and what are they used for?
Semipostals
are postage stamps which are used to raise funds for a charity.
The United States has issued only one semipostal for Breast
Cancer research. When issued this stamp cost 40¢ even though
it is only valid for the standard first class rate (32¢ when
issued, 33¢ today). The 7¢ or 8¢ difference minus administrative
costs goes to research for the treatment and prevention of
the cancer. Semipostals have been quite successful in some
European countries and New Zealand but have been less well
received in England and Canada. In the Scott Catalogue semipostals
are listed after a country's regular issues and before its
airpost issues and given the prefix B.
Q.
What is a "cut square?"
This
term is normally used to refer to a corner cut from postal
stationery (envelopes or cards with postal imprints). Many
collectors find it easier to keep a 2" x 4" corner of the
envelope with the imprint rather than the entire envelope.
Some postmark collectors also save "cut squares" rather than
the entire envelope.
Q.
What is an International Reply Coupon?
International
Reply Coupons (IRCs) are a method to provide return postage
to someone in another country. You can purchase a coupon from
your post office and mail it to a person in another country
who can then redeem it at their post office for postage to
cover the basic international rate.
Q.
I found a dark blue stamp with the American Lung Association
symbol in red on the left side. There is an angel in the bottom
half of the stamp. Is this valuable?
This
is a Christmas Seal and not a postage stamp. A postage stamp
would generally have a country name and denomination. Christmas
Seals are sent to individuals asking for a donation. Although
not postage stamps, U.S. Christmas Seals are listed in the
Scott U.S. Specialized Catalogue.
Q.
I found some old documents with stamps in our attic. Are they
valuable?
What
you have are probably revenue and not postage stamps. We recommend
leaving these stamps on their original documents until you
find out more about them. The Scott U.S. Specialized Catalog,
available from many libraries, does list and value United
States revenues. (In some countries the same stamps may be
used for revenue or postage purposes. Typically such stamps
used as revenues are less valuable than the same stamps used
to pay postage.)
Q.
What is a cachet?
A cachet
(pronounced ka-shay') is a design on an envelope, usually
on the left side. Cachets are most commonly found on first
day covers and typically are illustrations and or text relating
to the subject of the stamp or event being commemorated.
Q.
What is a frank?
A frank
is a marking on the face of an envelope indicating that postage
has been paid or that the letter is to be carried free. Early
presidents and postmasters often had the right to free franking.
More recently, individuals in the military have sometimes
received free franking for mail during armed conflicts.
Q.
What is a grill?
A security
measure applied to some U.S. stamps between 1867 and 1874,
grills are a pattern of small, square pyramids in parallel
rows impressed or embossed on the stamp to break paper fibers.
Grills were intended to allow the cancellation ink to soak
in to the stamp easier to make it harder for people to remove
cancels.
Q.
What is selvage?
The margin
around the sheet of stamps. The selvage may include the plate
number, copyright, and other markings.
Q.
I was told my cover would be worth more if the stamp were tied.
What does this mean?
This
has nothing to do with string. A stamp is tied if a cancel
or postmark lands partly on the stamp and partly on the envelope
on which it was used. This provides a greater degree of confidence
that the cover was not faked by adding one or more stamps
to it.
Q.
How do I get my kids/grandkids interested in stamp collecting?
Share
the fun of the hobby with them. Let them collect what they
want and don't impose a lot of rules. There is nothing wrong
if they want to collect Cancelled to Order stamps because
they are pretty (unless a significant amount of money is being
paid for them). Topicals related to other interests attract
many youth. The value of stamps usually has little relation
to enjoyment. Don't panic if a few stamps are ruined, most
of us have made mistakes at one time or another and it is
one of the best ways of learning. A number of youth related
sites are listed on our Just
for Kids page.
UNITED
STATES STAMPS
Q.
How do I collect a single of a self-adhesive?
Some
U.S. self-adhesives have backing which allows for the separation
of a single, however, many do not. For those that do not,
the suggested method is to use the stamps surrounding the
one you want to save and then cut the backing paper along
the edges of the stamp to get your single. Leave your stamp
on its original backing.
Q.
What are the most popular U.S. stamps?
According
to the United
States Postal Service, the most popular U.S. stamps based
upon total sales are:
Stamp
Subject
Elvis Presley 1993
Wildflowers 1992
Rock & Roll/Rhythm & Blues 1993
Civil War 1995
Legends of the West 1994
Marilyn Monroe 1995
Bugs Bunny 1997
Summer Olympic Games 1992
The World of Dinosaurs 1997
Centennial Olympic Games 1996 |
Number
of Stamps Saved
124.0 million stamps
76.2 million stamps
75.8 million stamps
46.6 million stamps
46.5 million stamps
46.3 million stamps
44.0 million stamps
39.6 million stamps
38.5 million stamps
38.1 million stamps
|
Linn's
Stamp News offers an annual popularity poll for U.S. commemorative
stamps where you can vote in several categories (best design,
worst design, most important, and least necessary).
Q.
I have U.S. stamps with letters but no denominations? Are
they still valid for postage?
Yes,
they are. Below is a list of non-denominated postage stamps
and their values:
A = 15 cents
B = 18 cents
C = 20 cents
D = 22 cents
E = 25 cents
F = 29 cents F rate make-up stamp 4 cents
G = 32 cents G rate make-up stamps 3 cents
G Postcard = 20cents (the current postcard rate)
H = 33 cents H rate make-up 1 cent
Q.
May I photocopy U.S. stamps?
Printed
illustrations of United States and foreign stamps are permissible
for any nonfraudulent purpose. Black and white illustrations
of uncanceled United States and foreign postage stamps are
permissible in any size. Color illustrations of uncanceled
United States and foreign postage stamps must be less than
3/4 or more than 1½ times the size of the genuine stamps.
Canceled United States and foreign postage stamps may be of
any size whether the illustrations are in color or in black
and white.
Note:
Canceled U.S. and foreign postage stamps must bear an official
cancellation mark, i.e., the stamps must have been used for
postage. Also, the plates and negatives, including glossy
prints, of any United States or foreign obligations must be
destroyed after their final use for the purpose for which
they were made. Printed illustrations of United States and
foreign revenue stamps are permissible in black and white
only. There are no size restrictions for revenue stamps. ("Know
Your Money," U.S. Government Printing Office, 1991, #299-590,
page 23)
Q.
How many stamps do I need to save to have a plate block?
For most
U.S. stamps prior to the 1970's a plate block consists of
four stamps in the corner of a sheet (two rows and two columns)
with the selvage attached showing the plate number. However,
beginning in the 1970's many U.S. stamps were issued with
several different numbers appearing in the selvage and or
the numbers appearing in locations other than the corner of
the pane. In these cases it is best to consult a catalog to
see how they list the plate blocks as in some cases as many
as 20 stamps will need to be saved to have the plate block.
Q.
Who decides what stamps the U.S. issues? How can I request a
stamp be issued for an event?
The Citizens
Stamp Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the Postmaster
General for the final decision. Suggestions may be sent to
Citizen's Stamp Advisory Committee, U.S. Postal Service, 475
L'Enfant Plaza, SW, Room 4474EB, Washington, DC 20260-2437.
More information including specific criteria used for the
selection of subjects is available from http://www.stampsonline.com/custcare/phil.htm.
Q.
Is it legal to use old unused stamps?
Many
countries demonetize their stamps after a certain period of
time such as ten years. However, in the United States all
stamps issued since the Civil War are still valid for use.
It is still often possible to buy U.S. stamps from the 1940's
through the 1970's at face value or even below face value
from dealers. It should be noted that it is not legal to use
stamps that were previously used even if the stamps did not
receive a cancel.
Q.
How can I use precancelled stamps?
Individuals
who want to use USPS precanceled stamps and stamped envelopes
must complete form 3615 and file it at the post office where
their mailings are to be deposited. There is no fee for this
permit. Your office may require that you personally deliver
any mail bearing precancelled stamps directly to the post office
for mailing over the counter rather than dropping the mail in
the slot. Section
P023, of the Domestic Mail Manual provides the specifications
for use of precancelled stamps.
BUYING/OBTAINING
STAMPS
Q.
I would like to start collecting stamps but I don't have much
money. Do you have any ideas for obtaining stamps inexpensively?
Yes,
take a look at our pamphlet 10
Low Cost Ways to Start Collecting Stamps.
Q.
I would like to purchase a complete year set of stamps for my
grandchild. How can I do this? My post office does not stock
all new U.S. issues? How can I get them?
The U.S.
and most other countries make available annual sets for purchase
at the end of each year after all the country's stamps for the
year have been issued. In the U.S. these are available at many
larger post offices or can be ordered by calling 1-800-STAMP-24
or on the net at www.stampsonline.com.
However if you are looking for a set from more than two or three
years ago you will probably have to go through a stamp
dealer. While purchasing such a collection may be a great
way for your grandchild to learn about history, we do not recommend
purchasing current stamps as an investment. Most U.S. stamps
issued since 1940 sell today at or around their original face
value.
Q.
How do I obtain a first day of issue cancel?
Purchase
the stamp from your local post office. Place it on an envelope
and mail the envelope inside another envelope to Postmaster,
City (of the First Day), Zip Code-9991. Your cover must be
received within 30 days of the date of issue of the stamp.
You may wish to include card stock or something similar inside
the cover to be serviced to reduce the chance of damage in
the mail. If you use a peelable address label, this may be
removed when you get the cover back so that you have an "unaddressed"
first day cover.
Q.
I am interested in collecting stamps of a specific topic. How
do I find out what stamps exist?
For many
of the most popular topics books have actually been written
that provide lists of the stamps on the subject. Check out our
APRL on-line card
catalog and article
index. The American Topical Association also has checklists
for a couple hundred other topics such as outhouses and rainbows
with more limited issues. Their contact information can be found
on our list of affiliates.
The affiliates list can also be checked for specialized societies
that focus on the stamps of a specific topic.
VALUING/SELLING
STAMPS
Q.
I found several stamps in a chest of drawers that I bought.
How can I find out if they are worth anything?
Most public
libraries have a set of Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogues
which lists and values postage stamps. Alternately a local
dealer or club could probably
give you an estimate of the stamps value.
Q.
Help! I just inherited a stamp collection. I'm not really interested
in collecting or becoming a member, but I would still like to
find out if it has any value and perhaps sell the collection.
Can the APS offer me any assistance?
The APS
(a non-profit, member-supported organization) offers a selling/appraising
pack containing guidelines, suggestions, and the names and
addresses of APS-recognized professional dealers for people
seeking an
equitable offer for their material. This information is available
for $30 ($40 outside the US), postage and tax included,
from
the APS, 100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823.
Make checks payable to APS and ask for the selling/appraising
pack. Most
of this information will be found at various locations on this
website.
Q.
I have some old stamps that I may be interested in selling.
How do I go about this?
Consult
with a dealer. Feel free to use our online APS
Dealers database which you can search by geographical area
or by specialty. You might also wish to visit your local library
and consult the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue which
lists and values postage stamps. You may find that just because
stamps are old does not mean they are extremely valuable. A
number of stamps issued by the U.S. in the 1800's list for the
minimum Scott Catalog value of 15 cents. You should also not
expect to be able to sell your stamps for the listed values.
Many dealers sell stamps for less than the catalog values and
to make a profit (and stay in business) they obviously have
to purchase the stamps for even less. The vast majority of dealers
are trustworthy but it is not a bad idea to verify that a dealer
is a member of the American Philatelic Society (all dealers
listed on the above mentioned dealer database are APS members)
or the American Stamp Dealers Association as both organizations
have established codes of ethics. If you are still concerned
about receiving a fair price for your stamps you might consider
visiting a local stamp show (see our Showtime
Listing). This would provide you with the opportunity to
offer the material to several dealers and compare how much they
will pay. You also may wish to contact a local stamp
club where you might find help and advise.
Q.
Are used stamps of any value?
Yes,
although in the vast majority of cases unused stamps sell
for more, many collectors save used stamps and many of the
most valuable stamps are used.
Q.
Tell me about the Face of Mars stamps. Are they really worth
several thousand dollars?
No. About
ten years ago a promoter and non-APS member Alan Shawn Feinstein
touted this set of postage stamps from Sierra Leone. His target
market was non-stamp collectors. The philatelic community
stayed away and there was much press in the stamp media warning
collectors. But his ads were in non-philatelic newspapers
and magazines so our warnings never reached those outside
the hobby. The asking price was as much as several thousand
dollars. The current Scott catalog lists this set (1167-71)
with a value of $100 and you can often find them from reputable
dealers for even less.
Q.
How can I find out the value of my collection of 22 karat gold
stamps?
What
you have are not actual postage stamps but stamp replicas.
Because few stamp collectors are interested in these and there
is not much of a resale market, dealers are unlikely to pay
much for such collections.
Q.
I have some German stamps that say 1 Billion Marks. Are these
valuable?
Generally
higher denomination stamps are more valuable than stamps of
a denomination used for an ordinary letter. For example a
used (or unused) U.S. $11.75 stamp is much more valuable than
most 33¢ stamps. However, during periods of great inflation,
such as in Germany in 1923, postage rates in those countries
required the use of stamps with very high denominations to
mail ordinary letters. Thus, these stamps have no great value
(and actually are worth more properly used on a cover than
mint).
ADVANCED
INFORMATION
Q.
Where would I look for information about quantities printed
of any worldwide stamp?
We know
of no single reference for quantities printed of specific
worldwide stamps. However, the information is often available
if you know where to look. Advance publicity provided by some
countries includes the intended print quantities. Outside
of information provided by the government or postal administration
you will probably have to look to specialized catalogs. Our
on line catalog of over 25,000 books is searchable.
Q.
How can I find out what the postage rate was in 1900?
Basic
domestic U.S. postal rates are included in the Scott
Specialized Catalogue of US Stamps and many other books.
Two books by Beecher and Wawrukiewicz provide more comprehensive
information about U.S. domestic and international postage rates.
These books may be borrowed from the American Philatelic
Research Library by APS members. Non-members may obtain
the books through interlibrary loan. Many additional sources
of rate information exist for the U.S. and other countries and
are listed in the APRL
card catalog.
Q.
I have an envelope with a T inside a hexagon? What does this
mean?
This is
probably an insufficiently paid envelope sent between two countries.
The T is the international symbol for postage due with "T" as
the abbreviation for the French word "Taxe." The amount due
is usually expressed in French centimes and double this amount
converted to the recipient country's currency.
Q.
May I send stamps and other philatelic material via letter-size
insured first class mail?
Yes!
In a September 13, 2002 ruling, the Rates and Classification
Service Center of the United States Postal Service determined
that philatelic materials, including stamps, are eligible
for insurance when mailed as letter-size First-Class Mail.
The ruling is in response to an appeal filed by the American
Philatelic Society which had received complaints from members
in five states whose post offices had refused to insure letter-size
first-class philatelic mail.
Domestic Mail Manual S913.1.2 provides, in
part, insurance is available for First-Class Mail (including
Priority Mail), if it contains matter that may be mailed as
Package Services. DMM E710.1.1 provides Package services mail
consists of mailable matter that is not required to be mailed
as first-class mail. DMM E110.1 provides written or typewritten
matter, bills, statements of account, and matter that has
the character of actual and personal correspondence must be
mailed as First-Class Mail, Priority Mail , or Express Mail.
The Rates and Classification Service Center
thus ruled that philatelic materials, including stamps, are
considered eligible to be mailed as Package Services Mail.
Consequently, philatelic materials are eligible for insurance
when mailed as First-Class Mail. However, according to the
ruling, "If the mailpiece containing philatelic material also
contains any item required to be mailed as First-Class Mail,
the piece may not be insured." While not required, the Rates
and Classification Service Center ruling recommends that collectors
use larger envelopes instead of plain letter-size envelopes.
For a copy (.pdf format) of the ruling click
here.
TRIVIA
Q.
What are the rarest or most expensive stamps?
There
are more than ten stamps of which only one copy is known.
And while rarity is one factor in determining value, the pedigree
or history behind the stamp often is more important. Some
of the most famous and valuable stamps include:
Q.
Is there significance to a stamp being placed upside down
on an envelope?
Maybe.
One reason for the requirement of prepaying postage was that
many individuals developed elaborate codes to convey messages
that could be transmitted by seeing the outside of the envelope
and thus not requiring payment for the receipt of the letter.
According to The American Philatelist, February 1985, p. 154
the following codes were used (assuming the person was not
just in a hurry and was not in need of glasses):
- Stamp
upside down in the left corner - I love you
- Stamp
crosswise in the left corner - My heart is another's
- Stamp
straight up and down in the left corner - Goodbye sweetheart
- Stamp
upside down in the right corner - Write no more!
- Stamp
in the middle at the top - Yes!
- Stamp
in the middle at the bottom - No!
- Stamp
diagonally across the right-hand corner - Do you love me?
- Stamp
diagonally across the left-hand corner - I hate you
- Stamp
in the top corner at the right - I wish your friendship
