Stamps versus coins over the last 30 years

[mint_mark]

Stamps have only been about since Vickie was on the throne.

Top point, I was worried there for a second! Stamps have nothing of the heritage coins have! Phew!

But on the plus side, you can collect an example of the first ever stamp... I think that's quite a nice statement for a collection to make.

[InforaPenny]

While I agree that coins have been a better investment, the 1840 Penny Black is a beautiful and iconic stamp, and one of my favorites. If you wanted to collect only one stamp, this, the world’s first stamp, would be a good choice. Since it always seems to be in demand, it should also be relatively easy to sell compared to other stamps.

Best Regards,

InforaPenny

[Accumulator]

While I agree that coins have been a better investment, the 1840 Penny Black is a beautiful and iconic stamp, and one of my favorites. If you wanted to collect only one stamp, this, the world’s first stamp, would be a good choice. Since it always seems to be in demand, it should also be relatively easy to sell compared to other stamps.

Best Regards,

InforaPenny

I do agree with you, and I still have the Penny Black bought with the money I made from selling my train set. I think it cost me about £9 in around 1970. I just checked and there are 1300 of them on eBay right now, most fetching no more than £100.

[Peter]

I have 2 of my Fathers stamp albums.The 1st is the one he collected as a young lad in the 40's and the 2nd quality collected in the 50's/60's.Both have been looked at by experts and apparently worth very little.There are many Vickies from all commonwealth countries & USA with some very high cat values.

I have been toying with selling pages at a time on Ebay.

I also have a small suitcase full of Ciggie cards.

I would love to convert these to some nice coins.

[Accumulator]

I have 2 of my Fathers stamp albums.The 1st is the one he collected as a young lad in the 40's and the 2nd quality collected in the 50's/60's.Both have been looked at by experts and apparently worth very little.There are many Vickies from all commonwealth countries & USA with some very high cat values.

I have been toying with selling pages at a time on Ebay.

I also have a small suitcase full of Ciggie cards.

I would love to convert these to some nice coins.

Likewise, I have some inherited ciggie cards too. I looked on eBay but am not going to get many coins for the money these will realise. If only they'd collected quality coins!

[TomGoodheart]

It's odd really. When I was in Lille last year there were several shops devoted to stamps and coins. More than you'd find in a similar sized town here in England. And if you think of the Prinz or Lighthouse ranges, they do as many philatelic as numismatic accessories. I wonder if it's just the UK that has gone off the boil for stamps?

I do think things like First day Covers have done the hobby no good. I have albums of them from my Dad and they are worth next to nothing. Certainly not the £00s he spent on the ruddy things! OK, he did collect other stamps and maybe they are worth a bit more. But if he'd collected good condition coins from the same period, I suspect they would be worth quite a bit more now. Apart from the 50ps with hands on he had a liking for anyway!