Intersting Facts About Indian Stamps
Posted on May 30, 2012 by PhilaMirror
By R.K.Mishra
(21/11/47 to 01/10/07)
1. Only three stamps were issued in 1947, 1951, and 1956.
2. Highest no. of stamps that is 76 was issued in 2001.
3. Lowest value of stamps that is 60np was issued in1959.
4. Highest value of stamps Rs 447/- were issued in 2003.
5. Value in stamps in anna & pies continued up to 1956.
6. Np introduced in 01/04/1957 and continued up to early 1964.
7. Paise introduced in 01/04/1965 up to date.
8. Total no. of stamps issued from 21/11/1947 up to 01/10/2007-are 1878 approx.
9. Total value of stamps issued from 21/11/1947 to 01/10/2007 Rs- 5358.63. approx.
10. Highest Value of Stamp is Rs 45.00 -12/08/1997,Mother Teressa
11. Lowest Value of Stamp is 9 pies -10/10/1949.
12. Stamps were not issued in 1955.
13. In 708 months 1878 stamps were issued at the avera rate of 2.65 stamps per month. Amounting Rs 7.56 per month.
14. From 1947 to 1966 In 230 months 158 stamps were issued at the rate of 1.45 stamps per month. Amounting Rs 4.77 per month.
15. From 1967 to 1986 In 240 months 611 stamps were issued at the average rate of 2.45 stamps per month. Amounting Rs 2.02 per month.
16. From 1987 to Oct 2007In 250 months 1109 stamps were issued at the average rate of 4.43 stamps per month. And Rs 19.30 per month .
17. In 708 months 1878 stamps were issued at the average rate of 2.65 Stamps per month. And Rs 7.56 per month.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Friday, October 28, 2011
Indian Philately:Some Interesting Facts
Indian Philately:Some Interesting Facts (1947-2007)
1. Only three stamps were issued in 1947,1951,1956.
2. Highest no. of stamps that is 76 were issued in 2001.
3. Lowest value of stamps that is 60np were issued in1959.
4. Highest value of stamps Rs 447/- were issued in 2003.
5. Value in stamps in anna and pies continued up to 1956.
6. Naye Paise introduced on 01/04/1957 and continued up to early 1964.
7. Paise introduced in 01/04/1965 up to date.
8. Total no. of stamps issued from 21/11/1947 up to01/10/2007-are 1878 approx.
9. Total value of stamps issued from 21/11/1947 to 01/10/2007 Rs- 5358.63. approx.
10. Highiest Value of Stamp is Rs 45.00 -12/08/2001
11. Lowest Value of Stamp is 9 pies -10/10/1949
12. stamps were not issued in 1955.
13. In 708 months 1878 stamps were issued at the average rate of 2.65 stamps per month. Amounting Rs 7.56 per month.
14. From 1947 to 1966 In 230 months 158 stamps were issued at the rate of 1.45 stamps per month.Amounting Rs 4.77 per month
15. From 1967 to 1986 In 240 months 611 stamps were issued at the average rate of 2.45 stamps per month. Amounting Rs 2.02 per month.
16. From 1987 to oct 2007In 250 months 1109 stamps were issued at the average rate of 4.43 stamps per month. And Rs 19.30 per month stamps were issued.
17. In 708 months 1878 stamps were issued at the average rate of 2.65 stamps per month. And Rs 7.56 per month.
Some Figures (21/11/47 to 13/12/06)
No. of Stamps Year Value No. of Stamps Year Value No. of Stamps Year Value in Rs
3 1947 1r,1a 17 1967 2.55 56 1987 118.30
5 1948 11r,13a 23 1968 8.00 57 1988 77.80
4 1949 1r,2a 3pies 24 1969 10.95 50 1989 63.20
4 1950 1r,5 1\2a 25 1970 5.80 35 1990 90.30
3 1951 1r 18 1971 3.60 56 1991 220.00
6 1952 1r,8a,3pies 17 1972 7.15 38 1992 138.00
5 1953 2r 34 1973 17.05 35 1993 108.50
6 1954 1r,9a 28 1974 14.70 35 1994 152.50
1955 NO ISSUE 43 1975 22.25 34 1995 112.00
3 1956 1r,2a 37 1976 23.10 43 1996 163.00
9 1957 2.63np 38 1977 35.25 72 1997 304.00
8 1958 1.95np 34 1978 20.25 67 1998 290.00
4 1959 60np 22 1979 12.70 62 1999 269.00
7 1960 1r,90np 39 1980 27.40 70 2000 289.00
16 1961 3r,90np 37 1981 28.90 76 2001 406.00
15 1962 2.25np 38 1982 63.20 54 2002 314.00
15 1963 5.25np 36 1983 45.00 71 2003 447.00
16 1964 2.80np 33 1984 34.00 55 2004 358.00
13 1965 1.95 38 1985 47.50 49 2005 325.00
16 1966 2.4 30 1986 55.50 59 2006 335.00
= 218 m 48.18 611 240 m 484.85 1074 225m 4580.60
1. Only three stamps were issued in 1947,1951,1956.
2. Highest no. of stamps that is 76 were issued in 2001.
3. Lowest value of stamps that is 60np were issued in1959.
4. Highest value of stamps Rs 447/- were issued in 2003.
5. Value in stamps in anna and pies continued up to 1956.
6. Naye Paise introduced on 01/04/1957 and continued up to early 1964.
7. Paise introduced in 01/04/1965 up to date.
8. Total no. of stamps issued from 21/11/1947 up to01/10/2007-are 1878 approx.
9. Total value of stamps issued from 21/11/1947 to 01/10/2007 Rs- 5358.63. approx.
10. Highiest Value of Stamp is Rs 45.00 -12/08/2001
11. Lowest Value of Stamp is 9 pies -10/10/1949
12. stamps were not issued in 1955.
13. In 708 months 1878 stamps were issued at the average rate of 2.65 stamps per month. Amounting Rs 7.56 per month.
14. From 1947 to 1966 In 230 months 158 stamps were issued at the rate of 1.45 stamps per month.Amounting Rs 4.77 per month
15. From 1967 to 1986 In 240 months 611 stamps were issued at the average rate of 2.45 stamps per month. Amounting Rs 2.02 per month.
16. From 1987 to oct 2007In 250 months 1109 stamps were issued at the average rate of 4.43 stamps per month. And Rs 19.30 per month stamps were issued.
17. In 708 months 1878 stamps were issued at the average rate of 2.65 stamps per month. And Rs 7.56 per month.
Some Figures (21/11/47 to 13/12/06)
No. of Stamps Year Value No. of Stamps Year Value No. of Stamps Year Value in Rs
3 1947 1r,1a 17 1967 2.55 56 1987 118.30
5 1948 11r,13a 23 1968 8.00 57 1988 77.80
4 1949 1r,2a 3pies 24 1969 10.95 50 1989 63.20
4 1950 1r,5 1\2a 25 1970 5.80 35 1990 90.30
3 1951 1r 18 1971 3.60 56 1991 220.00
6 1952 1r,8a,3pies 17 1972 7.15 38 1992 138.00
5 1953 2r 34 1973 17.05 35 1993 108.50
6 1954 1r,9a 28 1974 14.70 35 1994 152.50
1955 NO ISSUE 43 1975 22.25 34 1995 112.00
3 1956 1r,2a 37 1976 23.10 43 1996 163.00
9 1957 2.63np 38 1977 35.25 72 1997 304.00
8 1958 1.95np 34 1978 20.25 67 1998 290.00
4 1959 60np 22 1979 12.70 62 1999 269.00
7 1960 1r,90np 39 1980 27.40 70 2000 289.00
16 1961 3r,90np 37 1981 28.90 76 2001 406.00
15 1962 2.25np 38 1982 63.20 54 2002 314.00
15 1963 5.25np 36 1983 45.00 71 2003 447.00
16 1964 2.80np 33 1984 34.00 55 2004 358.00
13 1965 1.95 38 1985 47.50 49 2005 325.00
16 1966 2.4 30 1986 55.50 59 2006 335.00
= 218 m 48.18 611 240 m 484.85 1074 225m 4580.60
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Philasensex link
Dear Investors
Here is the link for Philasensex for Sep,2011
http://www.stampsofindia.com/valueindex/2011-03.htm
Just go thru this and see the value of Indian stamps rising and rising.
atish jain
Kottayam
Here is the link for Philasensex for Sep,2011
http://www.stampsofindia.com/valueindex/2011-03.htm
Just go thru this and see the value of Indian stamps rising and rising.
atish jain
Kottayam
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Investment in stamps--Sunil Joseph
In recent months, we have witnessed a rise in the price of premium quality rare collectibles as more investors turn to our asset class as a safe haven and a means of wealth protection. The recent record set for the sale of a single stamp in the UK for £1.1 million & an India 1854 Four Anna Victoria Head inverted sold for £ 105,390 , demonstrated this.
With news that banks are unlikely to pay a rate of interest that will keep up with inflation for at least the next two years, investing in tangible assets makes a lot of sense. Even more so when taking into account the tax advantages of investing in tangible assets.
Many investors turn to gold in times of panic, but it is important to consider the extent of the bull market that gold has enjoyed over the past few years. I think any downward correction here could be severe. It has happened before...
If you had invested in gold between 1980 and 1985, you would have lost 38%. Between 1995 and 2000, you would have lost 29% of your investment.
Rare collectibles on the other hand have a long term history of never declining in value. The reason for this is simple economics. We have a declining supply as items are damaged, lost, donated to museums or tied up in long term collections. Against that, we have rising demand...
Where is this demand for collectibles coming from?
It is not widely appreciated just how big the collectibles market is. There are an estimated 200 million collectors in the world.
It is widely known that we are seeing a rising interest in collectibles from the new middle classes in the Far East. This new dimension has provided a boost to the market.
Not only that though, there are more ultra high net worth individuals in the world now than there has ever been. Some of them have got into collectibles. Notable examples include Bill Gates, Roman Abramovich and Bill Gross (the famous bond trader and avid stamp collector).
Add to that the fact that the average collector is aged 65 plus. That demographic is rising rapidly thanks to the baby boom after World War II and people living longer. What that means is that we have an expected increase in demand for many years to come.
"No wonder financial advisers suggest adding stamps to an investor's portfolio. Investments in rare stamps can fetch annual returns of over 45%. On average, rare stamps have given returns of about 10-15% a year in recent years. They have given steady returns and occasionally".
Towards the start of this year, Dianomi Ltd undertook a wide ranging survey of almost 2,000 investors and potential investors in the UK.
The results make interesting reading.
Inflation was reported as the primary fear, with investors doing all they can to choose assets that inflation-proof their portfolios, whilst also selling gilts. As well as alternative assets, gold, silver and sectors like utilities and infrastructure are proving popular for the top investors
Two hot topics of discussion and where investors wanted free guides or reports included, "How to create a morally responsible banker" and "Guide to investments during periods of stagnation or inflation" - regrettably we can't help you with the former, but we do know that rare stamps have proven a strong hedge against inflation in the past and are proving their worth in that context once again. Their consistent growth rates, tracked on Bloomberg in the GB30 Rarities Index, clearly demonstrate their stagnation-busting ability, particularly as a medium-term hold.
It is worth noting, therefore, that rare stamps not only hold up strongly against other asset classes, but also provide an excellent hedge against inflation. As an indicator, the last time we experienced seriously high inflation, in the period 1975 to 1980, the GB30 Rarities Index actually increased in value by 593%.
What are the top investors buying right now?
Not surprisingly, 30% of investors are buying gold and silver compared to just 19% at the same time last year and property also shows some signs of recovery with 32% buying versus 24% last year - but from Stanley Gibbons point of view, the real news is that alternative investments have surged year on year, 29% of top investors are buying alternatives (including rare stamps and coins) against 17% last year.
When you consider the continuing buoyancy of the rare stamp market and the increasing profile of rare stamps as an asset class, uncorrelated with other mainstream asset classes, this is actually no surprise.
What's happening in the rare stamp market?
Unsurprisingly also, Penny Black prices are increasing, with added interest coming from abroad (particularly China) as well as in the UK.
Further afield, both the Indian and Chinese stamp markets are booming, with Chinese stamps particularly continually breaking all sorts of records at auction; the emergence of 5 new (philatelic) auction houses in Hong Kong in the past year points irrefutably to the region becoming a new powerhouse in stamp trading circles.
The key fact is: the stamp index has not dropped in value in any 5-year period over the past 50 years. You can now see why many financial commentators refer to our market as a "safe haven investment".
So - if you have been undecided about taking out an investment in rare stamps, now is your time to act.
Do bear in mind that although the rare stamp market continues to grow, every year.
Is it a bubble?
I think the term "bubble" is widely misused by financial commentators when referring to anything that represents a high growth market. There is validity in the concept though, that things can't go up at such high rates forever...
Ultimately, prices rise in accordance with demand against the inherent supply restrictions, which exist in the stamp world.
It stands to reason that the more expensive things get, the more collectors become priced out of the market. There will come a time when only the very wealthy have the funds available to participate in the market.
But, it is all a numbers game...
In China, there are over 20 million collectors, far more than the print runs of the stamp issues. This is in a country where wealth is rising. The Chinese elite get the importance of "tangible assets" in prudent wealth management and protection.
More and more money is flooding into the market. Naturally, this causes a supply squeeze.
It is not just the Chinese that are buying Chinese stamps...
"I would say presently that half of my buyers are from Mainland China and half are from outside China," said Louis Mangin, owner of the auction house Zurich Asia.
"Many Westerners also buy Chinese stamps. It is seen as a diversification and investment into China."
Stamp prices in China started at very low levels. Chairman Mao banned stamp collecting, which remained in force until his death in 1976. Since then, the Chinese have been frantically buying back their postal heritage scattered around the world.
But, it seems that highly sought after stamps still trade at very affordable prices.From experience at auctions in China, this is the most liquid stamp market in the world, where one has never before seen so many collectors bidding in a room at one time. It staggers oneself when we see the price of a stamp going above £100,000 and there are still a dozen collectors in the game.
One day, this may become a bubble. Right now, it is a simple high growth market supported by huge and rising demand against severe supply restrictions.
investors will benefit from a "quality re-rating" when the Chinese ultimately begin to appreciate the premium rarity value of quality examples.
That is on top of the underlying growth in this asset class. The recent Merrill Lynch Wealth Report states that there are around half a million Chinese millionaires, (31% more than in 2008).
According to Barclays Capital, the Chinese account for 12% of the world's luxury goods market. The Chinese want to show off their new wealth to the world. The stamp market is just one part of this revolution.
Demand is always far in excess of the available supply in the market.....
The Chinese& Indian stamp market will remain highly lucrative for the foreseeable future. It is already the biggest and most important stamp market in the world.
To summarise the economics, you are:
Investing in a tangible asset;
In a growth market;
Not tied to the strength of the UK pound, US dollar or Euro;
Non correlated with other asset classes;
Benefits the most in times of high inflation.
Visit
stampsofindia.com site & check in philsensex june 2011, to know the current rates of indian stamps & New Issues for commemorative stamps .
www.philamirror.com
http://rainbowstampnews.blogspot.com/
http://www.indianstampghar.com/indian-stamps-2011/
With news that banks are unlikely to pay a rate of interest that will keep up with inflation for at least the next two years, investing in tangible assets makes a lot of sense. Even more so when taking into account the tax advantages of investing in tangible assets.
Many investors turn to gold in times of panic, but it is important to consider the extent of the bull market that gold has enjoyed over the past few years. I think any downward correction here could be severe. It has happened before...
If you had invested in gold between 1980 and 1985, you would have lost 38%. Between 1995 and 2000, you would have lost 29% of your investment.
Rare collectibles on the other hand have a long term history of never declining in value. The reason for this is simple economics. We have a declining supply as items are damaged, lost, donated to museums or tied up in long term collections. Against that, we have rising demand...
Where is this demand for collectibles coming from?
It is not widely appreciated just how big the collectibles market is. There are an estimated 200 million collectors in the world.
It is widely known that we are seeing a rising interest in collectibles from the new middle classes in the Far East. This new dimension has provided a boost to the market.
Not only that though, there are more ultra high net worth individuals in the world now than there has ever been. Some of them have got into collectibles. Notable examples include Bill Gates, Roman Abramovich and Bill Gross (the famous bond trader and avid stamp collector).
Add to that the fact that the average collector is aged 65 plus. That demographic is rising rapidly thanks to the baby boom after World War II and people living longer. What that means is that we have an expected increase in demand for many years to come.
"No wonder financial advisers suggest adding stamps to an investor's portfolio. Investments in rare stamps can fetch annual returns of over 45%. On average, rare stamps have given returns of about 10-15% a year in recent years. They have given steady returns and occasionally".
Towards the start of this year, Dianomi Ltd undertook a wide ranging survey of almost 2,000 investors and potential investors in the UK.
The results make interesting reading.
Inflation was reported as the primary fear, with investors doing all they can to choose assets that inflation-proof their portfolios, whilst also selling gilts. As well as alternative assets, gold, silver and sectors like utilities and infrastructure are proving popular for the top investors
Two hot topics of discussion and where investors wanted free guides or reports included, "How to create a morally responsible banker" and "Guide to investments during periods of stagnation or inflation" - regrettably we can't help you with the former, but we do know that rare stamps have proven a strong hedge against inflation in the past and are proving their worth in that context once again. Their consistent growth rates, tracked on Bloomberg in the GB30 Rarities Index, clearly demonstrate their stagnation-busting ability, particularly as a medium-term hold.
It is worth noting, therefore, that rare stamps not only hold up strongly against other asset classes, but also provide an excellent hedge against inflation. As an indicator, the last time we experienced seriously high inflation, in the period 1975 to 1980, the GB30 Rarities Index actually increased in value by 593%.
What are the top investors buying right now?
Not surprisingly, 30% of investors are buying gold and silver compared to just 19% at the same time last year and property also shows some signs of recovery with 32% buying versus 24% last year - but from Stanley Gibbons point of view, the real news is that alternative investments have surged year on year, 29% of top investors are buying alternatives (including rare stamps and coins) against 17% last year.
When you consider the continuing buoyancy of the rare stamp market and the increasing profile of rare stamps as an asset class, uncorrelated with other mainstream asset classes, this is actually no surprise.
What's happening in the rare stamp market?
Unsurprisingly also, Penny Black prices are increasing, with added interest coming from abroad (particularly China) as well as in the UK.
Further afield, both the Indian and Chinese stamp markets are booming, with Chinese stamps particularly continually breaking all sorts of records at auction; the emergence of 5 new (philatelic) auction houses in Hong Kong in the past year points irrefutably to the region becoming a new powerhouse in stamp trading circles.
The key fact is: the stamp index has not dropped in value in any 5-year period over the past 50 years. You can now see why many financial commentators refer to our market as a "safe haven investment".
So - if you have been undecided about taking out an investment in rare stamps, now is your time to act.
Do bear in mind that although the rare stamp market continues to grow, every year.
Is it a bubble?
I think the term "bubble" is widely misused by financial commentators when referring to anything that represents a high growth market. There is validity in the concept though, that things can't go up at such high rates forever...
Ultimately, prices rise in accordance with demand against the inherent supply restrictions, which exist in the stamp world.
It stands to reason that the more expensive things get, the more collectors become priced out of the market. There will come a time when only the very wealthy have the funds available to participate in the market.
But, it is all a numbers game...
In China, there are over 20 million collectors, far more than the print runs of the stamp issues. This is in a country where wealth is rising. The Chinese elite get the importance of "tangible assets" in prudent wealth management and protection.
More and more money is flooding into the market. Naturally, this causes a supply squeeze.
It is not just the Chinese that are buying Chinese stamps...
"I would say presently that half of my buyers are from Mainland China and half are from outside China," said Louis Mangin, owner of the auction house Zurich Asia.
"Many Westerners also buy Chinese stamps. It is seen as a diversification and investment into China."
Stamp prices in China started at very low levels. Chairman Mao banned stamp collecting, which remained in force until his death in 1976. Since then, the Chinese have been frantically buying back their postal heritage scattered around the world.
But, it seems that highly sought after stamps still trade at very affordable prices.From experience at auctions in China, this is the most liquid stamp market in the world, where one has never before seen so many collectors bidding in a room at one time. It staggers oneself when we see the price of a stamp going above £100,000 and there are still a dozen collectors in the game.
One day, this may become a bubble. Right now, it is a simple high growth market supported by huge and rising demand against severe supply restrictions.
investors will benefit from a "quality re-rating" when the Chinese ultimately begin to appreciate the premium rarity value of quality examples.
That is on top of the underlying growth in this asset class. The recent Merrill Lynch Wealth Report states that there are around half a million Chinese millionaires, (31% more than in 2008).
According to Barclays Capital, the Chinese account for 12% of the world's luxury goods market. The Chinese want to show off their new wealth to the world. The stamp market is just one part of this revolution.
Demand is always far in excess of the available supply in the market.....
The Chinese& Indian stamp market will remain highly lucrative for the foreseeable future. It is already the biggest and most important stamp market in the world.
To summarise the economics, you are:
Investing in a tangible asset;
In a growth market;
Not tied to the strength of the UK pound, US dollar or Euro;
Non correlated with other asset classes;
Benefits the most in times of high inflation.
Visit
stampsofindia.com site & check in philsensex june 2011, to know the current rates of indian stamps & New Issues for commemorative stamps .
www.philamirror.com
http://rainbowstampnews.blogspot.com/
http://www.indianstampghar.com/indian-stamps-2011/
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Philately: New hobby of Smart Indian Investors
Philately: New hobby of Smart Indian Investors
Posted on July 20, 2011 by PhilaMirror
Imagine your nearby post office making crores out of stamps. If you find that unbelievable, sample this. The Philately division of the Chennai city region postal department did a business of Rs 1 crore last year.
“Stamps are an esoteric form of investment,” says M S Ramanujan, post master general of the region. It’s not surprising that the evolved Indian investor finds stamp collection not just a hobby, but a way to make money when other asset classes offer volatile returns.
According to Madanchand Darda, a veteran collector of stamps, it is a very stable investment. “The minimum appreciation you will get on a rare stamp is 15-20% every year, going by the standard stamp catalogues,” he says. “There is very little chance of losing money.” A stamp catalogue is a list of postage stamp types with descriptions and prices, updated periodically. The commonly used catalogues in India are Stanley & Gibbons and Phila India. “Beginning 2010, Stanley and Gibbons has been bringing out a catalogue covering India. Earlier, India was included under their Commonwealth catalogue,” says Darda.
N Seshadri, a philatelist from Chennai who has his name in the Limca Book of Records for having a collection of 1.62 lakh commemorative, used stamps of one particular design from different countries, puts the appreciation per annum at 5%. “The stamps are exchanged going by either the catalogue value or the face value. In case of new stamps, the face value method is used while for old stamps, catalogue values are used.”
To sell or buy stamps, you can go through the traditional route of dealers you trust or you can take advantage of some of the auction houses that are coming up—for instance, in Lucknow and Kolkata. Auction houses charge a commission.
The value of stamps vary and some of the expensive ones can cost lakhs. A penny black stamp, which is the world’s first adhesive postage stamp (issued by the UK of Great Britain and Ireland on May 1, 1840), would fetch between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 4 lakh. ”The stamps issued by the British before independence command a great premium,” says Darda. “I know of a collection of 1,000 such stamps whose value is estimated to be in the range of Rs 2-4 crore.”
Stamps depicting Mahatma Gandhi fetch a great value since collectors all over the world vie for it. A 1948 Rs 10 Mahatma Gandhi stamp is worth around Rs 12,000 in the current market, making it one of the most valuable in the post-independence era stamps category. Apart from old and rare stamps and limited edition sets, stamps that have some quirk associated with them such as printing errors command greater values as some sets would have been printed before being recalled. For instance, in 1994 India Post had issued a block of 4 sets of stamps of Indian water birds for Rs 26. It was subsequently withdrawn along with another issue called ‘Begum Akhtar’ for Rs 2 since they had used soluble ink during printing. Today, the water birds collection goes for Rs 3,500 each and a Begum Akhtar’s stamp is valued at Rs 800.
Stamps of countries which no longer exist or have undergone a name change, like Sri Lanka from Ceylon, command a good value. Also, philatelists are moving from country-based collection to thematic collections like birds, celebrities, aeroplanes and railway stations. Of course, stamps have to be in good condition to fetch good values. “Preserving stamps is an expensive activity. Special mounts, imported from Germany, are needed. Good quality albums are costly too,” says Darda. The tropical weather of India with high humidity is not helpful either. ”That is why some prefer collecting coins as it is possible to clean them,” says Seshadri. For long, the image of an Indian philatelist was a middle-aged or a grey-haired individual who had built his collection over the years. However, of late, young collectors are getting drawn into the world of postage. “A lot of IT professionals and others who are drawing huge salaries are now collecting stamps for investment,” says G Balakrishna Das, president, South India Philatelists’ Association. The association that has over 650 members is organizing a three-day stamp exhibition in Chennai from October 7-9. The Chennai city region comprises 2,500 post offices. It has over 2,500 philately holders or members and has released 26 stamp issues based on themes this year. It would be releasing another 12 over the next six months. Darda says he has been introducing almost 500 people to philately every year in Chennai.
Seshadri rates Kolkata as the most important philatelic destination of the country, before Mumbai,New Delhi and Chennai. Kolkata houses a number of valuable stamps from the British era and is also a leader in publishing literature surrounding philately. (Source-The Times of India 17 july 2011)
Posted on July 20, 2011 by PhilaMirror
Imagine your nearby post office making crores out of stamps. If you find that unbelievable, sample this. The Philately division of the Chennai city region postal department did a business of Rs 1 crore last year.
“Stamps are an esoteric form of investment,” says M S Ramanujan, post master general of the region. It’s not surprising that the evolved Indian investor finds stamp collection not just a hobby, but a way to make money when other asset classes offer volatile returns.
According to Madanchand Darda, a veteran collector of stamps, it is a very stable investment. “The minimum appreciation you will get on a rare stamp is 15-20% every year, going by the standard stamp catalogues,” he says. “There is very little chance of losing money.” A stamp catalogue is a list of postage stamp types with descriptions and prices, updated periodically. The commonly used catalogues in India are Stanley & Gibbons and Phila India. “Beginning 2010, Stanley and Gibbons has been bringing out a catalogue covering India. Earlier, India was included under their Commonwealth catalogue,” says Darda.
N Seshadri, a philatelist from Chennai who has his name in the Limca Book of Records for having a collection of 1.62 lakh commemorative, used stamps of one particular design from different countries, puts the appreciation per annum at 5%. “The stamps are exchanged going by either the catalogue value or the face value. In case of new stamps, the face value method is used while for old stamps, catalogue values are used.”
To sell or buy stamps, you can go through the traditional route of dealers you trust or you can take advantage of some of the auction houses that are coming up—for instance, in Lucknow and Kolkata. Auction houses charge a commission.
The value of stamps vary and some of the expensive ones can cost lakhs. A penny black stamp, which is the world’s first adhesive postage stamp (issued by the UK of Great Britain and Ireland on May 1, 1840), would fetch between Rs 2 lakh and Rs 4 lakh. ”The stamps issued by the British before independence command a great premium,” says Darda. “I know of a collection of 1,000 such stamps whose value is estimated to be in the range of Rs 2-4 crore.”
Stamps depicting Mahatma Gandhi fetch a great value since collectors all over the world vie for it. A 1948 Rs 10 Mahatma Gandhi stamp is worth around Rs 12,000 in the current market, making it one of the most valuable in the post-independence era stamps category. Apart from old and rare stamps and limited edition sets, stamps that have some quirk associated with them such as printing errors command greater values as some sets would have been printed before being recalled. For instance, in 1994 India Post had issued a block of 4 sets of stamps of Indian water birds for Rs 26. It was subsequently withdrawn along with another issue called ‘Begum Akhtar’ for Rs 2 since they had used soluble ink during printing. Today, the water birds collection goes for Rs 3,500 each and a Begum Akhtar’s stamp is valued at Rs 800.
Stamps of countries which no longer exist or have undergone a name change, like Sri Lanka from Ceylon, command a good value. Also, philatelists are moving from country-based collection to thematic collections like birds, celebrities, aeroplanes and railway stations. Of course, stamps have to be in good condition to fetch good values. “Preserving stamps is an expensive activity. Special mounts, imported from Germany, are needed. Good quality albums are costly too,” says Darda. The tropical weather of India with high humidity is not helpful either. ”That is why some prefer collecting coins as it is possible to clean them,” says Seshadri. For long, the image of an Indian philatelist was a middle-aged or a grey-haired individual who had built his collection over the years. However, of late, young collectors are getting drawn into the world of postage. “A lot of IT professionals and others who are drawing huge salaries are now collecting stamps for investment,” says G Balakrishna Das, president, South India Philatelists’ Association. The association that has over 650 members is organizing a three-day stamp exhibition in Chennai from October 7-9. The Chennai city region comprises 2,500 post offices. It has over 2,500 philately holders or members and has released 26 stamp issues based on themes this year. It would be releasing another 12 over the next six months. Darda says he has been introducing almost 500 people to philately every year in Chennai.
Seshadri rates Kolkata as the most important philatelic destination of the country, before Mumbai,New Delhi and Chennai. Kolkata houses a number of valuable stamps from the British era and is also a leader in publishing literature surrounding philately. (Source-The Times of India 17 july 2011)
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Investors Eye Postage Stamps
Investors Eye Postage Stamps
Posted on July 4, 2011 by PhilaMirror
By Wang Jie
The postage stamp market was very hot before the 1997 Asian financial crisis and now it’s heating up again. Experts advise what to watch for. Wang Jie describes the issue.It’s tantalizing to think that among those boxes of dusty old family papers and letters there might be a small fortune – a tiny, long-forgotten postage stamp.The Chinese postage stamp auction market has recently heated up again, but experts warn what’s in the attic probably isn’t worth very much. Unless it’s from the “cultural revolution” period (1966-76) or the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Significance, rarity and condition determine value.
Thirteen years ago in 1997, the postage stamp market in China was booming, and several stamp exchange markets emerged. But then the 1997 Asian financial crisis canceled hopes of a new age of profitable stamp collecting.But in the last couple of years, long-forgotten objects such as coins, chops, ancient mirrors and old Moutai spirit have been bringing in money.Rare postage stamps too are selling and collectors hope the enthusiasm lasts.
In 2009, one stamp titled “All the Landscape of the Country is Red,” issued during the “cultural revolution,” was auctioned for HK$3.68 million (US$472,845 today) in Hong Kong.It originally sold for – 0.08 yuan at the time, about 1 US cent. That set a record for “cultural revolution” postage stamps.A year later, another stamp issued during the “cultural revolution” broke the record and sold for HK$6.67 million.Starting in 2010, the postage stamp market has become very, very hot.”Don’t be too optimistic,” says a veteran postage stamp investor, declining to be quoted by name. “From years of experience, I understand the nature of stamp collecting.”One of his friends used to be called “the big brother and winner” in the stamp collecting arena when it boomed in 1997. “But he lost badly. Guess what he’s doing now? Selling lottery tickets.”What accounts for the recent increase in auction prices?”Take a careful look,” says the investor. “It’s only the stamps issued in early periods or the ‘cultural revolution’ that sell for high figures, since rarity always decides the value.”
According to him, the daunting inflation rate has pushed the market up, encouraging ordinary people to invest.”I often blame my parents for not collecting those old things years ago,” says Wu Wei, a 35-year-old professional. “Back then, the prices of everything were reasonable and affordable. But the best time is gone.”Fortunately, he found a set of fabled zodiac golden monkey stamps issued in February 1980. “I’m going to sell if the price keeps rising,” says Wu.
China issued 5 million Monkey stamps to commemorate the Year of the Monkey on the Chinese lunar calendar.They are not that rare but they are familiar to many people and are considered a weather vane in the stamp market.In 1997, a single monkey stamp sold for 1,800 yuan (US$278). In 2010 a single stamp sold for 11,700 yuan.Early this year a whole set of stamps, 80 individual stamps, was auctioned for 1.1 million yuan.That might explain why many Chinese people stand in long queues to purchase special edition zodiac animal stamps during the Chinese lunar new year. Every year, new stamps are issued.
The 1980 monkey stamp, and by extension similar zodiac stamps, are rooted in the minds of many Chinese people as an investment – accessible and affordable.For example, the price of the dragon stamp issued in 2000 has increased 30 times in value; the rabbit stamp from 1999 has increased five times; last year’s tiger stamp has almost tripled in value, according to collectors.”If you look at its original face value, then a 30-fold increase is no big deal. I don’t think much of those stamps, especially those issued after 1990,” says Ji Chongjian, the owner of Shanghai Chongyuan Auction House. “The huge circulation and the boring subject are the reasons. Some stamps have a circulation of 10 or 20 billion, I really don’t see any investment value there.”
Of course, special limited-edition stamps, especially canceled ones, are a different story.Ji suggests ordinary people should not get excited about stamp collecting.”If it’s your hobby, it’s okay,” he says. “But be wary of treating it as an investment.”According to him, there are only two stamp categories with investment potential, those issued during the Qing Dynasty and those issued during the “cultural revolution.”The 100 single stamps issued to mark the ascent to the throne of Pu Yi (1908-1912), China’s last emperor, have been valued at 100,000 yuan each.The rarity of the stamps issued during the “cultural revolution” make them valuable.
The message in all this: The postage stamp market and the flow of capital are not easy to figure out and there’s considerable uncertainty.
(Source: Shanghai Daily)
Posted on July 4, 2011 by PhilaMirror
By Wang Jie
The postage stamp market was very hot before the 1997 Asian financial crisis and now it’s heating up again. Experts advise what to watch for. Wang Jie describes the issue.It’s tantalizing to think that among those boxes of dusty old family papers and letters there might be a small fortune – a tiny, long-forgotten postage stamp.The Chinese postage stamp auction market has recently heated up again, but experts warn what’s in the attic probably isn’t worth very much. Unless it’s from the “cultural revolution” period (1966-76) or the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Significance, rarity and condition determine value.
Thirteen years ago in 1997, the postage stamp market in China was booming, and several stamp exchange markets emerged. But then the 1997 Asian financial crisis canceled hopes of a new age of profitable stamp collecting.But in the last couple of years, long-forgotten objects such as coins, chops, ancient mirrors and old Moutai spirit have been bringing in money.Rare postage stamps too are selling and collectors hope the enthusiasm lasts.
In 2009, one stamp titled “All the Landscape of the Country is Red,” issued during the “cultural revolution,” was auctioned for HK$3.68 million (US$472,845 today) in Hong Kong.It originally sold for – 0.08 yuan at the time, about 1 US cent. That set a record for “cultural revolution” postage stamps.A year later, another stamp issued during the “cultural revolution” broke the record and sold for HK$6.67 million.Starting in 2010, the postage stamp market has become very, very hot.”Don’t be too optimistic,” says a veteran postage stamp investor, declining to be quoted by name. “From years of experience, I understand the nature of stamp collecting.”One of his friends used to be called “the big brother and winner” in the stamp collecting arena when it boomed in 1997. “But he lost badly. Guess what he’s doing now? Selling lottery tickets.”What accounts for the recent increase in auction prices?”Take a careful look,” says the investor. “It’s only the stamps issued in early periods or the ‘cultural revolution’ that sell for high figures, since rarity always decides the value.”
According to him, the daunting inflation rate has pushed the market up, encouraging ordinary people to invest.”I often blame my parents for not collecting those old things years ago,” says Wu Wei, a 35-year-old professional. “Back then, the prices of everything were reasonable and affordable. But the best time is gone.”Fortunately, he found a set of fabled zodiac golden monkey stamps issued in February 1980. “I’m going to sell if the price keeps rising,” says Wu.
China issued 5 million Monkey stamps to commemorate the Year of the Monkey on the Chinese lunar calendar.They are not that rare but they are familiar to many people and are considered a weather vane in the stamp market.In 1997, a single monkey stamp sold for 1,800 yuan (US$278). In 2010 a single stamp sold for 11,700 yuan.Early this year a whole set of stamps, 80 individual stamps, was auctioned for 1.1 million yuan.That might explain why many Chinese people stand in long queues to purchase special edition zodiac animal stamps during the Chinese lunar new year. Every year, new stamps are issued.
The 1980 monkey stamp, and by extension similar zodiac stamps, are rooted in the minds of many Chinese people as an investment – accessible and affordable.For example, the price of the dragon stamp issued in 2000 has increased 30 times in value; the rabbit stamp from 1999 has increased five times; last year’s tiger stamp has almost tripled in value, according to collectors.”If you look at its original face value, then a 30-fold increase is no big deal. I don’t think much of those stamps, especially those issued after 1990,” says Ji Chongjian, the owner of Shanghai Chongyuan Auction House. “The huge circulation and the boring subject are the reasons. Some stamps have a circulation of 10 or 20 billion, I really don’t see any investment value there.”
Of course, special limited-edition stamps, especially canceled ones, are a different story.Ji suggests ordinary people should not get excited about stamp collecting.”If it’s your hobby, it’s okay,” he says. “But be wary of treating it as an investment.”According to him, there are only two stamp categories with investment potential, those issued during the Qing Dynasty and those issued during the “cultural revolution.”The 100 single stamps issued to mark the ascent to the throne of Pu Yi (1908-1912), China’s last emperor, have been valued at 100,000 yuan each.The rarity of the stamps issued during the “cultural revolution” make them valuable.
The message in all this: The postage stamp market and the flow of capital are not easy to figure out and there’s considerable uncertainty.
(Source: Shanghai Daily)
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