Customer Reviews

Stamp Investing

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This book would be of some use to the stamp collector, but it would be most appreciated by the stamp collector who is going to invest hundreds, or more dollars on stamps. Includes information about economics, strategies, opportunities, buying and selling, scams, condition, grading, and more.

It does not tell you what stamps to invest in, or what particular stamps are worth, it tells you the best ways of finding and buying the stamps you want to invest in, without getting taken. At the same time it teaches you how to look for and purchase rarer stamps that may get overlooked by sellers. Even the pros make mistakes and you can profit from those mistakes.

If you are a stamp dealer, you already know most, if not everything in the book. If you are a part time collector who is thinking of spending some real money on stamps, you need a book like this before you buy anything. If you don't know anything about stamps and have never been interested in collecting them, don't invest in them, or this book, stamp investing is not for you.

Stephen Datz has written a very helpful guide for the beginning stamp investor. His honest and unvarnished evaluation of where the stamp market has been, and keen insights into the economics of stamps, makes for good reading. Even if you are a stamp collector who does not want to try to make a profit from investing in stamps, you'll enjoy this book.

This book has some great information on the economics of stamp collecting and its past. The "boom" of the 70's probably won't happen in philately again, but many stamps can make worthwhile long-term investments. Basically investment grade stamps pre-date the 1920's. Issues since then (with a few exceptions) have been so mass produced as to be worth little more than face value (ie. commemoratives). Again, this is a good primer for the person seriously wanting to spend some money on good, classic stamps, and hold them for some time. From there you'll just have to take time to learn about specific stamps - and you're on your own there.