How to Find the Value of a 1973 8 Cent Stamp
So you're looking through a pile of 1973 8-cent stamps and you're wondering about their value. Good news if you're going to buy them; they're all inexpensive to purchase in used or unused condition--less than a quarter each, if purchasing used stamps singly, less than 50 cents each per stamp buying the whole year's worth of stamps in mint condition. But if you're hoping to sell them for big money, you'll need to have an error printing.
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Instructions
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Review the condition of the stamp. Has it been canceled? Does it still have gum on the back? Is the design well-centered? Is it torn or creased? All of these aspects can affect a stamp's value.
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Look at the stamp's design. Does it appear to be missing any colors throughout the design? Are there perforations all the way around the stamp? If no, do they appear to have been cut off by someone? If not, you could have an error pressing worth hundreds of dollars or more, depending on the stamp and the error.
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Obtain a price guide for U.S. stamps. The U.S. Postal Service publishes an annual price guide, as does Scott Publishing Company. These guides cost between $8 and $20 as of 2010. If you don't want to invest in a price guide, you could go online to Mystic Stamp Company's online catalog and just look up 1973 stamps to find their cost. If you're insuring your collection, you can use the prices listed as "replacement cost."
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Consult a recent error-stamp price guide dealing if your stamp looks out of the ordinary. Look up the "Scott Catalogue of Errors on U.S. Postage Stamps, 15th Edition." You may also want to look into books dealing with forgeries. If you think that you have a real rarity, contact a dealer or appraiser.
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Tips & Warnings
If you want to value many stamps, send for a hard copy of Mystic's free stamp catalog.
Be aware the prices in a price guide are retail; if you sell your stamps to a dealer, he will pay wholesale price.
Flaws greatly devalue a stamp. For a flawed stamp to still have close to book value, it would have to be quite rare.
References
- "2005 United States Pocket Stamp Catalogue"; Amos Press; 2004
- "2002 Catalogue of Errors on U.S. Postage Stamps"; Stephen R. Datz; Krause Publications; 2001
- The Postal Store: 2009 Postal Service Guide to U.S. Stamps (36th Edition)
