How to Determine the Value of Old Stamps

Like many scraps of paper, postage stamps reveal a history of progress. Alexander M. Greig issued the first private postage stamps in 1842 in New York. The Post Office Department issued the first U.S. postage stamp in 1847. This was 10 years after Sir Rowland Hill proposed adhesive stamps or preprinted envelopes in Great Britain. Stamp value is based on condition, scarcity, denomination and subject matter.

Instructions

1. Check for damage such as wear and tear or adhesive residue. Stamps are rated "superb," "fine" and "good." A used stamp must have light canceling, perfect centering and otherwise look undamaged to be superb.

2. Identify the stamps through the Scott catalog, which is the standard identification guide for postage stamps worldwide. Stamps are often referred to by its Scott number.

3. Compare the face value and the catalog value of the stamp. Use the higher of the two to establish the value.

4. Watch for errors in postage stamps as these are worth a premium. Starting in 1975, the U.S. Postal Service issued Christmas stamps without a face value, but these are not errors. They were sold for 10 cents that year. Nondenominated stamps issued since have letters "A" through "H."

5. Find and value commemorative stamps. These often have value greater than the face. For example, the American Music series commemorative stamps from 1994 were issued at 29 cents and are valued at $1.60 each in unused condition in 2010.

Tips & Warnings

• Most dealers and shops willing to buy stamps will only offer about 50 percent of calculated value.

• You may need a specialized guide if you collect varieties other than postage stamps, like revenue stamps, cigarette stamps or labels and seals.

References

• United States Postal Service: History -- Stamps and Postcards
• National Postal Museum: Introduction to Stamp Collecting
• Glen Ellyn Stamp Club: The Value of Stamp Collections
• Linns: 2010 Scott Catalogue Volume I