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What we collect!
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Oceania/Australia : What are rare stamps?

 

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Rob1956
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My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland

02 Nov 2018
05:11:18am
Rare stamps are based on low mintage, condition (premium will always attract higher prices) and in demand, but not entirely in demand. As some rare stamps are passed over because of the price tag or no-one is that interested, but that doesn’t stop a stamp being rare.

Age has nothing to do with rarity; a used penny black, the world’s first stamp issued in 1840 pales in difference in value to many stamps issued under the monarchy of KEVII, KGV, KGVI and QEII.

It is wise to have a catalogue handy, with Australian stamps it is best to use the Brusden-White catalogue of Australian stamps (Australian Commonwealth Specialists’ Catalogue), the stamp value should only be viewed as a guide as dealers do not ply their prices to that of the catalogue, some may sell below the catalogue price, some higher. It is a well-known fact that catalogues, including the Brusden-White catalogue to have notoriously incorrect values.

The Brusden White catalogue does have invaluable information about the stamps provenance and where it is placed on the rarity scale.

There are used examples more valuable than the mint unhinged stamps of the same issue, very rare in this class, but they do exist.

There are countless types of varieties, from flyspecking (insignificant varieties that at most times would need a microscope or a strong magnifier to see the fault) to moderate and major varieties, the latter two fitting into marketable interest.

Some Australian rarities:

Image Not Found

The stamps shown have a combined market value of around $14,000.

Expecting to reap a fortune from a childhood collection will never happen, they are literally useless in the market place and dealers just by looking at the album will know that the contents will be of no use to them, some may have a quick look but know that finding a stamp of interest will not materialise.

Modern stamps (unless there is a major error) will always be worth face value (mint unhinged) and less if hinged or used, buy 100 x $1.00 stamps and they will still be $1.00 stamps in 10 years, buy 1 X $100 stamp and the value will increase in 10 years.

All the stamps shown are mint unhinged with the exception of the block of 4, ½d 1938 kangaroo with very early plate crack, it is mint lightly hinged (MLH), the very light hinge mark will have no impact on the rarity or value of the item as it is the only type known to exist, there is no other to compare the block to.

The proof 1935 ANZAC was originally part of the John Ash collection (government banknote and stamp printer from 1927-1940. The perforation is 13½ x 12, instead of the regular perforation of 11, only 120 exist (one sheet).

The 1938 £1 Coronation Specimen was actually first issued in collector’s sets sometime in April 1944, four printings were made totalling 2,860 stamps, and dangerous forgeries do exist of this overprint. The overprinted stamps were a mixed variety consisting of the Ash overprint (shown above) and McCracken printing both on thick paper (no overprint was made from thin paper), the McCracken overprint is valued higher than the Ash overprint, only a few have been found.

The £2 Coat-of-Arms on thin paper has a very low mintage and is very seldom seen on the market.

There is only two £2 Coat-of-Arms with roller flaw on thin paper, the stamp shown is from the upper sheet and is superbly centred, the other, from the bottom sheet is centred to the left.

There are only nine 1959 5d blue QEII stamps with imperforation between the left side of the stamp and sheet margin in existence.


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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
malcolm197

02 Dec 2018
11:56:48am
re: What are rare stamps?

Rob

I agree with your comments, particularly in the case of mint stamps.

.......however in the case of used stamps, the law of averages means that somewhere in the thousands of so-called junior collections will be lurking the odd "gem". Stamps collected at or near the time of issue ( rather than having gone through hundreds of collections in the meantime ) are the best candidates. Plus the collectors of the time either didn't know about or care about the variations which define the scarcity value ( and often information about later discoveries were not available). Obviously collections made up solely from packet material are not worth a candle as a rule.

In my time I have bought old collections and mixtures( when the SG minimum was 10p), which have yielded multiple stamps with catalogue values of between £1 and £10 and ignoring the time factor have been well worth the purchase.

You are right that dealers will never "value" collections or mixtures, but I have no doubt the same dealers will be interested in an individual stamp that a collector has extracted from the "chaff" himself.

Malcolm

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Rob1956
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My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland

02 Dec 2018
01:24:47pm
re: What are rare stamps?

Hi Malcolm

I agree 100% that one may find a stamp(s) of interest in what would otherwise be an album of no value. And there are used stamps worth more than mint unhinged stamps, I collect mint unhinged stamps as a rule and every now and then I will buy a used one providing it has an historical provenance or if it is scarcer than the mint unhinged one.

If mold or mildew is present in the album (the smell would be evident), it would be obvious that everything in the album would be ruined, regardless of the value of the stamp(s).

I normally do not rely on catalogue prices, rather I prefer to use market prices, they are more accurate, the books I use for detailed information is the Brusden White catalogues (Australian Commonwealth Specialists’ Catalogue and the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue) the latter only for stamps after 2001 as the ACSC only goes to 2001.

Catalogues can be so inaccurate, especially the SG involving Australian stamps.

It is true that many early collectors didn't know about or care about the variations which define the scarcity value, especially hinging rare stamps not realising by hinging the stamp it will later on devalue the stamp by over half to what it would be valued at if left unhinged.

You mentioned “In my time I have bought old collections and mixtures( when the SG minimum was 10p), which have yielded multiple stamps with catalogue values of between £1 and £10 and ignoring the time factor have been well worth the purchase.”

That is what is so good about buying old collections and mixtures; it’s like a lucky dip that eventually reaps in the cash.

“You are right that dealers will never "value" collections or mixtures, but I have no doubt the same dealers will be interested in an individual stamp that a collector has extracted from the "chaff" himself.”

Dealers will not value certain collections and mixtures, with the exception that the collections and mixtures are of interest; with me I can identify a stamp of interest straight away, to the average collector they must rely on what they read and what a dealer explains to them.

I have seen exactly that, when a dealeer found a stamp among the "chaff", a couple in their 40s brought in three large albums gifted to them by the woman's great-uncle, the couple were hoping to sell the albums for a small fortune; one of the staff had a quick glance through each album and said to the couple that there were no stamps of interest he can buy.

The dealer himself hearing the couple begging the staff member to have another look said he would have a quick look in the album himself, and in the second album he viewed, he spotted a mint unhinged rose red KGV side-face with a single watermark and printed on rough paper, he bought the stamp for nearly $8,000; there was no other stamp of value in the albums.

The stamps shown are a small part of my collection.

Rob

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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
Horamakhet
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03 Dec 2018
07:14:54am
re: What are rare stamps?

Hi Malcolm & Rob

Both your comments about rare stamps are interesting and important.

Sometimes, as has been my experience of late, you just happen upon a no longer wanted collection, and find the most amazing of items.

Admittedly, the collection I purchased, belonged to some-one who was a serious dedicated collector, who gave the collection to a relative. (Like the couple in Rob's example)

As stated, most dealers, pass up the opportunity, to buy collections, but, sometimes, inexperienced employees can pass up what may have the most wonderful exciting stamps, (again as in Rob's example.)

But it is interesting to note, that some of the worlds rarest stamps have been accidental discoveries, in so called school boy collections.

Who knows what is waiting out there to be found, in such collections.

Every time I see a collection in an opp shop, I will buy it, in case there may be a treasure stuck to a page, 99.95 percent, it is only worth the few dollars I may have paid for it, but, sometimes you make amazing discoveries, as I have done in the recent collection I purchased.

I always believe, which I think Malcolm would agree, it is always worth the risk of a few dollars, but in the case of the collection, I purchased recently, well, that is one of those once in lifetime discoveries we all hope for.

I will spend many months, scouring catalogues, particularly, ACSC ones, to see what treasures are in the collection.

Most collections that I find in opp shops, are so badly postmarked, that I sometimes wonder why I buy,them, but, I is probably because I think, what if there is something special in the album, that at a quick glance I have missed.

As Rob said, you can spend ages "fly specking" and find nothing, but it is worth it, just for the shear pleasure of enjoying the worlds greatest hobby.

Like Rob, I now prefer to collect, MNH stamps, or very lightly hinged stamps.

Yet most of the worlds greatest rarities are used stamps, could you imagine the excitement if an un-used pristine copy of the one cent British Guiana turned up. It is out there some-where, just waiting for that accidental discovery.

These accidental discoveries, I believe is what motivates a lot of us, to persue this obsessive hobby, but it is the ultimate "Magnificent Obsession.

Regards

Horamakhet.


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Rob1956
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My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland

03 Dec 2018
01:19:56pm
re: What are rare stamps?

Hi Horamakhet

The best part is the hunt for that elusive stamp, and it can be found in the most unexpected places, although that unexpected place has always eluded me. I remember going into a pawn shop to see if anyone had sold a collection, for a brief moment I thought going into the store wasn’t a waste of time when the owner said that a young woman brought in an album and used it to take out a loan of and never returned.

He showed me the album and said if the album interests me he would sell it to me for $200. I had one glance at the album, it was dirty and had the owners name written in a child’s handwriting, obviously the content will not be of any interest.

I had a look in the album and I was correct, not a single stamp worth anything, I asked him what made him place a $200 price tag on the album, he said that because there are Hitler stamps and old Queen Victorian stamps the would have to be rare.

I explained that the stamps regardless of their age are worthless and because the stamps of Hitler, regardless whether they are used or not were made in the millions they too were worthless as the album was from a child’s collection.

So when it comes to op-shops in my area, I am always out of luck. The British Guiana 1 cent stamp was originally owned by q 14 year old boy, he sold it to an adult collector for a few pounds and now its worth over $9,000,000.

Buy the current ACSC catalogues of KGVI, and the QE II 1952-66 and 1966-1975 (although the first QEII stamps were issued in 1953, the ACSC has 1952-1966 printed on the cover). If the books are too expensive which they would be at a total cost of $260, the library would be the next best thing.

It’s true that “fly specking” may be interesting to many collectors, if the variety id too small to be seen by the naked eye then the variety is irrelevant in a collection.

Collecting MNH stamps is taking ownership of the highest grade in the philatelic world, though some stamps are virtually impossible to find in this condition, they are usually always used or hinged, a good example is the very early cracked plate of the 1938 ½d kangaroo, it is recorded as the only one ever seen yet it is slightly hinged.

Rob

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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
Horamakhet
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03 Dec 2018
03:27:51pm
re: What are rare stamps?

Hi Rob,

As usual, very sound advice.

I am waiting for the new editions of the KGVI to come out next year, hopefully in colour.

Now that the Salvation Army have a monthly stamp day with dealers, here in Victoria, nothing comes into their shops any more for sale., although, about a month ago, the one in my area, made a mistake, and put two old 1950 albums out for sale for $15.

I did purchase them, but there are a very KGV 1 reds and greens, in them, the rest is worthless junk. I will have to soak the stamps of the pages, as they are stuck in the album with the selvedge from the stamps.

Could you, if possible send a close up of the cracked plate of the 1/2d wallaroo, as I would love to know what to look out for.

Regards

Franz

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malcolm197

05 Apr 2019
03:40:54pm
re: What are rare stamps?

Schoolboy collections of recent vintage are usually not worth a candle.

However old collections can produce scarce copies. Prior to WW2 when commerce was all by letter, and world-wide trade was much more in the hands of small entities, large quantities of what we would now call "good" stamps were swilling around. Many schoolboy collectors had relatives in commerce, and some of the "swilling about" gems gravitated to the aforementioned schoolboys. If one was lucky enough to find one of these collections straight from the original owner ( whether or not via the attic ) choice pickings could be available. Regrettably 90% of such collections have been already broken down, and 90% of the rest probably binned. However I forever live in hope !

Postal History is often more interesting. In my time I have acquired some really interesting stuff from postcard dealers/antique shops. I was once lucky enough to buy 6 world War One censored postcards for the equivalent of less than a dollar ! Unfortunately even postcard dealers have started to look at the other side of the card!

Malcolm

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Horamakhet
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05 Apr 2019
04:37:38pm
re: What are rare stamps?

Hi Malcolm 197

Every thing you say has merit, but occasionly, in rare circumstances, there are finds to be found.

Old postcards can be entertaining as well.

I once was given a collection of postcards, and the messages were all to one person, and it has turned out to be a detailed history of their Grand Tour of Europe in the early 20th century.

Things like this can also be an important historical archive, as well as producing interesting stamps.

This person who wrote the cards, was a well known Melbourne identity in early 20th century Melbourne Australia.

If I ever get time I will collate them, and transcribe all the information into a journal with the relevant card on the facing page.

Regards

Horamakhet

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Author/Postings
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Rob1956

My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland
02 Nov 2018
05:11:18am

Rare stamps are based on low mintage, condition (premium will always attract higher prices) and in demand, but not entirely in demand. As some rare stamps are passed over because of the price tag or no-one is that interested, but that doesn’t stop a stamp being rare.

Age has nothing to do with rarity; a used penny black, the world’s first stamp issued in 1840 pales in difference in value to many stamps issued under the monarchy of KEVII, KGV, KGVI and QEII.

It is wise to have a catalogue handy, with Australian stamps it is best to use the Brusden-White catalogue of Australian stamps (Australian Commonwealth Specialists’ Catalogue), the stamp value should only be viewed as a guide as dealers do not ply their prices to that of the catalogue, some may sell below the catalogue price, some higher. It is a well-known fact that catalogues, including the Brusden-White catalogue to have notoriously incorrect values.

The Brusden White catalogue does have invaluable information about the stamps provenance and where it is placed on the rarity scale.

There are used examples more valuable than the mint unhinged stamps of the same issue, very rare in this class, but they do exist.

There are countless types of varieties, from flyspecking (insignificant varieties that at most times would need a microscope or a strong magnifier to see the fault) to moderate and major varieties, the latter two fitting into marketable interest.

Some Australian rarities:

Image Not Found

The stamps shown have a combined market value of around $14,000.

Expecting to reap a fortune from a childhood collection will never happen, they are literally useless in the market place and dealers just by looking at the album will know that the contents will be of no use to them, some may have a quick look but know that finding a stamp of interest will not materialise.

Modern stamps (unless there is a major error) will always be worth face value (mint unhinged) and less if hinged or used, buy 100 x $1.00 stamps and they will still be $1.00 stamps in 10 years, buy 1 X $100 stamp and the value will increase in 10 years.

All the stamps shown are mint unhinged with the exception of the block of 4, ½d 1938 kangaroo with very early plate crack, it is mint lightly hinged (MLH), the very light hinge mark will have no impact on the rarity or value of the item as it is the only type known to exist, there is no other to compare the block to.

The proof 1935 ANZAC was originally part of the John Ash collection (government banknote and stamp printer from 1927-1940. The perforation is 13½ x 12, instead of the regular perforation of 11, only 120 exist (one sheet).

The 1938 £1 Coronation Specimen was actually first issued in collector’s sets sometime in April 1944, four printings were made totalling 2,860 stamps, and dangerous forgeries do exist of this overprint. The overprinted stamps were a mixed variety consisting of the Ash overprint (shown above) and McCracken printing both on thick paper (no overprint was made from thin paper), the McCracken overprint is valued higher than the Ash overprint, only a few have been found.

The £2 Coat-of-Arms on thin paper has a very low mintage and is very seldom seen on the market.

There is only two £2 Coat-of-Arms with roller flaw on thin paper, the stamp shown is from the upper sheet and is superbly centred, the other, from the bottom sheet is centred to the left.

There are only nine 1959 5d blue QEII stamps with imperforation between the left side of the stamp and sheet margin in existence.


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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
malcolm197

02 Dec 2018
11:56:48am

re: What are rare stamps?

Rob

I agree with your comments, particularly in the case of mint stamps.

.......however in the case of used stamps, the law of averages means that somewhere in the thousands of so-called junior collections will be lurking the odd "gem". Stamps collected at or near the time of issue ( rather than having gone through hundreds of collections in the meantime ) are the best candidates. Plus the collectors of the time either didn't know about or care about the variations which define the scarcity value ( and often information about later discoveries were not available). Obviously collections made up solely from packet material are not worth a candle as a rule.

In my time I have bought old collections and mixtures( when the SG minimum was 10p), which have yielded multiple stamps with catalogue values of between £1 and £10 and ignoring the time factor have been well worth the purchase.

You are right that dealers will never "value" collections or mixtures, but I have no doubt the same dealers will be interested in an individual stamp that a collector has extracted from the "chaff" himself.

Malcolm

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Rob1956

My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland
02 Dec 2018
01:24:47pm

re: What are rare stamps?

Hi Malcolm

I agree 100% that one may find a stamp(s) of interest in what would otherwise be an album of no value. And there are used stamps worth more than mint unhinged stamps, I collect mint unhinged stamps as a rule and every now and then I will buy a used one providing it has an historical provenance or if it is scarcer than the mint unhinged one.

If mold or mildew is present in the album (the smell would be evident), it would be obvious that everything in the album would be ruined, regardless of the value of the stamp(s).

I normally do not rely on catalogue prices, rather I prefer to use market prices, they are more accurate, the books I use for detailed information is the Brusden White catalogues (Australian Commonwealth Specialists’ Catalogue and the Stanley Gibbons Catalogue) the latter only for stamps after 2001 as the ACSC only goes to 2001.

Catalogues can be so inaccurate, especially the SG involving Australian stamps.

It is true that many early collectors didn't know about or care about the variations which define the scarcity value, especially hinging rare stamps not realising by hinging the stamp it will later on devalue the stamp by over half to what it would be valued at if left unhinged.

You mentioned “In my time I have bought old collections and mixtures( when the SG minimum was 10p), which have yielded multiple stamps with catalogue values of between £1 and £10 and ignoring the time factor have been well worth the purchase.”

That is what is so good about buying old collections and mixtures; it’s like a lucky dip that eventually reaps in the cash.

“You are right that dealers will never "value" collections or mixtures, but I have no doubt the same dealers will be interested in an individual stamp that a collector has extracted from the "chaff" himself.”

Dealers will not value certain collections and mixtures, with the exception that the collections and mixtures are of interest; with me I can identify a stamp of interest straight away, to the average collector they must rely on what they read and what a dealer explains to them.

I have seen exactly that, when a dealeer found a stamp among the "chaff", a couple in their 40s brought in three large albums gifted to them by the woman's great-uncle, the couple were hoping to sell the albums for a small fortune; one of the staff had a quick glance through each album and said to the couple that there were no stamps of interest he can buy.

The dealer himself hearing the couple begging the staff member to have another look said he would have a quick look in the album himself, and in the second album he viewed, he spotted a mint unhinged rose red KGV side-face with a single watermark and printed on rough paper, he bought the stamp for nearly $8,000; there was no other stamp of value in the albums.

The stamps shown are a small part of my collection.

Rob

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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
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Horamakhet

03 Dec 2018
07:14:54am

re: What are rare stamps?

Hi Malcolm & Rob

Both your comments about rare stamps are interesting and important.

Sometimes, as has been my experience of late, you just happen upon a no longer wanted collection, and find the most amazing of items.

Admittedly, the collection I purchased, belonged to some-one who was a serious dedicated collector, who gave the collection to a relative. (Like the couple in Rob's example)

As stated, most dealers, pass up the opportunity, to buy collections, but, sometimes, inexperienced employees can pass up what may have the most wonderful exciting stamps, (again as in Rob's example.)

But it is interesting to note, that some of the worlds rarest stamps have been accidental discoveries, in so called school boy collections.

Who knows what is waiting out there to be found, in such collections.

Every time I see a collection in an opp shop, I will buy it, in case there may be a treasure stuck to a page, 99.95 percent, it is only worth the few dollars I may have paid for it, but, sometimes you make amazing discoveries, as I have done in the recent collection I purchased.

I always believe, which I think Malcolm would agree, it is always worth the risk of a few dollars, but in the case of the collection, I purchased recently, well, that is one of those once in lifetime discoveries we all hope for.

I will spend many months, scouring catalogues, particularly, ACSC ones, to see what treasures are in the collection.

Most collections that I find in opp shops, are so badly postmarked, that I sometimes wonder why I buy,them, but, I is probably because I think, what if there is something special in the album, that at a quick glance I have missed.

As Rob said, you can spend ages "fly specking" and find nothing, but it is worth it, just for the shear pleasure of enjoying the worlds greatest hobby.

Like Rob, I now prefer to collect, MNH stamps, or very lightly hinged stamps.

Yet most of the worlds greatest rarities are used stamps, could you imagine the excitement if an un-used pristine copy of the one cent British Guiana turned up. It is out there some-where, just waiting for that accidental discovery.

These accidental discoveries, I believe is what motivates a lot of us, to persue this obsessive hobby, but it is the ultimate "Magnificent Obsession.

Regards

Horamakhet.


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Rob1956

My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland
03 Dec 2018
01:19:56pm

re: What are rare stamps?

Hi Horamakhet

The best part is the hunt for that elusive stamp, and it can be found in the most unexpected places, although that unexpected place has always eluded me. I remember going into a pawn shop to see if anyone had sold a collection, for a brief moment I thought going into the store wasn’t a waste of time when the owner said that a young woman brought in an album and used it to take out a loan of and never returned.

He showed me the album and said if the album interests me he would sell it to me for $200. I had one glance at the album, it was dirty and had the owners name written in a child’s handwriting, obviously the content will not be of any interest.

I had a look in the album and I was correct, not a single stamp worth anything, I asked him what made him place a $200 price tag on the album, he said that because there are Hitler stamps and old Queen Victorian stamps the would have to be rare.

I explained that the stamps regardless of their age are worthless and because the stamps of Hitler, regardless whether they are used or not were made in the millions they too were worthless as the album was from a child’s collection.

So when it comes to op-shops in my area, I am always out of luck. The British Guiana 1 cent stamp was originally owned by q 14 year old boy, he sold it to an adult collector for a few pounds and now its worth over $9,000,000.

Buy the current ACSC catalogues of KGVI, and the QE II 1952-66 and 1966-1975 (although the first QEII stamps were issued in 1953, the ACSC has 1952-1966 printed on the cover). If the books are too expensive which they would be at a total cost of $260, the library would be the next best thing.

It’s true that “fly specking” may be interesting to many collectors, if the variety id too small to be seen by the naked eye then the variety is irrelevant in a collection.

Collecting MNH stamps is taking ownership of the highest grade in the philatelic world, though some stamps are virtually impossible to find in this condition, they are usually always used or hinged, a good example is the very early cracked plate of the 1938 ½d kangaroo, it is recorded as the only one ever seen yet it is slightly hinged.

Rob

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"Specialised Collector of Australian Pre-Decimal & Decimal Stamps"
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Horamakhet

03 Dec 2018
03:27:51pm

re: What are rare stamps?

Hi Rob,

As usual, very sound advice.

I am waiting for the new editions of the KGVI to come out next year, hopefully in colour.

Now that the Salvation Army have a monthly stamp day with dealers, here in Victoria, nothing comes into their shops any more for sale., although, about a month ago, the one in my area, made a mistake, and put two old 1950 albums out for sale for $15.

I did purchase them, but there are a very KGV 1 reds and greens, in them, the rest is worthless junk. I will have to soak the stamps of the pages, as they are stuck in the album with the selvedge from the stamps.

Could you, if possible send a close up of the cracked plate of the 1/2d wallaroo, as I would love to know what to look out for.

Regards

Franz

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malcolm197

05 Apr 2019
03:40:54pm

re: What are rare stamps?

Schoolboy collections of recent vintage are usually not worth a candle.

However old collections can produce scarce copies. Prior to WW2 when commerce was all by letter, and world-wide trade was much more in the hands of small entities, large quantities of what we would now call "good" stamps were swilling around. Many schoolboy collectors had relatives in commerce, and some of the "swilling about" gems gravitated to the aforementioned schoolboys. If one was lucky enough to find one of these collections straight from the original owner ( whether or not via the attic ) choice pickings could be available. Regrettably 90% of such collections have been already broken down, and 90% of the rest probably binned. However I forever live in hope !

Postal History is often more interesting. In my time I have acquired some really interesting stuff from postcard dealers/antique shops. I was once lucky enough to buy 6 world War One censored postcards for the equivalent of less than a dollar ! Unfortunately even postcard dealers have started to look at the other side of the card!

Malcolm

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Horamakhet

05 Apr 2019
04:37:38pm

re: What are rare stamps?

Hi Malcolm 197

Every thing you say has merit, but occasionly, in rare circumstances, there are finds to be found.

Old postcards can be entertaining as well.

I once was given a collection of postcards, and the messages were all to one person, and it has turned out to be a detailed history of their Grand Tour of Europe in the early 20th century.

Things like this can also be an important historical archive, as well as producing interesting stamps.

This person who wrote the cards, was a well known Melbourne identity in early 20th century Melbourne Australia.

If I ever get time I will collate them, and transcribe all the information into a journal with the relevant card on the facing page.

Regards

Horamakhet

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