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The Business Of Stamp Collecting

By Joseph Then

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 22May2008 Word count: 610 Viewed: 414 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

If you think that stamp collecting merely involves the preservation of postage stamps in nicely-compiled binders, think again.

It's true that stamp collecting provides a very rewarding experience for enthusiasts all over the world. The excitement of acquiring a valuable postage stamp, coupled with the thrill of witnessing its rarity soar throughout the years, is truly an exhilarating feeling. It should come as no surprise that in this day and age of emails and digital distribution channels, the hobby of stamp collecting still commands a great following.

But stamp collecting can be more than just a hobby.

Stamp collecting can actually be a profitable venture, a hobby that can be transformed into a business, and for many entrepreneurs, a dream come true.

Welcome to the business of stamp collecting, where there are many ways to earn substantial income while enjoying the joys of one of the most wonderful and fulfilling pastimes in the world.

The Game Of Speculation

The number one way by which a stamp collector can earn some income from his hobby is, of course, by buying and selling postage stamps.

Just like any investment model, the stamp collector is supposed to sell stamps when they're hot, and but them when they're not. It's a matter of pinpointing which of the postage stamps currently in circulation have the best chances of rising in value. Once such an appreciation of value happens, the stamp collector can sell the same for some profit.

Speculative stamp collecting is an investment model that requires a small financial investment - currently circulated stamps cost less than $0.50 each - yet yields significant earnings as a normally-priced stamp today can cost as much as $40 in a matter of 2 or 3 years.

Philatelic Investing

Philatelic investing is similar to simple stamp inventing in so far as they both involve the buying and selling of postage stamps. However, whereas the latter is about speculating on currently circulated postage stamps, the former is all about the purchase and eventual disposition of postage stamps that already command significant prices.

Philatelic investing often involves thematic stamp collecting. Philatelic investors usually concentrate on specific types of postage stamps, as the variety of published stamps may be too overwhelming for any businessman in this field.

Philatelic investing requires more diligence. Unlike simple stamp speculation where investments can be bought for mere cents, the subjects of philatelic investing cost hundreds of dollars, and sometimes, thousands of dollar even. Hence, a critical study of market forces, postal history and other relevant information is necessary in order to make sound investments that have the greatest chances of garnering fantastic profit.

Philatelic Brokering

Some people who are deeply involved with this hobby think that speculative postage stamp collecting is not as high-yielding as they'd like to fancy. However, philatelic investing requires too much monetary investment, which places it out of their reach.

The next best way to capitalize on the prevailing passion for postage stamps is through philatelic brokering.

Philatelic brokering involves offering one's services to find the postage stamps that particular collectors are looking for. It involves the usage of one's knowledge about postage stamps and about postal history as well as the industry to provide for the needs of other collectors... for a fee of course.

A collector may be looking for a 19th century half-penny British stamp of Queen Victoria, for example. If you know where to find one for, say, $850, you can offer your services to the collector. Ask for $1,000 for the said stamp, which will immediately net a profit of $150 for a single transaction.

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