Are My Old Stamps Worth Anything? Evaluating Condition, Rarity & More

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Did you find a long-lost stamp collection in an older relative’s attic? Maybe you’ve stumbled across a unique looking stamp and you just have a feeling that it’s rare or valuable. While most stamps are only worth their original postage value, it’s definitely possible that you’re one of the lucky ones who came across a rarity with great monetary or historical value. In this article, we’ll walk you through the physical characteristics of a high-quality stamp, plus show you how to find its historical value and consult stamp experts for the most accurate appraisal. Let’s get started!

• Look for signs of intact, high-quality stamps like a centered design, clean adhesive (gum) with no cracks, and very light cancellation marks (postmarks or ink stamps).
• Look at historical figures, imagery, or words in the design to estimate the stamp’s age and country of origin. Then, check a reference book for the value.
• Consult a stamp expert for an appraisal at stamp shows or conventions, auction houses, or by scheduling a 1-on-1 appointment.

Evaluating the Stamp’s Physical Condition

Check if the design is perfectly centered on the stamp. The more centered the illustration or image is inside the white perforated border, the better. The stamp should have an overall balanced, neat look. [1] X Research source

• Stamp appraisers use “partial original gum” to describe stamps with only some of its gum left due to environmental conditions or previous usage.
• “Natural gum cracks” refer to cracks that form when the gum dries or wears out naturally. “Crazed gum” is used for large numbers of cracks.
• “Tropical gum stain” describes any discoloration of the gum from environmental conditions.

• A stamp cannot be considered in mint condition if it is or was hinged at any point.
• If your stamp has a hinge attached, call a stamp dealer or expert before attempting to pull it off on your own, as you could damage the stamp further.

• Perforations are classified by the number of holes per 2 cm (0.79 in) of the stamp’s edge. For example, a “perf. 10” has 10 perforated holes per 2 cm.

• Exceptions are “fancy cancels”—cancellation marks from high-quality pens, ink stamps, or cancel machines. These might increase the value.
• If a “pen cancel” is listed in the Scott U.S. Specialized Catalog under “Cancels” for a specific stamp listing, then the mark does not lower the stamp’s value.

• Always wear gloves or use stamp tweezers when handling potentially valuable stamps to preserve the quality of the design.

• Deduct 25 points right away if the stamp has minor faults like small creases or tiny discolored spots.
• Deduct 50 points right away if the stamp has major faults like big creases, dark cancellation marks, or new gum.
• Essentially, the worse the centering of the design and the heavier the cancellation mark on the stamp, the closer to a “poor” grade it will receive.
• Superb grades are quite rare, since the stamp must be perfect in all aspects.

Leave the stamp on its envelope if it’s still attached. It’s best not to risk damaging the stamp by pulling it off or cutting it away. Sometimes an old, used stamp on an envelope with a special cancellation will have a higher value than the stamp would have unused and unattached. Ask an expert at a stamp show or get a professional appraisal to see if the stamp should be removed. [7] X Research source

Determining a Stamp’s History & Rarity

• Check a stamp reference book or website and try to find an image that matches your stamp. If the year of production is known, it will be listed with the image.
• Head to an expert stamp dealer if you need extra help. The older the stamp is, the more valuable it will be, so it’s worth the extra effort!
• Stamps printed within the last 70 years, even those in mint condition, probably won’t be valued any higher than they were originally.

• A picture of Queen Victoria, for example, is likely from early 20th century Great Britain, while a picture of the Hoover Dam may be mid-century American.
• Look up “historical currencies of the world” online to help source the stamp since most stamps have a denomination printed on them.
• Some stamps have their country of origin printed on them, but not all. Stamps from the UK famously only have an image of the reigning monarch, for example.

• American stamp collectors often use the Scott Specialized Catalogue (also available as an e-book), while British philatelists use the Stanley Gibbons catalogue. Check out your local library to see what options you have.
• You can try looking at online resources and catalogues as well, but do so with a grain of salt. They may not be as accredited or accurate as reference books.

• An old stamp won’t necessarily be rare and valuable. The 1861 1-cent Benjamin Franklin stamps, for example, aren’t very valuable because 150 million of them were produced.

• Valuable stamp errors include design errors, such as a map showing the wrong border; an omission error, such as Thatcher Ferry bridge stamps in which the bridge itself was missing in the design; or an inversion, like the American Inverted Jenny stamps, which printed a biplane upside down.

Consulting Stamp Experts

• Stamp price guides may not be 100% accurate, but you’ll start to get a rough idea of how much your stamp could be worth.

• Try having an auction house expert look at your stamps, too. Auction houses usually expect you to let them auction your stamps afterward, though.
• Many dealers and appraisers at stamp shows offer appraisals for free, although this is not guaranteed for every dealer at every show.

• To find a dealer in other countries, search online. Organizations like the APS, despite being an American group, often list dealers and shows in other countries as well, like Canada and Great Britain.

Community Q&A

This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

The forever Liberty Bell stamp is worth whatever the current standard-size letter stamp rate is, currently 0.55c in 2019. For earlier (vintage) Liberty Bell stamps, you’ll need to use a reference book to estimate its value, or talk to a stamp seller about the value.

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This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

Cancelled stamps do have value but it is usually far less than stamps without cancellation marks on them. The value attached to a cancelled stamp will depend on the stamp’s rarity and desirability for collecting. Generally, the heavier the cancellation mark, the lower the stamp’s value and it will get a "poor" grade. However, if the stamp is rare or the cancellation mark is a special one, perhaps a commemorative or historic cancellation mark, then the stamp may still carry a high value. Many people begin stamp collecting only with cancelled stamps because they’re easy and cheap to obtain and a collection of such stamps can be just as beautiful as uncancelled ones.

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