STAMP MARKET TRENDS

As a regular buyer and seller at major stamp auctions as well as a full time stamp dealer for many years, I closely watch the market for buying and selling trends. Most of my information comes from watching auctions, from other dealers, and from my buying and selling transactions with my customers.

Overall the stamp market has turned down this year - as has just about everything else in the world economy. The stamp market has really not declined as badly as the economy and good stamps have held or increased in value. Here's how I see the current market for the areas we stock.

Austria - The overall market for Austria has been very steady. The better singles and sets are bringing realizations about 5-10 % lower than in the recent past. Back of the book stamps have been bringing especially strong results at auction and are my best sellers. There have been very few substantial Austrian collections offered in recent auctions and those few have been selling at a high rate with realizations at or close to expectations. The Austria market has been very steady for the past 5-6 years.

Germany - Early German related issues are doing well at auction and modern issues have declined sharply. Better singles and sets of Germany proper and most German areas have been bringing about 5-10 % lower realizations at auction. Unused German states and never hinged German WWII occupation singles and sets have been bringing higher than normal realizations. Collections of Germany proper prior to WWII have been bringing 10-15% less than 5 years ago. Post WWII Germany, Berlin and DDR have declined about 25-30% in realizations and lesser collections have not sold well at all. Collections of German colonies, WWII occupations, and better German states have been bringing realizations at least as good as any in recent years. Post WWII occupation material also have consistently brought high realizations.

Liechtenstein - In the past six months I have seen more quality Liechtenstein material at auction than has been offered in many years. Singles and sets are bringing about 10-15% less than a year ago. Collections are bringing 25% less than a year ago! Now is a good time to buy a Liechtenstein collection!

Luxembourg - There has not been too much material from Luxembourg being offered this year. With little being offered it is difficult to get a feel for the market for Luxembourg stamps. In recent years Luxembourg has been a weak seller, yet better material is seldom offered!

Stamp Auctions - Auction houses that specialize in collections appear to have higher realizations than auctions specializing in better singles and sets. The bigger auction houses not only have the better material material, they have higher realizations for their lots. Collections of the seldom seen material continue to do extremely well at auction. Collections of modern material - post WWII material - bring the poorerst results. I am seeing solid collections with better singles and sets in F/VF conidtion of modern stamps bringing as little as 20% of catalog value.

Overall, 2010 is a great year for buyers to add to their collections. The weak market will not stay that way! As always, the best bargains are the better issues. Quality stamps maintain and increase in value.