	AllExperts > Stamps (Philately)
	Search

About Jim Forte
Expertise
Postal history concerns the stamps, markings, rates and routings on covers. Covers is the generic term for any letter, postcard or package that passed through the mail. I am a professional philatelist who specialize in U.S. and Worldwide postal history. I have extensive knowledge of U.S. postmarks and post offices, extensive knowledge of U.S. military postal history, strong knowledge of U.S. rates and usages of the 20th Century. I can usually help with inquires about 19th Century postal history, and all range of countries throughout the world.

Experience
I have been a full time professional philatelist since 1985. The focus of my business is my website, http://www.postalhistory.com. The site offers nearly 115,000 items for sale. The site contains an on-line copy of my book A Price Guide To U.S. A.P.O. Cancels of the Second World War. The site also contains a database of every U.S. post office, including the dates of operation for the many offices that have been discontinued.

Education/Credentials
BA Boston University 1980.

You are here: Experts > Shopping > Stamp Collecting > Stamps (Philately) > The 23 Karat Gold Proof Collection

Stamps (Philately) - The 23 Karat Gold Proof Collection

Expert: Jim Forte - 11/6/2009

Question
Hello, I found a book called "The 23 Karat Gold Proof Collection of United States Stamp Classics." Is completely fill out, plus 2 Stamps designs from 1981 18c each. How can I find out the real value and how to sell it? Thank you.

Answer
Gold stamps are not sought by most stamp collectors. They are not stamps, but rather curiosities created to market to casual collectors. Not surprisingly, stamp collectors collect stamps. These cardboard with a gold foil covering. There is no appreciable amount of gold. They were advertised in mass market publications where the seller paid to reach hundreds of thousands to millions of readers. If there was much interest among established collectors, they could be marketed in philatelic publications where the seller would pay to reach 50,000 to 100,00 readers. The tremendous difference in marketing cost is passed to the buyer in high prices.

The best place to sell them is outside the primary philatelic market, in a place like eBay. On eBay you could expect to receive between 10c and 25c per item in the book. The best way to maximize your price is to include many, many photos, best if one per page.

Add to this Answer Ask a Question