Oh Man I Sure Hope the Comics Market Never Crashes as Bad as the Stamps Market 13 13

[theCapraAegagrus]

Eventually it will happen. The medium of comics have items like AC1 and DC27 that will always be very valuable. Does the stamp hobby have such assets? Extreme examples such as those will be the main difference in the inevitable crash.

[Shrevvy]

On 3/1/2022 at 12:18 AM, William-James88 said:

 

You'll notice none of these above are used, even though not all are in perfect shape, they are "mint". If all were used, catalogue value would be around $280 and unused, depending on condition, would be over $1200. So these stamps above would have been "valued" at somewhere in between that.

Here's what I paid for these today:

 

I float in and out of the stamp market every couple years. I haven't bought anything for a while, but values have certainly fallen. Like many other collectibles though, I think the nosebleed high-end performs better. Bill Gross of PIMCO fame was a prominent collector and did successfully auction most his collection several years ago.

Unlike comics, centering and appearance is a big component of the grade of a stamp in addition to the structural integrity. The gap between low grade and high grade is even higher in stamps than in comics. The 30c, which is the most valuable in the group, has several faults. The upper right corner is clipped, it is missing color along the bottom edge and the top edge is not perforated (was the edge of a sheet). The brief auction description also notes "some with thins" which means there is paper loss from having been adhered to a stamp book at some time. All of those things severely impact value. Still, at one point the quality of a stamp collection was somewhat determined by the completeness the Columbus set.

I don't know the Hobbizine link you referenced. Scott has been the "Overstreet" of the stamp world. Hobbizine puts a value of $475 on the 30 cent stamp, but Scott states $225. Scott is still high, but not as high as Hobbizine. Not sure where they get their "values." I would be curious to know what a 30 cent with XF centering, no faults and full gum would bring. I wonder if it would bring $200. To my knowledge, there is no GPA for stamps.

[Shrevvy]

On 3/1/2022 at 7:57 AM, theCapraAegagrus said:

Eventually it will happen. The medium of comics have items like AC1 and DC27 that will always be very valuable. Does the stamp hobby have such assets? Extreme examples such as those will be the main difference in the inevitable crash.

Yes, one of the most famous is the inverted Jenny.

[Laszlo the Mudjar]

Another 2 cents, and remember it's just my opinion which isn't even worth 2 cents, but . . . 

 

1) My children don't watch TV shows. They get their entertainment from Tik Tok and the like.  My great great grandchildren will likely not have any interest in a comic book from 1960 about a stretchy guy, a guy on fire, an invisible girl, and a guy made out of bricks.  

2) I assume the stamps in the example are relatively common among collectors as in they are not all that rare.  I also assume that the truly rare stamp that is 1 of a kind or perhaps 1 of a handful is still valuable.

3) My prediction: comics that have hundreds or thousands of copies (like Hulk 181) are not likely to have value in 100 years, but AC1 will, but that really doesn't matter to any modern collectors since we won't be around when the slow drop off happens.

[Tec-Tac-Toe]

On 3/1/2022 at 12:26 AM, kav said:

I dont think it will happen.  Comic collecting is inherently different from stamp collecting.  people had to 'get into' stamp collecting, whereas people actually bought comics because they wanted them.  No one went to the corner store with excitement to buy the new stamps and read them like they did with comics.  there's not really the nostalgia element.  even people who started collecting in the 80s still learn to desire comics that have no nostalgic value, eg golden age books.  once you collect comics, your desire for more valuable comics widens.

I eagerly go to my local USPO to purchase stamps ... ... ... to use to mail my payments for comic book purchases.

[William-James88]

On 3/1/2022 at 2:36 AM, Mecha_Fantastic said:

Stamp collecting had too high a ceiling to properly 'get into'. You want to feel like you have something special, and stamp collecting as a newbie couldn't provide that. Comics doesn't really have that problem, especially today where every issue is labelled a key. 

The ceiling ain't that high anymore but comics certainly have a high ceiling now. A complete ASM run is now just an amazing fantasy for almost everyone entering the hobby.

On 3/1/2022 at 7:57 AM, theCapraAegagrus said:

Eventually it will happen. The medium of comics have items like AC1 and DC27 that will always be very valuable. Does the stamp hobby have such assets? Extreme examples such as those will be the main difference in the inevitable crash.

Yes, the stamp hobby has extreame examples like those, and they have not fallen to pennies on the dollar.

On 3/1/2022 at 8:02 AM, Laszlo the Mudjar said:

Another 2 cents, and remember it's just my opinion which isn't even worth 2 cents, but . . . 

 

1) My children don't watch TV shows. They get their entertainment from Tik Tok and the like.  My great great grandchildren will likely not have any interest in a comic book from 1960 about a stretchy guy, a guy on fire, an invisible girl, and a guy made out of bricks.  

2) I assume the stamps in the example are relatively common among collectors as in they are not all that rare.  I also assume that the truly rare stamp that is 1 of a kind or perhaps 1 of a handful is still valuable.

3) My prediction: comics that have hundreds or thousands of copies (like Hulk 181) are not likely to have value in 100 years, but AC1 will, but that really doesn't matter to any modern collectors since we won't be around when the slow drop off happens.

Your second point is correct. Since stamps serve a similar function to currency then, these were printed in the millions.

[theCapraAegagrus]

On 3/1/2022 at 8:32 AM, William-James88 said:

The ceiling ain't that high anymore but comics certainly have a high ceiling now. A complete ASM run is now just an amazing fantasy for almost everyone entering the hobby.

[Math Teacher]

On 3/1/2022 at 12:32 AM, MattTheDuck said:

"in 1983, almost 130 years ago"

Did I miss another damn century somewhere?

Rip Van Winkle?

[Math Teacher]

On 3/1/2022 at 7:32 AM, William-James88 said:

The ceiling ain't that high anymore but comics certainly have a high ceiling now. A complete ASM run is now just an amazing fantasy for almost everyone entering the hobby.

Good pun!

[William-James88]

On 3/1/2022 at 8:00 AM, Shrevvy said:

I don't know the Hobbizine link you referenced. Scott has been the "Overstreet" of the stamp world. Hobbizine puts a value of $475 on the 30 cent stamp, but Scott states $225. Scott is still high, but not as high as Hobbizine. Not sure where they get their "values." I would be curious to know what a 30 cent with XF centering, no faults and full gum would bring. I wonder if it would bring $200. To my knowledge, there is no GPA for stamps.

Glad to have a fellow stamp collector here. What is Scott's value for the 15 and 30 cent cancelled? And what do they value for the $4 one (mint and cancelled) currently?

And to answer your question, we'll find out soon enough because there is an example just as you describe currently on auction and ending in 3 days although they state the value is 675 (don't know where they are getting that).

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/373949927267?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20200818143132%26meid%3D5271be15f2454682871d1db433a43fcb%26pid%3D101198%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D224845052814%26itm%3D373949927267%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLCvipPairwiseWebWithBBEV2bDemotion&_trksid=p2047675.c101198.m1985&amdata=cksum%3A3739499272675271be15f2454682871d1db433a43fcb|enc%3AAQAGAAACEGTuAiFg1ZFYXxodwY37y04jexi7YEOetTK3c5V%2BHlyyZpzF6B%2BI1SSvcDi3Okc1FaLcOp8mKpgH8HwLj6WOgxUxS57O99%2FCJf3e2CbqUXXQ3C7ZqKnDILqOOosnxOPmO7bk9xlPNQr%2BIIPs50RcnLK9XcOdmv3vRAH3SodzJhzzHkm%2BfSn88ZSccq5SL3dbqgUsAExy7j3Oy8JE3OgsknRz%2Bzznl5re0JNCj2bdPZuiH%2F7vOr5kJ3xpnF70aBFKXDuiTA8RCxzqGpbqlxv03nj0%2BB66946g8Xrt2TFzCRKCzSH2hmV%2BGRhFppAEBgE%2FgWv06LzmgXvC0yBEWjDHEw2Rrstd%2FxPBjL9veu47AdZx8pClThT2ILHHZegnBBcN7B%2FoK32IKcWGAdSzxrcmmZOwJmszCGfxkn%2B0V9ksvCPjLfjWON3i2X3WycLxVC8XtNpuC7p58cCIbZwlthFFTmk3ZQoWDgzjOFHkX0V%2BMNS72%2F6DE2YN6ksttT%2F8NYprHTOKeOozLNmC7yZ%2B4EWEuqocyTW9CB5YR3hJoFL4FK6K3qOkutxxgm%2BSpG%2BJoQoJO6chZ9Dy4mxQK5uhRk%2Ff2PCudYUi22cwz4xHDLPiZkicnYGXIxRxcLGyfSMFM%2F01qujyioEVhMgK4oyNkg6PdFMMFlTpRi62w23SqENnjiPYpKsI4411mNu2HSXiZtCbRQ%3D%3D|ampid%3APLX_CLK|clp%3A2047675

 

Edited March 1, 2022 by William-James88

[Artboy99]

On 3/1/2022 at 6:02 AM, Shrevvy said:

Yes, one of the most famous is the inverted Jenny.

 

[Shrevvy]

On 3/1/2022 at 8:56 AM, Artboy99 said:

 

That was first thing I thought of when I posted the stamp! Loved that as a kid. Even then I was a stamp nerd...there's 100 stamps left in existence, not one! Brilliant use of his millions though.

[Artboy99]

On 3/1/2022 at 7:05 AM, Shrevvy said:

That was first thing I thought of when I posted the stamp! Loved that as a kid. Even then I was a stamp nerd...there's 100 stamps left in existence, not one! Brilliant use of his millions though.

I enjoy the movie and watch it every couple of years.

[Shrevvy]

On 3/1/2022 at 8:52 AM, William-James88 said:

Glad to have a fellow stamp collector here. What is Scott's value for the 15 and 30 cent cancelled? And what do they value for the $4 one (mint and cancelled) currently?

And to answer your question, we'll find out soon enough because there is an example just as you describe currently on auction and ending in 3 days although they state the value is 675 (don't know where they are getting that).

https://www.ebay.ca/itm/373949927267?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20200818143132%26meid%3D5271be15f2454682871d1db433a43fcb%26pid%3D101198%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D224845052814%26itm%3D373949927267%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DSimplAMLCvipPairwiseWebWithBBEV2bDemotion&_trksid=p2047675.c101198.m1985&amdata=cksum%3A3739499272675271be15f2454682871d1db433a43fcb|enc%3AAQAGAAACEGTuAiFg1ZFYXxodwY37y04jexi7YEOetTK3c5V%2BHlyyZpzF6B%2BI1SSvcDi3Okc1FaLcOp8mKpgH8HwLj6WOgxUxS57O99%2FCJf3e2CbqUXXQ3C7ZqKnDILqOOosnxOPmO7bk9xlPNQr%2BIIPs50RcnLK9XcOdmv3vRAH3SodzJhzzHkm%2BfSn88ZSccq5SL3dbqgUsAExy7j3Oy8JE3OgsknRz%2Bzznl5re0JNCj2bdPZuiH%2F7vOr5kJ3xpnF70aBFKXDuiTA8RCxzqGpbqlxv03nj0%2BB66946g8Xrt2TFzCRKCzSH2hmV%2BGRhFppAEBgE%2FgWv06LzmgXvC0yBEWjDHEw2Rrstd%2FxPBjL9veu47AdZx8pClThT2ILHHZegnBBcN7B%2FoK32IKcWGAdSzxrcmmZOwJmszCGfxkn%2B0V9ksvCPjLfjWON3i2X3WycLxVC8XtNpuC7p58cCIbZwlthFFTmk3ZQoWDgzjOFHkX0V%2BMNS72%2F6DE2YN6ksttT%2F8NYprHTOKeOozLNmC7yZ%2B4EWEuqocyTW9CB5YR3hJoFL4FK6K3qOkutxxgm%2BSpG%2BJoQoJO6chZ9Dy4mxQK5uhRk%2Ff2PCudYUi22cwz4xHDLPiZkicnYGXIxRxcLGyfSMFM%2F01qujyioEVhMgK4oyNkg6PdFMMFlTpRi62w23SqENnjiPYpKsI4411mNu2HSXiZtCbRQ%3D%3D|ampid%3APLX_CLK|clp%3A2047675

 

It will be interesting to see what it closes for. It is a nice example. I saw a few that sold in the $130-$150 range, but they were not this nice. There were a couple that had BIN for $400ish, but sold for a best offer. Don't know what they sold for. Not sure what catalog value he is quoting. There are several catalogs to source. I believe the 15 and 30 cent used values are $72.50 and $100. Scott used values have always been very high relative to sales prices. I have an old Scott catalog somewhere I want to find to see what the values were 20 years ago.

My collection, if you can call it that, is small and mostly odd items. I have some fractional currency. I chased some encased postage (stamps were used as currency during the civil war), but never found one I liked. I have a few essays ("prototype" stamp designs used to bid on the contracts with the USPS - stamps used to be printed privately) and some hand cancelled letters that pre-date stamps (one may be signed by JP Morgan). I always like the early airmails and late 1800s through 1930s stamps. Much like early 1960s Marvels, the ink on those is amazing and something you don't see any more. Most of this is very reasonably priced. It should be a collector's paradise - cool stuff, cheap.

[lostboys]

I had an uncle that collected stamps. I remember him showing them to me when I was probably around 10-11 years old. He was so excited. I was bored but respectful.

My daughter is 13. She gets so excited when I allow her to flip through my comics. Its like Christmas morning to her.

 

[Shrevvy]

This is going to suck me into buying some stamps...not that anyone cares on a comic forum, but this is an encased stamp.

Confederate money was no good, coins were being taken from circulation and stamps started to be used as currency. An enterprising businessman decided to encased them in brass and add some advertising on the back. The name of the businessman...John Gault. I always thought that was an odd coincidence.

[William-James88]

On 3/1/2022 at 9:19 AM, Shrevvy said:

It will be interesting to see what it closes for. It is a nice example. I saw a few that sold in the $130-$150 range, but they were not this nice. There were a couple that had BIN for $400ish, but sold for a best offer. Don't know what they sold for. Not sure what catalog value he is quoting. There are several catalogs to source. I believe the 15 and 30 cent used values are $72.50 and $100. Scott used values have always been very high relative to sales prices. I have an old Scott catalog somewhere I want to find to see what the values were 20 years ago.

Yeah those prices are quite high for cancelled (higher even than Hobbyzine), thanks for that. And I would be very curious to see what the values were 20 years ago.

[seanfingh]

It is all about there being a last generation that cares.  When there is a last generation that cares, the hobby dies. When there is no one to pick up the torch, the inflated values being propped up by the last generation that cares plummet.  Stamps, Hummels some types of furniture have had the last generation that cares. Comics, coins, sports cards all may die away, but it will be because there is a last generation that cares. We are not there yet, but we may get there.

[shadroch]

On 3/1/2022 at 12:13 AM, 500Club said:

My impression has always been that the stamp collecting demographic was much older…?

No, you just lived at the end of the boom. In the 1940s/50s, many more kids collected stamps than collected comics. Comics were read and discarded, stamps were saved and treasured. Almost every school had a coin and stamp collectors club, sometimes one of each.  Even into the mid to late 1970s, department stores often had a coin/stamp department and every town had a coin/stamp store. It's too bad the stamp dealers didn't read the tea leaves and begin transforming their stores as the market shifted.  When I got seriously into comics in 76, Long Island had three monthly coin and stamp shows. By the time I opened my shop in 1983, they were gone and L.I. had one annual comic show. By 1988, there were three monthly comics shows, plus the two annual ones, plus gawd only knows how many baseball card shows.  There were many Sundays where there were competing shows. 

[JJ-4]

On 3/1/2022 at 1:31 AM, Poekaymon said:

Old.  But  I have a 4 year old who already loves Spider-Man from cartoons and costumes, so there's hope.  He even used Spider-Man diapers that I did not go out of my way to get.  It is pervasive. 

Agree on the fact that there are tons of super hero fans in the younger demographics.  I just don't see enough younger people that actually reading and collecting the comics.  They enjoy the movies and all the ancillary products (from t-shirts to video games) but how many new fans will we need to maintain the collectable aspect of this industry as the older generations start to sell off or leave their collections to family when they get that "celestial discharge".