FAQs (Frequently asked questions)

Sometimes stamp collecting can be financially rewarding, but this generally not the case for the majority of collectors.

Many hobbies do not involve making money, but they are still very rewarding. So is stamp collecting. The rewards come in the form of knowledge, relaxation and friendships gained from pursuing your hobby.

If you have an expectation that collecting stamps ought to reward you financially, you must not expect to achieve this aim in the short term. Beginner’s prospects for collecting stamps that will grow in value are not necessarily good, because beginners lack sufficient knowledge. Without investing in years of effort building this knowledge, it's not easy to recognise opportunities for acquiring worthwhile stamps. Naturally, there are no certainties in the process and even experts can’t be sure their stamp purchases will prove lucrative.

Likewise, the beginner should be prepared to buy stamps and accessories without an expectation they'll rise in value. It's more important to enjoy your stamp collecting.

The overwhelming majority of stamps you can collect are not valuable and can be purchased for relatively little, because they're produced in large quantities serving a postal requirement, as well as meeting demand from collectors. The production quantities of most stamps are invariably so great, they rarely appreciate in value after their withdrawal at Post Offices. It is rather pointless buying current stamps with a financial motive in mind. You should buy new stamps for their appeal and the enjoyment you will get adding them to your collection.

The “secret” to making money out of stamp collecting is to buy scarce stamps and other philatelic items (such as postal history) at affordable prices and retain them in the hope that interest in these collecting fields becomes more widespread. In this event, prices will probably rise and your collection is more likely to be of greater value than what it cost you to put together.

Of course, it's impossible to know precisely which “underrated” areas of stamp collecting will become popular areas in the future. Experienced collectors know the joy of the hobby lies in building collections around themes that interest them – the prospect of financial gain is secondary.

The answer is often no.

Many old Australian stamps are extremely common and can be purchased cheaply. A century ago, there were many collectors who were actively removing these from mail and today the stamps exist in plentiful quantities.

Some 19th century stamps are scarce or rare, normally because they were not commonly used on mail or they were used earlier in the 19th century when stamp collecting was less widely practised.

The different perforations used for self-adhesive (peel-and-stick) and gummed stamps will allow you to identify the style of stamp. Perforations are used to allow stamps to be easily detached from each other.

Gummed stamps are perforated by cutting rows and columns of small holes. The size is identical on all four edges of each stamp.

Self-adhesive stamps are cut to shape by using a metal die. Dies can be produced to cut stamps in virtually any shape - ie. self-adhesive stamps currently have a flat section at their top and bottom.

CTO stands for "cancelled to order", or in other words, postmarked. It indicates the stamp has been postmarked without being used for postage.

FDI stands for "first day of issue" of a stamp. As the name implies, a first day of issue postmark can only be applied to stamps being released on the day of issue.
 

A "mint" stamp is one that's in pristine condition, exactly as issued by Australia Post.

The stamps gum or adhesive is intact, it hasn't been through the postal service and is therefore not postmarked.

Maximum cards are souvenir picture postcards released with every new Australian stamp issue.

The stamp is affixed on the view side of the card where it can be seen along with the card illustration and specially designed pictorial postmark.

In addition, maximum cards have a postage paid imprint, on the “message and address” side of the card, enabling them to be posted within Australia and by air mail anywhere in the world.

Postcards feature a printed image of a stamp on the picture side of the card. The image relates to a particular stamp issue.

A maximum card has an actual stamp affixed on the picture side of the card. The stamp will be cancelled by a specially designed pictorial postmark.
 

A stamp pack is a presentation pack containing a set of mint stamps.

These are produced to accompany all issues of 2 or more stamps. The pack can also contain, when issued, a miniature sheet.

The stamp pack allows the stamps to be kept in the original packaging. Their see-through mounts and background information are appealing to collectors.

The Seal of Authenticity is a sticker with Australia Post branding attached to the back of some products. It contains DNA authenticity and certification number of the product.

The Seal of Authenticity first appeared on the CI Lunar New Year 2008 - Year of the Rat PNC (Postal and Numismatic Cover).

The seal was introduced as a way for collectors to be sure they’re buying an official Australia Post product.

Philatelic mail and regular mail are treated the same way when they go through our letter sorting machines.

Biro marks are used when a postmark cancellation hasn’t been applied effectively.

Stamp dealers operate businesses selling or buying stamps from the public. Contact details for stamp dealers in your area can be found through the Australian Philatelic Traders Association (APTA).

You should also look for details of stamp fairs or exhibitions in your area by visiting the Australian Philatelic Federations (APF).