1) A steady, gradual, progressive and uncontainable growth of the stamp collecting market in the last 168 years. Collecting crazes of the past, such as mini-checks in the ‘70s or telephone cards in the ‘90s, then revealed to be, as it was expected, only a disillusionment.

2) A wealthy market constantly supported by more than 60 million stamp collectors and investors all over the world. The passionate entry into the sector of new rich people from Russia, East Europe, China, Japan and South-East Asia has recently brought big capitals.

3) The progressive increase in world population and in people’s average age. In 1840 (year when the postage stamp was invented) only about 1.000.000.000 people lived on earth, while today we are almost 7.000.000.000. In rich countries average life expectancy in 1840 was about 40 years, while today it is about 80 years, and it is notorious that stamp collecting is more common among wealthy and grown-up people.

4) The gradual increase of people’s leisure time, with respect to the past, due to both higher average life expectancy and different work life organization, in addition to a better standard of life.

5) Mankind is biologically inclined to collecting. People collect anything: the important thing is to collect rare items, of high quality and with a wide collecting base; these are the only things that in time can increase in value. In this way, philatelic collecting provides the collector with personal pleasure and cultural growth, protecting in the meantime savings against unproductive hobbies and increasing the value in time constantly and progressively.

6) Recently, more and more often philatelic auction realizations worldwide have remarkably went over catalogue estimated prices. These kinds of news are reported with astonishment not only by the specialist press but also by newspapers.

7) In the last years, some important philatelic experts have opened worldwide a department for philatelic investments also with fund and bank intermediations. Philatelic investment basic concepts are essentially the following:
- HISTORICALLY PROVEN EARNINGS
- LONG LASTING SAFETY
- LIQUIDITY ALL OVER THE WORLD
- PORTFOLIO DIVERSIFICATION
- SECTOR KNOWLEDGE PREMIUM
- UPWARD CONSTANT PERSPECTIVES
With “sector knowledge premium” it is intended a skilled collector/investor’s ability, or the ability of a collector/investor supported by a skilled professional, to recognize relevant rarity in postage stamps that seem to be common. Otherwise, it is intended a collector/investor’s ability to take into consideration particular countries or historical periods that may store future important revaluations.

8) Philatelic rarities can be easily concealable, transportable and marketable in the five continents. A small album, that can easily be kept in a safe deposit box, may contain million of dollars or euros. During the two world wars, many families took refuge in other countries bringing with them only jewels and stamps, in order to try to make a new fortune.

9) Rare stamp revaluation rate vary yearly on average from 5 to 15 percent (it varies according to the nation and to the historical period). Downward volatility rate for rare and quality specimens is mainly non-existent. For example, postage stamps from Great Britain of the period 1840/1940 in the last 35 years ensured yearly a 10,6% average yield. Are there any government bonds, shares or other type of investments able to keep that trend for decades without any risk?

10) And finally…, what about stamp collecting pleasure and cultural enrichment, aren’t they good investments for our leisure time and our mind?

HOW TO INVEST
IN RARE STAMPS