Mixtures Usually Return Fun, Not Cash

Question: What can I expect to find in a “mixture” of stamps? I see mixtures of U.S. and foreign issues for sale. How many different varieties are in these, and is it possible to find something rare?--P.W.

Answer: Mixtures are fun to look through, and there is always a possibility of making a discovery of a great rarity. But chances are that your reward will be many hours of fun and learning. I wouldn’t expect to get rich going through a mixture, in spite of the fabulous claims of some dealers who sell them.

You must realize that a mixture means that there will be duplicates, maybe many copies of the same common stamp, as well as scarcer items. I suggest that you buy a small, sample mixture packet from a dealer as a test purchase. If you like what you get, then you can order a larger mixture.

Mixtures are usually sold by the pound, with the seller estimating how many stamps per pound. You can buy them by mail or at some stamp shops, with only U.S. or some other single country represented. Or you can buy a mixture with stamps from around the world. The batches are available with stamps on original envelopes, on “piece” (meaning the stamp is still stuck to a small corner of the envelope’s paper) or soaked entirely off of the envelopes.

Q: What is an average U.S. first-day cover worth? I have about 200 of them, saved from various collections over the years. Most date from the 1950s and 1960s.--R.C.

A: It depends on the cachet (the design on the left side of the envelope), the condition of the stamp and cover, and the desirability of the particular issue.

For example, a common U.S. commemorative first-day cover of the last 30 years typically sells for 50 cents at stamp shows, sometimes 25 cents, sometimes $1 or more if the cachet is rare.

I’ve never made money on first-day covers. There are so many of them, except for earlier issues. And most people who sell them know when they have a rarer variety, so few bargains exist in buying most first-days.

On the other hand, many collectors start the hobby of philately with first-day-cover collecting, and some Early-20th-Century U.S. first-days auction off at hundreds of dollars each.

Q: I have a few 16-cent stamped envelopes and wonder if they have any value. They were printed in error.--L.C.

A: What do you mean by “error”? Are there missing or inverted colors? Are the envelopes without any printed ink at all (an “albino” in postal stationery talk)? Are the envelopes mis-cut or glued together in a wrong way?

The United States has never had a 16-cent postage rate in the 20th Century. I’m not sure what these envelopes are. I need more descriptive information about the stamp.

Q: I recently inherited a stamp collection and would like to liquidate it. Who do I contact to receive a fair market value?--J.W.W.

A: Any stamp dealer listed in the Yellow Pages under “Stamps for Collectors.” I recommend getting a quick appraisal from two or more dealers. Auctions usually bring the best prices, but you may have to wait six months for your money to be processed. Most dealers will offer you cash if they are interested in your stamps.

Q: Is it against the law to own Russian stamps?--T.H.

A: No. For as long as I can remember, the buying and selling of Soviet stamps, as well as their possession, has been legal in the United States. In fact, I used to trade stamps by mail with a gentleman in the Ukraine, obviously with his government’s approval. Our exchange packets were sent by registered mail, with “postage stamps for collector” clearly written on the outside of the envelope.

Q: I have a dark blue stamp showing the signing of the Mayflower Compact by the Pilgrims. The denomination is 5 cents, and the stamp bears these dates imprinted: 1620-1920. What is it worth?--B.D.

A: Current catalogue value is $55 mint, $18.50 canceled for this issue, first sold Dec. 21, 1920, to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, Mass.

Q: My Canal Zone stamp is printed in black ink on white paper, $1 denomination, and pictures an airplane flying over a ship in the Panama Canal. It is in fine mint condition. Please evaluate.--P.A.

A: The present catalogue value is $10. This Canal Zone stamp was issued in 1931 and is not especially scarce today. There were 406,000 issued, according to official government postal records.

The collection of Canal Zone stamps is popular both in America among U.S.-possessions specialists and in Panama among affluent collectors.

Q: I am interested in collecting the current new issues of Iceland. Does this country have its own philatelic service? Also, how do they accept payment?--R.K.

A: The rules on sending payment (money order, checks, foreign exchange or other forms) to foreign philatelic bureaus change all the time, so I’m not sure how they want you to send your payments, but write to them at Frimerkjasalan, Postboks 1445, Reykjavik, Iceland.

Q: What are U.S. commemorative sheets worth from the last 15 years?--E.L.

A: Face value, in most cases. Recent U.S. stamps have printing runs in the many millions and are not rare.

Q: I didn’t know there was a country called Brunei, but I have a set of three stamps from there. They show different policemen and have the denominations 10 cents, 15 cents and 50 cents. What are they worth?--J.D.

A: Current catalogue value is $3.90 for the set in mint condition. Issued in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Royal Brunei Police Force, this set first appeared in 1971. Brunei is a British protectorate on the northwest coast of Borneo, population about 150,000.

Q: I have a 6-cent U.S. stamp picturing Crater Lake National Park in Oregon. I also have a 3-cent violet Los Angeles Olympic stamp from 1932 and a 5-cent blue George Washington issue. All are mint and clean. What is their value?--T.G.

A: About $1 each retail. These are from the 1930s.

Q: How are stamp prices set? I go into a stamp dealer’s shop, and her best offer is $25 for an album of Canadian stamps that I’ve spent more than $100 for over the years. Are dealers greedy or is there a basic price for buying stamps from collectors?--S.B.M.

A: It sounds as if you are disappointed. I don’t know what stamps you have, but Canadian items like many world issues have dropped a bit in price in the last five years. Suppose your album is worth $50 or $60 at retail. Then $25 is not a bad wholesale buying price. Try another dealer for a different opinion and offer. Maybe the first dealer doesn’t like or understand the values of Canadian stamps. Maybe she wants a big profit on resale. Maybe you overpaid for your collection.

Q: What is a definitive? I noticed this term used when describing certain U.S. stamps.--W.N.

A: A definitive is a regular issue stamp, usually “small” in size and sold indefinitely at the post office. The other main type of stamp is a commemorative, often larger in size, issued for a limited time to honor a famous American person, place or historical event.

Q: I have a collection of German stamps that document and reflect the inflation that occurred in Germany in 1923. The collection is complete. All issues are new, unused, perfectly preserved and mounted in a special historical album. What is the value of this collection?--J.M.H.

A: Unfortunately this collection is not valuable, unless you have rare varieties (like inverted overprints and imperforated pairs), which is not likely. The total catalogue value of all of the stamps issued by Germany in 1923 is only about $30.

These stamps are common today because they are readily available and were issued in large quantities that were saved by the world’s stamp collectors at that time.

Q: Where can I write to find out more about first-day covers? My collection of these covers has grown to about 400, and it is time that I learned a little more about what I am collecting.--P.G.

A: A local stamp club or any stamp dealer can tell you a lot of information about first-day covers. Also, you could join the American First Day Cover Society and receive their award-winning journal published eight times a year, plus other member benefits. If interested, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope and ask for membership information: Linda Hassa, membership secretary, A.F.D.C.S., 203 Village Way, Brick, N.J. 08724.

Stamp News

A souvenir card (pictured on Page 15) will be issued in honor of the Garfield Perry Stamp Club in Cleveland, Ohio. The card will feature a block-of-four of the 1902 Martha Washington stamp, the first stamp to picture an American woman. This card can be ordered by mail for $4.50 by check or money order made payable to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Send orders after March 7 to B.E.P., Mail Order Sales, Room 602-11A, 14th and C streets, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20228. Print or type your order on a piece of 8 1/2-by-11 paper, and ask for Code No. 922.

Souvenir cards have been issued in quantity by the United States since 1970. They are collected by many people for their beautiful engravings and historical interest. These cards are not valid for postage, but some of the early ones have increased in value over the years. They are listed in the Scott catalogues.

Stamp Calendar

Feb. 21-23--Filatelic Fiesta ’86 at the San Jose Convention Center, Park Avenue and Market Street, San Jose. Stamp exhibits, dealers and special show cancel. Hours: Friday noon-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission. Telephone (408) 238-4864.

Feb. 22 and 23--Pasadena Coin, Stamp and Jewelry Show at the Pasadena Center, 300 E. Green St., Pasadena. Fifty dealers will be there to buy and sell stamps, coins or jewelry. Hours: Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. General admission $1, senior citizens 65 and older 75 cents, children under 10 free. Telephone (213) 828-2664.

Barry Krause, a member of several national stamp-collecting organizations, cannot answer mail personally but will respond to philatelic questions of general interest in this column. Do not telephone. Write to Your Stamps, You section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.