Nazi Issue Could Be Worth $300

Question: While serving as a YMCA representative to prisoners of war in Egypt during World War II, I was given a stamp that the Germans had issued, which they planned to use when they moved into Cairo after defeating the British. The stamp shows a lone palm tree with the Nazi swastika on the middle of the trunk. Is it worth anything today? --P.C.

Answer: Yes. This issue actually saw limited use with Gen. Rommel’s Afrika Korps, although it seems to be more common mint than used. Retail price for a nice mint or used undamaged copy is between $100 and $300, depending on the variety and the state of the gum’s preservation.

Q: Philately seems to be an entertaining and harmless hobby, but does it have any practical use? Besides a little geography and history, what can stamps do for us in our everyday life? --R.P.

A: The more you know, the more you understand what is going on. Stamps are just one branch of knowledge, but a person who is philatelically uninformed might not appreciate the subtleties of background research for a public display.

For example, when you see a close-up of an envelope in a movie you might be able to tell if the stamp and paper style are proper for the time period in which the story is set.

I visited Ft. Tejon State Historic Park a few weeks ago. Located on Interstate 5 about 65 miles north of Los Angeles, the park consists of restored U.S. Army buildings and other artifacts from the 1860s era.

In one of the buildings there is a faked letter written in the style of the time, dated June 3, 1859. It is supposedly being written by a soldier stationed at the barracks, but the uncanceled envelope, which is addressed “overland mail” to Boston, bears only one 3-cent stamp. The postage at that time was 10 cents per half-ounce for destinations more than 3,000 miles away.

From California to the East Coast in 1859 was considered an “over 3,000 miles” mail route, so this envelope clearly has too little postage, a result of somebody not doing a top-quality job of research. Not a big deal maybe, but it makes things more interesting when you are a tourist. Or would you be better off not knowing anything about stamps and their use?

Q: While visiting Switzerland many years ago I bought a souvenir sheet illustrating 12 copies of the first Swiss stamps. I guess it was some kind of anniversary sheet. I have forgotten what I paid, but it was not much. Is this sheet in demand by present collectors? --L.E.

A: Your souvenir sheet originally sold for 5 Swiss francs in 1943 during the 100th anniversary year of Zurich postage stamps. The sheet lists in Scott catalogues at $45 mint, $85 canceled in U.S. currency. Here is one of many philatelic items that is more valuable used than mint, if the cancellation is genuine from the time period when it was current.

Of course what you have to watch out for is faked cancels, which some unscrupulous individuals may try to forge onto the sheet to increase its market value. Only a knowledgeable dealer or specialist in Swiss philately would be able to detect a quality forged cancellation, so always buy expensive canceled items from a reliable source.

Q: Is it true that every U.S. stamp ever issued is still valid for prepaying postage on mail? --E.K.

A: No. When the Civil War broke out, U.S. stamps issued before 1861 were declared invalid by Union postal authorities to prevent their being used or sold by Southern postmasters. Also, if any Northern post offices were captured by Confederate forces early in the war, the old stamps on hand would be worthless booty.

Q: Isn’t stamp collecting a lonely hobby? What I mean is that stamp collectors seem to be trying to escape from normal social activities by playing with their little bits of paper in the privacy of their rooms. I’ve never been interested in stamps because I would prefer to spend my spare time with my family and with real people, doing things that I can’t do normally in my everyday job at an office. --R.A.

A: The beauty of philately or of any serious collecting is that you can make it as solitary or as gregarious as you want. Some collectors are shy and introverted and never show or discuss their collecitons. Then there are people who make the rounds of stamp shows, for example, and make many new acquaintances as a result. Others join stamp clubs for friends.

Q: My old Colombian stamp pictures a six-pointed star and the value “cinco centavos.” The ink color is black on white paper, and the stamp is more or less square. What is it worth? --C.T.

A: Issued in 1865, this is the first registration stamp of Colombia. If it is genuine and undamaged, it has a catalogue value of about $85 mint, $55 used.

Q: Are special delivery stamps still being issued by the United States? I remember using them in college to mail home important letters to my parents. --B.G.

A: The last U.S. special delivery adhesive stamp appeared in 1971, and while they are still good for postage, any normal regular or commemorative U.S. mint stamp may now be used for special delivery service. Post offices no longer stock specific stamps for this purpose. Meters are also used for special delivery postage.

Q: I have some stamps from Panama with the words CANAL ZONE across the face of the designs. I know these are quite old, but can you tell me what they are worth? --L.P.

A: Anywhere from about $1 to many hundreds of dollars each. Scott’s catalogue lists 69 major numbers (plus postage dues, etc.) of Panamanian stamps overprinted with CANAL ZONE markings, from the first one issued in 1904 through 1924 when U.S. stamps with overprints replaced the Panama issues. Prices vary widely, depending on the particular issue, so I need more information about what your stamps look like.