An Arpin Philately initiative – Dealing in Quality Stamps since 1969
Lisa 
Now that you have spent good time and money on your stamp collection, you want to take care of it! What are some of the things you should never do a stamp? Some of these points may seem basic to an experienced collector, but newer collectors may appreciate them. Here goes!
1) Never use scotch tape or a glue stick to mount a stamp on a page. This may seem obvious, but
If you are going to invest in a hobby like stamp collecting, it only makes sense to take care of it. One of the worst things you could do when sorting and handling your stamps is to use your bare hands and fingers. Even if you wash your hands properly, you still risk transferring oils from your skin to your stamps. It may not seem like such a big deal, I mean, most stamps have been handled at some point, right? However, you may not feel the same if you leave a big, nasty fingerprint on a valuable stamp.
The short answer is YES! I’m not just saying that to sell catalogues. I really believe it to be true. I was only introduced to philately in my 30’s and if it hadn’t been for catalogues I would have been lost. I learned a lot from my stamp catalogue. Here is a short list of why they are so necessary. I’ll be concentrating on catalogues for Canada stamps, such as the Unitrade Specialized Catalogue of Canadian Stamps.
Now that we know what a stamp watermark is, let’s talk about how we can detect one. A previous article briefly outlined how you can use watermark detector fluid (see article FAQ-What is a stamp watermark?). Is this the only method available to stamp enthusiasts?
Here are 5 different ways to detect a watermark on a stamp:
1) Not always reliable, but certainly the simplest way, is to hold the stamp up to a bright light with the back of the stamp facing you. In some instances bright light will show through the thinner areas of the paper and reveal a watermark. You can also try laying the stamp face side down on a black surface. The darker background sometimes shows through the watermark.
I guess you could say that slipcases are a «necessary luxury». Does that make any sense? Actually, I do believe that slipcases are a worthwhile investment. After all, they are made to protect your stamp album binders and after all that you’ve spent on them, it only makes sense to keep them in pristine condition for as long as possible.
So why are slipcases practical? Consider the following reasons:
Watermarks can significantly increase the value of a stamp. For example, Canada stamp #28 in Mint VF (Unitrade listing) has a catalogue value of $1,400, but the same stamp with a watermark (#28a), is listed at $6,000! Obviously, it’s a good thing to find a stamp with a watermark. It can mean the difference between an ordinary stamp and a rarity. So then, what is a stamp watermark?
The third known example of the green 2¢ Large Queen on laid paper (Scott #32) discovered on July 16th, 2013 (see our previous article) just sold at Eastern Auctions this past weekend. The winning bid for this rare Canada stamp was $215,000 + 15% buyer’s premium ($247,450)! Even though it brought in less than the last Large Queen sold by Brigham Auctions for $475,000 (see this article about the Brigham auction), you’ll remember that this is the stamp that a collector found in a sales circuit book not too long ago. Some estimate he paid around $5 for it, others say $60; no matter what, that’s a pretty good return on his investment!
Over this past weekend, Eastern Auctions sold a mint copy of the 1851 12d black Queen Victoria (Scott #2). Though in mint condition, the stamp was quite off-center and had a mark on the gum side. It sold for $70,000 + the 15% seller’s fee ($80,500)! However, the stamp sold a bit below expectations. Eastern Auctions themselves gave the stamp a catalogue value of $160 000, so the sale price is well below that. On the other hand, who would say no to an extra $80,500 in their pocket?
An example of one of the most valuable Canada stamps will be going on the block on October 16th with Eastern Auctions as lot #60.
The 1851 12d black Queen Victoria could soon become Canada’s most valuable stamp ever–even more valuable than the green 2¢ large queen which recently sold for $475 000. The attraction of the 2¢ large queen is understandable–it is thought that only 3 exist in the whole world. But, they are all used specimens.
So you’ve decided to start stamp collecting…congratulations! The mark of any good collector is a thorough knowledge of the object of his interest. You will find that learning about postage stamps and all their difference aspects is something that can keep you busy for years to come, but it’s good to understand the basics. So, let’s start at the beginning-what makes up a postage stamp? What stands out under close examination?