Serbia and Australia: new issues - worth to watch:

I never thought about new issues and IF it is worth to have keep in collection as "Stamp Must Have" class, simply, I don't pay attention about.

Recently, one issue from Australia and one from Serbia, made me "click", and think, that it will be worth to have it, as "in any case" situation, and time will tell us if I was correct!

Serbia: "Patriarch Pavle"

This issue, that come on market Sept. 11, 2014, made one fascinating premiere in collectors community. First because person alone, who was very popular in Serbia and in Serbian Orthodox Church. It is anniversary of 100 years of birth, and as this person was very respected, popular, authoritative in Serbian community and worldwide, this postage stamp almost disappear from market in 24 hours! Now, someone speculate, that it is all done by one or two stamp dealer/s just to manipulate market (what is not strange in Serbian collectors community), but I personally believe that it is simple matter of respect, popularity and interest in Serbia for this person (I also admire him, not because religion, but because his speeches and thinking)!

Now, face value of this issue, as one stamp issued, are really low, 23.00 Serbian dinar, as is worth today 0.24 US$, searching on web auctions, You will see that starting bid is placed on four time face value, and selling well by this 1.00 $ price tag per stamp. Probably from Your personal dealer, You can have it by half prices of this one $, but You will need to calculate also postage fee to have it on Your table. searching on groups around web, I come to information, that in Belgrade (Serbia), there is no available this issue! Why? Good question! As I know, Serbia have an very low quantity printing of any stamp issue, between 30 000 and 50 000 total per issue, and if we divide it to 9 stamp in printing sheet (shown) it will come to 3750 sheetlets of 8 stamp and gutter on middle! This sheetlet is very popular for collectors, as format, same as catalog listing that in world popular catalogs have very good prices.

Now if we will take minimum printed quantity of 30 000, with face value of 0.24 US$ per one, we will see that TOTAL value of all printed are 7200.00 US$! Too much for? I don't think! Even medium size stamp dealer can purchase all quantity, and manipulate market as wish!

Keep an eye on it!

Australia: "Concession Stamp"

This sef-adhesive stamp come on my table recently, and as all self-adhesive, I don't respect it well! Just examined it in one view, and thought to put it in stock page, but....

"Concession stamps for use only on letters within Australia", plus that my friend who supply it told me that this stamps are issued for pensioners/seniors, who need to produce card as verify status, and after that will have right to purchase limited quantity of same stamp! 

Now think alone: how many person will go, and produce this senior/pensioners card? How many persons actually use snail-mail today? How many pensioners/senior exist in Australia? How many same people are aware of existence of this stamp/services?

I think that rarely someone will use it on envelope, and too little people are aware of existence of this stamp! It is time consumpting to go to the gov't offices, made this card, or if You almost have this card, to go in Post Office, wait in line to purchase this stamp, and in the end, write mail and deliver it in post! 

This facts are main reason, that I think, will have impact of catalog/market value for this issue!

And in really postally used condition, on envelope, will be really hard to find! Probably dealers will have it in stock, in mint condition, but in really on cover used condition? 

Who know? In the end, time will tell!

Face value are just 3.00 AU$, as I see on web auctions, starting prices range from 5.00 AU$ to 16.00 US$ for mint booklet pane, to 7.50 AU$ per 100 gr used on paper. See also few offering for pair of mint for 7.50 AU$! Now, are that good investment?

Again - time will tell!

Yugoslavia 1953 year, 3th issue of "Industry":

Here is another issue of "Industry" (3th in row), with really nice design and one good catalog value.

We are talking of issue from Feb. 10, 1953 year, and wish to show You one "wide" set, that include also stamp from  Feb. 28, 1954. Michel catalog have it under number 717-723 and 760. 

What is specific in this set? 

Let's say, that it is nothing specific, but if You collect "Industry" or if You have this set in 1st or 2nd issue, it will be good to have also this 3th issue of same design, and if You will have it, have it in "wide" option where You have also 10 DIN in yellow green option, 5 DIN with "broken A", 8 DIN in black color and 15 DIN with vertical line under left hands of woman.

That will be "wide" set, which will have really nice impact of Your collection value.

What is catalog value? I will not polemic now of this question, but IF catalog value in Michel have it for basic set of 7 stamp, mint, nh condition for 90.00 euro, additional "option" for stamp 5 DIN will give plus 65.00 euro, 8 DIN next 8.00 euro, 10 DIN in yellow green color next 15.00 euro, 15 DIN with vertical line next 60.00 euro, and in the end 17 DIN from 1955 year will put next 4.00 euro to value. All together, from basic 90.00 euro will go up to 242.00 euro catalog value!

Someone will say, it is just catalog value and NOT market value, and I will agree! Will suggest to visit on-line store, auction houses, dealers and try to find even one offering to sell in this "wide" option!

No one to find! 99% of collectors will say, so - we will not have it - not big deal! It is just hobby in the end! Agree in principle, but what will Your future children's or grandchildren have in as to remember You, is great stamp issue, great complete and wide set, and in the end, great "card" in hands if they decide to sell Your collection!

Serbia, 1928 year, overprint King Aleksander

Here I see next one issue that is really-really worth to have!

It is talking about King Aleksander Karadjordjevic (1888-1934), named as Aleksander the Unifier, or Aleksander I of Yugoslavia.

It is basic set, issued on 1926 year, with 12 value in set, than, after two year in use, come need to overprint it, and on 7 Dec. 1928, come to the public, set of 10 stamp, overprinted with XXXX , intention is to cancel additional value on the basic set. 

Someone will ask me, why exactly this set to have in collection, as we have basic set from 1926 year and it is same catalog value? For simple reason, that this "basic" set have all three combination on it! Basic set, and second one that come in same 1926 year (additional value on basic value), and in the end this one, where overprint are on the additional value overprint, actually canceling this addition value!

As I see in Michel catalog, it is very highly valued for mint, nh condition (900.00 euro), but with lh condition, catalog value go down to 350.00 euro, what I see on internet auction/s around, starting prices for mint, nh go from 200.00 $ to 600.00 $, depending who and from where it is offered, but, I made some "zoom" on same offering and see that both samples are too even more that too fine condition, that give me very high impression that set is or re-gummed, or washed, or some other "manipulation" made on. As same Michel catalog suggest, there is many fake overprints on market available, and everyone who decide to invest in this set, need to made very good examination, or better, to ask for certificate (which will again, rise price for next 100.00 euro per exam).

What I decided when showing this one sample? First, to minimize possibility of fake, I keep one set with examiner mark on back of stamp, there is good reason that who stamped it, know well that it is original, and second, I prefer one set with this "old" glue on it, as it is original gum, used at the time.

Next reason? Simple, it can just go up with price, because no one will sell it in near future!

P. R. of China - 2013 year

What to take for explanation, why I think, that this particular set of two stamp, need to be included in "Stamp Must Have" album?

It is new issue, 2013 year, still freely available on exchange base, on eBay or other "contact", that no need to "rush" and obtain it!

Yes, this is all correct! But I still think, that this must be in come more "serious" collection!

Why?

See, first that is one great artist work on left stamp, showing us rice "flower" opened with one fine tuned combination of color! Really botanical artist work, that made all perfect! Detail, color, dimension - all is in perfect combination for one human eye. You simply have feeling to have this! 

Second stamp give us "road" from field to table - one bowl of rice over that branch of rice. Again, perfect combination to think!

This set can be included in some topical like  "Flora", "Ceramics", "Food", "Agriculture", probably also like "Science" because there is talking about "Hybrid Rice" that China Scientist make in in one hard work that take more than few years of.

Face value are really affordable, for this set of two, 2.40 RMB (0.40 US$), nothing hard that You can not afford. There is also one sheetlets of 8 set (2 sheetlets in set), that is probably more beautiful than set alone, but, in the end, it depend of Your taste.