Is It Worth Collecting Used Postage Stamps?

If you are considering whether it is ‘worth’ collecting used postage stamps then you have come to the right place. It’s actually a really good question to ask before starting!

Stamp collecting is a wonderful hobby, but the answer you seek from this question, kind of depends on what you want from your collection and your motivation for collecting – your ‘why’ if you like.

Here’s my summary answer: From a stamp collector and historical viewpoint, used stamps are definitely worth collecting, especially if you can get hold of fine used modern issues. Used stamps record a unique story of our postal and correspondence history which is missed with unused stamps. If however, you want pristine examples of postage stamps, are considering a highly specialist collection, or need them to retain at least some face value, then mint stamps may be a better option for you.

Personally, I would not see used stamps as any different than mint ones from a ‘general stamp collector’ basis. They each have their own unique quirks and qualities. However, there are some reasons why you may want to consider focusing on one or the other and this is what I will discuss in this post.

Let’s start with…yes, it is worth it!

Yes! It is worth collecting used postage stamps

Used stamps are fantastic if you are either a beginner or an advanced stamp collector. They are cheaper and more freely available than unused stamps. Therefore they are a great place to start . Pick them up from friends and family, or if you are lucky enough nowadays, some mail you receive! Bulk packs of used and CTO (Cancelled To Order) stamps are available at very affordable prices, especially for issues from 1950-2000. Generally, used stamps are more accessible than their mint counterparts. You just can’t buy the same volume of mint stamps as you can used. If you enjoy a good rummage, then used is the way to go.

I must admit, used stamps are my favourite stamps to collect. I love the fact they have been on a journey which may have been halfway across the world, and sometimes back again too. I love finding beautifully cancelled versions and I love that someone used and received the stamp on their mail. My GB collection is used for these reasons.

However, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to find nice used versions of modern stamps. This is because they rarely used on mail anymore. (Enter the dreaded pen cancellation to ruin any that are used…). But perhaps this adds to the thrill of the chase!

If you love stamps for being stamps and want to build up multiple amazing collections, then used stamps will save you money when creating that collection, along with still providing the ‘joy of the hunt’. If your focus is on older stamps, then you will save a lot of money by focusing on used.

But this may not be what you want and it may not be worth it for you.

No! It is not worth collecting used postage stamps

Mint stamps, as a general rule, will maintain some or all of their face value. Used stamps cannot for obvious reasons. In the future, it will be easier and cheaper to buy mint sets than truly, fine postally-used ones. Mint is the way to go if you are looking for a perfect example of stamps as they were issued. Unmarred by postal use and marks, they represent what a stamp is in all its glory. Mint stamps will never be re-issued, but if people use those mint stamps on mail, as you can with all commemorative GB issues going right back to 1971, then the number of mint stamps in circulation will always be going down. As opposed to the number of used which tends to go in an upward direction.

In the UK at least, unused, mint stamps will likely hold their face value, but there is a big caveat to this. It doesn’t mean if you sold in future, that you would get face value back. If you sell as a bulk lot, expect to receive anything between 30-80% of their face value. If future you is willing to put in the time and effort to individually list, photograph and describe each set, then you will get face value back and maybe some more for desirable issues. The alternative of course is that you send an awful lot of your own mail …

Another reason you may wish to focus on mint stamps is if you are a specialist collector. This is because the gum used on the reverse can only be determined if the stamp is mint. Some older issues also have the phosphor bands printed on the back, over the gum and you can only determine this if the stamp is unused. If you specialise in machins or definitives (as I do, or at least am trying to…), then there are various glues and identifying them can decide if your stamp is worth a few pennies or a few pounds.

But for many the ‘worth’ is not relevant, it’s more about cost to buy. If you buy a set of stamps, a lot of the money you pay is a handling and/or listing fee. This fee will be the same for both used and mint stamps. In this sense it comes down to personal preference.

So it is worth it?

OK, so let’s summarise what I’ve just discussed. Here are the major pros and cons summarised in a table:

Collecting used vs mint postage stamps

	Pros	Cons
Used	Lower cost of entry	Loss of face value
	Easier accessibility	Limitations for some specialist collectors
	A sense of historical journeys and story telling	Increasingly challenging to find modern used stamps
	The thrill of the chase
Mint	Retention of face value (to some extent at least)	Higher initial cost
	Easier to get complete modern sets	Less character
	Better for specialist collectors	Probably won’t realise full face value

And in a list:

• Collect used if you just love stamps for being stamps. Bear in mind the challenges you may face ahead to maintain your collection if you seek postally-used examples
• Collect mint if you want to specialise or seek perfect examples
• And finally, don’t collect stamps if you are looking for an investment. Something like gold coins are probably a better collection investment (👈 please don’t take that as investment advice)

So is it worth collecting used stamps? I say yes!

What are your thoughts?