The StampFinder Concept
Stamps as an Investment

The StampFinder concept is designed to highlight the investment value of individual stamps for investors and collectors. It demonstrates that the selection of investment quality stamps and their historic performance can be as readily analyzed as for a stock or bond. Likewise, stamps have measurable attributes which can be weighed and compared to provide a basis for selecting items with potential for future appreciation.

Postage stamps have an extensive information history. USID Inc. has accumulated this historical data into a database that includes numerous elements on each investment grade stamp. All major markets and catalog systems are taken into considerations as well as the currency rates.

The end result is information that every stamp buyer should have before buying stamps cataloging $25 or more. Specifically:

• Has the stamp been increasing in price and, if so, how fast and for how long?

• How does the U.S. price compare to other world markets?

• What is the stamp's potential for future appreciation?

• How does the stamp compare relative to all other stamps from that country?

• Which stamps are moving up or down in price since last year.

  
  

• Identifies which stamps have investment values and which are just expensive.

The StampFinder concept applies tried and tested analysis techniques, combined with common sense economic theory of supply and demand, to evaluate the performance and potential of individual, higher priced stamps. Appreciation histories, potential for future appreciation and disparities in pricing between major catalog systems are all reviewed item by item, mint and used. Stamps are then rated B(EST)BUY, OKBUY and AVOID. An average world price in U.S. Dollar equivalents is calculated, based on an average from the numerous reputable catalogs in use.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE GUIDES:

INVESTING IN POSTAGE STAMPS A reference guide for the philatelic investor by Richard Lehmann and Randy L. Neil. This book provides insight into why stamps appreciate and how an individual should go about making selections of investment grade stamps. The book also provides a buying guide of some 5,000 stamps considered as Best Buys for investment purposes.

BEST BUYS IN POSTAGE STAMPS - Series 6.94
Features the stamps identified as the best investment values from the various country and regional guides being published by StampFinder. These stamps constitute the best of the best in terms of value, having averaged better than a 6% annual rate of return for a decade or more.

BRITISH EMPIRE - Series 7.95
Features the U.K. and all the countries of the empire. Over 10,000 stamps are detailed as to their price appreciation histories and recent price movements + or - according to the most recent Gibbons and Scott catalogs as well as Linn's Trend reports. The most recent world prices are shown and a comparison to the Scott price is given, permitting colllectors to compare prices in the U.K. versus the U.S. market. Appreciation potential and buy recommendations are also included..

FAR EAST COUNTRIES - Series 5.0
Features China, China - P.R., Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Macao, Manchuko, Mongolia, Philippines, Ryukus Islands, Tanna Tuva, Thailand, and Tibet. Provides average world pricing on over 2300 investment grade stamps based on Michel, Yvert, Gibbons and select local catalogs. Shows how the world price compares to current Scott prices. Provides appreciation histories, appreciation potential and buying recommendations as well as general commentary on recent price changes and overall, by country, price trends.

GERMANY - Series 1.94
Features Germany, German Colonies, Occupation Issues, Berlin and DDR. A buying guide for over 3,000 investment grade stamps with specific buy or avoid ratings. Also includes a cross index between Michel, Yvert, and Scott numbers.