The International Society of
World Wide Stamp Collectors

Welcome to the ISWSC

The International Society of Worldwide Stamp Collectors serves the interests of all worldwide collectors. It strives to promote the fun and fascination of worldwide stamp collecting to young and old alike, and has an active outreach program serving youth, their leaders and stamp collectors of all ages and experience levels.

Look at the benefits we have to offer. We'd like to hear from you!

Executive Director's Report

Well, I’ll admit it. Much to my dismay, summer has truly ended, at least in Eastern Pennsylvania. The leaves are not only turning but also dropping by the hour.

That means a few things. First, we will find ourselves indoors more (unless you really enjoy fall and winter hiking and sports). This signals to me that it’s a big time of year to dive deeper into stamp collecting!

As a huge baseball fan, I spend a lot of time watching baseball on TV or even listening to it outdoors on my radio while enjoying an adult beverage.

Meanwhile, there are still plenty of local shows on the East Coast. Southern Delaware, NOJEX, Burlington, NJ, Langhorne, PA, Gettypex, and Lancaster will all host shows in September and October!

ISWSC continues to draw new members and has added the Mid-Cities Stamp Club in Dallas-Ft. Worth area of Texas as our fourth affiliate! We also had a great board meeting in September and discussed the possibility of having an online forum option for our members. In addition, I hope to post an update on the ISWSC for the American Topical Association in a future issue of their Topical Time magazine, since we are considered a Study Group of the ATA. Finally, I enjoy having personal phone chats with several of our members.

And keep an eye out! We are exploring online chat options for the ISWSC so you can communicate with other ISWSC members! If you’re a Stamporama member (www.stamporama.com) look me up. I am Pre1940classics.

Investment or Hobby? The Continuing Debate
I think many new collectors are drawn to the investment potential of stamps. And why not? Artwork, antiques, old coins, vintage cards, and many other collectible items can act as tangible investments. So, of course, I bought and read a classic book, Stamp Investing, by Stephen R. Datz, published in 1997.

Mr. Datz wisely began the book with a brief history of American economics. If you desire to make money, you must have a basic understanding of economics. My takeaway was that, like anything else, stamp collecting is subject to the economic laws of supply and demand. So even if I have an unusual philatelic item that may show a sizable catalog value (Scott, Michel, Yvert, or whatever you use), if there is little or no demand for it, it will not sell for much, if at all. For example, I often find stamps from various Middle Eastern countries selling for less than 10% of the catalog value. Interesting material, perhaps, but not in the current market. Other items I find that sell way below catalog are modern post-1950 First Day Covers. They were produced and marketed for stamp collectors, but do not have the same draw as pre-1900 classic stamps.

So, if you want to invest or speculate on stamps, my recommendation is to look at “market value.” This simply means what a buyer is willing to pay for an item. Collectors often look on eBay or Hip Stamp to see what an item sells for. Always look at sold items, not listed prices. There are no restrictions on how much you can ask for any particular item, as the seller controls that. You may be able to find a used 1954 four-cent Abraham Lincoln definitive, a common stamp listed in the Scott Catalog at 25¢, selling for $50, but check how many have sold online — and at what price. Many sellers find stamps and list them to see how much they can fetch, without doing any research.

Most collectors have grown into collecting as a hobby, for pleasure, and making money is secondary, or not even important! Sure, I used to sell my duplicate stamps online or at my club to get back a few dollars, but never enough to pay the bills. Even in retirement, I personally derive more pleasure from hunting down items or even collections I can enjoy at my own pace, rather than flipping for a few extra bucks. Most dealers, on the other hand, are in it for business as well as pleasure (my assumption). Be aware that it takes a lot more time and energy to be a dealer — especially to be successful at it.

My favorite advice, which came from a dealer, was that I should collect what I like. I would visit him regularly in Phil- adelphia after work to go through his nickel boxes and peruse his stock of earlier U.S. issues to pick up more difficult-to-find items. I usually left spending under $10, but he always gave me time and attention, just like his big-money customers.

My advice to any newer collector would be similar. Unless you have the time to really study the market activity of the hobby, enjoy your time, shop for the best deals, and spend within your bud- get. I find that having a 401 (k) and a financial advisor are my best options for making money. Whatever you buy, keep condition in mind if you want to resell, because the better the condition, the easier it is to resell a stamp. If you don’t plan to resell, you can take advan- tage of purchasing stamps with flaws and pay a much lower price. That way, you can fill as many spaces as possible and get the most enjoyment out of the hobby!

Subscription Alerts!
Please be aware that the cost of ISWSC dues that includes a hard-copy mailed subscription to The Circuit, has in- creased as of May 2025. (see the back cover of this issue for all pricing options).

Similarly, note that the cost of ISWSC dues that includes only a PDF (electronic copy) subscription to The Circuit, has not increased.

For adult subscriptions, one year is $40, two years are $77, and three years are $114. The back of the Circuit has all the correct rates.

Please check in case you are renewing your subscription. Thank you!