Although the advent of email has affected the postal mail service in recent years, philately or stamp collecting, remains a passionate hobby as well as a valuable business and investment strategy in many countries. Millions of stamps have been issued since the British Penny Black, which was the world’s first adhesive stamp, debuted in 1840, transporting collectors to exotic destinations, celebrating critical moments in history and remembering famous figures past and present.

Quality is paramount when collecting stamps and preserving their value. Generally, a mint stamp (one straight from the post office) will cost more than a used stamp. Mint stamps should be in mint condition, meaning no tears, folds or colour damage as well as an intact “stamp hinge” (the paper coating that guards the adhesive on the back). Even a stamp worth a few pounds could fetch a couple hundred if it is the best example of a specific design on the market.

While the internet has enabled collectors to pursue their hobby ever more fervently, buying online is risky because it is tougher to discern fakes and defects, or to spot the fine details of colour and pattern that separate a common stamp from a valuable one. However, many people do buy on auction sites, and it could be to a buyer’s advantage if the seller does not know the true value of the stamp they are selling.