The use of stamps for mailing letters was a new application of an old idea. Early civilizations already had portraits of kings and queens imprinted on small pieces of paper and attached to contracts and letters sent to important people. Before, stamps and mailing services are free. Only until revenue stamps were used to verify the payment of an excise tax (Stamp Act of 1765) that stamps acquired value.

Because of its worth, people began collecting stamps not only for a hobby but also for an investment. The more expensive a stamp is purchased, the more profit the collector will gain upon selling it. However, there are also other considerations in determining the value of a stamp.

One of the following can make your stamp more or less valuable:

1.Distortions

-The condition of the stamp is the easiest factor in determining its value. Distortions occur while laying out, printing, cutting and transporting stamps. The effect can be a bent corner, misaligned margins or a stained appearance thus an unintentional worth is created for that item.

2.Watermarks

-Watermarks greatly affect the value of a stamp. It proves its authenticity. All US adhesive stamps from 1895 to 1916 and US embossed envelopes were printed on watermarked paper.

3.Perforations

-Perforations are small holes having a distance of 20 millimeters away from the next. The number of holes counted within that distance is the "gauge" of the perforation. Any gauge not equal to the world standard distance of 20 millimeters means that the stamp is faked.

4.Peculiarities

-Errors can make a stamp look peculiar. Typographical mistakes, inaccurate measurements and improper alignments are some examples. The more spectacular the errors in printing, the more value it can have. A JF Kennedy stamp with his nose printed upside down, an airplane with a missing propeller, or a national flower with a wrong name will be a rare collection and will surely cost much.

These factors are ideally the basis for determining the value of a stamp. However, most collectors base it solely on condition and age. But if one desires to improve in determining a stamp's worth, the following can help:

-Browse stamp catalogs more often

-Be familiar with the different kinds of stamps

-Get involved with a stamp collectors' club

-Join a stamp collectors' chat room

Various ways of determining stamp values are now available. E-bays and online catalogs are also accessible for collectors who want faster inquiry results. However, being able to manually determine stamp values is a fair advantage. It is a mark of a genuine stamp collector.