Put the Fun Back into Investing
Invest with Passion
The stock market is driven by greed, whereas the stamp market is driven by passion
Mike Hall, Chief Executive of Stanley Gibbons
There are 30 million collectors worldwide. Why do they buy signed covers? Why do the prices of good covers continue to rise?
The reason is: passion.
While investment is certainly an attraction of stamps and covers, most people (including you, we hope) buy for love. They buy pieces that speak to them, that MEAN something to them. Something that catches their interest, sparks their pride, that thrills them to own. How many other forms of investment offer the chance to hold a piece of history in your hand?
If you look at the incredible signatures included in our risk-free investment lots, you will see what we mean. This is a chance to possess rare, beautiful pieces personally signed by men and women who made history - who flew the first British Concorde, reached the peak of Everest before we knew it could be done, scored the winning goal in 1966, or played a critical part in destroying Hitler and winning World War Two.
Will the magic of history ever fade? We don't believe so. That is why your investment is likely to continue to rise in value as the years go by.
An index comparing the prices of 30 rare stamps sold by Stanley Gibbons in 1998 and again in 2007 shows an average annual increase of 10.7 per cent and a compound interest over the period of 149 per cent.
The Times, Saturday March 15th 2008
Inspirational, Aspirational Investments
This first day cover was issued in 2003, marking 50 years since the Conquest of Everest. The men that achieved the impossible, Sir Edmund Hillary, George Lowe and George Band have signed it by hand.
It is a reminder of great courage and persistence in the face of the unknown. The mountaineers did not know if they could survive at the peak. Many experts believed they would die from lack of oxygen at the very moment of their triumph, reaching the summit. Yet still they climbed.
If you had bought this cover when it was first issued in 2003 it would have cost you around £19. Today, it fetches at least £75.
Alternative Investments
Stamps have always been an alternative investment, but since the huge boom of the 1970s and early 1980s, they have been a quiet sleeper, known only to a few.
Very few financial advisers or even investors understand the potential of alternative investments and how you can insulate your investments by diversifying in this way. Yet the basic market forces of supply and demand mean that prices of limited edition collectables will continue to rise into the future and the internet and eBay have made buying and selling easier than ever.
An index comparing the prices of 30 rare stamps sold by Stanley Gibbons in 1998 and again in 2007 shows an average annual increase of 10.7 per cent and a compound interest over the period of 149 per cent.
The Times, Saturday March 15th 2008
Autographs have shown even greater investment potential. According to Stanley Gibbons and the Fraser's 100 Index, the 100 most popular autographs have shown impressive growth over the past 6 years, with a cumulative incrase in value of 174%. The problem of course with autographs is how many forgeries are out there. There are three ways of getting around this one: a. get the autograph yourself (an exciting hobby but also a big job with small success rate), 2. buy from reputable dealer with a reputation for honesty, such as Buckingham Covers or Stanley Gibbons and 3. focus your investment collection on autographed first day covers, especially Buckingham Covers.
The provenance of autographs on Buckingham covers is known and guaranteed. The covers are limited in numbers and, after the day of issue, certified by a postmark from Royal Mail, so no more can ever be produced. Buckingham covers have a huge collecting following and many have increased in value by 300% in just 4 years. We also buy our own covers back, to meet the needs of our growing collector base, which gives you confidence.
See what investment options we offer you
Learn more about alternative investments
Invest with Passion
The stock market is driven by greed, whereas the stamp market is driven by passion
Mike Hall, Chief Executive of Stanley Gibbons
Most collect Buckingham covers and stamp sheets or other autographed covers because they are pieces of art and history, beautiful to look at and thrilling to own.
Very few investments bring such a genuine glow of pride from owing a piece of history - and history that means something to YOU. Whether your passion is football, Concorde, films, military history, or anything else, you can focus your collection and investment on pieces personally meaningful to you.
A guaranteed return on a 5 year investment
It's really nice when planning to invest, to know you have a guaranteed exit route.
We are offering a great investment: £5000 of selected superb covers personally signed by:
Sporting heroes like Bobby Moore and the other 10 Football World Cup 1966 winners, Pele and Sir Donald Bradman
Military heroes like Barnes Wallis, the inventor of the bouncing bomb used by the Dam Busters, Douglas Bader, Charles Upham VC and bar (one of just three men to win the Victoria Cross TWICE).
Film stars such as Roger Moore on a James Bond cover
Once you have seen and held the covers, and realised each one is a piece of history, touched by the hand of a hero, there is every chance you will want to keep them for the long term. But if you can bear to, you can sell them back to us for a minimum of £6000 in 5 year's time. That is a guaranteed tax free 4% interest per year. But if the market goes as we expect, it may be a lot more. That is your only gamble.
The collections of autographed covers can be made up in various ways: