Benefits of Collecting State Duck Stamps
Beauty
State Duck Stamps, year after year, continue to be the most beautiful
duck stamps ever printed. Top artists from each state compete annually
in state-sponsored competitions for the right to have their painted images
reproduced on a duck stamp. As a result, these stamps have sharper detail
and are printed more carefully than stamps you would find at the post office.
Scarcity
State Duck Stamps can be considered scarce for three reasons. First
of all, State Duck Stamps, on the average, have a total sales of about
50,000 copies per year. Federal Duck Stamps and U.S. postage stamps, on
the other hand, have a total annual sales of 2 million copies and 100 million
copies respectively! Secondly, as most Duck Stamps are signed by hunters in
order to validate their licenses, the number of stamps that remain in mint
condition (the greatest value to collectors) is significantly lower.
Finally, states shred any unsold remainders within 3 years.
Appreciation
State Duck Stamps appreciate in value for one major reason:
there is a steadily rising demand for and a shortened supply of
these beautiful stamps. An example of this economic lesson would be
the 1979 Missouri which has a face value of $3.40 and now retails
at $650.00! A more recent example would be the 1983 Texas which has
a face value of $5.00 and now retails at $190.00! Past performance is
definetely no guarantee of future price movement; however, many recent
State Duck Stamps have accrued in value within the last couple of years.
State Duck Stamps that are artist signed can be very profitable as well. First
of all, state duck stamps naturally appreciate in value with age. Secondly, if the
artist is no longer living, his or her signature becomes highly coveted.
To sum things up, buying State Duck Stamps (mint or artist signed) could be
a worthy investment--both economically and sentimentally.
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