The Magic of Disney has enthralled generations through cartoons and movies at first and then later through the theme parks spread around the world. Countries from Albania to Zambia have honored the company’s contribution to happiness by putting Mickey, Minnie and Donald on their postage stamps. (Even the U.S. Postal Service got into the act with a 2007 pane featuring the Art of Disney Magic.) Though well-wishers have bought these paper tokens to adorn their cards and letters, others keep the cheer at home by collecting these stamps as future heirlooms.
Consult a book of prices like “Warman’s Disney Collectibles Field Guide” or “Brookman Stamp Prices for Disney” (see links in References). The former has more current prices, updated yearly but fewer stamps arranged by Disney character. The latter shows complete sets and variations by country but with outdated values.
Even the most current printed references have prices that are at least a year out of date. But the books prove handy to take with you when you shop at a swap meet or your favorite collectible store. You can also point to the printed price as a bargaining chip when negotiating to buy a coveted stamp.
Browse a Disney stamp website, such as Disney-Stamps.com, for the latest prices. Not only can you search for items using factors like country of origin or character, you can buy any that strike your fancy. You can also email or phone the site owners with any questions.
The main disadvantage is that the page shows retail prices arbitrarily set by the owner, which may not reflect the actual price someone would pay for your stamp on the open market. Nevertheless, you get some idea of which stamps are more valuable such as when a 6-stamp set from Dominica costs double the price of a four-piece set of First Day Covers from the United States.
Browse auction sites for an accurate view of how the open market values your collectible. Search by keyword and price. You will often view lavish descriptions and pictures that highlight the stamp’s beauty and condition.
Unless you want to bid for a stamp or two at a current auction, use Advanced Search and specify both “Title and Description” and “Completed Listings.” The former ensures a find on keywords in the description and not just the title. And the latter shows what someone actually paid to get a stamp, rather than the price wished for by the seller.
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Writer Bio
Aurelio Locsin has been writing professionally since 1982. He published his first book in 1996 and is a frequent contributor to many online publications, specializing in consumer, business and technical topics. Locsin holds a Bachelor of Arts in scientific and technical communications from the University of Washington.
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