Stamp Investment Tip: Venezuela 1944 Baseball Issue (Scott #C189-97)

In 1944, Venezuela issued an airmail set commemorating the 7th World Amateur Baseball Championship Games, held in Caracas (Scott #C189-97). Only 10,000 sets were issued, and Scott' 10 prices it at $ 42.50 for unused.

This overlooked issue is extremely attractive, as it combines scarcity, low price, a growing worldwide topical interest in Baseball, and an issuance country which is prospering, and likely to continue to prosper for the foreseeable future.

With a population of about 26 million, Venezuela is resource-rich, and consistently ranks among the top ten oil producers in the world. Annual GDP growth has averaged almost 10% over the last 5 years, although it has been decelerating recently due to lower oil prices. Under Chavez-style quasi-socialism, the percentage of Venezuelans living below the poverty line has decreased from 48% in 2002 to 30% in 2006. The country has begun diversifying its economy away from its current near-total dependence on petroleum exports, and has spawned a rapidly growing manufacturing sector.

Varieties exist for stamps of this set, including imperforates and overprint varieties. Perhaps the rarest is the double overprint of "AEREO" on the 45 centavo Rose Violet (Scott #C193), which is listed in Michel, but not in Scott. These varieties are considerably rarer than the normal stamps, but since they are not Scott-listed, it is possible that you will find them priced at only a modest premium.

Stamp Investment Tip: Nicaragua 1949 Amateur Baseball Issue (Scott #717-29,C296-308)

In 1949, Nicaragua issued a compound set of 26 stamps commemorating the 10th World Series of Amateur Baseball (Scott # 717-29,C296-308). In addition, a set of 26 of each denomination in souvenir sheet form was also issued (Scott #729Note, C308a). The basic set is of some interest, with an issuance of 40,000 and a Scott '10 value of $ 35.95 as unused, but the set of souvenir sheets is far scarcer, with only 2,500 issued and a Scott '10 value of

$225.00.

The set is of great interest to Sports Topical collectors, and two of the values are also Scouting topicals.

Nicaragua is a poor nation of about 5 1/2 million people, and annual GDP growth of about 3%. It is largely dependent upon agriculture and remittances from Nicaraguans living in other countries. Nevertheless, its government has instituted economic reforms, and important secondary industries, such as tourism, banking, mining, and fisheries, are expanding.

I recommend both the regular set and the souvenir sheets based on topical interest alone. Should you locate a set of the souvenir sheets, ascertain whether any of the sheets have creases, major bends, or toning before purchasing it. The sheets are unwieldy, tend to curl, and are often found with condition problems.