Stamp Investment Tip: Palestine 1918 1pi Deep Blue (Scott #1)

In November of 1917, the British Egyptian Expeditionary Force (E.E.F.) occupied Palestine, formerly a Turkish emirate. Initially, the E.E.F. had given civilians basic postal services for free, with additional services paid with British or Indian stamps. Free mail was withdrawn in February, 1918. with the issuance of the first stamps, including the 1pi Deep Blue (Scott #1), which as valid in Palestine, Cilicia, Syria, Lebanon, and Transjordan. Prior to the British Mandate in Palestine, Hebrew was not an official language, so these stamps bore only Arabic and English inscriptions. 24,000 were issued, and Scott '10 values the stamp at $190.00 for unused, and $105.00 for used. The stamp was issued without gum, which makes preservation easier. Covers are particularly desirable.

Stamps of Israel and the Palestine Mandate are popular among stamp collectors in Israel and among Jewish collectors throughout the world. Stamps of the British Mandate Period are of particular interest from an investment standpoint, because they also appeal to British Commonwealth collectors. In all likelihood, the vast majority of Palestine #1s were used and discarded, and there remain no more than three to six thousand, in any condition.

Israel is considered one of the most advanced countries in the world in terms of economic development. As a technology powerhouse which leads the world in the number of scientists and engineers per capita, it also has the second largest number of start-up companies after the U.S.. Israel's main burden is having to spend much of its GNP on defending itself from some of its more bellicose neighbors. Should peace break out, trade will grow exponentially, and Israel could serve as a model for economic development in the Mid-East and much of the Third World. In that event, the better stamps of Israel and the Palestine Mandate will increase dramatically.


Those who wish to learn more about stamps of Israel and the Palestine Mandate should consider purchasing a Bale Catalogue, which classifies and values many items not listed in Scott, including forerunners, errors, varieties, machine-vended stamps, revenues, postal stationery, and booklets.

Those interested in joining a community of stamp investors, dealers, and collectors are welcome to join the "Stampselectors" group at Facebook. The group provides a useful venue for those who wish to buy, sell, and trade stamps, and a forum for those who wish to discuss philatelic investing and practical aspects of stamp collecting.

Stamp Investment Tip: Israel 1949 TABUL Souvenir Sheet (Scott #16)

In 1949, Israel held its first national stamp exhibition, TABUL, and issued a souvenir sheet picturing one of its first stamps, which featured an ancient Judean coin (Scott #16). About 95,000 were sold, and Scott '10 prices the unused souvenir sheet at $ 90.00. Aside from the sheet's scarcity, it represents an interesting investment as both a "stamps on stamps" and a "coins on stamps" topical, and because of its association with Jewish history.

Israel is considered one of the most advanced countries in the world in terms of economic development. As a technology powerhouse which leads the world in the number of scientists and engineers per capita, it also has the second largest number of start-up companies after the U.S.. Israel's main burden is having to spend much of its GNP on defending itself from some of its more bellicose neighbors. Should peace break out, trade will grow exponentially, and Israel could serve as a model for economic development in the Mid-East and much of the Third World. In that event, the better stamps of Israel and the Palestine Mandate will increase dramatically.


Israeli stamps are popular in Israel and among Jewish collectors around the world. Those interested in learning more about Israeli stamps should consider purchasing a Bale Catalogue, which classifies and values many items not listed in Scott, including forerunners, errors, varieties, machine-vended stamps, revenues, postal stationery, and booklets.

Stamp Investment Tip: Israel 1952 Menorah Stamp (Scott #55)

Stamps of Israel are notable in that they are collected with "tabs," attached selvedge with additional information about the stamp. The first stamp albums for Israel contained spaces for the stamps themselves, but not the tabs. Consequently, collectors often removed the tabs before mounting the stamps in the albums. The late renowned stamp dealer Jacques Minkus produced the first Israel album with spaces for the stamps with their tabs, but unfortunately, the tabs were usually torn off the early issues. As a result, many tabbed Israeli stamps of the 1948-52 period are scarce.


In 1952, Israel issued a high value 1000 prutah Menorah Stamp, with emblems of the Twelve Tribes framing a menorah of the Second Temple. Informational tabs were printed on the bottom margin selvedge of each sheet. 350,000 Menorah stamps were issued, but the vast majority were used on packages, and most of the stamps with tabs collected mint were detached from their tabs. Hence, Scott values the basic mint stamp at $ 16.00 and the stamp with a tab at $ 250.00 . The stamp is very attractive and relates directly to Jewish history, as well as being a Religion topical. I highly recommend investing in the Menorah stamp with tab.


A caveat applies when purchasing tabbed Israeli stamps: the tab must be complete - often (as with the '52 Menorah stamp) the tabs contained two parts of selvedge. If the marginal part of the tab has been removed, the stamp is considered to have a "part tab," and is worth a slight premium over the cost of a basic stamp. Occasionally, ignorant or dishonest sellers will quote the catalog value for a fully tabbed stamp when offering one with a part tab.


Israel is considered one of the most advanced countries in the world in terms of economic development. As a technology powerhouse which leads the world in the number of scientists and engineers per capita, it also has the second largest number of start-up companies after the U.S.. Israel's main burden is having to spend much of its GNP on defending itself from some of its more bellicose neighbors. Should peace break out, trade will grow exponentially, and Israel could serve as a model for economic development in the Mid-East and much of the Third World. In that event, the better stamps of Israel and the Palestine Mandate will increase dramatically.


Israeli stamps are popular in Israel and among Jewish collectors around the world. Those interested in learning more about Israeli stamps should consider purchasing a Bale Catalogue, which classifies and values many items not listed in Scott, including forerunners, errors, varieties, machine-vended stamps, revenues, postal stationery, and booklets.