Stamp Investment Tip: Egypt 1956 Scout Jamboree Souvenir Sheets (Scott #B15Note)

In 1956, Egypt celebrated the 2nd Arab Scout Jamboree by issuing a set of semi-postal stamps (Scott #B13-15) and a pair of souvenir sheets (perf. and imperf. - Scott # B15Note) Only 3,800 sets of the souvenir sheets were issued, and Scott '10 prices them unused at $1,500.00 . These scarce souvenir sheets have dual market appeal as Boy Scout Topicals issued by an emerging market country for which I feel bullish about the stamp market. Worldwide membership of the Boy Scouts is estimated at 25 million, and Scouting topicals are extremely popular internationally.

With an estimated 76 million people, Egypt possesses one of the most developed economies in the Mid-East, with a GDP growth rate of 5%-7%. The government is undertaking major economic reforms to further spur development, including massive investments in infrastructure and liberalizing economic and tax policies to encourage foreign investment. Egypt's main challenge in the years to come will be one of social and political democratization - how to assure that enough of the new wealth trickles down to the majority of the population to lessen the problems of poverty and political instability. Nevertheless, barring major political instability, it is likely that Egypt will be one of the fastest growing economies over the next several decades.

Stamp Investment Tip: Iran 1957 Baden-Powell Centenary (Scott #1073)

In 1957, Iran issued a stamp honoring the Centenary of the Birth of Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts (Scott #1073). 85,000 stamps were issued, and Scott '10 prices it unused at $ 8.50. I continue to favor Boy Scout Topicals, especially those issued by countries for which I feel bullish about the stamp market. Worldwide membership of the Boy Scouts is estimated at 25 million, and Scouting topicals are extremely popular internationally. The Boy Scouts of America even promote the hobby with a stamp collecting merit badge.



Note that a common defect found on many Iranian stamps of the '50s is badly toned, "gloppy" gum. When purchasing #1073, endeavor to select examples with clean gum.



Stamps of Iran are not widely collected at present, partly for political reasons and partly because of the ubiquity of fakes among the early overprinted issues. Nevertheless, it is an oil-rich nation (ranked second in both oil and natural gas reserves) of 76 million people, and there are signs that many of them are becoming fed up with the corrupt and reactionary theocracy that is isolating Iran from the rest of the world. Furthermore, it is beginning to diversify away from its dependence on oil into other industries, such as biotech, nanotech, and pharmaceuticals, and it has the potential to develop a thriving tourism sector, should it institute reforms and begin to improve its image.

Stamp Investment Tip: Cape of Good Hope 1900 Siege of Mafeking Issue

During the Boer War of 1899-1902, the town of Mafeking was besieged by the Boers over a period of 217 days, and successfully defended by British forces commanded by Lieutenant General Robert Baden-Powell. Greatly outnumbered by enemy forces, Baden-Powell bolstered his troops by forming the Mafeking Cadet Corps, a group of boys aged 12 to 15, to act as messengers and orderlies. The Cadet Corps was later to be one of the inspirations for the Scouting movement, which Baden-Powell founded in 1907.

Mail delivery was among the tasks performed by the Cadet Corps, and since inventories of postage stamps had been depleted during the Siege, stamps of the Cape of Good Hope and the Bechuanaland Protectorate were surcharged, and new stamps picturing 12 year-old Sergeant Major Goodyear (later considered the "First Boy Scout") and Baden-Powell were locally produced.

All of the stamps of the Siege of Mafeking Issues (Scott #162-180) are scarce to rare, and both fake overprints and forgeries exist, so expertization should be a condition for purchase. I've listed the stamps, along with quantities issued and Scott '10 Catalog Values, below:

Stamps of Cape of Good Hope surcharged:

#162 1p on 1/2p Green (7,680; $ 240.00 unused, $ 77.50 used)

163 1p on 1/2p Green (5,280; $ 300.00 unused, $ 90.00 used)

164 3p on 1p Rose (6,000; $ 275.00unused, $ 60.00 used)

165 6p on 3p Red Violet (840; $ 42,500.00 unused, $ 300.00 used)

166 1sh on 4p Pale Olive Green (1,440; $ 8,000.00 unused, $ 425.00 used)

Stamps of Bechuanaland Protectorate Surcharged:

#167 1p on 1/2p Vermilion (6,000; $ 240.00unused, $ 77.50 used)

168 and 173 3p on 1p Lilac ( 1,800 total; 168: $ 1,000.00 unused, $ 105.00 used; 173: 1,050.00 unused, $ 90.00 used)

169 and 174 6p on 2p Green and Carmine (1,200 total ; 169: $ 2,250.00 unused, $ 90.00 used; 174: $ 1,300.00 unused, $ 90.00 used )

170 6p on 3p Violet on yellow (1,440; $ 2,250.00 unused, $ 90.00 used)

171 6p on 3p Violet (3,600; $ 450.00 unused, $ 80.00 used)

172 1sh on 4p Brown and Green (2,320; $ 1,650.00 unused, $ 95.00 used)

175 1sh on 6p Violet on rose (1,440; $ 7,250.00 unused, $ 105.00 used)

176 1sh on 6p Violet on rose (240; $ 55,000.00 unused, $ 900.00 used)

177 2sh on 1sh Green (570; $ 14,500.00 unused, $ 500.00 used)

Locally Printed Issue:

178 1p Blue on blue (9,476; $ 1,000.00 unused, $ 425.00 used)

179 3p Blue on blue, 18 1/2mm wide (6,072; $ 1,400.00 unused, $425.00 used)

180 3p Blue on blue, 21 mm wide (3,036; $ 10,750.00 unused, $1,500.00 used)

In 2007, Boy and Girl Scouts and Guides numbered 38 million members in 216 countries worldwide. Scouting Topical stamps are extremely popular internationally, and the stamps of the Siege of Mafeking were the first such produced, and will remain key items within any Scouting collection.