Valuation
Common Stamps That Are Not Valuable
Many of the stamps people hope are valuable are, in fact, very common and worth little: modern definitives and commemoratives, used stamps saved in bulk, cancelled-to-order packets, ordinary worldwide mixtures, and damaged stamps of any kind. This is not bad news so much as honest news, since knowing what is common saves disappointment and helps you focus on what might matter. Value comes from scarcity, condition and demand, which these stamps generally lack.
Generally not valuable, and why
| Generally not valuable | Why |
|---|---|
| Modern definitives and commemoratives | Issued and saved in huge numbers |
| Used stamps in bulk | Plentiful, worth pence each |
| Cancelled-to-order (CTO) packets | Made for collectors, not postally scarce |
| Common worldwide mixtures | Mostly very common stamps |
| Damaged stamps | Condition faults remove value |
An honest word first
It is kinder to be honest than to raise false hopes. A great many stamps are common, and being told otherwise only leads to disappointment later. None of this means your stamps are not worth keeping or enjoying, and it does not mean there is nothing good among them, only that the bulk of most accumulations is common, as it is in almost all collections.
Knowing what is common lets you set it gently aside and look harder at the rest. Values are a guide only and depend on condition and the individual stamp.
Which common stamps are usually worth little
- Modern definitives and commemoratives. Recent stamps were issued and saved in enormous numbers, so most are common, used or mint, however attractive. Our guide to commemorative stamp values explains.
- Used stamps in bulk. The familiar boxes and bags of mixed used stamps are plentiful, worth pence each, as our guide to whether used stamps are worth anything explains.
- Cancelled-to-order (CTO) packets. Stamps cancelled in bulk for the packet trade, never postally used, are made for collectors and are common. Our glossary explains CTO.
- Common worldwide mixtures (kiloware). Large worldwide mixtures are mostly very common stamps, fun to sort but rarely valuable.
- Bulk first day covers. Modern first day covers were saved in quantity and are mostly common, as our first day covers guide explains.
- Damaged stamps. Thins, tears, creases, heavy cancellations and faded colours remove value from almost any stamp, as our guide to condition and value explains.
Why these stamps are not valuable
The common thread is simple: supply outstrips demand. These stamps survive in large numbers, so however much someone might like one, there is no scarcity to drive value, and a stamp that everyone can easily obtain stays inexpensive. Add a condition fault, and even a better stamp loses most of its worth. Value needs scarcity, condition and demand together, and common stamps generally have only the demand, met many times over by supply, as our guide to what affects a stamp's value explains.
What this means, and where value might still be
Look in the right place
The point of knowing what is common is not to discourage you, but to help you look in the right place. Once the common bulk is set aside, value, where it exists, tends to lie in the older stamps, the scarcer issues, the better condition examples, and the unexpected, the things worth a closer look. The honest way to find out is to identify the better items and judge their condition, as our guides to spotting a valuable stamp and how to value a collection explain. And if you would like a second opinion, our free valuation is glad to help: send clear photographs, and we will tell you honestly what is common and what is not, at no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Modern definitives and commemoratives, used stamps in bulk, cancelled-to-order packets, common worldwide mixtures, bulk first day covers, and damaged stamps of any kind. These are common and worth little.
Most modern stamps are common, having been issued and saved in huge numbers, so they are usually worth little, used or mint. Value lies in scarcity, condition and demand, which modern stamps generally lack.
Because ordinary used stamps survive in vast numbers, so they are not scarce. A box of mixed used stamps may hold thousands worth only pence each. Our guide on used stamps explains.
Not at all. Most collections are mostly common, but that does not mean there is nothing good among them. Setting the common bulk aside helps you find what might matter. A free valuation can tell you honestly.
This is a general guide. For an honest opinion on your own stamps, send clear photographs for a free valuation.
Founder and stamp dealerLast updated June 2026