How do I find out what a stamp is, and what it is worth?

Our identification guides show how to work out what a stamp is, and our valuation guides explain what affects its value. For your own stamps, send clear photographs for a free, honest valuation.

Where should I start on this site?

With the section that fits your need: identifying, valuing, collecting and care, buying and selling, or the subject guides. Beginners often start with our beginner's guide; this page links to everything.

Are these guides free?

Yes, entirely. They are a free resource for collectors, written by an accredited dealer in the same honest spirit in which we buy and sell. You are also always welcome to ask us directly.

Stamp guides

The Complete Guide to Stamp Collecting

Welcome to our stamp collecting guides: a complete, free resource covering everything from identifying and valuing stamps to caring for, buying and selling them, with in-depth guides to Great Britain, the great classics, and every kind of stamp. Whether you are starting your first album or pursuing a lifelong specialism, you will find clear, honest answers here. Choose a topic below to begin.

At a glance

IdentificationWhat a stamp is, and how to tell

ValuationWhat stamps are worth, honestly

Collecting and careStarting, organising and protecting

Buying and sellingHow to buy and sell well

Stamp guidesGreat Britain, classics, every type

ReferenceGlossary, comparisons, FAQs

Identifying stamps

Work out what a stamp is, step by step. Our identification guides start with how to identify any stamp and cover the British quirks, the key tools (SG numbers, watermarks, perforations, colours and shades, paper types, using a catalogue), and the famous questions (Penny Black versus Penny Red, mint or used, spotting a fake). Begin with our how to identify a stamp pillar.

What is it?

Identification

How to Identify a StampThe step-by-step pillar.Start here Identify British StampsBy reign, head and no country name.Read the guide Using a Stamp CatalogueLook any stamp up.Read the guide Colours, Shades and PaperThe specialist factors.Read the guide Condition Grades ExplainedSuperb to poor, and why it matters.Read the guide

Valuing stamps

Find out what stamps are really worth, with honest figures and no false hopes. Our valuation guides explain what affects value, catalogue versus market value, and condition and grading, and cover the big questions and the famous values. Start with our valuation hub, or send photos for a free valuation.

What is it worth?

Valuation

The Valuation HubHow to value stamps and collections.Start here What Affects a Stamp's ValueThe factors that decide worth.Read the guide Free Stamp ValuationAn honest opinion, no obligation.Get a valuation

Collecting and caring for stamps

Everything for the collector, from first steps to safe keeping. Our collecting and care guides cover starting a collection and the equipment you need, handling, soaking and removing stamps from paper, hinges versus mounts, and storing, organising, displaying and protecting a collection, with our firm, honest advice never to clean or tamper with valuable stamps. Begin with our beginner's guide.

Start, organise, protect

Collecting and care

Stamp Collecting for BeginnersThe care pillar, and where to start.Start here How to Start a Stamp CollectionChoose, equip and begin.Read the guide Hinges vs MountsFix stamps the right way.Read the guide How to Store Stamps SafelyKeep a collection in fine order.Read the guide

Buying and selling stamps

Buy well, and sell well, with guidance from an accredited dealer. Our buying guides cover where to buy, buying at auction, and the mistakes to avoid, while our selling guides cover how and where to sell, selling at auction, what a dealer pays, and getting the best price, all in our honest, auction-when-it-serves-you spirit. When you are ready to sell to us, our sell your stamps page explains how, honestly and without obligation.

Buy well, sell well

Buying and selling

How to Buy StampsThe buying pillar.Start here How to Sell StampsThe selling pillar, honestly.Start here What a Dealer PaysWhat to expect, and why.Read the guide Sell Your Stamps to UsHonest, accredited, no obligation.Sell to us

Stamp guides by subject

Explore stamps by subject, from the home country to the wider world. Our topic guides cover Great Britain in depth, the reigns from Victoria to King Charles III, and the great classics (the Penny Black, the Penny Red, the Machin definitives), along with every kind of stamp (commemoratives and definitives, first day covers, Commonwealth and world stamps, postal history, errors and varieties, thematic collecting, miniature sheets, booklets and coils, airmail and regional stamps). Start with our Great Britain stamps hub.

By country, reign and type

Stamp guides

Great Britain StampsThe master hub, by reign and classic.Start here The Penny BlackThe world's first stamp.Read the guide Commonwealth StampsThe Empire and Commonwealth field.Read the guide World and Foreign StampsThe whole world in an album.Read the guide

Reference and about us

Quick reference, and who is behind the guides

For quick reference, our stamp collecting glossary defines the terms, our comparisons gather the "tell them apart" guides, and our FAQ hub answers common questions, while our brief history of stamps and our guide to why we collect set the scene, and our resources page points to the wider hobby. And to know who is behind these guides, meet the expert and see why an accredited dealer matters, since everything here is written in the same honest spirit in which we deal.

Frequently asked questions

Choose what interests you, gather some stamps and a few simple tools, and learn as you go. Our beginner's guide walks you through starting a collection, the equipment you need, and how to look after it.

A complete, free resource for collectors

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By Daniel ArdleyFounder and stamp dealerLast updated June 2026