Is Blackheath Stamps a member of the IPDA?

Yes. Blackheath Stamps is an IPDA member and displays the IPDA logo on its listings.

What is the difference between the IPDA and the PTS?

The IPDA sets standards specifically for selling stamps online, while the PTS is the broad, long-established trade body for the philatelic trade as a whole.

Accreditation

What Is the IPDA (Internet Philatelic Dealers Association)?

Q: When was the IPDA founded?

The IPDA was established in 2002 and later incorporated as a non-profit association in Florida, USA, in 2007.

Q: What does IPDA membership guarantee?

That a dealer follows the IPDA code of ethics: accurate descriptions, fair prices, no counterfeit or stolen material, honest advice, and a full refund on anything misdescribed.

The Internet Philatelic Dealers Association (IPDA) is a non-profit body, established in 2002, that sets ethical standards specifically for dealers who sell stamps online. Its members pledge to a code of ethics: accurate descriptions, fair prices, no counterfeit or stolen material, and a full refund on anything misdescribed. It exists because an online buyer cannot hold a stamp before buying, so honest description and clear images matter more than ever. Blackheath Stamps is an IPDA member, and you will see the IPDA logo on our listings.

At a glance

Full nameInternet Philatelic Dealers Association

Founded2002 (incorporated as a non-profit in Florida, USA, 2007)

TypeNon-profit standards body for online stamp dealers

Members mustAbide by a code of ethics for online dealing

Benefit to buyersAccurate descriptions, fair prices, and a refund if an item is misdescribed

Known forRaising trust in online stamp buying, and the "look for the logo" message

Our statusIPDA member since 2019

What the IPDA is

The Internet Philatelic Dealers Association, or IPDA, is a non-profit body dedicated to raising standards in online stamp dealing. It was established in 2002, and later incorporated as a non-profit association in Florida in 2007, by dealers who saw that the rapid growth of online buying had created a real need for trust. Where the PTS is the long-established trade body for the philatelic trade as a whole, the IPDA is focused squarely on the internet, and on giving collectors confidence when they buy from dealers they may never meet in person. Its motto puts it plainly: stamp dealers on the web you can trust.

What membership means

IPDA membership means a dealer has pledged to abide by the Association's code of ethics. It is a public commitment, signalled by the right to display the IPDA logo, and it sets out clearly what an online buyer should be able to expect.

Stamps are described accurately and transparently, as to condition and identification
Material is bought and sold at reasonable and fair prices
Counterfeit or stolen material is never knowingly handled
Advice is honest, and all dealings are truthful
A full refund is given on any item that is found to be misdescribed

Why it matters to you as a buyer

The IPDA matters most for one simple reason. Buying online, you cannot pick a stamp up and examine it yourself; you are relying on the description and the images. The IPDA's code is built around exactly that situation. It asks members to describe material accurately, to present it clearly, and, importantly, to refund anything that turns out to be misdescribed. For a buyer, the IPDA logo is a sign that the dealer has accepted those obligations.

Stamp dealers on the web you can trust.

The Internet Philatelic Dealers Association

The IPDA and online selling

Online dealing

Because the IPDA is built for internet dealers, its members are exactly the kind of sellers who trade on the major online marketplaces, the same marketplaces where we list. The Association supports its members with shared resources, a dealer directory, and guidance on selling well and safely online, all aimed at making the internet a more trustworthy place to collect.

Blackheath Stamps and the IPDA

As an IPDA member, Blackheath Stamps holds to that code on every listing, wherever you find us. It is the online-focused counterpart to our PTS membership: where the PTS covers the trade broadly, the IPDA speaks directly to how we sell to you online. Together with the GBPS, they are a large part of why you can buy from us with confidence.

You can verify our IPDA membership in the Association's dealer directory.

Frequently asked questions

The IPDA, or Internet Philatelic Dealers Association, is a non-profit body established in 2002 that sets ethical standards for dealers selling stamps online.

From the shop

Buy online with confidence

Every stamp we list is described to the standard the IPDA requires, with clear, high-resolution images so you can see exactly what you are buying. Browse a selection from our Great Britain stock.