Stanley Gibbons Share Discussion Threads

[belfastlass] 28/1/2005 20:00

H: ..so you are in touch with your feminine side, after all, huh? :)

[hectorp] 28/1/2005 19:41

Tinker - a 'limited edition', is not a painting, it is a print. Though I'm sure you realise that.
I am also a painter and sell originals for around £300 each. It is part time as is my trading here. I also do limited edition print runs - 500 prints , for 25 quid each.
and, I retain the original!

[tinker] 26/1/2005 09:33

Just topped up 5K+ at 92.

[stillbroke] 26/1/2005 09:07

Yes - I might buy more SGI shares rather than the stamps!

[tinker] 26/1/2005 09:02

Topsy - quite agree. I was persuaded to buy Limited Editions of Lowry's paintings in the 70's ("going up 10 pounds a day"). Never managed to unload them at all let alon at a profit. Decorating my daughter's wall now

However, the fact that you can now include stamps in a SIPP should increase the number of collectors, particularly among the rich where it will be a very small part of their investments, and therefore should increase the share price!

[rrr] 25/1/2005 15:44

Topsy - good post, thank you.

[stillbroke] 25/1/2005 15:00

Very interesting, will research this further, thanks.

[topsy turvy] 25/1/2005 14:30

A few words of caution about buying stamps for your SIPP. We are not talking about a product like a share with only a 1% to 5% difference in price between buying and selling. Margins in any 'antiques', 'fine arts', or 'collectables' field tend to have quite a generous margin, and bargains are less easily found than they used to be. I know, having worked in the field of antique books for many years, and run a successful art gallery also. It will usually take several years before your investment appreciates enough to get back the amount you originally paid for it, if ever. As a rule of thumb, the highest quality items in general are the ones most likely to hold their value or appreciate, but fashion plays its part also. There are dips and troughs of course, so you could be lucky, but timing is notoriously difficult to get right. By all means enjoy your stamps for their own sake, but if you want to make serious money, forget about it, unless you are looking ahead at least ten years, and possibly much longer. Remember that you have to store your collection and insure it also.

Also bear in mind that selling something that you have an emotional attachment to is more difficult than parting with a share certificate. Actually, some people become too attached to their shares, come to think of it! Unlike property, you can't rent it out. Not that I would like to be in investment property at the moment either until we have a clearer idea of which way that market is heading.

Topsy

[stillbroke] 25/1/2005 13:21

PYLEWELL - thanks.

[pylewell] 25/1/2005 12:57

Stillbroke .Yes, you should be able to do that.

[stillbroke] 24/1/2005 17:15

If we buy stamps now, can we move them into our SIPP in 2006?

[pylewell] 24/1/2005 17:11

Hyper - you can, really. It's official. The word is at Stanley Gibbons that financial advisers are recomending their clients to buy now before the official date in April 06 when there will be a rush to buy.
Myself, I am torn between buying more shares or buying rare stamps!

[hyper al] 24/1/2005 08:49

Can you really buy stamps with your SIPP, or are you talking about buying SGI stock?

[hectorp] 24/1/2005 08:47

Kael, I agree. And the generation of 'ageing' SIPP holders roughly 50 - 70 age range were very often stamp collectors when young. The new pension relaxation of rules in 06 could be a great support to SGI then.
Its the Hornby Train set effect too.

[belfastlass] 23/1/2005 20:26

As a former and now current shareholder, I sold out last July, forgoing the divi to get the capital improvement on my original purchase.

I think I did the right thing.

Things moved very rapidly here last Jan/March (I got in at end Jan).

Doi folks think the share price is now stabilising at about 90-100 or is spring 2005 likely to show a similar improvement to that of last year...?:)

[kael] 23/1/2005 16:18

SGI have been recruiting 10K new clients every year for the past 3 years. No doubt with the changes to pensions together with an ageing Western population, that 10K should naturally increase. After all SGI is the driving force of the stamp market.

[hectorp] 23/1/2005 14:53

For someone over 50, with a SIPP in 2006, do people want to be bothered running let out flats , decorating, managing and repairing are all hassles. Better buying stamp sets and collections, or fine wines , eay to manage, especially the stamps.
If everyone with a SIPP spent £2K on some stamps...

[belfastlass] 23/1/2005 14:14

getscenic:

fair enough, but when I highlight an issue I take seriously and draw it to others attention, I am the one who gets criticised, not the originator.

Funny, innit?

[getscenic] 23/1/2005 12:23

belfastlass.
please take your haunting to another board, this thread (so far) has been free of the silly vendettas and general garrbage that infects so many threads on advfn.
I have about a dozen threads on my favorites, but sadly certain members on our boards make these threads un-readable with thier schoolboy(girl) behavour.
Please lets use these threads for what they are. to talk about shares.
there are plenty of off topic threads to air your views.
thank you
ct

[don carter] 20/1/2005 13:17

Kael, nice spot. All looks well to me, so I topped up today. IMHO an easy 15-20% within 5 weeks, and maybe more after the results.

[xdavid] 19/1/2005 17:19

That's a new one for me, Kael. Well spotted! Their comments bode well for results day.

[kael] 19/1/2005 16:44

Apologies if already posted before - Ive just discovered this on the website, some very nice figures in there...:




Market Trends - Stamps

The turn of the year is the traditional time to take stock of our investments, to look back at the highlights of the previous 12 months, and to realise what an exciting time it was for investing in rare stamps.

The main feature of the year was the shortage of premium quality stamps in the market and the abundance of new collectors returning to the hobby. This created an exceptional demand for quality material when it did appear and prices were accordingly high, showing a healthy profit for investors.

The George V Great Britain £1 green seahorse in unmounted mint condition, recommended by us at £1,900 now regularly sell at auction for £2,600.

Prices for investment grade material were confirmed when the Great Britain section of the Sir Gawaine Baillie collection was auctioned in September for £3.5 million against estimates of £2.4 million. The Edward VII tyrian plum selling for £54,000 against an initial pre-sale estimate of £20-£25,000.

Further records were to fall in November when a corner marginal penny black, with plate number was auctioned for £70,000. A world record for a single penny black.

There has been an explosion of interest in the media, with positive coverage in the Financial Times, Times, Investors Chronicle, Wall Street Journal (Europe) and The Scotsman amongst others. Forbes magazine in Poland have recently featured an article about stamp and coin investment.

Additionally 2004 saw the launch of the Stanley Gibbons Great Britain rarities index. This shows growth of over 73% since 1999. Most investors in traditional stock market based investments would be more than happy with such exceptional returns and the index assists in providing an objective view of stamp price performance to the non philatelic observer.

And what about 2005? Well, 'A' day is fast approaching in April 2006 when individuals will be allowed to include tangible assets such as stamps as part of their personal pension schemes. This looks sure to give a further lift to demand, couple that with increased interest from Asian countries, Russia and the 51,000 new customers recruited by Stanley Gibbons alone in the last 5 years, and stamp prices look set to continue their remarkable 25 year upward growth pattern.

Three years ago we highlighted the Merrill Lynch Wealth Report of 2002 which suggested that high-net-worth individuals should allocate 10% of their portfolio to 'alternative' investments. Since then we have had hundreds of new investors......buy low sell high, don't wait to be led by others... 2005 looks set to be an exciting time for purchasers of classic stamps in the very best condition.

[kael] 19/1/2005 12:51

Topped up 11K worth. Far too cheap at these prices. PE of 17 at 5.4p EPS 15 at 6p EPS with an EPS growth rate of +50%. Bargain!

[cockneyrebel] 19/1/2005 11:46

it's a bit illiquid and can move on small volume at times.

Have to take the dips on the chin and enjoy the spikes imo.

CR