Have you just found an old stamp in a drawer, an album, or as part of an estate, and are wondering if it has any value?
Good news: there are some simple criteria to make a first estimate, even without being an expert.
Here is a clear guide to understanding the basics:
1. Start by identifying the stamp
Before talking about price, you need to know what you have in your hands.
💡INFO: The most commonly used reference for identifying a French stamp is its Yvert et Tellier number. Yvert et Tellier is a specialized brand that has been around for 150 years, numbering all stamps in its catalogs and publishing an annual "value" for each one (we will see below how to read this value). Each stamp is listed with a unique number (called an "Yvert number"), which greatly facilitates research and estimates.
The first thing to do is therefore to find the "Yvert number" of your stamp, and we will see together how. This will make it easier for you to search for "Yvert stamp n°XXX" rather than "A bridge crossing a river with a cow underneath"... 😊
Throughout this article, we will take a stamp as an example and together we will estimate its value (you can follow the same steps with the stamp you are looking to estimate).
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Our example stamp to identify |
Note down all possible information visible on the stamp (If it's small, use a magnifying glass, or your smartphone's zoom in photo mode):
- the country or the name of its republic (here: République Française)
- the face value (here: 12F)
- the visual (here: LIMOGES)
- the presence of a year or any other visible text (In our example, we read POSTES on the right part, then ANDRÉ SPITZ and DUPFRESNE on the bottom part).
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With this information, you will easily find the Yvert number of this stamp by typing the information into Google.
💡 TIP: Use the excellent free website Wikitimbres, whose work by our colleague we salute. Its search engine allows you to find the stamp's number.
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By typing LIMOGES or PONT LIMOGE into the search bar, it gives me several suggestions; I just have to identify the stamp and click on it. |
| The stamp's identity card then appears, and the Yvert number (or Tellier, it's the same thing) is indicated in the left column. |  |
Our example stamp is therefore Yvert no. 1019. We will find it on platforms/websites under the name "Yvert 1019", "Tellier 1019", or sometimes "YT 1019".
2. Check the condition: the #1 criterion
✔️ Condition of use
There are two main categories:
- New (with or without gum)
- Canceled (with postal mark)
👉 In general:
- a new stamp is worth more
- a canceled stamp can be valuable... but it's rarer
In philately, the condition determines almost all the value.
✔️ The gum (on the back)
Turn your stamp over and check, by playing with light reflections, if it has its original gum or not, and if so, is it intact or does it show what is called a "hinge mark".
💡INFO: A few decades ago, it was fashionable to collect stamps using small adhesive strips that were placed on the back to hold them on a sheet and store these sheets in a binder. Unfortunately, these "hinges", once removed, leave traces that can sometimes be very light, but the stamp is then no longer MNH, the English abbreviation for (Mint Never Hinged) which means mint never hinged.
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Here are 2 identical stamps on the front. On the back, the one on the left is Mint Never Hinged (MNH), the one on the right has a small rectangular reflection, which is a trace left by an old hinge. |
- Mint Never Hinged (MNH): perfect → maximum value
- With hinge mark: reduced value
- Without gum: often of little value for stamps after the 1940s.
✔️ The perforations (edges)
- must be complete and regular
- a missing perforation = significant drop in value
✔️ Centering
- the design must be well-centered
- a poorly centered stamp is worth less (This is especially taken into account for older stamps which have higher values)
| The stamp on the left is fairly well-centered, while the one on the right is off-center to the bottom right, making the white borders wider on the left and top. |  |
✔️ Defects
- creases
- stains
- tears
👉 A stamp in perfect condition can be worth 10 to 20 times more than the same stamp in damaged condition.
3. Make an initial online estimate
Now that you have identified your stamp and categorized its gum and quality:
- check the selling price for this stamp on specialized sites that offer individual sales by typing its number into their search bar:
👉 Be careful with the internet:
the displayed price ≠ the actual selling price
4. Understanding rarity
Not all old stamps are valuable.
Most common French stamps are worth... a few cents to a few euros.
What makes the difference:
- limited print run
- printing error
- quick withdrawal from circulation
- high collector demand
👉 Example: a stamp from the 1960s in perfect condition is often worth between €0.20 and €2.
5. Beware of misconceptions
Many people think:
“It's old, so it's valuable”
❌ False in most cases
In reality:
- most French stamps after 1940 have little value individually
- it is mainly certain rare series or perfect conditions that are worth something
6. Think in terms of "lots" rather than individual items
In many cases, a single stamp is worth little.
However, a complete year or a coherent collection can have more interest.
Advice: If you have a collection on your hands, do not fall into the trap of selling individually: You may manage to sell a few individual pieces, but it will take an enormous amount of time, and you will "break" the value of the whole. Thus, you will end up with 99% of your collection whose wholesale price will be significantly reduced.
-> For example, you inherited a collection, you investigated and saw that the whole thing, if sold stamp by stamp, was worth about 500€. How long will it take you to sell 500 individual stamps? A lifetime will probably not be enough. So it's better to sell at a wholesale price and sell the stock all at once for, say, 250€.
Be careful, this is only valid for stamps from modern periods. For older ones, some are worth several hundred euros and should in this case be sold individually as they are specifically sought after.
7. When to seek expert appraisal?
Call a professional if:
- you have doubts about a rare piece
- you own a significant collection
- you think you have stamps dating from between 1900 and 1940, the value starts to be interesting.
- You have mint stamps from before 1900: Don't hesitate, consult an expert, you potentially have a gem.
Many experts offer free valuations. Don't hesitate to get two different valuations (or even a third if you notice a significant difference between the first two)
We advise you to contact an official association, or a professional who is part of the CNEP:
French Federation of Philatelic Associations: https://ffap.net/
The French Chamber of Dealers and Experts in Philately: https://www.cnep-philatelie.fr/
8. How to sell your stamp collection?
Once your appraisal is done, several options are available to you for selling your stamps.
✔️ Selling to a professional
This is the simplest and fastest solution.
- immediate valuation
- fast payment
- no logistical management
👉 In return, the price offered is generally lower than the final resale price, but it is important to be aware that the professional will have to "make a profit" when reselling, as that is their business.
✔️ Auction houses
Suitable if you own rare items or a significant collection.
- possibility of obtaining a better price
- visibility among collectors
👉 But:
- sometimes long delays
- high commissions
- lot selection (not everything is accepted)
- Risk of a low sale if no reserve price is set.
✔️ Online platforms (eBay, etc.)
Accessible solution for selling yourself.
- potential for a better price
- total freedom
👉 But requires:
- time
- quality photos
- a good description
- management of buyers and shipments
- Potential disputes to manage
✔️ Selling in lots or individually?
In most cases:
- Common stamps → better in a lot
- Rare stamps → to be sold individually
👉 A well-structured collection (by year or theme) is often more attractive.
💡 TIP: Before selling, take the time to properly identify and sort your stamps. A clear presentation can make a real difference to the final price. If it's an inheritance, the collector probably already had an internal organization in place. Leave it as is.
In summary
To estimate a French stamp:
- Identify the stamp
- Check its condition
- Assess its rarity
- Compare with actual sales
👉 In most cases, the value primarily depends on condition and rarity, much more than age.
Looking to complete your collection?
At Arphilex, we regularly offer lots of never-hinged (MNH) French stamps, carefully selected for their quality.
Ideal for starting a collection or completing missing years.