As regular readers will know, in addition to discussing the designs, this regular feature also suggests fair prices to pay for individual stamps or the full set. When pricing stamps we need to consider several variables including rarity, quality and demand. One can safely assume that there is considerable demand for the set as it is a most attractive one and a key set among New Zealand’s modern definitive stamp issues. As it was released in the mid-1930s, most stamps are likely to have been hinged onto album pages reducing the available quantity of unmounted mint (UMM) considerably. Most of today’s collectors prefer their stamp to be in pristine condition without any marks or remains of hinges and many are willing to pay a premium for this kind of quality. In most cases UMM stamps sell for double the price of mounted mint.
When it comes to used stamps, collectors either prefer very lightly cancelled stamps or neat readable postmarks. Heavy or smudgy cancels reduce the value of a stamp as most collectors tend to prefer good quality stamps.
Most stamp catalogues indicate prices for stamps in very fine condition. Stamps
