Congo Gandhi Stamps - Do you think this is example of SCAM in Stamp Collection specially in Gandhi thematic collection?

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

There are two countries named with Congo who honored Mahatma Gandhi by issuing his stamp.

1) Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)
2) Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Republic of the Congo, sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa.
 The republic is a former French colony. Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. The People's Republic of the Congo was a Marxist-Leninist single-party state from 1970 to 1991. Multiparty elections have been held since 1992, although a democratically elected government was ousted in the 1997 Republic of the Congo Civil War. (Read more about Republic of the Congo at Wikipedia)

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world. The Second Congo War, beginning in 1998, devastated the country and is sometimes referred to as the "African world war" because it involved nine African nations and some twenty armed groups. Despite the signing of peace accords in 2003, fighting continues in the east of the country. The war is the world's deadliest conflict since World War II, killing 5.4 million people since 1998.The vast majority died from malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia and malnutrition.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo was formerly, in chronological order, the Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo-Léopoldville, Congo-Kinshasa, and Zaire (Read more about Democratic Republic of the Congo  : Wikipedia)

Congo was 3rd country in world after India and USA to honored Mahatma Gandhi by issuing stamp of him. I think this was real honored to Mahatma Gandhi.

1967

In 1992, they again honored Mahatma Gandhi with MLK, but after that all stamps are questionable.

1992

Now look at the following stamps issued by Congo and you decide whether this is a SCAM or not in Gandhi Philately.?

To me it looks like maximum # of Gandhi stamps came from Congo in last 10 years.!! This is not honored to Mahatma Gandhi but to honored printers/dealers/reseller.!!!

Starting 2001 dealers are taking benefit of internal war by issuing stamps of GANDHI. I think this is nothing but a SCAM in Gandhi Philately.!! It's very sad where people are dying in Congo and this dealers are taking it's benefit. Following are all bogus stamps from Congo so avoid it and don't support this SCAMMER.

All following stamps were issued after 1997.!!

2009

2008

2007

2006

2006

2005

2001

2001

There might be more Gandhi Stamps from Congo which we all might see after couple of years.!!!


Now look at what price Congo stamps sold for even 1967 FDC.

Considering the political situation in Democratic Republic of the Congo since last 15 years, I think stamp dealers are printing without permission of government as there is none like Somalia(since 1991) , Afganistan (till 2002) etc.

Do you think this many Gandhi Stamps from Congo are needed?

Do you think stamps issued after 1998 is/was available in Congo!!? But in future you might see used cover with stamps issued after 1998 from Congo(same way like Cameroun Overprint Used covers).!!

Do you think this is a SCAM in Gandhi Philately.?

Do you think this is all about making money on Gandhi Stamps?

For all above questions I think so.!!!

Thanks

Ketankumar Patel.

My First year experience in Gandhi Philately.

My 100th blog post.

Gandhi Stamp Collecting is SCAM. My 3 year experience tell me Yes!!

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Gandhi FFC - First Flight Cover : One more Gandhi Rubber Stamp?? Emirates Airbus A380 Ryanair FFC London - Leipzig.

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Recently I saw Gandhi rubber stamp on lot of FFC from Emirates Airways.

Looks like nothing to do with Gandhi, but it's a  great marketing technique.!! I don't think it's even official rubber stamp from Emirates Airlines. (Correct me if you know it's official from Emirates Airlines.)

This is another way to make money from Gandhi!! Same way like printing stamps from smaller countries or creating Gandhi  error stamps or like other Gandhi FFC.

This FFC's are selling for $12.75 and to me it required more research for even considering it as a Genuine FFC. Lot of things to research such as FFC from which airlines Ryanair or Emirates Airlines, direct flight from south africa or stop over, FFC was taken out during flight stop etc.

 FFC is on November 3, 2011 and Emirates Gandhi Rubber stamp is October 1, 2011.!!

So beware of this Gandhi Rubber stamp. This FFC has nothing to do with Gandhi.!!

Also make sure about  Airbus A380 Gandhi FFC and Gandhi FFC after 1975.!! It's another way to make money by using current popular philatelic theme.

I know all experienced collector(now including me!!) are aware of all this in Gandhi FFC world but any new collector who will start Gandhi Philately after 3-4 years will have no idea what happen in 2011 and start buying it thinking it's rare ffc !! and when they will know about this then there is nothing but regret.!!!


Now look at the following and you surprised what are possibility in Stamps Philatelic collection ?

http://www.filatelia.fi/forgeries/blum.html

Following are some FAKE postmarks of FRANKFURT.!!!!!!!

Want to read other Germany related blog posts then click following link.

http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/search/label/Germany

Again thanks for reading and  please share your thoughts in the comments section or you can email me at ketankumar@gmail.com.


Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.
My First year experience in Gandhi Philately.
My 100th blog post.
Gandhi Stamp Collecting is SCAM. My 3 year experience tell me Yes!!

Czechoslovakia Gandhi Stamps : M.K. Gandhi 1969 Postmark Cancellation : Is it Genuine or FAKE Cancellation ??

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Czechoslovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992. From 1939 to 1945, the state did not de facto exist because of its forced division and partial incorporation into Nazi Germany, but the Czechoslovak government-in-exile nevertheless continued to exist during this period. 

In 1945, the eastern part of Carpathian Ruthenia was taken over by the Soviet Union. On 1 January 1993, Czechoslovakia peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. (Read more about Czechoslovakia from source of above writing : Wikipedia)

In 1969, Czechoslovakia honored Mahatma Gandhi with special postmark cancellation so chances of Forgery, FAKE etc in this Gandhi cancellation are possible.

Following are 2 different cancellation from Czechoslovakia and it is little bit different. Not sure both are Genuine or one of them is FAKE or both are FAKE.

If you see closely you will see date is different on both of this. One has 4-10-1969 and other has 29-9-1969. It could be possible that this special cancellation might be for multiple days instead of just one day. But I am not sure, but I notice that it has only one date.

CDS 4-10-1969

CDS 29-9-1969

In past I had seen Czechoslovakia M.K.Gandhi Cancellation with 4-10-1969 date but never saw with September 29, 1969 date.!!!!!!!

So now I am really confused because before I was making sure about only FAKE cancellation of 4-10-1969 date but now I am not sure which date is Genuine.!!

2-3 weeks ago one of them was sold for $10. I think if it is genuine then buyer paid reasonable price but if it is questionable than it's just piece of paper,  like one came out from Winnenden, Germany 2009 Special Gandhi Cancellation with Emblem of India.!!

Click following link to read more about Winnenden, Germany 2009 Gandhi Cancellation.

http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/2010/01/fake-gandhi-postmark-cancel-from.html

You can also read another blog post from Maulik about Possible Forgery in 1969 Gandhi Cancellation. To read his blog post please click following link.

http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/2009/04/gandhi-1969-cancels-possible-forgeries.html

Now you need to decide before you buy whether it's Genuine or FAKE, otherwise you will end up regretting buying some useless Gandhi Philatelic material which are widely available on ebay and delcampe.

Try to avoid special cancellation if you have little doubt about 1969 cancellation as it would be very difficult to do more research or buy it if it is available at low price, just for possible FAKE items.!!

Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.
My First year experience in Gandhi Philately.
My 100th blog post.
Gandhi Stamp Collecting is SCAM. My 3 year experience tell me Yes!!


Update : 12/19

Unsold cancellation on ebay

Montserrat Gandhi Stamps : What is the real value of stamps?

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Montserrat is a British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies. This island measures approximately 16 km (9.9 mi) long and 11 km (6.8 mi) wide, giving 40 km (25 mi) of coastline. 

On his second voyage to the New World in 1493, Christopher Columbus named the Caribbean island after the mountain of Montserrat located near the city of Barcelona, Spain. Montserrat is nicknamed the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean both for its resemblance to coastal Ireland and for the Irish ancestry of its inhabitants.

In 1998 Montserrat issued Mahatma Gandhi miniature sheet of 4 stamps. Looks like this stamp sheet has picture of Mahatma Gandhi visiting England during round table conference. Also color combination of this sheet is with copper base which also looks unique.

Recently this stamp sheet was sold somewhere between 4-5$.

So please make sure about pricing before you buy Gandhi MNH stamps or sheet. It's not that expensive and there is plenty of it.

Also you will see some SPECIMEN stamps which required more research.!!

Thanks

Ketankumar Patel.
http://gandhistampsclub.blogspot.com

Belgium Gandhi Stamps : Can't believe the pricing of this 1999 stamp sheet of Gandhi with Kennedy, MLK, Nelson Mandela, Lenin, Guevara, Golda Meir, Jesse Owens, Football, Bicycling, Tim and Struppi stamps from Belgium.

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.

Straddling the cultural boundary between Germanic and Latin Europe, Belgium is home to two main linguistic groups, the Dutch-speakers, mostly Flemish (about 60%), and the French-speakers, mostly Walloons (about 40%), plus a small group of German-speakers. Belgium's two largest regions are the Dutch-speaking region of Flanders in the north and the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia. The Brussels-Capital Region, officially bilingual, is a mostly French-speaking enclave within the Flemish Region.

Belgium issued  first Gandhi stamps with Euro as it's currency.

In 1999 Belgium issued stamp sheet of 20 stamps each 0.42 euros. That means that it's price is 8.40 Euros.

Recently I saw above sheet sold under face value, for 6.50 Euros.!!!  This means that each stamp is 0.33 euros.!! So after 12+ years it's price has gone down instead of any appreciation even after keeping in safe storage.

This sheet has Gandhi stamp along with other 19 stamps  of Pope Johannes XXII., King Boudewijn., Willy Brandt., John F. Kennedy.,  Martin Luther King., Vladimir Lenin., Ernesto 'CHE' Guevara., Golda Meir., Nelson Mandela., Jesse Owens., Football., Bicycling Eddy Merckx., (female) singer Edith Piaf., Pop and Rock music the Beatles., film/movie Charley Chaplin., Tourism beach and holidays., Scouting., Comics., Tim  and Struppi von Hergé., philately stamp & magnifying-glass.

Following is the screen shot of selling price. Check it out 

After looking at this price Do you think stamp hobby is dead.!! This sheet is not even from very small countries who makes money on stamps like Aland, Sao Tome, Nevis etc and still value is going lower then it's original value.

Is it worth to collect Gandhi stamp sheet?

Now you decide what's going on Gandhi Philately.


Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.
My First year experience in Gandhi Philately.
My 100th blog post.
Gandhi Stamp Collecting is SCAM. My 3 year experience tell me Yes!!

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Senegal Gandhi Stamps : What is Real Price of Gandhi Stamps.

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Senegal, officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north. Senegal is externally bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Mauritania to the north, Mali to the east, and Guinea and Guinea-Bissau to the south; internally it almost completely surrounds.

The Gambia, namely on the north, east and south, exempting Gambia's short Atlantic Ocean coastline. Senegal covers a land area of almost 197,000 square kilometres (76,000 sq mi), and has an estimated population of about 14 million. The climate is tropical with two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season.

In 1969 Senegal issued Mahatma Gandhi stamp, which has similar to other stamps issued during that time from African countries.

Recently this stamp sheetlet  of stamp of 4 was sold for $2.50. I don't think this is scares or rare sheetlet and I think there are still lot of this stamp sheetlet. 

Now look at following screen. Single stamp of Senegal was for auction starting at $5.  Ofcourse there were no buyer for this stamp, but sometimes someone will get trap in this.!!

If you don't pay attention about this kind of inflated starting price then in future you will regret it.

If you see above screen shot Senegal stamp was not sold for last 3 weeks.

So make sure when you bid for MNH Gandhi stamps. There are lot of MNH Gandhi Stamps. It should not cost more than $1.

Thanks
Ketankumar Patel

Burkina Faso Gandhi Stamps Value - Martin Luther King stamp , John Kennedy stamp and Jinnah stamp.

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest. Formerly called the Republic of Upper Volta, it was renamed on 4 August 1984.

In 1988 Burkina Faso (previously known as Upper Volta) issued Mahatma Gandhi stamps along with JFK, MLK and Jinnah.

Recently this stamps were sold for $2.!!

After 23 years this is selling for $2.Can't believe it.!!

Seller : Hagagard
Buyer : Brownblackcherry
Price : 1.50 Euros.
Date :  10/31/2011

So beware of pricing on Gandhi Stamps. Also I think there is enough for everyone so don't need to hurry. Just need to wait and bid it wisely.!!


Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.
My First year experience in Gandhi Philately.
My 100th blog post.
Gandhi Stamp Collecting is SCAM. My 3 year experience tell me Yes!!

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Central African Republic Gandhi stamps with other Human Rights and Nobel Prize winner Dalai Lama stamp, Martin Luther stamp, JFK stamp, Mother Teresa Stamp and Nelson Mandela stamps. Do you think stamps are for investment ??

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

The Central African Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west.  Bangui is the capital city. (Source: Wikipedia)

In 1997 Central Africa honored Mahatma Gandhi by issuing his stamp with other Human Rights leaders and Nobel Prize winners  MLK,  Mother Teresa, Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and JFK.

This sheet with all this leaders were only sold for 4 euros ($5.50). It's not amazing to see such a low price for this sheet even after almost 15 years.

So all new collectors please make sure about this pricing before you bid in future. This is for all stamps in the sheet not just Gandhi.!!

So don't think stamps are for Investment.!! like gold, stocks or house.!! All articles in newspaper and magazine will try to market stamps as one of the option for investment, but think how many people want this stamps  compare to other kind of stock or gold.!! 

So make sure you don't pay too much price for this kind of sheets or individual stamps of Gandhi or other leaders.

Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.
My First year experience in Gandhi Philately.
My 100th blog post.
Gandhi Stamp Collecting is SCAM. My 3 year experience tell me Yes!!

*******************************************************************************************************************************

Guyana Gandhi Stamps : Guyana 1995 "Holidays of the World" stamp sheet of Thanksgiving Day, Christmas , Hanukkah , Easter , Carnival in Brazil, Bastille Day , Independence Day in India and St. Patrick's Day

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Today is Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving to all readers.

Thanksgiving in North America originated from a mix of European and Native traditions. In the United States, the modern Thanksgiving holiday tradition traces its origins to a 1621 celebration at Plymouth Rock in present-day Massachusetts. 

The initial Thanksgiving observance at Virginia in 1619 was prompted by the colonists' leaders on the anniversary of the settlement. The 1621 Plymouth feast and thanksgiving was prompted by a good harvest.

Initially, the Plymouth colony did not have enough food to feed half of the 102 colonists. The Wampanoag Native Americans helped the Pilgrims by providing seeds and teaching them to fish. The practice of holding an annual harvest festival like this did not become a regular affair in New England until the late 1660s.

Thanksgiving in the United States was observed on various dates throughout history. It was not until December 26, 1941 that the unified date changed to the fourth Thursday in November—this time by federal legislation making Thanksgiving a national holiday. (Read more about Thanksgiving at Wikipedia)

In 1995 Guyana had issued a sheetlet of eight stamps as a philatelic tribute to some of the world's most popular holidays around the world. Following are holiday stamps depicted this sheet.

Thanksgiving Day in the United States

Christmas in Germany

Hanukkah in Israel

Easter in Spain

Carnival in Brazil

Bastille Day in France

Independence Day in India

St. Patrick's Day in Ireland .

Mahatma Gandhi's picture in  Independence Day in India stamp in this miniature sheet. 

This sheet is available somewhere between 7-8$ as Guyana makes lot of money by selling surplus stamps to dealers around the world.

Do you think for holiday of India they should used Diwali instead of Independence Day when comparing with Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter etc. in this miniature sheet.?

Again thanks for reading and  Please share your thoughts in the comments section.

Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.
My First year experience in Gandhi Philately.
My 100th blog post.
Gandhi Stamp Collecting is SCAM. My 3 year experience tell me Yes!!

*******************************************************************************************************************************

Following is brief description of other 7 holidays in miniature sheet.(Source : Wikipedia.)

Christmas is observed on December 25  to commemorate the birth of Jesus, the central figure of Christianity. The exact birthday of Jesus is not known, and historians place his year of birth some time between 7 BC and 2 BC. Narratives of his birth are included in two of the Canonical gospels in the New Testament of the Bible.

Hanukkah also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE.

Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday. The chronology of his death and resurrection is variously interpreted to have occurred between AD 26 and 36.

Carnival of Brazil  is an annual festival held forty-six days before Easter. On certain days of Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry, hence the term "carnival," from carnelevare, "to remove meat." Carnival celebrations are believed to have roots in the pagan festival of Saturnalia, which, adapted to Christianity, became a farewell to bad things in a season of religious discipline to practice repentance and prepare for Christ's death and resurrection.

Bastille Day is the name given in English-speaking countries to the French National Day, which is celebrated on 14 July of each year. In France, it is formally called La Fête Nationale (The National Celebration) and commonly le quatorze juillet (the fourteenth of July). It commemorates the 1790 Fête de la Fédération, held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789; the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille fortress-prison was seen as a symbol of the uprising of the modern nation, and of the reconciliation of all the French inside the constitutional monarchy which preceded the First Republic, during the French Revolution. Festivities and official ceremonies are held all over France.

Independence Day of India is celebrated on the fifteenth of August to commemorate its independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation in 1947. The day is a national holiday in India. All over the country, flag-hoisting ceremonies are conducted by the local administration in attendance. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated within 6 months (30 January, 1948) after Independence of India, so he never enjoyed it.!!

Saint Patrick's Day is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It commemorates Saint Patrick (c. AD 387–461), the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.  Saint Patrick's Day was made an official feast day in the early 17th century, and has gradually become a secular celebration of Irish culture in general.

Togo Gandhi Stamps set with George Washington, Albert Luthuli (Lutuli), Simon Bolivar, Friedrich Ebert stamps are not for investment.!!

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Togo, is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located.

From the 11th to the 16th century, various tribes entered the region from all directions. From the 16th century to the 18th century, the coastal region was a major trading centre for Europeans in search of slaves, earning Togo and the surrounding region the name "The Slave Coast". In 1884, Germany declared Togoland a protectorate. After World War I, rule over Togo was transferred to France. Togo gained its independence from France in 1960. (Source : Wikipedia).

In 1969, Togo honored Mahatma Gandhi with a set of a 2 stamps valued 30 and 90 CFA Franc. Along with Mahatma Gandhi they also honored George Washington, Albert Lutuli, Simon Bolivar, Friedrich Ebert with one stamp for each.

Not seen any official FDC but you can see private FDC of this stamps, but you need to make sure about authenticity of FDC.

In October 2011, set of 6 stamps was sold for $3.!! Amazing price after 40+ years, which tells that Gandhi stamps are not for investment.

Don't trust all the news articles which is mentioning that you should put some percentage of your investment in stamps.!! Think and research first about this investment. Compare it with Gold or even Stocks(Shares) and then if you think it's worth it then go for it.

Even with famous leaders from around the world this stamps in not appreciating.

You will see this stamps selling from $5 - $15 on delcampe or ebay so beware of pricing.  So new collectors make sure about pricing before you buy this stamps.

Thanks

Ketankumar Patel.
http://gandhistampsclub.blogspot.com

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Following is brief information about  other leaders. (Source : Wikipedia).

George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of the Constitution in 1787.  His leadership style established many forms and rituals of government that have been used since, such as using a cabinet system and delivering an inaugural address. Washington is universally regarded as the "Father of his Country".

Albert Lutuli was a South African teacher and politician. Lutuli was elected president of the African National Congress (ANC), at the time an umbrella organisation that led opposition to the white minority government in South Africa. He was awarded the 1960 Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the non-violent struggle against apartheid. He was the first African, and the first person from outside Europe and the Americas, to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.


Friedrich Ebert  was a German politician of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD). When Ebert was elected as the leader of the SPD after the death of August Bebel, the party members of the SPD were deeply divided because of the party's support for World War I. Ebert supported the Burgfrieden and tried to isolate the war opposers in the party. After the war and the end of the monarchy he served as the first President of Germany from 1919 until his death in office.


Simón Bolívar was a Venezuelan military and political leader. Together with José de San Martín, he played a key role in Hispanic-Spanish America's successful struggle for independence from the Spanish Empire, and is today considered one of the most influential politicians in Latin American history. Bolívar remains regarded in Hispanic-America as a hero, visionary, revolutionary, and liberator. During his lifetime, he led Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Bolivia to independence, and helped lay the foundations for democratic ideology in much of Latin America.

Ghana Gandhi Stamps - Does value of Gandhi FDC makes sense.!!

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Ghana is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south.

The Gold Coast achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1957 and the name Ghana was chosen for the new nation to reflect the ancient Empire of Ghana, which once extended throughout much of west Africa.

On December 24, 1998 Ghana issued 4 stamps(each 2000 Ghana Cedi) Miniature sheet  of Mahatma Gandhi with pictures of his famous Dandi March (Salt Satyagraha) and various age portrait. Also this sheet has quotes of Mahatma Gandhi.  (Not sure why they issued in  December instead of October 2nd !!). Also Ghana  issued another Miniature sheet of Mahatma Gandhi value 5500 Ghana Cedi. 

So total 5 stamps (2 Miniature sheet) were  issued in 1998 by Ghana.

In September 2011, FDC of this Miniature sheet was sold for only $1.29.!! 

Seller : stamp_bay (USA)

Buyer : adityamootha (India)

Date : Sep 3, 2011

Price Sold :- $ 1.29 (less than a $2!!)

To me all 1998 Gandhi FDC from African and South American countries looks like questionable (more than 10-15 countires.!!!!)

It's surprising to see this kind of price for Gandhi Philatelic material.

I am not sure how much catalog value of this FDC but I think $1.29 is under stamp catalog value.!!

But I am sure it is selling under face value, as in 1998 $1=2300C. So above miniature sheet, in 1998 was somewhere between $4-5 when it was sold in Ghana.!!

What a decline.!!

 The Ghana cedi was introduced on 3 July 2007 and is equal to 10,000 old cedis. It was the highest-valued currency unit issued by sovereign countries in Africa in 2007

1 US Dollar = 1.62689 Ghanaian New Cedi   (16000 Old Cedi)

Following is another miniature sheet. Not sure about current pricing but I will update in future.

So looking to all this, it seems to me that Gandhi Stamps are not for investment as $4 invested in 1998 is currently getting only $1.!! which is 300% decline in value.

Thanks

Ketankumar Patel.
http://gandhistampsclub.blogspot.com

Gandhi Stamps Russia - Used register cover to Austria - Very clean cover as if it is not travelled through postal stream!!

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

In October 2011, register cover from Russia to Austria was sold for $123.!! It's surprising that this cover still maintain high quality even after 40+ years and going through postal stream.!! Also not sure whether it has receiving postmark CDS from Austria?

Register cover looks good. It has 2 Gandhi stamps which is not easy to find.

It's amazing to see high pricing for used covers from USSR (Russia), Cameroun and Somalia.

Seller : divlji (Croatia)

Buyer : www_stampsforindia_com

What I have noticed in my 3 years of collecting is that there is expensive(inflated) Gandhi stamps and philatelic material being sold from Croatia and Canada!! (Example: From Croatia I saw a Croatia Gandhi Special cancellation post card that was sold for $55!! I also saw an FDC of Niger, Senegal sold from Canada.!!)

Another thing I notice that buyers are from different countries (such as UK, India etc) but they are getting delivery in Canada.!! I always do more research before I bid on it and  when I see something from Canada and Croatia, I eventually  avoid bidding it except ebay id "rlingen"

Do I have to write anything else to readers of this blog.!!

Thanks

Ketankumar Patel.
My First year experience in Gandhi Philately.
My 100th blog post.
Gandhi Stamp Collecting is SCAM. My 3 year experience tell me Yes!!
(My Son's blog http://usapostman.blogspot.com)

Click to see 50th Anniversary
Special Cancellation

Cameroun Gandhi Stamps on Used Cover is for sale on delcampe.!!

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

I saw Cameroun used cover with Gandhi stamps  for auction on delcampe. Only 3 days left for auction to end. Following is the screen shot of that cover.

1968 Gandhi stamps is used in 1991.!!

Not sure what will be price of Gandhi  Cameroun Commercial used cover will be.!! As per previous auction it sold for 450+.!! Read previous blog post about Expensive Commerical used covers from Cameroun.!!

http://gandhiphilately.blogspot.com/2010/02/why-cameroun-commerically-used-covers.html

 You can click following URL to see it.

http://delcampe.net/page/item/id,149693843,var,Cameroun-APOTRES-DE-LA-PAIX-BONABERI-VERS-DOUALA-18-03-1991-ARRIVEE-30-GHANDI,language,E.html

While looking at this cover it looks genuine but my only concern is CDS  on Gandhi stamp only. (not on cover and stamp). It's starting price is somewhere between 65-70$.

I use to bid on this kind of used covers but I stopped it. Day by day my trust on used cover is declining because of my research on all kind of possibilities in Philately.!!! It required lot of research for this kind of used covers.

Let see how much this cover sells for. Previous 2 covers were sold for very high price, but looking to it's use in 1991 I don't see it will get what we saw for other 2.

What do you think about this cover. ?

BTW :- Last week this seller sold Cameroun FDC for $150.!! Not sure why this price shoot up so needs to look in to this.!!! I know why and now you need to find out. It's very simple.!!

Thanks for reading

Thanks

Ketankumar Patel.
My First year experience in Gandhi Philately.
My 100th blog post.
Gandhi Stamp Collecting is SCAM. My 3 year experience tell me Yes!!
(My Son's blog http://usapostman.blogspot.com)

Click to see 50th Anniversary
Special Cancellation

Gandhi Stamps sheet - sheetlet from Cameroun Gabon Tchad Niger Mauritania Upper-Volta issued in 1968 - 1969. Does it make sense in Gandhi Collection.!!

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Recently I was researching about Gandhi Stamps from Africa and I was surprised after looking at it.

In 1969, it was Gandhi 100th Birth Anniversary and  it was one of most popular event around the world for Gandhi Philatelist and more than 40+ countries issued stamp of him to honor Mahatma Gandhi.

All 6 sheetlets looks similar and looks like printed at same printing press.!! All of this countries except Tchad issued stamp in 1968.!! Not sure why!!

Also not sure why all this 6 countries did not design differently. My guess is they were following Gandhiji's principles of simplicity.!!!

Again to all new collectors think before you start collecting and see what is the real philatelic. It's not just stamps and sheetlets.!!! If you collect stamp sheetlet like this I think it will not appreciate too much as there are more then enough for all Gandhi Collectors.

 John Kennedy and Robert Kennedy were famous in 1960 because of president and their assasination, but my research indicates that thematic collection of Kennedy's are not popular any more lot of stamps and sheetlets are coming in market. I think same is the case with MLK. It's surprising to see this kind of decline in thematic collection of certain leaders.

I think Gandhi popularity is gaining because economic in India is doing very good since last 10+ years and also lot of NRI who went to foreign countries on H1 Visa are coming back to their childhood hobby so it's in great demand and trying to collect all.!!  But I am not sure how long it will continued and will sustain this kind of popularity of this thematic hobby.!!

Even after this popularity this sheetlet are selling some where between $1-$3 and I think it's a reasonable price after 40+ years.!!

Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.
My First year experience in Gandhi Philately.
My 100th blog post.
Gandhi Stamp Collecting is SCAM. My 3 year experience tell me Yes!!
(My Son's blog http://usapostman.blogspot.com)

Click to see 50th Anniversary
Special Cancellation

Niger Gandhi Stamps, Miniature Sheet and FDC - What is value of Gandhi Stamps.

Hello Gandhi Collectors,

Niger, officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east. The capital city is Niamey. (Read more about Niger at Wikipedia)

In 1968 Niger honored Mahatma Gandhi along with other popular leaders MLK, John Kennedy and Robert Kennedy during that time.

This stamps and sheet are similar to stamps issued from countries like Cameroun, TCHAD and Gabon. All this countries issued stamps of same leaders and similar pictures on stamp sheet. None of the other leaders stamps except Gandhi is even selling for one-tenth of this price.!!!

Even after 40+ years this stamps and stamps sheet are appreciating at all because of very large quantity comparing to population during that time.  All 4 Stamps are available some where around $1 - $2 and Miniature sheet of 4 stamps is available from 2-3$ range.

Also 3000 Gandhi FDC were issued so I think there will be enough for everyone.

Don't just buy it because you are collecting Gandhi Stamps and Philatelic materials. Need to understand first lot of things before you start buying it.

Again Gandhi Stamps and Sheet are available in very very large quantity so you will find it cheap all the time and MNH stamps and sheet does not have importance in exhibition. It only looks good in your album.!!

Thanks
Ketankumar Patel.
My First year experience in Gandhi Philately.
My 100th blog post.
Gandhi Stamp Collecting is SCAM. My 3 year experience tell me Yes!!
(My Son's blog http://usapostman.blogspot.com)

Click to see 50th Anniversary
Special Cancellation