| When
you move up to Plate Blocks, you enter an important, distinctive
dimension of the philatelic world: you rise to what is often
referred to as the Cadillac of stamp collecting. When you
purchase a Plate Block, you retain the original value of the
postage In addition, every major stamp catalog prices Plate
Blocks at a premium.
But the real additional feature of Plate Blocks
is extra value at no extra cost. Every catalog and pricing
guide establishes a higher value for a Plate Block than for
the stamps of which it is comprised. So a Plate Block doesn't
cost more, it's just worth more.
The generally recognized source of stamp information
and value is the Scott Catalogue. Scott Publishing Co. numbers
each stamp issued in the United States in basic Chronological
order and lists suggested prices.
So why doesn't every stamp collector collect Plate Blocks?
There are many reasons. One is that stamp collecting is a
hobby. It is not viewed by many as a method of accumulating
assets. Another possible explanation is that stamp collectors,
like everyone else, are creatures of habit. They simply follow
along what they have been doing in the past, completely unaware
of the financial rewards they might reap.
They just don't realize that it is possible
to pursue their hobby and build a valuable asset at the same
time. Is Plate Block collecting instant wealth? Not at all.
However, an instance where single stamps have appreciated
in value more than a Plate Block of that stamp would be difficult
to find.
A third possibility is cost. Obviously, it
costs more to collect Plate Blocks than single stamps - at
the minimum, four times more. A large number of collector
began as children and couldn't afford to buy Plate Blocks
then.
As they grew older, they decided to complete
their single stamp collections and not start a Plate Block
collection. Perhaps, too, they are more concerned with the
amount of money they spend on their hobby rather than the
value of what they obtain.
And finally, there are those who simply don't
care. They are involved in their particular aspect of philately
purely as a hobby and have no interest or desire for financial
reward.
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