An expertizing certificate is given to any stamp that has been submitted to an expertizing service, but only after experts have inspected it. The expertizing certificate states in printed form what their combined opinions and the established pedigree of the stamp is, which is extremely important to the collector for building an authenticity value to their collection.

Stamps should always be purchased in the best possible condition available due to value of stamps and it appreciation. Over the years it has been proven that the absolute finest stamps have increased in value. Stamps costing over a hundred dollars should always be accompanied by an expertizing certificate to show the established pedigree of stamps.

Careful examination of the stamps you purchase is highly important to help ensure that you do not purchase a stamp that has had gum added to back of a stamp. This little trick has caused even the most experienced philatelist to fall prey to this type of forgery. A magnifying glass with the ability to magnify at ten times will allow you to examine every bit of the stamps to find any flaws, gum disturbance, or any missing perforations. An ultra violet light will also help you in finding any removed cancels or flaws that can not be seen with the human eye.

A dealer or individual who is wanting to be rid of their collection of stamps or part of their collection is an opportunity for any collector to add stamps to their own collection at an attractive price. Usually, the total price of a collection or part of a collection will be much lower than buying the stamps individually.

Keeping careful records of your stamps with a complete description and any history surrounding the stamps will help with insurance purposes and increase the overall value of your collection. Also make sure to back up your records by scanning images of your collection onto your computer. These records are important to collectors who desire to a create portfolio for themselves. Your record should always include the date of purchase, purchasing price, and the individual or dealer the stamp was purchased from.

It is important to take into consideration that normal homeowners' insurance does not cover any potential losses adequately and the majority of collectors are not aware of this. This is where a specialized insurance provider that can cater to the collectible market is important. Any claim loss is based upon the actual purchasing price of a stamp.

The easiest way to store your collection is by using a stock book, which will allow you to easily move your collection. This aids in protecting your collection and in displaying them as well. When stamps are not mounted, like in a stock book, then you have the ability to sort your collection the way you desire. Stock cards also aid in storing and protecting your investment since they have clear pockets to store you stamps in. Stamps generally have to be mounted on the top of pages in an album, which can damage your collection.