rare stamps

daniel80

Just read a really interesting article [Stanley Gibbons] about investing in rare stamps.All reads good better returns than any other investment plus your capital is guaranteed,anyone tried this and whats your thoughts.

Loughton_Monkey

I cannot imagine Stanley Gibbons recommending us to invest in wine. I cannot expect Sotherbey's to poo-poo antiques and put our money into an ISA. Would Bollingers suggest you sell your Vintage Champagne and buy stamps instead?

"Better return than any other investment."

When are you reporting this to the FSA, the ASA, and the police?

jimjames

I'm curious how your capital is guaranteed? Unless they mean the face value of the stamp which if you paid over the odds isn't going to be much consolation to use it to post a letter!

Linton

With all these types of investment I would say that if you arent an expert you should steer well clear.

gozomark

daniel80 wrote: »

plus your capital is guaranteed,

by Stanley Gibbons

xx_Law_Grad_xx

I have seen a lot of articles over the years on alternative investments. Stamps by Stanley Gibbons, wine, the coin fund by Avarae, modern art funds, etc. are all seem to be covered in them.

They seem like very niche and very very risky investments. And usually require a large investment, the modern Art fund is £100k I believe.

The stamps which Stanley Gibbons sell are overpriced and would be wary of buying any which arnt classed as exceptional. Take the Chinese antiquities which sell at auction for astronomical amounts, they arnt just average pieces, they were once housed in palaces. I would apply the same to the stamps, I cannot see common stamps valued at a couple of hundred pounds drawing massive global interest when auctioned. Returns will most probably be quite poor. It is most probably recommended that only a small percentage of a portfolio is in alternative investments so if £10k is required then a portfolio of £200k may be suggested.

The Avarae fund performance has been largely flat, however, it has been tipped for years.

Unless you are an expert on any of the above alternative investments I wouldnt recommend touching them with a barge pole.

Biggles

They do have a 'Capital Protected Growth Plan' but that just means that, like Guaranteed Equity Bonds, you only get some kind of guarantee by paying for it in terms of a poor return.

Bargepole job.