What People Say

What other people say about Stanley Gibbons Investments

We are both very excited about and proud of the investment options that we offer you - but our opinion needs to be balanced by those of others.  So here is both what our customers have been saying and also what the papers say.

In the Press

"Time to consider these esoteric investments? Over the past five years, continued volatility in equity markets has left investors uninspired by conventional asset classes and alternatives have become increasingly popular….Stamp collecting may be considered by some to be an old man’s hobby, but savvy investors have turned this pastime into a way of making money…."

Charlotte Richards, Investment Week, 21 November 2012

"The most valuable commodity on the planet… (Hint: it’s not gold.) This low risk, ultra-stable asset continues to rise…and routinely crushes safe-haven competitors."

Karim Rahemtulla, The Wall Street Daily Insider, 12 November 2012

"Investors seeking attractive returns should hunker down with homegrown firms whose strong brands are the key to generating internationally derived growth…investors determined to eke out premium profits can count on powerful British brand owners to generate growth….do not overlook revered British stamp brand leader Stanley Gibbons, the £54.9 million cap strutting its stuff on the international stage. The reputation of the Stanley Gibbons brand ensures earnings are not overly reliant on any one region or indeed product category…. Excitement surrounds its online initiatives and overseas growth."

Shares Magazine Vol 14 Issue 43, 25 October 2012   

"4 times profit. It's better than the stock market."

Bill Gross, PIMCO, talking to the New York Times in 2007 after seeing his collection of early Great Britain rarities selling for $9.1m at auction, having purchased the stamps for a little less than $2.5m over 7 years before the auction.

"…investors in the group should be raising a glass to the sheer resilience of the stamps and collectables group."

Ian Lyall, Proactive Investors 2 Nov 2011

"Stanley Gibbons is the leading brand name in a market that is becoming increasingly global."

Charles Hall, Analyst at Peel Hunt in an article in The Guardian 25 March 2011

"The ultimate store of value is said to be gold. But another asset class that is vying for the title is stamps, a $10bn global market."

Moneyweek 28 October 2011

"Rare stamps are worth much more than their weight in gold."

James Cockington, Sydney Morning Herald 21 Sept 2011

"That’s the sort of figure that could have tears running down the face of many a person in the financial world these days."

Jonathan Cowap, BBC Radio York, 21 July 2011 when told that the GB30 had grown 84% over 5 years

"Known as a hobby for five to 85, stamp collecting has emerged as a genuine challenger for a place in the sophisticated investor’s portfolio. Portable, easy to store, readily accessible to valuation and trade, stamps have maintained their investment cachet over the 170-odd years since values were first printed on small pieces of paper along with the sovereign’s head."

David Nicholson, Sunday Telegraph, 13 March 2011 

"Investing in stamps can help you earn handsome returns in the long term. So it might be the right time to park some funds here before prices go beyond your reach."

Money Today, 2nd May 2011

"Tangible assets have continued to prove their worth as investments throughout 2010 and early 2011, partly due to the impetus provided by Asian, especially Chinese buyers. This shows through clearly in the markets for art, wine, stamps and rare coins."

Money Observer June 2011 

"Stamps have bucked the volatility of the market seen in almost every other category of antiques and collecting and have continued their remorseless increase in value." 

John Ainsley, Antiques Info Sept / Oct 2010 edition

"Prices of old stamps are rising at perhaps 15 per cent a year, but the modern issues are growing at more than 100 per cent as clients speculate that values will continue to rise. Like all speculative investments, international clients are coming in to benefit from the market. The biggest buyer this weekend was a London investor who bought more than HK$2m (£165,000). It's not just mainland Chinese."

Mr Mangin, Director of Zurich Asia, talking to the Telegraph about Chinese stamps

"Pretty astronomical. What is interesting is that the boom in Chinese stamps is flowing back into the West as collectors want to be a part of the boom. It's a bit like the stock market; people want to get into it."

Rob Schneider, Interasia Auctions, describing the rise in price of Chinese stamps over the last two years to the Telegraph

"It’s an investment that survived the recession in 2008, and actually zoomed 39% that year when all asset classes- global stock markets, US property rates and even gold – fell."

Times of India 30 Nov 2010

"Rare stamps and autographs provide a consistently secure investment opportunity because the market is driven by passion rather than fear and greed"

Moneyextra.com, 4 July 2008

"Rare stamps have been a good investment for decades, as legendary investor, Pimco bond guru, Bill Gross, knows all too well. Some professional investors are currently holding a good proportion of their emotional asset portfolios in stamps as a non-volatile, non-correlated diversifier to the rest of their investments."

Pam Atherton Investment Adviser 31 May 2010

"No wonder financial advisers suggest adding stamps to an investor’s portfolio. Investments in rare stamps can fetch annual returns of over 45%. On average, rare stamps have given returns of about 10-15% a year in recent years. They have given steady returns and occasionally (as in 2008) beaten the Sensex."

The Economic Times, 17 January 2011

For all press and media enquiries, please contact:

press@stanleygibbons.com
+44 (0) 1425 481 045

We are happy to help you with whatever enquiry you may have.

Personal Investors

"As a result of my visit to Guernsey , I was duly impressed that my investment was safe and handled by very competent individuals. I urge you to consider rare stamps."

M. Checkan (Investor)

"Every now and again, I like to look at my stamps - so much more rewarding than a share certificate! When I get more money to invest, Stanley Gibbons will be my first port of call."

Nick S (Investor)

"I have to tell you what a great company Stanley Gibbons is! While I am a novice with respect to stamps, everything about my contacts with you company has been positive."

V.C. USA (Investor)

"A few years ago (2004) you put together a portfolio of stamps for me (approx £14,000 in value). I recently had them valued and they have increased to a pleasing degree. I am aware that this increase is due to a large degree to the quality of the stamps that you selected. I therefore wanted to drop you a quick email to express my thanks."

G.B. United Kingdom (Investor)

"Thank you for the updated valuation of my portfolio. Very nice gains for an almost no-risk investment! If I also factor in the rise of the GBP vs USD, the total gains are about 48% for a two year holding period... You can be sure that I will share my results and recommendation with friends and family. Thanks for your meticulous attention!"

S. Vence, Colorado, US (Investor)

"None of my other investments give me the joy that autographs do, because they make me feel that I am holding a piece of history in my hands."

Malcolm Forbes, Forbes Magazine

"Apart from the obvious point of portfolio diversification, the fascination of owning something of which there may only be half a dozen examples in the world is very powerful. And so long as Man’s obsession with collecting things continues, the laws of supply and demand will ensure that rare stamps continue to appreciate in value over the long term."

DP, Singapore (Investor)

Investment Agents

"The investment confirmation and documentation is produced to a very high standard that reflects the quality of both Stanley Gibbons and the assets themselves. It has certainly helped me gain more referrals and investments, well done Stanley Gibbons."

Thomas Kelly ACIB, Middle East Agent

"Since it was launched, I have sold more Great Britain rare stamp portfolios to my clients than equity sum capital growth ISA’s."

Nigel Bolitho, IFA and Investors Chronicle Journalist