Anyone who has inherited a stamp collection and searched online for advice will probably have seen them: videos and posts warning that stamp collecting is dying, that collectors are disappearing, and that anyone with an album should sell now before it is too late.
These messages can be unsettling, especially for families who are dealing with a collection at an already difficult time. This autumn, several pieces of news from the stamp world gave a rather more balanced picture. Together, they suggest a hobby and a market that are changing, but are far from finished.
The "sell now" message
In September 2026, the American philatelic writer and editor Wayne Youngblood addressed the trend directly in a column titled "Is the Stamp Collecting Hobby Really Dying?". Writing after a stamp show in the United States, he described the recent wave of "sell your stamps now" posts on social media and argued that they give a misleading impression to collectors and non-collectors alike.
In his view, such posts come from a mix of motives: some are simply designed to attract clicks, some reflect a lack of understanding of the hobby, and some come from opportunistic buyers who hope to persuade people to part with inherited collections cheaply. He accepts that the hobby has changed, pointing to fewer stamp shops and shows, less stamped mail, and the effect of the internet in making prices more transparent. His conclusion, however, is that collecting is evolving rather than dying.
It is one commentator's view, and it is written from an American perspective. But it echoes a debate that has been going on for a long time. We looked at the same question in 2014 in our article "Is the King of Hobbies Stamp Collecting Dying?", and more than a decade later the hobby is still very much active.
A major auction house moves into stamps
One of the clearest signs of confidence came in late September, when Heritage Auctions, one of the largest collectibles auctioneers in the United States, announced a new Stamps category. The department is led by Charles Shreve, who joins as Vice President, Stamps, and Tracy Carey, who joins as Consignment Director. Both are long-established figures in the American stamp auction world.
For Heritage, it is something of a return. Heritage's co-founder Steve Ivy set up a stamp auction business in 1980, and Heritage sold its earlier stamp division more than three decades ago. The new department is accepting consignments now, with its first auction planned for early 2027.
A large, commercially minded auction house would not set up a specialist department without believing there is demand from buyers and a steady supply of good material. That is a useful counterpoint to the idea that nobody wants stamps any more.
Linn's returns to print
In October, FEPA News reported that Linn's Stamp News, one of the best-known philatelic publications in the world, is returning to print. Linn's had announced in September 2024 that it would move to a digital-only format after its 5,000th issue. On 5 October 2026, Jay Bigalke, President and CEO of its new owner Scott Stamp LLC, announced that the printed edition would return, a decision that reflected feedback from subscribers and advertisers.
It is a small story in itself, but a telling one. Print publishing is expensive, and a decision to go back to paper suggests a readership that values the magazine enough to support it.
Stampex at 70
Closer to home, Stampex returned to the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, from 28 to 31 October 2026. Organised by the Philatelic Traders' Society, Stampex has been running since 1956, and this year's show marked 70 years. Admission was free on all four days, and the programme included a Youth Zone and free children's auction run by the Stamp Active network, alongside talks, book signings and dealers' stands from PTS members.
Shows like Stampex, together with the many regional stamp fairs held around the country, remain an important part of the hobby. They are where collectors meet dealers, exchange knowledge and, in many cases, first become interested in a new area of collecting.
A changing market, not a disappearing one
None of this is to say that nothing has changed. The way people buy and sell stamps has shifted a great deal over the past 20 years. Online auctions and internet bidding have made it easier for buyers anywhere in the world to find exactly what they want, and that has made prices more transparent. Material that is common or in poor condition can be harder to sell than it once was, while scarce stamps, fine postal history and well-described specialised collections continue to attract strong interest.
That is why it is important not to assume that every collection is either a hidden fortune or worthless. Most collections fall somewhere in between, and the only reliable way to know is to have them looked at properly.
Selling a collection sensibly
If you are thinking about selling, or have been left a collection and are unsure what to do with it, there is rarely any need to rush. A few simple steps can help you get a fair result.
First, get a proper stamp collection valuation from an experienced dealer or auctioneer, rather than relying on online posts or a quick offer from an unknown buyer. Second, consider your options: selling at auction can expose a collection to a wide pool of bidders, while an outright sale offers certainty and speed. Third, deal with established stamp dealers who belong to a recognised trade body such as the Philatelic Traders' Society, whose members agree to a code of conduct.
Our earlier guide to inheriting stamps also covers some of the practical questions families face.
Considering what to do with a collection?
Tony Lester Auctions has been buying and selling stamps for over 45 years. We hold three online stamp auctions a year on Easy Live Auction, each covering the whole world with good Great Britain representation, and you can see past results on our realisations page.
We offer free valuations, usually arranged within days, and give two figures: an auction estimate and an outright purchase offer. If you would like to talk about a collection, please contact us or call 01926 634809.
