2017-04-27 Thu

In the 1960s odd shaped stamps, stamps made of nontraditional materials, stamps with holograms or other unusual features became very popular.

“Dunes” is a term given to such kind of stamps which are particularly sold only to collectors by semi-independent organisations. They are mostly sold cancelled to order.

The Yemen Arab Republic or North Yemen existed from 1962 to 1990 after it became a part of People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen to form the present Republic of Yemen. The Yemen Arab Republic issued many gimmicky stamps, some of which were made of gold foil.

A mint never-hinged Yemen Arab Republic 8-bogache 1970 World Football Championship Jules Rimet Trophy gold foil airmail stamp overprinted “Munich 74” for the 1974 World Cup was sold recently for $230. This goes to show that gimmicky stamps can also have a good market value even though they are not listed in many standard catalogues.