MUMBAI: 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.
Considered to be an "undervalued" but a highly stable asset class, investing in rare stamps is catching the fancy of Asians, particularly Indians. Investment portfolio managers feel that with India's growth story, rare stamps will be the next big asset class to invest in for the well-heeled.
Globally, the list of stamp buffs who hold "valuable" collections include Queen Elizabeth, French President Nicholas Sarkozy, Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova and billionaire fund manager Bill Gross. Over the years, it is expected to move on from just being under the realm of royal dynasties into high networth individuals.
The global philatelic market is believed to be $10-20 billion, but in India, investing in rare stamps is a niche and relatively smaller option among alternative "exotic" investments like art and antiques. Wealth experts here expect it to grow after five years and become a popular "alternative" option, mainly among people who collect them as a hobby.
Geoff Anandappa, investment portfolio manager at Stanley Gibbons, one of the largest investment portfolio firms, told TOI: "In India, typically investors are collectors themselves as against globally, where most people are pure investors. This is expected to change over the next few years, with more people investing in rare stamps. As an asset class, philately is very stable and offers around 10% returns on an annualized basis."
Though it is difficult to hazard a guess in terms of investors coming from India, data with Stanley Gibbons suggests that 20-odd high networth individuals have already invested in rare stamps. These are mainly younger professionals in their late 30s or early 40s (as against older people, globally) who hold substantial stamp collections with them.
The figure could go up over the next few years with aggressive marketing by global portfolio management firms.
The minimum amount required for investing in a rare stamp is over Rs 50 lakh.
Read more: Philately emerges as high-return investment - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Philately-emerges-as-high-return-investment/articleshow/7013034.cms#ixzz16yp6YJp9
Globally, the list of stamp buffs who hold "valuable" collections include Queen Elizabeth, French President Nicholas Sarkozy, Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova and billionaire fund manager Bill Gross. Over the years, it is expected to move on from just being under the realm of royal dynasties into high networth individuals.
The global philatelic market is believed to be $10-20 billion, but in India, investing in rare stamps is a niche and relatively smaller option among alternative "exotic" investments like art and antiques. Wealth experts here expect it to grow after five years and become a popular "alternative" option, mainly among people who collect them as a hobby.
Geoff Anandappa, investment portfolio manager at Stanley Gibbons, one of the largest investment portfolio firms, told TOI: "In India, typically investors are collectors themselves as against globally, where most people are pure investors. This is expected to change over the next few years, with more people investing in rare stamps. As an asset class, philately is very stable and offers around 10% returns on an annualized basis."
Though it is difficult to hazard a guess in terms of investors coming from India, data with Stanley Gibbons suggests that 20-odd high networth individuals have already invested in rare stamps. These are mainly younger professionals in their late 30s or early 40s (as against older people, globally) who hold substantial stamp collections with them.
The figure could go up over the next few years with aggressive marketing by global portfolio management firms.
The minimum amount required for investing in a rare stamp is over Rs 50 lakh.
Read more: Philately emerges as high-return investment - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Philately-emerges-as-high-return-investment/articleshow/7013034.cms#ixzz16yp6YJp9
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