Have you found or inherited a stamp collection that you would like to take a closer look at? Have you discovered your interest in exciting pieces of postal history and would you like to delve further into the world of philately? Did you come across stamp collecting while looking for a beautiful, popular and exciting hobby? Or are you already an enthusiastic philatelist and looking for support?
Welcome to MICHEL!
The MICHELThe catalog has been the indispensable reference work for all stamp collectors for over 100 years. In German philately, almost exclusively MICHEL traded, exchanged and sold. Regardless of whether you are a beginner, a long-time collector or a professional philatelic market participant: the. is for reliable, neutral and detailed information MICHEL-Catalogue known and appreciated everywhere. If you want to know more about the exciting MICHEL- want to know company history, Feel free to read more here!
Find out below what you need to know about getting started in philately, about particularly famous stamps and about the most important research tools.
We have answers to many of the questions you may have (or will have) in ours FAQ section Help for collectors Answers and information materials compiled. If you have any further questions or need help with our products, please see All contact options here to the publisher. You can MICHEL on too Facebook, Instagram and by means of the regular Newsletters follow - take the chance to get exciting insights into the publisher, great competitions and always up-to-date information about products and offers! We look forward to seeing you!
1. The postage stamp: a wise investment?
Postage stamps have been around since May 6, 1840, initially only in Great Britain. Back then you could have gone to the nearest post office and bought the two stamps that were on offer for 3 pence. This was a complete collection of all the world's stamps. To give an idea of the current equivalent value, the stamps were used to pay for a domestic letter in the first weight class (1 penny) and in the weight class above (2 pence). It currently costs 175 C (80 C + 95 C) at Deutsche Post. Today's review in MICHEL for both brands unused is €14.500. That is significantly more than the assumed purchasing power equivalent of €1,75. This means that stamps can also be an object for investment because they have acquired collector value beyond their use value.
Here are some examples of the value developments of the most expensive stamps on the German market from 1950 to today:
- The Black One
- The Red Threesome
- The Basel pigeon
- The Romanian ox heads
- British Guiana
- The Golden Monkey
2. Addresses for further information
BDPh – Association of German Philatelists eV
The BDPh brings together clubs, working groups and other philatelic associations, as well as individual collectors. The BDPh website offers a good overview of all areas of philatelic life in Germany.
APHV – General Postage Stamp Dealers Association eV
Here you will find a large selection of reputable dealers in your area who will be happy to advise you.
BDB – Federal Association of German Stamp Auctioners
Competent auctioneers from various specialist areas are organized in the BDB. Here you will find information about auctions and more.
BPP - Association of Philatelic Examiners eV
In the BPP you will find examiners who can certify the authenticity of brands. Some appraisers also offer you a neutral and independent assessment of the value of your collection. If necessary, you can ask your local chamber of commerce and industry for other philatelic experts in your area!
Pha - Philatelic Academy eV
If you want to build up or expand your knowledge in a structured manner, a correspondence course at the Philatelic Academy might be just the thing.
3. Getting started and researching
Every beginning is difficult. That's why you'll find literature here that will help you develop and expand your hobby. In order to identify your stamps and determine their value, you need a reference book for the relevant area.
Germany Compact. The new junior
If you are new to philately and your collection mainly contains German stamps, your research should be in the beginners' category.MICHEL begin, which is revised and republished once a year. Here you can look up all German stamps from 1849 to the new Deutsche Post stamps. Both the clear presentation of the information and the price make it the ideal entry-level reference work for collectors. But many professionals also appreciate this compact help.
Owning brands from different countries and territories can make your search a little tricky at first. You can find a reference work for each area MICHEL-Online shop.
MICHEL-Online
If you don't want to buy special reference books for all relevant areas or are used to paperless work everywhere, this is the option MICHEL-Online might be right for you. You can use it to quickly find over 800.000 stamps from Germany, Europe and overseas. The many high-resolution images and many search functions make research even easier than in print MICHEL.
MICHEL-FAQ help for collectors
If you initially have problems identifying stamps, you should definitely take a look at our help for collectors. There you will find one, among others MICHEL-Research brochure that will accompany you step by step in identifying an unknown stamp. There you will also find an overview of issuing countries, a list of abbreviations and symbols MICHEL and - very important for beginners - the answer to the question "What do they mean MICHEL-Prices?".
Counselor of MICHEL
If you have any further questions, there are numerous options available MICHEL-Guides available on various philatelic topics: From "Stamp collecting made easy" above "Understanding stamps" to more comprehensive tips on brand identification in "Determine stamps" you're sure to find the right knowledge there that will help you and your collection!
The film “The Heritage” was a joint project for philately in Germany. Schwaneberger Verlag would like to thank all supporters who made the implementation possible:
