United States Revenues, while a specialty in themselves, offer nearly fifty subspecialties, all of which have their fierce devotees. Stock Transfer stamps are a niche of revenue collecting that has become much more popular in the last decade. Stock Transfer stamps were issued to pay the tax on the sale or gift of shares of stock. There is no Federal tax on stock sales now (except a gains tax if you make money), but for many years a small tax was levied by the government, and, to facilitate the payment of this tax, stock transfer stamps were issued.
These stamps were unpopular for many years for several reasons. First, they were hard to get. The higher denominations represented enormous outlay (stamps with a face value of up to $10,000 were issued for huge stock transfers), and so few collectors ever bought these stamps mint. They were used on stock certificates and so were outside of the main collecting channels. Collectors just couldn't find them. Second, as the face value of the stamps were so high, and reuse would have represented such a great revenue loss, most of these stamps were canceled by being punched or cut. As the nature of the cancellation damaged the stamp, and collectors rarely desire stamps in which nearly the entire supply is damaged, quality conscious US collectors have stayed away. Another reason for the relative unpopularity of these stamps is the fact that annual issues were distinguished from the previous years stamps by just changing an overprinted year date. All the stamps are the same shade of green, no matter what the denomination, creating a monotonous palette in your album. Few collectors realize the degree to which variety, color and design influence their choice of what they collect. Stock Transfer stamps (in green), like their cousins the dated Documentaries (in red) are a bit boring.
This has all changed in the last few years, and Stock Transfer stamps are becoming very popular and are rising in desirability and price. There are two reasons for this. First, these stamps are very scarce and hard to find. A Stock Transfer stamp that sells for a hundred dollars is rarely offered. There are scores of different better stamps that collectors need to complete the field, and so the chase is an exciting one. The second reason why these stamps have become so popular is because they are related to stock trading. Many new fortunes have been made by brokers and investment bankers in the last two decades. Some of these people are drawn to collecting stamps, and people are often interested in collecting stamps related to their occupations. More rich investment bankers equals more demand for Stock Transfer stamps.
This last point about people collecting philatelic areas that compliment their other areas of interest plays out in other areas of our hobby as well. Duck stamps have always enjoyed more interest and higher prices because they are collected by Duck hunters as well as traditional philatelists. Silver Tax stamps, Postage Currency, and Encased Postage are three US subspecialties that appeal to coin collectors as well. A philatelist could do very well investment wise if he could identify other areas that could lead to crossover interest and start to collect these areas on the ground floor.