Approvals

Approvals are selections of stamps sent by a dealer to a collector on the understanding that the collector will buy only what they want and send the rest back. The system relies on trust: the dealer ships the stamps before any money changes hands, and the collector returns the unsold items along with payment.

How an Approval Selection Works

A typical approval selection arrives as an approval book or a set of cards, each stamp mounted in its own space and marked with a price. The collector:

1. Examines the stamps at leisure — often with a magnifier and a perforation gauge.
2. Removes the stamps they want to keep.
3. Returns the book with payment for the missing items within an agreed period (commonly two weeks).

Many services then send a fresh selection on a regular schedule, tailored to the countries or themes the collector has requested.

History and Reputation

Approvals were a mainstay of 20th-century philately. Magazine and comic-book advertisements offered young collectors a free packet of stamps “with approvals,” introducing generations of children to the hobby. The model worked, but it also attracted criticism: some operators used the free packet as a hook and sent unwanted selections repeatedly. Today’s reputable approval dealers are generally specialists serving adult collectors, often by country, and many now operate online with digital approval lists.

Pros and Cons

Advantages:

• You see the actual stamp — its centering, gum and condition — before paying.
• Useful for filling specific gaps in a country collection.
• A good way to build a relationship with a specialist dealer.

Disadvantages:

• Per-stamp prices are usually higher than kiloware or bulk lots.
• Return postage and the obligation to process each selection can add up.
• Some services send selections too broad to be useful.

Tips for Using Approvals

State your interests precisely (country, period, mint or used, price range). Handle stamps with tongs, never fingers, and keep unwanted stamps in their original spaces. Return selections on time — a good payment record often earns better selections in future.