Mint stamps from Laos highly collectible

Stamp Market Tips by Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

Laos, a landlocked Southeast Asian country on the Indochina Peninsula, has issued many colorful and beautifully designed stamps.

For many years, unfortunately, the stamp market was flooded with canceled-to-order stamps of Laos, which tended to put the country in a less than favorable category with collectors. However, the stamps in mint, never-hinged condition are highly collectible.

On March 4, 1954, Laos issued a three-stamp set (Scott 25-26 and C13) for the 50th anniversary of the accession to the Laotian throne of King Sisavang Vong (1885-1959). The last king of the forerunner kingdom of Luang Prabang, he was the founding monarch of the unified Kingdom of Laos.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Laos was dominated in turn by Burma, China and Siam.

In 1893, France helped the Laotian kingdom drive out foreign invaders and incorporated it into the Indochinese colonial system. Vong worked closely with the French colonial authorities during his reign.

The Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue values the set of three stamps at $175 in mint, never-hinged condition.

Most of the value is in the 50-piaster Laotian Temples airmail stamp (Scott C13). The Scott Standard catalog values the stamp at $120 in mint, never-hinged condition and $75 in unused, hinged condition.

This stamp is in demand by royalty and religion topical collectors, as well as collectors of French colonies and Laos. It is a good buy in mint, never-hinged condition at around $75.

Connect with Linn’s Stamp News: 

    Sign up for our newsletter
    Like us on Facebook
    Follow us on Twitter