You probably have in your mind a mental picture of the average stamp collector. You couldn't be more wrong...

The exhibition closes at 10pm each evening.

However... the courtesy shuttle bus to the hotel stops running at 9.30pm.

And to really confuse us... the hotel restaurant closes at 9pm.

So, if you want to eat, it's a pleasant 15 minute walk along the shores of the Mediterranean to the nearest restaurant.

That's where we met Jerry. He's also in town for the stamp show. He's one of those larger than life characters. After an enjoyable chat I decided life in an exhibition hall isn't so bad after all.

Jerry owns a kibbutz in Northern Israel. You actually can't get more Northern... his kibbutz is on the Israeli, Syrian, Lebanese border.

He has 1,000 acres where he farms cattle.

But this isn't your normal farmland.

Running through Jerry's land is a 12ft high electric fence separating him from Lebanon and the Hezbollah.

Jerry goes to work each morning with a rifle, a hand gun, and four 'trained to kill' German shepherd dogs to keep him company.

But today he's in Tel Aviv to look at the rare stamps on display. And he's not alone.

With over $500million worth of rare stamps in the exhibition hall the World Stamp Championships are proving to be quite an attraction.

Up to 60,000 people are expected to visit. A pretty good figure considering Tel Aviv has a population of just 390,400.

In the exhibition hall we have displays of rare stamps owned by one of Britain's richest men (he recently spent $11,207,500 on a Van Gogh painting).

Another display is owned by the Director General of the Democratic Party, another by a South African investment art dealer.

There are others owned by wealthy American Doctors and Spanish, Ukrainian and Greek businessmen.

So forget about 'geezers with tweezers'.

This is a world populated by serious businessmen who appreciate the value of rarity.

It's easy to understand this appreciation.

The simplest of economic equations dictates that the increasing popularity of stamp collecting will have a very positive effect on rare stamp prices.

After all... the supply of rare stamps is severely limited.

This can be a fascinating and rewarding area of investment. One you have possibly never considered before.

If you want to find out more then give me a call.

Our advice is free.

+44 (0) 1481 708 277
email aroose@stanleygibbons.co.uk
TOLL FREE from the USA 1 866 644 6146

Regards
Adrian Roose