Stamp spitters win ground!!

Just over 10% of all countries in the world issue 41 percent of all new stamps, covering almost half of the total catalogue value. And the market share of these countries is only growing from 1995 on. This turned out from an analysis of the yearly issues of 234 countries. The calculations are based on the yearly reports as published by catalogue maker Schwaneberger Verlag in his periodical Michel-Rundschau. Especially the leading group of countries with the largest yearly number of new issues, Guyana, St. Vincent, Tanzania and Gambia, cause this large market share. This 4 make up for a good 10% of all stamps that have been issued by the 234 countries over the last 4 years.
The runner-up group consists of almost only African countries. The United States are the first economical superpower on the list, at the 11th position, with 562 stamps in the period 1994-1997. Japan is ranked 5 positions further down, while Romania is the first European country on the 29st position. The Netherlands are not present in the upper part. Regarding the cost of the yearly set of new issues, the Netherlands are in the middle at the 114th position. About the same holds for the number of stamps.
The absolute number one in the past 4 years, Guyana, has slowed down a bit. From 441 stamps in 1994, more than 1 each day, to 271. The lead is taken over now by Gambia, with 303 stamps. Climbers on the list are Tchaad and Niger. With the yearly flood of stamps Guyana covers an ample 3% of the world market. Expressed in money it is even 5%. This is because the average selling price of almost 3.50 Dutch guilders (including blocks) is higher than the world average of slightly more than 2.00 Dutch guilders.
Much money of the stamp spitting countries does not contribute to the public money. Politicians have sold the rights to issue stamps to commercial foreign firms. Often the stamps can even not be bought in the country itself. And even if they are available at the local post office, most of the inhabitants can not afford them.

Read for you in the Algemeen Dagblad (1999), with acknowledgements to Gerrie Coerts
(translation Paul Essens)

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