E-mail can get us an answer to even the most obscure postmark usage questions, but sometimes you can get too much of a good thing and there's one question that deserves its own place on our Web site.

Q: "What is my collection of gold replica stamps worth?"

Eugene Swonger is a stamp dealer from the Midwest of USA. You'll find his tables at stamp shows throughout Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and from time-to-time he shows up on the West Coast and Hawaii.

I asked Gene's advice on the value of these stamps, and here's what he said:

"The gold foil covers and items come in many different forms from FDC's with gold replicas of the stamps used as cachets and covers simply commemorating an event, to boxed or neatly packaged ingot-like items. They come either addressed and unaddressed.

"The current buying price from most dealers is .25¢ each to $1.00 each for the FDC-type items, depending on the topical value of the item. Dealers typically sell them at $1.00 to $5.00, also depending on the topical or local interests. Most dealers prefer them to be unaddressed.

"I am not against the marketing of these items. But unfortunately, we dealers have the sometimes unpleasant task of telling the owners that they overpaid for these items (they typically sell for $5.95 to $9.95 each), especially when they bring the invoice with them, revealing what was paid!

"I once campaigned for the elimination of these items, and tried to 'save' the public, but I have figured out that you really can't 'save' the public when they don't want to be saved, so I just treat them as any other merchandise as far as buying and selling.

On a further note, these gold replica stamps are best described as "collectibles," in the same league as postcards, snow globes or commemorative plates. Though a few stamp collectors have them they are usually single stamps that are associated with other stamps that the stamp collector wants. For instance, a stamp collector who collects film-on-stamps may very well have a Marilyn Monroe gold replica stamp or cover.

# If you'd like to get some more insight into this, here's some direct search links for gold replica stamps listed at auction on eBay:

* Current

* Recently Completed

# You can find Eugene Swonger online through his stamps on eBay: 3numphil

# Here's a link to the parent company of one of the larger gold replica stamp producers: MBI