Hierarchy of Values in GBLA Collections
Peter Valdner (2026)
In the article about the origins of GBLA collections, we have already explained that they were created between 1967 and 1975 in two ways. Either they were assembled by seafarers aboard ships, or by collectors who arranged for covers to be sent to them from the ships. There were thousands of collections at the time, but over the years they were gradually consolidated into larger collections. But how should their values be ranked?
For the current edition of the GBLA Encyclopaedia and Catalogue, I have written the following chapter on this subject. It also includes specific prices, weighted arithmetic averages and price medians, which I have omitted here on the blog.
A Final Word on Collecting GBLA: From One Collector to Fellow Collectors
Every GBLA item has a collectible value and a price. Its value is determined by its rarity and, in the case of GBLA stamps, also by the method of production, the place and time of their creation (p. 193), as well as their purpose (p. 84). This value is listed in the catalogue and increases over time (p. 190). In nominal terms, this is due to inflation; in real terms, it is driven by uncertainty in the markets.
Price, on the other hand, is determined by supply and demand, both of which are constantly changing. Since 2020, supply has increased sharply as a result of COVID-19, which claimed the lives of prominent collectors, whose collections subsequently came onto the market. However, this was offset by a sharp rise in demand, driven by market uncertainty resulting from the war between Russia and Ukraine and, last but not least, the introduction of the Catalogue to the market. Such fluctuations will undoubtedly continue. After all, collectors are mortal, and supply occasionally increases. However, the publication of Cath Senker's book (p. 52) in an Arabic-language edition is in preparation, which will probably increase demand. The same applies to a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, El Niño...
The rarity of GBLA items is determined by their availability. Many are in the hands of heirs of former GBLA members, while others are held in museums and are permanently lost to the market. GBLA stamps are particularly distinctive because, unlike ordinary stamps, which are often issued in print runs of millions, they were produced in very limited quantities.
The hierarchy of values is as follows:
1. Covers bearing dozens of different stamps. These were sent home by Captains Bryan Hill and Klement Benda. They were a valuable source of information for this book. I know of only four such covers. Three of them are illustrated in this book (pp. 30, 146).
2. Linocuts depicting GBLA ships by Marian Kaprzyk (p. 83). Although there were fourteen ships, only thirteen linocuts exist, because the two Polish ships were identical and a single printing block was sufficient for both.
3. Other printing blocks used to produce stamps and illustrations. There were hundreds of them, but the overwhelming majority were destroyed by being thrown into a lake (p. 48). The surviving blocks include those made by M. Kasprzyk and R. Kluža (p. 83), as well as those belonging to Captains Fischer and Benda. There may be a few others. I estimate that around one hundred printing blocks still exist today.
4. Stamp sheets. Although thousands were produced, the vast majority were cut up into individual stamps. I estimate that around two hundred sheets still exist today, but some are in the hands of heirs of former GBLA members and are therefore inaccessible to collectors.
5. Covers that traveled through the postal system bearing only GBLA stamps. There were several hundred of these. Robert Hornby alone sent dozens (p. 70). However, be careful: some covers traveled in the luggage of GBLA members rather than through the postal system. I estimate that only around one hundred are genuine postal covers.
The next items in the hierarchy are relatively more readily available. The prices quoted are based on eBay sales from 2021–2026. For subsequent years, they should be adjusted upwards using the coefficient given on p. 191.
6. Covers that traveled through the postal system with Egyptian postage stamps. Although not all of them reached their intended recipients (p. 81), I estimate that tens of thousands were produced. Most GBLA collectors are interested in these particular covers. Thousands have survived, although many remain in the collections of GBLA members. Captain Hill generously sent hundreds without charge (p. 75), while the German captains Fischer and von der Mehden (p. 85) sent thousands for payment. In all cases, genuine postal services were used.
7. Covers and other souvenirs bearing GBLA stamps and postmarks. Thousands of these also exist, most of them produced by the Poles for Djakbier and Djabiporst.
8. Covers sent by Captain Hill after his departure from GBLA (p. 111). Several are very attractive, and more than one hundred have survived.
9. Covers bearing postmarks but no GBLA stamps, which were both dispatched and delivered. They document the actual use of postal services. Several hundred have survived to this day.
10. Individual GBLA stamps. Although tens of thousands were produced, relatively few have survived, probably only a few thousand. A considerable portion of these form part of complete sheets or their fragments.
11. Imitations of GBLA stamps produced by Dr Zappala. These were the only ones issued in print runs of thousands, purely for commercial purposes. They are visually attractive, but many have nothing whatsoever to do with GBLA (p. 86).
Ephemera and Other Collectibles. In addition to the philatelic items listed above, so-called ephemera are also collected. Their disadvantage is that most have remained in the hands of GBLA members and reach collectors only exceptionally. Many stamp collectors have never even encountered most of these items. Some exist in only a single copy.
In the Catalogue, they are generally assigned average values (p. 191). However, the actual price range for individual items can be enormous. Access to several of these items is possible only through the purchase of a larger GBLA collection. They are comparable to the philatelic items described in categories 1–5 above.
The most sought-after items include prints of ships and illustrations by Marian Kasprzyk (p. 83), sports programs (p. 26), maps (p. 15), seamen's books and letters.
Articles about GBLA are the most readily available items. More are being published all the time. Thousands of photographs were also taken on the GBL. Many are unique, while others are readily available on the internet.
Every collector can choose what appeals to them, according to their personal taste or the size of their bank account.
Sources: GBLA Encyclopaedia and Stamp Catalogue
Contact to the author: valdpete@yahoo.com
