Stamp collecting in an e-mail age

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buying and selling stamps. While there are many sites that specialize in collectibles, eBay is by far the largest source for stamps, according to stamp enthusiasts.

"eBay and its auction cousins are really increasing the number of people collecting stamps," de Vries said. At any given time, there are 40,000 to 50,000 lots of stamps on eBay alone, by the estimate of several collectors interviewed.

In Seeler's bagpipe quest, eBay, including its German and French sites, is a primary source for acquisitions--for which he pays $1 to $80, often buying an entire lot for a single bagpipe stamp within it. Seeler then scans each new stamp and posts the image to his expanding Web gallery, part of a site he maintains on bagpipes and their history.

The stamps available on eBay range from garden varieties to rarities in the $6,000 range. Watchers of stamp auctions note that they have seen some available for as much as $35,000.

"There are many things you can do to stamps to make them look like other much more valuable ones with as little as a pair of scissors."

--George Kopecky, co-founder, SCADS

Buyers can also take a chance by bidding on grab bags that contain hundreds of stamps in see-through garbage bags or cartons. These lots are often sold by the pound. Potential buyers have no idea how much the contents are worth, but hope to find a gem that allows them to double or triple their investment. On Friday afternoon, one grab bag sold for $975 after 23 people bid on it.

But buying stamps online--especially through auction sites--can be risky. Consumer advocates warn that with stamps, unlike with other valuables, fraud artists need few special tools or skills. Counterfeiting a valuable coin takes special tools and dies; reproducing a painting requires a skilled artist.

"In other words, entrance requirements are steep--not in stamps," said George Kopecky, co-founder of Stamp Collectors Against Dodgy Sellers, a site that regularly exposes fraudulent auctioneers and dealers on the Internet. "There are many things you can do to stamps to make them look like other much more valuable ones with as little as a pair of scissors."

A knowledgeable con artist can increase the value of a stamp with a few cosmetic changes. One common ruse is to clean up a used stamp to make it appear new, a step that may drastically increase its value.

When investigators at Scads are suspicious of a seller on eBay, they refer to the seller's eBay ID to examine the person's buying