About Us

• Hello, I’m Michael Jaffe, CEO of Michael Jaffe Stamps, Inc. and I would like to tell you a little bit about our company. When I started Michael Jaffe Stamps in 1975, we were dealing primarily in United States stamps. By 1976 we developed a specialty in Waterfowl stamps (stamps required to hunt ducks). As interest in duck stamps grew, so did the inventory of Michael Jaffe Stamps. By offering high quality, fair prices, and fast service, Michael Jaffe Stamps soon became one of the largest duck stamp dealers in the country. In 1990, we purchased the duck stamp new issue division from our largest competitor, Sam Houston Philatelics. This enabled us to greatly increase our market share. Between 1990 and 1993, we began to purchase large quantity of duck stamp prints (close to 10,000) by buying out other duck stamp print dealers and distributors. Since we were able to purchase these prints for favorable prices, we were able to offer most of these prints to our customers for about half price. This new print pricing policy was greatly appreciated by our customers, so we have continued to offer a large number of duck stamp prints at this discount from normal retail. Beginning in 1992, we began offering Indian Reservation hunting and fishing stamps to our customers. These are the stamps actually used by the Indians to hunt and fish on their reservation. Since the quantity issued by most reservations are so small, not very many collectors will be able to own these elusive stamps. Michael Jaffe Stamps has built up the largest retail inventory of these stamps and has been able to keep their customers satisfied. In 1995, Michael Jaffe Stamps acquired the Brookman Stamp Company, a mail order company with quite a history. Brookman Stamp Company operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of Michael Jaffe Stamps, Inc. Lester G. Brookman formed a stamp company in the early 1930’s in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Within a year or two, the first Brookman Price List of United States stamps was published (1934). Who would have thought from this small company and price list would emerge one of the largest retail mail order companies as well as the nation’s leading price guide? Perhaps Lester Brookman did, as he certainly was a visionary. He was a United States stamp expert, prolific writer, and author of the three volume US Postage Stamps of the 19th Century. He also realized the need for a United States Price List that would serve as an accurate buying and selling guide for both collectors and dealers to use. His expert knowledge in the US market contributed to the Brookman Price List establishing itself as the authority on pricing of US Stamps. Even though the ownership of Brookman changed hands several times from the sixties until 1995 when the present owner Michael Jaffe purchased it from Bob and Arlene Driscoll, the philosophy of Lester Brookman remains the same: Service to the collector is the number one goal, be it through the sale of stamps or through producing the most accurate price guide of its kind. The Brookman Stamp Company specializes in stamps from the United States, United Nations, Canada and Provinces, and Trust Territory. We also sell topical stamps, Disney stamps, Baseball, and worldwide packets. We carry a selection of supplies including albums, mounts, hinges and stock books. Dave Macdonald heads up the Brookman division. He also edits the Brookman Price Guide. Dave was in charge of Brookman when it was located in New Hampshire and held a similar position in the H.E. Harris stamp company before that. All together, he has 40+ years of experience in the stamp business. In 1997 an opportunity to expand more into the foreign market and into the want list business became available when Gerson-Reiter of Portland decided to sell. Michael Jaffe Stamps, Inc. purchased the company along with some of their inventory and changed the name to Brookman International. This division works with customers on a one to one basis by helping customers fulfill their stamps needs through a want-list service. We also offer an expanded stock of Disney stamps, Entertainment stamps, Princess Diana stamps, World Wildlife Fund stamps, foreign packets and much more. Also in 1997, we opened our doors to the public. Up to then, we were exclusively mail order. In our storefront, located at 6300 NE St. James Rd #103 in Vancouver WA, we have various supplies including mounts, hinges, stock books, Vario pages, glassines and more. You can also spend time looking through numerous collections and individual stamps. Our store hours are from 8:00-5:00 Monday - Friday. We are always looking to purchase quality collections of Federal and state duck stamps, Non-pictorial waterfowl and Indian Reservation stamps. We also like purchasing quality United States collections. Please contact us when you are ready to sell your collection.