Summertime means more free time for personal interests and hobbies. It may be because of higher gas and food prices, but collectors seem equally interested in value. Time to answer a few letters.

Dear Peter: A while back you wrote about the $20 bills found by a riverbank that turned out to be part of the ransom money paid to famed hijacker D.B. Cooper. They were going to be sold at auction. Did the money ever sell? If so, what did they bring? — J.T. Highland, IL

Heritage Auction Galleries put 15 of the $20 bills under the hammer several weeks ago. As you may recall, all were extremely worn and torn, and only a portion of each bill remained. Nevertheless, because the serial numbers confirmed they were part of the ransom, interest in even the most deteriorated bills was high. I'd have to believe the consigner was happy with the $37,433 the lots brought. (Remember, the face value was only $300, and he found them so his cost was zero.)

Two of the bills put up for sale contained the handwritten initials of investigators on them. Those sold for the most — $6,572 apiece. It's important to remember that the bills found were only a fraction of those Cooper parachuted out of the plane with. There may be more out there waiting to be found.

Dear Peter: Prices for precious metals remain at an all-time high and high-quality rare coins seem to continually bring record prices. Are collectible postage stamps increasing at the same rate? — L.N. Bradenton, Fla.

Rare stamps in top condition continue to bring record-setting prices. But, first, let me correct one thing. Prices for precious metals are actually substantially lower than in 1980. When adjusted for inflation, gold is worth substantially less, and silver is languishing compared to its high of $50 an ounce in 1979/80. The value of rare stamps in especially nice condition (well-centered, good color, etc.) is higher than ever.

According to the newly released 2009 Scott Postage Stamp Catalogue, the value of stamps abroad is particularly high. Some from Great Britain are up almost 50 percent over last year. Some of this can be attributed to the lackluster purchasing power of the dollar. But, the fact remains people are paying premium prices for top-notch philatelic items.

Here's something else to ponder. The most valuable is a Swedish three-skilling stamp printed in 1857. It sold in 1996 for $2.3 million. The stamp is purported to weigh 0.0009 ounces. According to one source, by weight that means its value is roughly $3 trillion an ounce. I think it's going to be a while before gold reaches that.

Dear Peter: I receive mail-order catalogs from several companies selling collectible coins, currency and stamps. (At least they say they're "collectible.") Are these good sources for buying as investments or for gifts? — S.H. Davis, Calif.

In a word … no. I receive the same or similar catalogs. They're certainly convenient, and ordering is easy. That being said, I've yet to see prices in any of them that most good local coin or stamp dealers can't beat by 30 to 50 percent. Check with them or other dealers in national hobby trade publications and newspapers. You'll save a bundle.

Editor's Note: A JPEG visual of one of the "D.B. Cooper" $20 bills that sold at auction for $6,572 has been sent with this column.

To find out more about Peter Rexford and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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