The Irish Independent reports that Stanley Gibbons, one of the most respected UK agents for rare stamps, is holding a number of seminars in Dublin next week aimed at promoting rare stamps as an alternative investment.

Richard Perkis, a director of Stanley Gibbons, said the seminars are in response to increased demand from the public for rare stamps which have hit new highs in auctions recently.

According to the Stanley Gibbons GB30 Rareties Index, the value of rare stamps has increased by an annual average of 9.5pc over the past 51 years and by an average 10.7pc over the past seven years.

Mr Perkis said the increase was due to the arrival of Russian investors into the market.

The free seminars are on Tuesday November 8 in the Royal Dublin Hotel on O'Connell St in Dublin at 8.30am, 1pm and 6pm.

For more on investing in stamps from the American Stamp Dealers Association (ASDA), click here.