Monochromatic, or colour

Personally I prefer the older engraved stamps to many of the modern stamps which use photographic printing techniques. I like the feel that there is some real indvdual artwork. I prefer stamps which just use one, or a few, colours. It's definitely not about the value of the stamps for me - many of the older stamps I love are not worth much. My aesthetic preferences are one reason why, apart from a few topical subjects, I focus mainly on older stamps. I think many of the older French and French Colonies pictorials are particularly beautiful.

If you have access to a scanner, scan some of the earlier engraved stamps and look at them closely. You will appreciate the time and effort that went into making those stamps.

I for one, love engraved stamps, versus the crap stuff they are printing now.