STAMP collectors are turning their backs on the postman, who traditionally they have relied on to deliver printed catalogues through the mail, and instead are turning to the internet to trade their goods.

Stanley Gibbons, the stamp dealer, revealed the trend yesterday as it credited a 48 per cent increase in first-quarter profits and sales to a boom in internet trade.

The company, which is based in Jersey, said that more than two million users had visited its website over the past year, out of an estimated 30 million stamp collectors worldwide.

The company said in a statement to its annual meeting that the internet had been instrumental in transforming its sales base and buyers from abroad now accounted for 40 per cent of total sales.

Paul Fraser, the chairman, said that the sales and profit figures in the first three months of 2006 represented the company’s “best ever first-quarter result”.

Shares in Stanley Gibbons jumped 13 per cent to a record high of 158p yesterday.

Mr Fraser said: “Momentum is still building in rare stamps as an alternative asset class, and we are at the forefront of the market, with the most recognisable brand name and largest stockholding of stamps in the world.” He added that the company’s SG100 stamp price index, which is based on the prices achieved for the 100 most-traded, higher-value stamps — had increased by 4.1 per cent in the first quarter.

He said this “demonstrated that the rerating of rare stamps in the overall collectibles market has increased the natural pressures on supply and demand”.

Mr Fraser said that the figures had been boosted by the company’s ability to recruit new clients and demand for stamps was growing. Cash generation also remained strong, with profits providing the “necessary working capital to re-invest in our future profit growth”.

The group is expected to publish its interim results on July 28.