Hello. Looking For Info...

Hello. My name is BrianM, and I'm from the Northeast US. I registered on this website because I am looking for information & suggestions. I know nothing about stamp collecting or stamp values. Several years ago, my grandmother & uncle gave me a box filled with stamps. The box has been sitting in my closet, but I recently counted the stamps. I have about 6,000 stamps. Some are hinged into books. Some are loose in plastic bags. Most have post marks. The stamps are from several different countries. I would say most are from the 1940's and 1950's. However, I also saw some 1920's and 1930's postmarks. I'm just trying to find a source to learn how to organize this collection. Is there potential for value in this box? Any ideas?

Hi Brian

Im also a new stamp collector ,, we have some very knowledgeable folks here that I know can help with organising and getting some kind of an Idea of value on your collection .

We all come and go at different times so please be patient !

Perhaps you could post a couple of photo's of a few of the stamps that catch your eye !

I know I would love to see some of them !

Please make yourself at home were a friendly bunch !

Metalman

Hello Brian!
Welcome to the forum.

First off some basics:

You should refrain from handling your stamps with your fingers. If you do, you run the risk of damaging your stamps or soiling them. Buy some stamp tongs from a dealer in stamp collection supplies. The long ones are the best and easiest to use. Do not use tweezers since these have sharp ends which will damage your stamps.

Once you have some tongs, you can arrange your stamps on black vario stocksheets. These have pockets for the stamps and fit into a standard three ring binder. They are also available from any dealer in stamp supplies.

There may be some value in the stamps you have, there is no way of knowing until you identify them and know their condition. Value is highly dependent on the condition the stamps are in. For valuable stamps, a light crease or a missing perforation or a small tear or a pinhole or a missing piece will greatly decrease the value.

To identify your stamps you will need a set of Scott catalogs. The bad news it that the 2007 editions come in six volumes and currently cost about $215 used on ebay. The 2008 latest editions cost more. However, since your stamps are from the 1950s and earlier you do not need the most up-to-date catalogs to identify your stamps. You can buy much cheaper catalogs from several years ago. The most inexpensive way would be to obtain a very old set when there were fewer volumes -- from the 1990s, 1980s or even the 1970s. These will cost just a few dollars per volume, depending on the age and condition. Alternatively your local library may have a set of Scott catalogs in the reference section that you can use for free - but usually can't check out.

Until you get your catalogs, you can post scans or photos of your stamps here and we will do our best to identify them for you. Once a stamp is identified, you can search for it on ebay to determine what the current market price is for your stamp.

Good luck on your new venture! Most of the folks here would be extremely delighted to have a box full of stamps to identify!