Could I Get Some Advice On This Collection?

I am very new to this. This collection was dropped in my lap from a family estate. There are just so many I just don't know where to begin. The album is not complete but there are so many from different countries. The pics only show a partial of what there is. Thinking I might want to save some and put together a collection for my son. But might want to sell some also but really have no idea of any value if any. I hope I am posting in the right forum and my apologies if I did not. Thanks to everyone for any info or ideas.

Welcome to Stamp Collecting Forum!

In response to your inquiry, you'd need to scan close up images for us to view in order to make a determination. From what I see in scans #2 and #3 all are very common material worth little to nothing on the resale market.

Scan #4 might be a different story, although the stamps are common, cancellations from the late 1800's are very desirable to certain collectors. There are also a number of different cancelling devices from that period that may be worth checking into.

Scans #5 and #6 show many loose stamps that appear to be early to mid 20th century US issues. Most US stamps from 1940 through the present day command little value, as they were issued in such massive quantities that they have flooded the market. If you have mint stamps among them, the earlier ones typically have more value; the later ones are probably worth more in postage value than to collectors.

The Harris Citation Album that is pictured in the last two scans was a significant stamp album in its day and depending on what the collection consists of, stamps from certain countries and time periods could be worth more than others. If you want to scan a few close ups, I'm sure some people here at Stamp Collecting Forum, will be please to comment.

As it appears you have more stamps than you would want to scan here, I suggest you visit your local library and see if they have a set of Scott Stamp Catalogs. There are six volumes (worldwide) as well as a Specialized US Catalog. That is the primary source most collectors rely upon for values, and you can then look up individual stamps and determine if any are of value. With the exception of certain rarities, on the resale level expect about 20% to 30% of catalog value as an approximate buying price, though.

Hi atom, welcome.

If you do not know much about stamp collecting it can all seem over whelming at first but don't worry, you don't have to know everything. No one does, really.

Juts take it slow and do what you want to when you want to. Mostly stamp collecting can be relaxing.


OK, for US stamps it would be good to look in a Scott's Specialized US stamps catalogue at the library. Or . . . get the old stamps together, arrange them so that they can be seen and do some close-up pics or better yet, scans, of the stamps and post them on here again, perhaps in a separate topic.

I don't know enough about US material to say what is a possible stamp to investigate further or what isn't.

The embossed stamps printed in / on the corner of envelopes are known as 'cut squares' or embossed stamps and are in the back of the caatalogue, probably listed by the whole envelope. It is still neat to collect the ones cut or torn off and the cancels also. All in all they are probably not worth much compared to the stamps. Not everyone collects them. Generally speaking of course.


Stamps are graded in price and value by their condition and eye appeal. Condition can be a nice cancel also, for those (like me) who collect them and appreciate them all to pieces.

Condition can also be how well the design is centered overall in the stamp. Any rips, tears, thins in paper, scrapes, pulled perfs (perforations around the edges), bends, creases, holes, heavy cancels instead of nice light, clearly readable cancels.

Gum (glue) on new stamps that is undisturbed is worth more than gum that is disturbed or has hinge(s) or paper attached.

To sell on Stamp Community (or email others) you need 50 posts at this time. Selling on ebay or Bidstart is probably the best shot, if you are knowledgeable about that.

As a cancel (cancellation or postmark) appreciator I can tell you that you have some nice ones. They look nice. Some are known as fancy (cork-carved) cancels, most are the Circular Date Stamp Cancels (CDS or CDC). Some are the duplex (two-part) cancels with a CDS part and a wavey-lined killer or obliterator part.

Mint (mew, post office fresh) stamps or even used, cancelled stamps are generally worth more when they are in corner blocks of four or six or some multiple. Mumbers on the block selvage (margins) mean that is a plate block with the printing plate number on the corner. Worth a bit more usually.

Modern stamps are usually not worth very much.

The prices in catalogues are the prices you would pay a dealer for one really nice copy of that stamp. The price reflects the time it takes the dealer to assess, catalogue, stock and show the stamp to you. His time. Mostly they sell for much less than that. Really nice, really rare stamps (few in number) go for more than the catalogue price sometimes at auction. So a catalogue will give you a general price to compare to other stamps but not a realistic selling street price.

But, I have sold stamps, one at a time, for 99c each or more, on ebay, because they were wanted because the cancel was nice or the stamp was well centered (not all are) are presented well, or just was selling to the right person at the right time.

If you are selling on ebay, search on here for tips or start a thread and ask for suggestions.

I can have a go at any Canada stamps you have also, to judge their value. Start a new thread under Canada stamps though please.

Any questions?

Welcome atom you are getting some great advice so I will simply say howdy and welcome. Hope to see some up close scans of you stamps soon. - jeff

Another thing,

Even after my telling you about condition of stamps and all, there is still value in keeping some damaged stamps, for a copy because of different colours or perfs or paper or cancel or any little thing, or because you are an accumulator also. Some of us seem to be that after a while. Part of the hobby.

I have sold a medium rare damaged stamp and someone wanted it because they couldn't get one at the regular price or they just liked the topic on the stamp (dog).

Ask questions and post pics. You can also post higher resolution pics (bigger file size) on photobucket of Flickr or somewhere and link to them so you don't clog up the system with extra large files here.

Really cant say thanks enough to you guys. Great advice and ideas and will start taking close ups and post them up for consideration. Thanks again.

You can also do a google for "Scott Stamp" and come up with a list of websites where you can determine the RETAIL value of your stamps. As noted before, the value that a dealer would be willing to pay is a fraction of the retail value.

I've seen a lot of auctions on ebay where someone would just list the album and take lots of good pictures.
The loose stamps by themselves are probably not worth much, so they could be listed with the album also. I doubt if they would sell for much on ebay by themselves.

However, as previous posters mentioned, there are some good cancellations that you may want to set aside. They can go for a premium on ebay. I collect cancellations and they were the first stamps I noticed in your scans.

Take your time. You never know if there might be some gems or stamps of value in the collection.