Newbie With Questions Already

Hello. I am new to forums, but not entirely new to stamps. I had a small collection as a child that I enjoyed keeping with my dad (during our once a month visitations). When he passed, I wasn't given very many of his things; but our stamp collection has made it's way back to me (20 yrs since I saw it last as a teenager) and I am so thrilled.
I've begun sorting everything out and there is much more here than I remember. I believe that someone else (probably step-mother) was continuing the hobby, at least through the mid-90's. My original book (Independence) is still intact and I have decided to preserve it as is - there is nothing of real value there, other than my memories.
I definitely want to continue with stamp collecting, focusing on US stamps for now. I ordered a new Mystic album and have begun sorting through the two "copy paper" boxes of stamps.

At this point I have a couple of basic questions:
1. I would like to begin my new album with Mint or MNH where I can easily afford to do so and I am finding many examples in the mix of the boxes. Sometimes there is a little piece from the neighboring stamp left on one side, or maybe a small quarter inch piece of margin on one end? Is it okay to trim these with scissors; leaving the perfs in tact, of course?

2. I've also found a regular photo album full of more modern MNH plate blocks. There are some blocks of four that do not have the block number and a few that have no margins at all. Are these still considered plate blocks? If not, should they still be kept together; or could I separate them to put one in my album pages as singular stamps?

3. Sometimes I find a pair of MNH stamps. They do not appear to be from a coil, part of a set or continuing design. Is there any added value to having two seemingly regular stamps connected? Or could I separate these as well to place as a single example in my new album?

4. Lastly, in the boxes there are gobs of stamps (99% used/soaked) that are sorted by denomination instead of year. Is there a place online that will allow me to search by denomination in order to help identify year/Scott numbers? Or would I need to purchase software to have that kind of flexibility? I will probably save this task for last and end up donating much of it to a club or school, as most of it would be considered worthless to collectors.

Thanks in advance for your time and advice,

Welcome Reese you post some good questions. I would leave the selvege on the stamps if they have a number. If there isn't any number go ahead and bend them back and forth and tear the scrap selvege off. If there isn't any number I would say it's not a plate block and yes you can tear one off and put it in your book as a single stamp. However I think I would keep the stamps together at least until you get a plate block with the numbers. The others can be used to sell in the future or trade. Mystic Stamp Company has some good books which are free that will give you the basic information about collecting stamps. There yours free for the asking. You can Google and request the beginners packet right from Mystic Stamp Company's web site.Where there are just two connected go ahead and separate them to answer your third question. Question four go to your local Library and check out a Scott's catalog. It has the numbers in order. Usually denomination is a pretty good indication though not concrete way of identifying the year the Stamp was released. Welcome back to Stamp Collecting and welcome to the forum.

Hi Reece, welcome to SCF! I am sure you will find your answers here, there are plenty of friendly experts. I am not an expert, so I don't have any answers for you except to say re: no. 3 - if I have a pair of stamps together, I leave them that way. Hope you like it here. Tom.

Hi Reece, just a little different slant from me on selvage. Anything that helps preserve the perforations is going to help improve the value of your stamp (IMO). So if there is any selvage, then that will protect the entire perf in that region. Sure plate numbers add to the attraction, but I would not separate any stamps or remove any selvage (although it may make it harder to place in your album). You will be glad when you have preserved the perforation that can become less complete if the selvage is removed. GREAT question, glad to see you join up here and now you also know that many collectors will offer many opinions, but in the long run you will see that we all just love the hobby. - Jeff

Hello Reece, welcome!


Hey, your memories have real value too. There's a lot of memories in stamp collecting and that's part of the whole thing. Good you're keeping that old album.


Selvage (British / Canadian / Austalian = selvedge) or margins are a personal choice on whether to keep or not I think. I like it when stuff is printed on them, like on newer stamps from Canada say, where extra pictures and lots of info is on them. Like printer's name, designer, etc.

I remember as a beginner I would rip off all the extra bits so I was left with just the stamp, but now as a seasoned (read well used) collector I tend to keep some and rip off some. It is really up to you.

To sell that stamp later on, some folks want the selvage, some don't. Depends who you sell it to, if you sell it at all. You might even change your own mind over the years and do things differently later on then you do now.

And Don't use scissors! Get them away from your stamps! Too much chance of a slip up or something.

You can use a straight edge to help rip cleanly but folding gently back and forth usually does the trick. I've seen post office clerks do this also years ago.




Oh no, if that is the type that uses the 'magnetic' type of glue lines to hold photos in, then get the stamps out of there as soon as you can. Usually that type of album will leave glue lines on the backs of anything stuck in there. Ruins stamps because you can't get that glue off usually.

There are stamp singles, blocks of 4 or 6 or 8 or whatever, corner blocks of four or whichever (with no plate number), plate blacks or whatever (4,6,8,etc) that have the plate number somewhere on the selvage, and blocks of whatever number of stamps you want.

Some collectors want these. There are collectors of plate numbers (blocks usually), collectors of just corner blocks (as new stamps don't always have plate numbers like the older ones did). Sometimes you lay have a collection with single stamps, a block without any selvage, and a cover of any combination of these types of arrangements.

There is no hard and fast rule. Some album manufacturers print there pages one way and others do it another way. Some collectors make their own pages to suit themselves.

You can rip them apart into singles if you want although if you later want to collect or trade blocks you will be sorry. But it's up to you and you finances too, but sometimes it's best to wait a year and see how you feel later on when you know more and have seen more collections perhaps or read more on Stamp Community.



If they are different stamps (different designs) attached together then they are called se-tenant (French) and some collect these.

But the same stamp over and over (called multiples 2, 3, 4, 5, etc, strips, blocks, panes, sheets) sometimes are collected by people, sometimes not. Advanced collectors like to have multiples to show how the stamps came originally. Sometimes it adds to the visual appeal of an album page display.

As a rare or really old (and rare) stamp in multiples, those would be worth a lot more, but as a new modern (1950's and on) stamp, well, you will have to search for a collector who likes his stamps that way and some do but some don't. Some will just go by what the album wants them to do, which can be limiting after years of seeing and wanting all varieties of a stamp or seeing how multiple stamps display better.

You have to almost add in extra pages (called blank or quadrilled (faint grid lines on the paper to help you line up the stamps) or design your own or print your own from off the web, etc.




Depends on what search program carious sites use. ebay can be used that way but not all sellers list the denominations of their stamps. Or Bidstart, or PostBeeld or just Google it in pictures and see what comes up as some name their picture by the denomination (but not all).

Or post some pics here and ask (start a new thread out in the regular forum that is) or go to the library and get out an older Scott's stamp catalogue (for the US) and have fun learning more stamps knowledge than you ever thought existed.

There are probably sites that list US stamps but a lot of numbers are copyright by the catalogue makers around the world.

Software would certainly help. I think EzStamp is one.



Aaaaaaah!! No! It is all good! As a collector of used, there are varieties of each stamp sometimes, and cancels and postmarks are always collectible. They help tell the story of where the stamp has been and what it has done. Especially multiples of stamps with a cancel that is on more than one stamp. You separate the stamps and you lose the cancel.

That's it for me. Asking more questions like these (good questions!) out in the regular forum will get you more responses quicker as not everyone looks in here in the members section all the time.

Gee I typed a lot! Wow! lol

Thank you all for the information and suggestions.
I think I will take Puzzlers advice and wait a while before separating any stamps(and you can relax - I put my scissors away).
I've been sorting all week and really having a lot of fun. Also, I found a couple of old "handbooks" in the boxes from the 40's, so I'm reading those too. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions soon and it looks like I can count on you all for answers. Thanks so much!

Welcome Reece

Glad you could join us. You'll learn lots here.

Dianne