Not A Stamp Collector - Inherited 75 Old Stamps - Help!

I think (wait for experts please) that these are more common stamps.


Sometimes. But sometimes it might just be fading from exposure to sunlight or soaking in water (plus chemicals) too much. Again wait for more knowledgeable people on this stamp.

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35. I am guessing this was ripped off of an envelope it was printed on?

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37. I admit I know this one is a much later stamp than the others - but thought I would put it here in case there is an error or something I know nothing of.

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35. I am guessing this was ripped off of an envelope it was printed on?


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37. I admit I know this one is a much later stamp than the others - but thought I would put it here in case there is an error or something I know nothing of.

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39. What are the holes there for?

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41. Glare is on plastic holder the stamp is in.

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51. Three Teddys

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Th-th-th-th-that's all folks!

Any comments on any appreciated. Talk as if to a young child because the only thing I know about stamps is that they can be used to mail letters! It would be nice to study them more and become a philatelist - and very tempting - but right now just too many other things on my plate.

I really do not expect any of these to be worth anything. But knew I had to check with experts just in case. No matter what I will probably place these nicely in a frame and hang them on a wall.

And any help as to how to properly store them (in the frame) would also be appreciated - at least I know scotch tape over their fronts is not a good idea!

That's a good thing Earle. Almost every Stamp has significant damage.

I know this will sound simplistic to experienced ears. I end up helping people on the coin forum like you guys are graciously helping me now.
1. What makes a stamp collectable?
2. In coins (in general) only a penny nickel, dime, quarter, half, and dollar coin are made each year. So it is seems to be an easy thing to classify what there is to collect. How do stamp collectors "know" what is out there since it seems to me there is overwhelming variety compared with something like coins or baseball cards (which I also do not collect).
3. Can some of these be "cleaned up" somehow - I know cleaning most collectables only degrades them.
4. Are there any here that, if they were in good enough shape (whatever that means!) they would be a more sought after stamp?
5. Why do I feel like I am getting in deeper than I dare get right now?

These little gems can grow on you... (Did I just say that?!)

Number 1 thing is going to be condition. That would probably be followed immediately by rarity, then comes a multitude of trickle down intricacies that can keep making the piece more valuable.

1. Is I Mint ? if so, is it hinged or unhinged ? if unhinged, how is the centering ? the better the centering, the bigger the premium.
2. Are all the perforations intact ? are the all original ? any creases ?
3. Is it used ? if so, what kind of cancellation ? what color cancellation ? from where ?

This list can keep going, and going, and going....

*Edit* Yes they can be cleaned up, a bowl with hot water and aa little dish detergent will do some good cleanup on some of those. for drying I'd find a thin teacloth and a heavy book to keep them flat.

Thanks for the cleaning info - I will most likely do this.

i am old enough I should know what "teacloth" is but do not - where do I get it?

I don't know teacloth either, but paper towels work just fine, as does regular old printer paper in my experience.

But, hold a bit. Don't bother cleaning the ripped ones unless you just want the experience. You have very common stamps, whose value is almost nothing with this damage. If on the other hand, they have intrinsic value to you as a memory, cleaning them might simply remove that value for you.

This is the condition you got them in, and that might be just how you want to remember them. Consider getting an 11x14 sheet of frame-worthy paper, and mount them neatly using stamp mounts. Then put them in a frame and display them, just as they are.

Thanks for the details. Since they are not worth anything, I might clean them anyway just b/c they will look better. I will always know where they came from. I realize this is just personal preference.

You guys on this forum are great!