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

If somebody likes it. Or the cancel as I am a cancel appreciator. The more you learn about stamps the more condition enters into the valuing equation. Except for cancels.

I, just me now, look at cancels first and then notice things about the stamp later. I have bought a stamp for it's nice cancel (or part of) and later saw that the stamp itself was damaged.

Some people can pay big bucks for the stamp that they like, that fits into their topical or thematic collection, or completes a set, or, heck, looks like their pet dog or cat. Really.

But mostly it's the condition and rarity as was mentioned. New with gum, post office fresh, mint, no gum disturbance, are the most expensive as usually, for older stamps, they are the rarest. I'd rather have used myself but that's just me.



We have general catalogues of the world divided into countries and specialized catalogues of each country and sometimes era's or reigns of monarchs or even stamps. Numbered from 1 to way up there.

Different general catalogues number things slightly differently too. US is mostly Scott catalogue (in a library near you), comes in 6 or 7 volumes for worldwide or one US specialized. Pricing is contributed by dealers. I know, I know, but the internet is a great leveler.

Usually priced Mint (with a percentage premium for never hinged) (hinges are any little extra piece of paper used to attach the stamp to a page), used and on cover, with all of these divided into grades from good enough to superb with some having a 100 point rating system thrown in (yuk).

Oh, generally there are a domestic rate denominated stamp, a close countries rated stamp and an international or everyone else rated stamp for most countries. Older (pre 1940 usually) stamps are mostly this way with extra ones thrown in for extra weight sent or extra services like registered or special delivery rates, etc.

Modern stamps are seemingly more and more for every country printed up to meet the collecting market's demand and then some.
First Day of Issue covers (FDC), souvenir and mini sheets, etc etc are made and sold.

There are around 400,000 different stamps in the world and counting.

You mostly have to restrain yourself to certain countries or areas or years (early) or topical collections here and there.

Maybe only covers or cancels.



Most stamps, used ones that is, can benefit from a soaking in warm water and a bit of mild detergent. After that it is a tricky matter as any chemicals used can 'clean' but also ruin a stamp.



I thought some of them looked kind of interesting but I'm a newbie at US stamps really. The more sought after ones are the ones that were not printed in as great a quantity, and for yours, that means the odd rate stamps, made for those odd things like over-sized envelopes or the extra rates or services.

The rates change every year now but stayed the same for years in that era.

Google postal rates.

1c, 2c, 3c stamps are the more common ones (but still have varieties and special printings) with the 4c, 5c being international and rarer and more than that being even rarer usually. But, since people mailed a lot back then, they usually are not that rare.

Different eras, different rates remember.



You are a collector and see how stamps can enrich your life and you feel how lonely you are without them.

The three main words in stamp collecting are condition, condition and condition. After that it's all pretty pictures.

Yup. Post card of the time actually as it says postal card around the arch. These are usually cut to shape or 'cut square' to fit into the spaces in old albums. Catalogues price them as cut square (condition) or the whole card or envelope. (Postal stationery.)

From some countries they are embossed are rather pretty at times. Others are flat like yours.

Teacloth....Tea Towel

http://www.chinohouse.com.au/displa...ntityid=3107

These are PERForations made by a machine. The INsignia or INscription or INitials (IN) (Perfin) is usually the private company's initials or government initials, used to help prevent theft by employees of postage and also others no doubt.

A separate collecting area almost.

To each of you here, I cannot tell you how much I appreciate all of your help with these.


You have armed me with the information I need to further pursue these and collect info on them. I will get the volumes from the library as you suggest and hopefully, track down a little more history on each one of these.

They are special to me b/c my Grandfather was a main influence on my upbringing and to this very day I find myself trying to emulate what would have made him proud. I plan to make a nice display of these and probably will then give it to my one son who seems to take an interest in more family related/historical items.

I hope, in the future, to be able to look more into this hobby as it complements three of my others - coins, glass insulators, & date nails (done these most of my life). All four deal with historic craftsmanship and history vital to the growth of our nation. This is why I know I could/would love collecting stamps seriously. So many areas of interest to pursue and only so much time

Well, I think you've answered your own question - to you they are priceless and irreplaceable!

What matter the catalogue value?