When The End Comes For A Stamp Collector !

I really do not want to belabor he subject..but I have been amazed being around stamps my adult life and seeing how many collectors kept their families ignorant of their collections value..more than once I have seen the attitude..."i just want it gone"..this is where the dealer makes out better even than he normally does...i applaud people who keep a detailed inventory....in quality my wifes collections exceed mine...i would not even want to think of my having to dispose of them !!

I have told my wife what my collection is worth (cat value).
I am in the process of buying insurance for the collection.

Plus I record everything in my wonderful EZStamp software.

"I have told my wife what my collection is worth (cat value)."

Issue with that is that she will now expect a large percent of CV. Which just won't happen

Phil.. when you go to Ottowa, ask Ottawamike, what auction house he used, to sell part of his collection. If I recall, he did very well. Maybe you can give that info to Joes family..

Floortrader's warnings are very apposite. I'd just add one more. If your collection does include anything of value, instruct your heirs not to let it out of their sight while it's being valued. Even - especially - when it's being checked by the old family friend or stamp collecting buddy. I can say hand on heart, now, that it would never cross my mind to lift that rarity that was missing from my collection; I'm not so sure, though, that I could resist the temptation if the previous owner was dead, and I was all alone with his collection - and his heirs knew nothing about stamps.

I also keep an inventory of my collection but since it's a rather large spreadsheet, I also made a simple list of about the top 100-150 items (or so) so that my family knows where the REAL dollar value is among all the albums and folders. If they make sure to look after THOSE items then at least I know about 80% off the entire collection's value can be accounted for.

Kurt

Bob, Mike used Harmer in California..but you can not compare the situations...Harmers flew 2 men out from California who spent 3 full days looking at Mikes Collections..Joes will not sell for hundreds of thousands like Mikes did....

Bob, Joe liked Cherrystone Auctions on 57th street in the city..i went with him a couple of times helping him lug suitcases of stamps..he felt they were fair with him..whether they will send a rep up to the boondocks to look at his situation I do not know !

Bujutsu, yes it was Maggie Toms. Quite a lady, and collector, by all accounts.

Thanks for that james

I remember signing a card at one of the Barrie auctions to celebrate her 100th birthday. She used to live in Orillia but moved to Ottawa to be closer to her family if I remember correctly.

Chimo

Bujutsu