New Member Introduction

Hi Everyone,

This will be my first time posting to a forum in about ten years so bear with me.

I have acquired a monster collection of stamps, US and All Over.
Here's the story...

My husband and I were looking to find a new home on our area. One day last year, our realtor took us to view a home but the seller's agent had not bothered to mention an estate sale was going on when we arrived.

There were folks everywhere, which made it difficult to look at the home, and in any case we weren't interested because it had no back yard. So, rather than waste the trip, we looked around to see if anything perked our interest.

My husband had collected stamps as a child, and for sale was a "collection" of stamps via closed bidding. He quickly thumbed through what we could see, and said he'd love to make an offer.
So offer we did, on a slip of scrap paper into a tissue box.
The following week, an elderly gentleman called to say we were the highest bidder. So off we went to pick up the loot.

However, when we arrived, there were several more storage containers than were present during the sale, grinning inside, we rushed home.

What we discovered was the stuff dreams are made of! There are literally hundreds upon hundreds of envelopes, stuffed with stamps. Several albums full, first day covers, postcards, sheets, and so on. Quite a bit has been sorted and identified, but most has not, and I have found where the previous owner incorrectly identified quite a few (all in all we're talking thousands and thousands of stamps!).

Here is what I know. There are at least two separate collections (hoards), possibly three or more. The former owner passed away in the early nineties, and the seller we purchased from was the second husband of the collector's widow. Neither knew a thing about what they were selling and told us as much. The collection hadn't been touched since 1991 or 1992.

In the last year when I've been learning as much as I can about philately…I still don't know a thing it seems ; )

I'm hoping that with your experience and kindness I can get these all sorted and identified.

Although this may dismay you, we are going to sell the collection. Though I am looking forward to the joy of sorting through it all and discovering just what we have, I think these stamps should be enjoyed by true philatelists!

I will post pictures, questions, and so on soon! Thank you so much and I am glad to be a part of your community!

WOW! That is an amazing story ... you're going to have a LOT of folks on this forum salivating! I suppose if you have been working on this for a year, you have at least figured out some kind of methodical way of sorting (by country?), so I won't pretend to even know what you have or have been through. I imagine it will be best that you ask specific questions as you go as there are many many people on this forum willing and eager to help you along the way. Best of luck!!

Thank you so much for the welcome : )

So much of the collection has been organized, it hasn't been too bad to get going on my own system. Monday I started the meticulous task of going through each envelope at a time. I'm going to upload a few snapshots when I figure out how, just to give you an idea of what I've come across thus far....

Right now I'm concentrating on U.S., and am putting foreign envelopes of stamps into my "Worldwide" rubbermaid :)

I know the quality is poor, but it gives you an idea of the stuff in this hoard : )

Huguenot Walloons

306-MARTHA WASHINGTONS

310-JEFFERSONS

314-FRANKLIN

These were found in the first 5 glasslines in the first box.....Here is the box....it is one of about 20...Doesn't include the albums or manila envelopes stuffed with stamps.....whew :) It is super fun to be going through all these stamps, and my hope is that after I'm finished I will have plenty of stamps for all the collectors out there to enjoy!

Wow! When you get your post count up and are able to auction/sell on here, I would be more than happy to lighten your load a little! lol Welcome to the forum and enjoy what you have as it gets addictive quickly! Sincerely, ~Jeff

Hello SasserKlein, welcome!



That is the best thing you have said! You will be a stamp collector yet and probably already are now.

posting your photos above here out into the regular forum under the appropriate category (or Main would do to start I suppose) will also garner you many responses and help and feedback.

Some forum members look in here but do not respond all the time. This is a welcoming thread / topic.

Amazing find you have had the opportunity to enjoy.

I also love to sort and go through the wonders of the stamp world.

Remember that many collectors enjoy cancellations (cancels) or postmarks and collect these as well (me included).

Yep! And for a little guidence and stamps from the 40's (early 50's some say) you would want to post in the Classic stamps and covers section; From the 50's to present are considered as modern and would do you fine to post any questions regarding those in the modern stamps thread. It will help the right people with the "expertise" in those categories to see your posts and better answer your questions.

Also, Scans are much preferred over photographs unless very hi resolution and good or better shots (eg; not blurry or out of focus.) Again welcome and I eagerly look forward to browsing your collection as I'm sure many of are as well!

Thank you guys so much for the warm welcome :) I have added one thread to the classics section, and got that 634 block identified correctly....I have found so many in just the front of this one box....everytime I reach to the glassline pile it never seems to shrink!

I'll be scanning and posting "What I've found today" periodically into the appropriate section of the forum, just in case anyone is interested : ) And of course, there will be the "help" posts I'm certain!

Take care, and thanks again!

SasserKlein

Welcome, it just goes to show whats out there ! I hope you stay and get your 50 posts and sell here on the SCF.there are lots of U.S. collectors here !! Meanwhile I have to get my axe and crowbar and get out there and find my own motherlode !!

Aww Thanks again for the welcome! I'll definitely be on here a lot over the coming months....there is just so much to learn and discover! We never thought finding something so amazing could actually happen to us, but it did! I'm sure it can for you as well!

Take Care

Welcome aboard and enjoy the ride

Oh my goodness! I'd be sooo happy with just one of each!

That is just absolutely amazing, and what a wonderful find!