Identifying Inheirted Collection Of Worldwide Stamps

HI there - I am new to this and have NO knowledge about stamps but I am searching for help and information if possible from knowing stamp collectors - if you don't mind helping the newbie

I have a worldwide stamp book loaded with stamps that was given to me years ago and the book is titled THE IDEAL STAMP ALBUM FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD - dated 1960 by Rossman Stamp Co. New York printed in U.S.A.

this book has pages of stamp illustrations where you match the stamp to the picture in the book

anyway - there are hundreds of stamps in this book but they have fallen away from the pages inside the book and now are loose stamps and I have tried to match them by country but it is out of my league - does anyone have any suggestions as to cataloguing these stamps but please keep in mind that I have no idea about stamps or what they represent - some are stamped by the post office - some are old way before the 1960 date of the book - and all are from all over the world - it is just a shame that this collection isnt being appreciated as it should be and I cannot upload any photos

Sorry about the story and thanks in advance for any suggestions/help

Jmcgowan well you found us..Welcome..you must have some interest in stamps.. Rome wasnt built in a day..but if you stick around you can learn ...and theres a lot to learn....

Welcome to the stamp community, jmcgowan!



Many libraries have stamp catalogues that you can use to identify your stamps. Scott's Catalogues are widely used in the US and Stanley Gibbons are used in other parts of the world. In Scott's catalogs, the countries of the world are listed alphabetically over six volumes. The seventh volume covers US stamps. The complete set is expensive to buy new. You might be able to get by using a library set. Also you can usually get a complete used set which is three to five years old for about $35-$50 dollars on ebay.

Hello jmcgowan....

Welcome to the club. You will find the members here to be friendly and helpful.

hi again and thanks for the warm welcome and information - I am not a stamp collector - I used to collect coins over 20 years ago and this stamp book was given to me because I collected coins - but there is a strange story to how this collection came into my hands

my aunt bought a house over 20 years ago and the fiberglass in the attic needed to be replaced and there hidden for years and under fiberglass was this stamp collection - and it has been in my possesion ever since

so I have a "secret stash stamp collection" that was hidden and then forgotten for over 20 years and it is not being appreciated as it should be while in my possession

is there places I could donate stamps to - like by country maybe these stamps would benefit that cause

That is such a nice gesture. I wish I could come up with one for you. I know one or more members do some great things with groups of kids.

My daughter has just started and I know the joy she has found in them has been great.

Hi jmcgowan, the electronic version of the Scott catalog maybe is in the internet, you can try to search.

Welcome jmcgowan

That's a great story. As to your dilemma I'm not sure what a possible solution Could be. Do you possibly have a young relative that may appreciate the hobby?

Dianne

Hi jmcgowan, you could check with your local library to see if a junior stamp club meets there; sometimes the same is true of museums. You could also do an online search for "Stamp Club - (your town name)" to see what turns up.

Failing that, it's never too late to start a new hobby, and what better time than at a New Year?


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Several veteran groups, churches, boys/girls club, mentoring programs,stamp societies ect. accept donations of stamps.
welcome-
There are even members of this group whom take donations for their junior stamp club or boy scout troop.
....or you could as suggested above find someone in your life whom would appreciate or be interested in a new hobby.

Hi thanks for all your wonderful suggestions - unfortunately no young ones in my family are interested in stamps - as they prefer video games extreme sports and sleeping - maybe I will ask my friends children's first and should they not be interested I will start searching around my area for clubs or use some clubs suggested by members here

I cannot stress that this is not a SMALL collection - I know - I know nothing about stamps but I have maybe close to 300 that I have counted and I am no where near done counting the rest of them

MAYBE I can donate them to collectors on this site - maybe a certain collector is looking for THAT stamp and maybe I have it and if that is the case then I can just mail the stamp or stamps to them

I will add another post soon as I will go through each country of stamps I have and list (to the best of my ability) what stamps correspond with that particular country and maybe I can donate them like that

I am not sure if I am allowed to do that - so members pease correct if I am wrong - otherwise I will start listing each country and the stamps