Legends Of The West Recalled Sheet

I suspect that opinions will lean either way on this question, but here goes:

I recently acquired the Legends of the West recalled sheet still in the USPS sealed packet. For my own satisfaction, I would like to display only the sheet on its White Ace page in a Showgard mount.

However, if removing it from its packet will DRASTICALLY reduce its future value (likely for my heirs), I will probably add a clear sleeve page to the album, and put the whole packet into the sleeve, but that's not my first choice.

Either way, the sheet itself will be pristine. Any opinions on the difference in future value??

The best way to gauge collector interest in to see "sold" listings on ebay (and other auction sites). A quick perusal of the link below suggests that keeping the pane of stamps in the original USPS packaging will enhance its value a bit (perhaps by 10% to 20%).

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sac...+Stamp&rt=nc

As I review these sold listings, the pane has sold for a low of around $65 (without USPS packaging) all the way up to $150 (with USPS packaging). The average seems to be $80 to $100 (the higher values are typically in original USPS packaging).

Of course, one could argue that the USPS packaging may not be archival safe for long term storage. Although you can counter that with the argument that the pane would look better in an album without the USPS packaging so that the whole "pristine" pane can be viewed without the USPS packaging border.

If you're looking for optimum return on your investment, the best thing would probably be to keep it in original USPS packaging. However, its a choice only you can make.

Hi munroe47,

Presentation is the key. If what you do will give the sheet a more appealing appearance then go ahead. It wouldn't bother me as I collect stamps not bits of plastic. If the sheet was mine I would probably dispense with the White Ace page as well as the USPS sleeve and re-mount on something like good artists' smooth drawing paper printed up with the essential information. Or hand written if your script is up to it. Then you would have an entirely individual display piece and not some mass produced "collectors" piece. It is also better from a conservation point that stamps are not sealed in plastic as air should circulate about the stamps to some degree.

Terry

Warnings about removing the sheet from the NOT archivally safe holder have been circulated for years. However, keeping the holder is highly recommended.

Yes, that would cover all the options. Good suggestion.

Terry

I would mount it in a Scott mount, and keep the packaging as others have suggested. I do not believe the envelope it came in is sealed.

Thanks for all the points of view. I think I will mount the sheet in my album, but I will keep the packaging (I would not have thought of that).

Some day I may go for a more custom display of my collection; I've seen some pretty impressive mountings on this forum. But for now, I like the White Ace look, I already have all of their pages/albums to cover what I collect, and I have created a number pages using their blank sheets for pages they don't have available. Too much work and money invested to change at this time!

If it was my decision I would remove the sheet from the original packaging but keep in mind I never ever consider price at all. When I die I don't care what happens to my collection. I'll recommend that it is a good source of postage as the value of some of the stamps will be worth far more that way. Material such as color prints, slides,and base ball cards have not fared well at all.
Tom

I love White Ace albums! They are expensive, but they look gorgeous.

I faced the same situation a couple years ago with the Celebrate the Century Sheets. I took them out of the Non Archival safe P.O. sleeves and put them in clear plastic archival safe sheets. Not worrying about what value they would or would not have. If you don't take them out and they get discolored they won't have the top value anyway.