Caught In A Whirlwind Of Stamps!

Hello everyone! I'm happy I found my way here, and I will be even happier if you wonderful people would be kind enough to help me out with some advice for a newcomer to the stamp world.

My father passed away this past March. He was sick for a very long time, and was on disability for the last ten years or so before he finally left us. He took that time to invest in going to paper auctions and picking up stamp collections whenever he could. I know his stamps were a source of great joy to him, but I also know his intention was more investment savvy than collecting.

In the months after my fathers passing, the plant I was employed with closed down, and needless to say I have enough time on my hands to tackle this task of figuring out how to liquidate this stamp collection the correct way, the way my father intended, and not to simply bring them to a dealer and get a flat rate and be done with it.

The problem I basically have is the vast size of his collection (10 million+) stamps, and my glaring lack of knowledge when it comes to all things stamps. I have experience in dealing other collectibles, but I just don't have a reference point to even understand what the names of these stamps are, or the countries they are from.

I appreciate any help anyone would be willing to offer, ad thank you for your time in reading and responding to me

Thanks again!
Shane

First step is to look at it from several major perspectives: by country, by mint or used. Then get an idea of the age of the material. Assess the condition: are the stamps hinged, in albums or stock books, if in albums are they in see-through mounts - or <gasp> glued down? This will give you a platform to proceed from. When you have a general idea, come back here and ask more targeted questions. Don't spe nd the balance of your life going through stamp catalogues and adding up the so-called "catalogue value." That is essentially of no use to you.