Scott#32 (There May Be A Fourth)

. I have unveiled a rather large Stamp Collection that was started back around 1920. As I started to venture through this Magnificent Collection, created by my late Aunt Lucy; I became more mesmerized by the stories these little pieces of paper told. My Aunt was a very intelligent Lady. In fact her and her sister whom I still care for , we're one of the very first women to graduate and live in a dormitory at Dusquene University. She always told me , " when I'm gone , you go through the house with care and a comb!! Kind of like a treasure hunt!" I believe now why she proclaimed a treasure be found. She had noted on top of one album that a certain CAPE OF GOOD HOPE stamp has significant value. Indeed I looked it up, and true it was. Somewhere in the vicinity of 40,000 for one in perfect condition. However what I discovered next was so exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. During my search for answers I came across this particular Forum and read about WATERMARKS great find of a lifetime. I am a complete ignoramus when it comes to stamps and need a little help unveiling the worth of our TREASURE. PLEASE HELP in any way that you can. Our Family would Greatly APPRECIATE any and all FEEDBACK we can get as well as a point in the right direction. THANK YOU

To be more specific, I would like to know where to start as far as having the stamps AUTHENTICATED. PLEASE comment with your expertise. Thank You

http://www.philatelicfoundation.org/

Please note that the difference between a common and rare variety of the same stamp is a VERY slight difference in paper, watermark, perforation, or color difference. If you look through your catalog, you'll see that there is often a common variety worth a few dollars and a rare variety worth many times more. In most cases, there are many millions of the common variety (hence, why it's common) and a few of the rare variety (hence, why it's rare).

If you post a good-quality scan of the things you think are rare to this or another message board, people here can help you to make the initial determination of whether there is even a chance that it is the rare variety.

Lucy,

There are multiple expert services in this country to choose from. All have websites, so it is easy to do a Google search by their name. All have online info with their fee schedules and other important info. There are only a few who expertize Foreign stamps;

1. Sergio Sismondo;
2. The Philatelic Foundation of New York;
3. APEX (American Philatelic Society);

Those three also do United States & Possessions as do;

4. Professional Stamp Experts;
5. Professional Stamp Authentication and Grading;
6. Weiss Expert Service.

The last three as well as the PF also do grading.

Fees vary between these services as does the expected time required to turn the submissions around and return them to you. Some will take weeks, some months and one just a few days. I'm sure other readers will give you their opinions here. Since I have a vested interest, I can not. Good luck!

I don't know if I'll get any where closer to knowing the truth of the matter, I can't even get a photo uploaded...any help on that subject?

I wanted to THANK everyone for all their input and advice...someday I might be able to figure out how to upload a photo to start the elimination process...until then...

Welcome Lucy. Try uploading your pictures to a photo hosting site like photobucket or tinypic and then copy and paste the [IMG/] tag into the body of your message. That should work.

LUCY to SCF all the way from Northern Mich. U.S.A. This is where you need to be to have your questions answered.