Large Stamp Collection

hello everyone. I just obtained a collection of stamps about 10 large boxes. I know little about stamps. I am a card and coin collector. What is the best way to tackle this project to determine the value of the stamps? There are both us and foreign stamps in the collection. Thank you all for helping me tackle this collection.

How are they stored? In albums, in envelopes etc?

It may be good if you can sort out a small, representative sample and post some pictures. Try to represent the age and condition typical of the collection as a whole.

Also, is there anything which leaps out at you for any reason?

stoogeco - you might want to be sure your SCF internal (DM) email is activated as people may want to write to you without posting.

CanadaStamp -- you might want to notice his post count

If you're willing to spend some time sorting and identifying them, there are stamp catalogues available that list and value every government-issued stamp ever made. Most decent-sized public libraries in the US will have a set of Scott Catalogues, the de facto standard in the US. When using a catalogue, just keep in mind a few things. Firstly, there are many valuable stamps which have similar-looking stamps that are basically worthless. Don't assume right off the bat that you have the more valuable variety.. Footnotes and illustrations in the catalogs will guide you to the right identification. Secondly, the prices you see listed in the catalog are suggested retail prices for a stamp in above average condition, purchased from a dealer. Few stamps sell at full catalog value, even if in excellent condition (50% or less is usually the norm). In no way, shape, or form do catalog prices represent what a dealer would be willing to pay you for them, particularly if it's a large accumulation. Most collections will bring a tiny fraction of their aggregate catalogue value, if sold as a collection.

As others have mentioned, posting a few pictures here would help. The responses you get won't suffice as an appraisal, but you can get a good idea if you've got mostly worthless junk or something worth looking a little closer at.

KirkS - oh yes - the rule - whose rationale I do not get - and which I forgot.

One can still speculate. Maybe to encourage new posters to stick around long enough to begin contributing to the forum, rather than just joining long enough for a quick answer?

Thanks for the help so far. I don't post often because I really don't like to buy into stamps. They seem to be much more complicated than cards or coins.

stoogeco - go to my ebay site here and DM me for a chat re Canada content.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/301599769950....m1555.l2649

Not just that, but also for the protection of both established members and also new members.

99% of new members are great, and I'm sure Stoogeco can be numbered among them. It's the remaining 1% that cause problems by outright buying/selling/pestering and even conning members (both new members and old members). Problem is you can't tell ahead of time unless an old member already knows the new member.

KirkS is diligent and polite about reminding members, and I applaud him for it. I don't visit as often as I used to, but will not hesitate to flag a sales/contact post when the posting number criteria has not been met.

It's happened more than once in the past (the scams and the pestering), and I personally would rather it never happen again. It rarely happens because of the polite diligence of the moderators. It only happens when the rules are overlooked. Let's not find out again the hard way.

I didn't flag the post this time. Thanks KirkS, or whoever might have flagged the post. It doesn't take long at all to get to 25/50 posts.

Just to make sure I take this thread off topic, I'm a member of another stamp forum that does not have the post count requirement to PM other members. Every few months I get unsolicited sales/recruiting PMs from "new" members before I ever even read one of their posts. Needless to say, I've never had that happen here. And I can tell you that more members post here.

Thanks again to all. I'm not too sure what is going on here with the number of posts thing. I find this forum to be most informative to me, the amateur in stamps. If I did something wrong with my post, I sincerely apologize. Thanks again for the info, and I hope to continue to post to this board.

Happily staying off-topic...
I have no problem with our "minimum-posts" rules. While I am looking forward to getting to the point where I can check out some of the benefits which are currently "off limits" I am also not going to simply start posting frivolous comments just to get past that threshold. This is a very simple way to minimize spammers and bogus links.

Now happily staying on-topic...

stoogeco - The first question I would ask is "What do you need to get out of this endeavor?" I am smack dab in the middle of a similar situation - disposal of several collection which I know may carry value, and yet not sure if I have the time, knowledge, willpower to do so without expanding my current side "hobbizness" (which I simply cannot do).

Since you clearly know the card and coin side, you certainly realize how much work you have ahead of you if you have to maximize your return. Consider working with a dealer on a consignment. I am doing so, and what I have found is that I can sell things quickly, at prices lower than current market without the perception that quality is not there.

Another option is to get a table at local stamp shows. Here in metro-Detroit, there is usually such a show every 3-4 weeks within a 90-minute drive. I have found some success doing this on the antique show circuit for the past couple months.

Hopefully, you have already realized the necessity of a full set of current Scott catalogues (2013-15). GOOD LUCK!

How one gets bestowed with these unwanted stamp collections is what I want to know. Sacrifices to the stamp gods? Burning incense in one's mailbox? Sacred dances on the lawn of the post office?

In all seriousness, though, stoogeco, you're in the right place. There are some fantastic people here and they'll help you out. :)