Newbie Needs Some Help.

A few years ago I recieved some stamps from my grndfather and I would like to know if any of them are of any real value and if they do what should I do. (if they are of vlaue and anyone knows the scott # that would be great also!) I took pics of the blocks at first thinking they may hold more value, also have a lot of older singles. I also have a lot of foreign unused older stamps. I am wondering if many foreign stamps hold any value, I know with coins it is hard to find anything about them.

Any help will be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks
Nick
(I know the pics are not very good, sorry)

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Welcome Nixer,
You have some fun stuff there, but honestly nothing expectional. The blocks appear mint and are worth more the the singles. The singles are faulty, one has a tear the other poor centering maybe stained or very light cancel on the other.
I guess it comes down to what you wish to do with the collection, sell or add to it and make it your own.
I'd at least recommend to go to your local library and check out Scott's United States Special or Scott's Standard Vol 1 to start and take it from there. You'll understand much more of what you have!
If there are any more questions, someone will always be here.

Take Care & Enjoy the Stamps
Mike

Thank you warrehouse.
From what I have found the 2nd image is scott #712. It seems to go for a lot more money when graded single, hundreds into thousands,(guessing most do), but I checked ebay and it is about $12 for a block of four. One thing I havent seen for any stamps is encapsuled blocks. When getting something graded is it always encapsuled, or do they do something else with them? What is the best thing to do with something like this? I do plan on selling some of this collection possibly and dont know the best thing to do. I have had these for years and never really looked at them till now and have not a clue on what I should do. Are they something that I could even sell?

Thanks again.

Welcome Nixer!

Forget about selling the stamps... collect them! I know you'll enjoy it; and their are lots of folks here who can help you out.

David

Yess I have been thinking about keeping them, but I do want to find out what I have also. I am still curious about getting them graded and that stuff. I have found some decent sites that have Scott numbers for US stamps but I am having a hard time with the foriegn. Anyone have any good leads, I know going to the library is my best option.
Thank again
Nick

Nixer

The local library is the way to go to get started identifying what you have, just remember that the prices ar more than you can usually hope to get. You can usually expect about 20%-30% or cat price. I wouldn't worry about getting them graded, that seems to Be used more by the investors than the collectors.

Richard

Nick,

The Scott catalog #s for your stamp from top to bottom are

875
712
654 or 655 (you will need to measure the perforations)
874
A116 (design number, cannot determine actual catalog # from your scan)
A88 (same note)

All except 874 (1c Audubon) are NOT sufficiently well-centered enough to warrant grading. The 874 block you have is extremely well-centered, but has war perfs. It may get a pretty good centering grade, buy in MY OPINION, you would be hard pressed to sell it at a premium with those war perfs.

I should note that I am not a big fan of grading common US stamps, so you may want to keep my bias in mind.

Encapsulation is an option and costs extra.

Foreign stamps may or may not be more valuable. It all depends on what you have, and if there is a demand for it. Barring a rare variety on the last 2 (I can't tell from your pics), the US stamps you show are all either minimum catalog value or very minor premium. I'm not sure, but I'm guessing the block of 4 of #712 you found on ebay is for a PLATE BLOCK of 4. You have the basic block of 4, and that will catalog for a little over $1 assuming it is never hinged.

Hope this info helps.

Enjoy your stamps!

Kim

if the stamps have hinges or hinge marks on the back(as most pre-1960 stamps do)
they are less valuable..condition of the reverse is as important as the obverse.
The gum must be undisturbed on Mint no hinge( MNH)stamps, for example. Also color
must be deep nad not faded...artwork must be sell centered with equal borders not
contacting the perforations....perfs must be full and not torn. These are just a
few considerations when grading and valuing your stamps...GOOD LUCK!