Attempting To Get An Idea Regarding Large Collection

Hi- I have just obtained the combination of 3 avid collectors stamps (my mother, father, and grandfather). I currently have probably over 200,000 stamps of basically everything you can think of- mint, used, FDC, plate blocks, coils, UN, Canada, many old foreign stamps, mint folders, etc. I am trying to attach a few pictures of some of this collection. I am trying to find a reputable dealer or philatelic expert in the Memphis area to help me get a handle of all of this. Currently this collection is so large that it is taking up almost a full small bedroom. I am sorry about the poor quality of the attached photos but can anyone tell me if these look to be of value? I have been researching values through Scott catalogue but this is overwhelming. Thanks for any help/opinions/advice you can give me!

Yes there's value, if these two pages are any indication. Prob thousands. Tens of thousands? Unlikely, but who knows. Someone would need to look closely, or you would need to take thousands of pictures & even that won't be sufficient.

It's lots of details. The last stamp on page 1 - if it's real - would bring several hundred at least. From the pic, I doubt it's real. It would need to be certified. Last 2 stamps on page 2 are valuable - couple hundred each, if in good shape. They both seem to have condition issues. Condition is everything - and someone would have to see up close, or you would have to post good pic of each stamp - front & back...

If it's a room full, my advice would be to get someone local to come look in person. You're talking about a big job & lots of time...

Dawn,
It sounds like you need to get connected with a stamp group in Memphis who can give you onsite, firsthand advice.
Judging by the page of search results for Stamp dealers in Memphis: http://www.superpages.com/yellowpag...tn/t-memphis
It appears that Memphis no longer has many/any brick and morter stamp stores, but the scope of the holding you mention suggests that
someone who knows who-is-who in your local scene needs to give you some guidance.

Here is a link to the meetup page for a central group that connects collectors in Memphis:
https://www.meetup.com/Memphis-Stam...ors-Society/


They also have a Facebook presence:
https://www.facebook.com/Memphis-St...44017180702/


Don't broadcast your location or too many details about how much you have or you may be inviting unwelcome unexpected visitors.

The stamps listed as coil stamps are probably all fakes. To get anywhere near catalog value for them they would need to be certified.

Dawn -
Welcome to this Forum as seen by the entire World, so.......stop posting (4 times now) and follow advice by very good people on this Forum and get to competent people who can help you without malice, people who will not take advantage of you ! -
Thanks !

Dawn,

I would take a different approach but I am self centered. Go thru the stamps with Scott catalog. Anything that catalogs more than 100$, post a scan on this site and we will be happy to comment and let you know estimated value in its condition. More fun that way and you may actually become fascinated by this hobby.

If you need cash badly, then contact auction house or appraiser.

My gut tells me that these stamps are overall fine condition and many, especially 19th century stamps likely faulted. Thus condition will drop down estimate to about 10-20 percent catalog. Most USA collection such as yours go for 3000$-6000$ at higher quality auction sites but could go higher if you have some great pieces. By the way, most zeppelin sets, unless never hinged or XF- superbly centered, sell for less than 700$ . I'm sure you have not showed everything so perhaps the USA portion could be worth more than 10 grand. But so far I would say 3000-5000$ assuming you scanned the oldest and most valuable already .

You or someone else in family may enjoy starting s great hobby but if you need cash in a hurry, then sell now.

In the second pic, the 212 & 213 are very common used, but the 212 appears to be missing the upper right corner and the 213 is very off center. Does not bode well.

As for suggestions the collection is worth "Prob thousands." or "Most USA collection such as yours go for 3000$-6000$ at higher quality auction sites" - it is impossible to make such a conclusion based on only 2 pics.

Most of the respondents seem to assume you are only working with an album or two based on what was shown. If you really have this as much material as you said, then you are going to have to warehouse it until you get the skill and the strategy to move it through sales. Good luck.

There are definitely keepers there. The best part; or at least what I believe to be the best part; is that the collection probably preceded the era of fakes. That's good news for you, Dawn Booth.

Jack Kelley

Thank you everyone for your valued responses. I greatly appreciate them. I had a gentleman from our local stamp association come over yesterday- I made sure that I checked references before I allowed it- but there is just too much to move. He gave me several suggestions to help me decrease the volume so I could focus on the important stuff. He said the mint file sheets that I have are not worth much because they are mostly newer stamps and I could either keep them and have enough postage for the rest of my and my family's life or I could sell them. He said the average return was around 35-45% of face value. Same with the boxes of duplicates that are newer. He said the UN collection does not have alot of monetary value because mail could no longer be sent from the UN. I will definitely hold on to them because they are beautiful stamps and have sentimental value. He said all of the first day covers and postal cards have little value unless there are specified areas that a collector likes.

He was very impressed with both the early mint and used that I have and also with quite a bit of the foreign- he said there are specific buyers for certain countries that I have stamps in- especially the Canadian (I have 4 albums of just Canadian), China, GB, and some of the countries that were pre- WW2. He was very nice and did not push me to do anything- just offered some suggestions on how to get a handle on it all. I am taking about 15 of the more valuable albums to my bank tomorrow for safe keeping while I work through the duplicates and the other items such as envelopes, FDC, coils, and plate blocks. He suggested if I did try to sell to use an auction house as well and said that there were several stamps that he would have appraised before I let go of them if I were him.

He also asked if I would be willing to bring some of the albums to our next local meeting so some of the other collectors could see them. Overall he was very nice and helpful with his suggestions. I did NOT commit to anything but was very appreciative of his suggestions as I am all of yours.

And, yes, he was shocked at the amount that I had. He said so many times they get calls to look at collections that people say are *VERY LARGE* and they end up being a few boxes or albums. He said he thought that was what he was going to get when he came over and was not prepared for it to be as big as it was for a personal collection. I have to keep reiterating that this is a compilation of 3 collections of avid stamp enthusiasts which is why I have so many duplicates and the volume that I do. I am very fortunate that my mother, who is still alive but not doing well physically, is mentally intact. She is the one that gave me the collections and it has been very special to go through some of this with her. if nothing else I will cherish this time I am spending with her and finally learning about this passion that she, my father, ad grandfather shared their entire lives.

Also- if there are any specific areas that any of you would like to see please let me know and I will attempt to take some pics and upload. The good news is I have an awesome camera- the bad news is I ned to learn how to use it for more than to take pictures of my dog . Thanks again everyone! I am enjoying this alot and would love to keep learning! There is just SO MUCH to learn!

The first postage stamp was issued by Great Britain in 1840. By 1863 forgeries were so common that the book Forged Stamps: How to Detect them was published and by 1864 forgeries were being produced of both common and scarce stamps from a wide range of countries such as Austria, British Guiana, Finland, India and Spain.

Jean de Sperati is among the master forgers in the history of philately.

http://wikivisually.com/wiki/List_of_stamp_forgers