Help: Are There Any Valuable US Modern Issues?

I've inherited a huge number of unused post WWII U.S. stamps, in singles, plate blocks, half sheets and full sheets. I've looked at ebay and most of these type of collections get a bid price close to face value. Given that I will lose about 10% of the bid price in various ebay and PayPal fees, I figure I should just use these for postage. Before I do are there any modern, non-error, common denomination (less than a $1) stamps that are rare and I should hang on to?

Welcome to Stamp Community Family, malibugrif!

Yes, there are a number of modern US stamps that actually wholesale for more than double face value, and a few dozen that sell for a significant premium.

Hopefully, you also inherited a Scott catalog. If not, check your public library and see if they have the Scott US Specialized or Volume 1.

If you can give me an approximate start/end Scott numbers for your stamps, I can provide a list of Scott numbers in between that you should hang on to, and also a few that sell for a large premium (i.e, >$100).

I will return home Monday and check this thread again then.

Meanwhile, please consider taking stamp collecting up as a hobby, because it looks like you got a nice start!

Kim

Kim,

Thank you, I did collect stamps as a child and found in it a love of history and a deep appreciation for our great country. As I've grown older, I've not been drawn back to the hobby and it's time in my life to clean out the closet shelves.

The bulk of the stamps appear to date between 1957 and 1987, Scotts #1086-2246. There are no high value stamps (more than $1) and no souvenir sheets. I appreciate your kind offer.

malibu

Malibugrif,

First off,

Second, It sounds like you have a collection very similar to what mine is turning into. I would love to see more pictures of what you have.

Khj,

I would be very interested in what Scott numbers you recommend hanging on to as well. I have my 2009 Scott pocket guide but any info would be greatly appreciated.

Devlin,

There are just too many to photograph individually. I thought about your request and decided that I could put a video together, actually two since YouTube only allows videos up to 10 minutes long, and I placed them on You Tube. Both videos should qualify as the single most boring video ever placed on You Tube. But if you are interested, I posted them here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGzJ3fG1oEA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAe_UzCiIKw

I'll take them down in a week or so. Again, thank you for all your help.

malibu

Holy Cow Malibu!
You have the collection I wish I had inhearited! You have a lot of sheets and blocks that I don't have so get your 50 posts and we will talk about some trades.

Malibu,

That was a very innovative way to show off a lot of stamps!

I'm not an expert in late US but it sure looks like you have some collectible items there.

My experience with selling on ebay is limited but I understand your frustration with selling stamps there. The margins are slim after ebay fees and postage unless it is a scarce item. I'm sure you will get some good suggestions from this group.

Regardless what you ultimately decide to do, I would recommend separating the stamps, if nothing more than putting wax paper between the items. The least little moisture and you could end up with a gooey, sticky, and worthless mess. Been there, done that, got the tee-shirt!

Dan

Thanks for joining the forum here!

Sorry to say, but many of the stamps you could used as free postage.
The stamps that have some of the best values are the se-tent stamps (different stamps attached to one another) and the mint sheets (sheets with margins on all 4 edges).


Mike

Welcome Maliburgrif. That was a great idea to show a large amount quickly. Now if you have a interest in collecting you have a good start to a plate block collection. Today though many collectors have abandoned this style of collecting.

If your interest is just in the selling aspect I would join Stampoffers.com and list them there. They are a free site with no fees unless you want any special listings. Basically, a listing as postage or collection is what you should shoot for. Figure up the face value and start a bid at 20% to 15% below face and they should sell with no fees charged. Or just list them here when you get your 50 posts.

Hopefully they may peak your interest and lead you to the world of stamp collecting.

From all of your helpful posts, it doesn't look to me like these stamps are going to pay for my vacation to Borneo. I'm never going to get to 50 posts and I really don't have any desire to trade. My plan is just to use these for postage; however, if that makes you squirm, would the forum permit me to just sell these to anyone who wants them for face value?

If it's permissible, just send me an email with which stamps you want and your address. I'll send them to you and ask in return that you send me a check for the face value. If you don't pay, I'll make fun of you in the forum. Fair?

Thank you for all the advice.

malibu

Very interesting proposal, however, ethically I could not take advantage of your offer since I may have influenced your decision.

I'm not in charge of this forum, but someone who is could authorize your offer.

If you use stamps for postage, use the ones without selvage edges, (margins, blank or with plate numbers). Those can sell as would any se-tent issues.

You could try selling on ebay you will do better then face value.

Take Care!

Mike

Well if the heads of the forum here don't have any problem with it, I sure don't, but that's just me. I'm greedy, over eager and compulsive. LOL Besides, I'm already making my list of wants to send you Malibu. :-)

I know the forum has a pretty strict rule about the 50 post limit.

I'm not interested in any of the material Malibu has to offer.

For what it's worth, I would have no problem with such an arrangement if the powers that be find it acceptable.

I hate to see stamps used for postage when there are collectors that want them.

Dan

I am back in town. Sort of fast forwarded through your 2 videos. You do have a number of items that typically WHOLESALE for above face value. However, I do not see any individual items that would RETAIL for above $20, and only a couple of items that would RETAIL for above $10. That is assuming the stamps are in sound condition. It's hard to tell from the video -- but it looks like the stamps you have are what wholesalers would refer to as "typical mixed condition".

Before I go to sleep, I'll try to make a list of "keepers" for others to use as a reference.

Here is a list of items I regularly pull out of lots I go through. These are items that have been fairly consistently wholesaling for above face value for the past decade. It is based on the wholesale buying market (not retail). I use wholesale prices as my guide because in my opinion it better reflects the actual value of most modern material, relatively speaking.

The list covers 4c-29c (you had some stamps that went past the Scott range you mentioned, I also included souvenir sheets, even though you said you didn't have any). Any lot consisting solely of these items is basically assured of getting at least face value if not better from any legitimate dealer (my opinion).

1178-1182
1257b
1332b
1354a
1355
1368a
1379a
1381
1418c
1623Bc booklet pane
1682a sheet
1691-1694 S/S
1889a booklet pane
2002b sheet
2002Ac sheet
2016
2046
2089
2097
2141a
2158a
2209a booklet pane
2216-2219 S/S
2274a booklet pane
2283c booklet pane
2335a sheet
2361
2385a booklet pane
2409a booklet pane
2433 S/S
2438 S/S
2448a
2474a booklet pane
2505a booklet pane
2520a booklet pane
2559 half sheet
2577 booklet pane
2581b booklet pane
2696a sheet
2838 half sheet
2870** sheet
2875 S/S

**wholesale buy price for this item is $100++

Let me know if anyone has any additional recommendations. You may be surprised by some items NOT on the list. Again, it is likely because my list is based on wholesale buy prices, not retail. However, I might have accidentally left off a few items (I'm getting old and forgetful, or something like that).

I've not heard one way or the other from the powers that be, so I'll post my email address and if offends the powers that be, then they can take it down. If you are interested in any of the stamps at face value (and will pay the postage to get them to you) please drop me an email at travelroo-delphi@yahoo.com.

malibu