Value Of Your Total Collection

Don't delet it. I think it's a very good question, even though it does not, cannot have an answer. I too worry sometimes how much I spend on my little trasures and how much of that my daughter and grandchildren will get out of it...but it's pointless. They will not get out of it as much as I do, unless they decide to become collectors as well.

Also there is no way of valuing it unless it consists of high priced itmes exclusively: I may have 10,000 stamps that have a CV of $0.30 each and that collection would be close to worthless in money value. Or I may have one stamp that I purchased for $3000.00 and that may now be worth $4000.00 - it's impossible to say until you try to sell it.

I don't really know how much it's worth but I'll tell you Probably a lot less than I've spent on it! I have a $100.00 monthly budget dedicated to my hobby and am just now trying to build a better collection so I'm certain it's probably worth at least the paper their printed on (I hope) XD

I don't know, nor do I care. I'm not investing in stamps, I'm collecting them. I'm never going to sell them and if someone wants to do so after I die, that's up to them. Personally, I don't really care if they burn them, I'll be dead, what difference will it make to me?

You have a daughter called Minnie ?
I call my daughter Minnie

Londonbus1, you may not understand the Quote. It is from an old Mickey Mouse cartoon The Brave Little Tailor where a cartoon kingdom is being destroyed by a giant. The King offers Mickey 1 million golden pazoozas to get rid of the giant and is so desperate he keeps going up in value. Truly what I meant is indeed a collection is worth only what someone will pay for it.

thats hard to say-- I guess when and (if) you or someone trys to sell it!

I think that will depend on what a buyer is willing to pay, a stamp will may be listed at 0.20 and in an specific period of time that same stamp can be sold for 0.80 or more, depending of course that the interested person is missing the stamp in his/her collection and really wants it.
Starting from that way of thinking, a collection could worth any amount from $1.00 to $1,000,000.00 or more.
A serious collector (I'm not there yet), will consider his/her collection priceless, all based on searching, dealing, trading and all the activities that are involved in stamp collecting.

My really humble opinion

Bob

So there you have it folks...a thread started in September 2009 is revived again...it certainly outlasted Sonalee here on the forum ! Its a pretty common question for a non collector to ask....at a show a couple of months ago I asked a cover dealer who had a lot of better covers what happened after he was gone...he said his kids would probably throw them in a dumpster...and from what I have seen in my years..its entirely possible !!

My biased valuation ........................$5,000
My enjoyment valuation......................$200,000
John Doe Stamp Company valuation probably...$400

Rod, I checked your figures and they look about right on ..at this point given the choice I would rather my kids get 10 percent than sell the stamps myself in my lifetime...this may sound selfish to some...who cares ????

according to SCV. my USA collection is valued at about 14,000. I would estimate it more along the lines of around $8,000.00

I have not yet cataloged other then US stamps yet..

Scott catalog value of Thousands....Real world value of Hundreds.... A hobby that gives me this much enjoyment....priceless :)

Since I'm not in it for investment, but pleasure, I don't really care what I could sell it for. If I take into consideration the fun I've had with the collection, and the people I have met on the way, I have gotten my moneys worth many times over.

I don't think the young lady realized it..but its not really a question one stamp collector asks another....if someone wants to tell me what their yearly salary is or what they have in the bank or what they have spent on stamps..thats up to them !!

Wow was wondering how I missed this thread until I seen the date. About the only thing I monetarily look at is Mint post 50's as being worth about face and even that is on a good day and if all brought to a dealer at once, I don't even want to think about it. Even when I buy a larger accumulation off of someone I pretty well hope I can keep what I need/ want and make my $ back on the rest. Usually works pretty good but if I paid myself $2 an hour for all the time I put into selling them I'd be broke but I also learn alot along the way which is priceless if I remeber it.
Anyone know how long the 20c minimum has been in place in most catalogs? I mean it takes into account the dealers time to house and sell but when was the last time that was adjusted for cost of living? No wonder theres no stamp dealers in my area.