Higher Value Stamps?

I'm curious how others store/display their higher value stamps. Now I realize "higher value" means different things to different people. But in my case, let's say I am working towards the US Zeppelins - I have the baby zep in my album, but I'm feeling a little uneasy about the putting the higher priced ones there - but I really want to see them there together some day! I have considered keeping the on separate cards in a card file and just noting the album that I have them, but that doesn't seem fun? I also thought that in case of an impending storm or fire you could grab a small box with your highest value and run for it . . anyway, you probably get my drift. Does anyone else fret about this?

No, but that doesn't mean I don't have some thoughts on it.

First, a few companies make stockbooks that are in a tall, narrow format, maybe 12 inches high and only four or so inches wide, sized to fit in a safe-deposit box. I wouldn't want to be that far from them, but that solution is out there.

With scanning quality through the roof these days, you could consider making a high-quality scan at actual size, in a mount or with some other plain black background, then trim it carefully and insert it in a mount and put it on the page. The original could reside wherever you want to keep it. It might not pass a close inspection, but it would give the right idea.

C.

Yes, but that would also make it easier for a thief. Most people, when faced with imminent disasters, don't even have time or don't even think about grabbing any valuable collectibles -- other things usually get priority (like, staying alive, other family members, pets, photo album...) I know I don't take any of my albums whenever a hurricane hits. They wouldn't all fit in my car anyway (unless I toss out my wife and kids ).



If it concerns you, then I might recommend buying collector's insurance. It's not as expensive as most people think, easily under $100 (including underwriting fees) for $10K of coverage with no listing requirements. You can get $25K for slightly more. It won't save your stamps, but it will cover any financial loss concerns you may have. Then you might be more comfortable to assemble/arrange your collection based on what is aesthetically pleasing to you, instead of by cost/value.

Just my thoughts...

k

Hi, I would probably try to save my safe boxes with important titles, papers etc....i would be hard pressed to decide what to snatch and grab cover and stamp wise as my better stuff is all over one room...if I lost every stamp and cover I would start from scratch ...some of my friends have fire proof safes for their zepp quality material..but that might be more to prevent theft !!

That is correct, because fire-proof does not mean heat-proof.

I do have a safe anchored to a concrete floor also insurance on the collections (antiques,coins and stamps),this doesn't mean that my collection is safe in anyway not these days,I think if any thing's going to happen (theft or fire)then it's going to happen and it doesn't matter what precautions you take so I decided to show the collections and what better way than to use a showcase to highlight the best in the collections,also I trust in the honesty of my friend around me and this is what makes it a pleasure to show them off .

I think this is the closest I'll get to the big Zepps




regards harry

Once I give the passwords to my guards, pass them, and then go down to the dungeon, I then clean off the cobwebs to my vault and proceed to look at my valuable items - - then I am rudely waken up to reality

Chimo

Bujutsu

i am with you on the cobwebs and the dungeon..if the theif knows which books to grab I give him credit..he could get lucky ! Or I could smack him with a one iron !!

You guys all sound like Jack Benny. My stamps all go in my albums, no matter what their value. I could grab those just as easy as a bunch of boxes. The higher value stuff is mounted in acetate with black backgrounds so I don't have to hinge them.
Allan

This is a good question. I think the answer depends on the purpose of your collection. If it's for investment, then the bank is the best place for your stamps.

I collect for the pleasure of studying my stamps, so it would make no sense to segregate the higher values ones. The 1923 ¼ Anna rose of Barwani State is a perfect case in point:



The basic stamp is common, as Barwani stamps go It's perf 12 and printed on laid paper. There are scarcer variations compound and mixed perf 12 and 6, or plain perf 6. There is a rare variety perf 7, and there's a howling rarity - perf 7 on wove paper (the stamp shown above). I could take the last two items away, and store them separately or hide them in a bank safety deposit box. But then I'd lose the story of the ¼ Anna rose.

So I keep them altogether, cheapo ones and the rarities, together in a stockbook, in mounts so that I can easily and fearlessly handle them and shuffle them around.

I keep mine together also..in case of a fire I doubt if I would have time to save the Scott Internationals..bye bye world wide collection !!

I just collect my stamp sets, the more complicated the better. I do not think I would like to have my stamp sets separated. I like to look at them together in my stock book!

A fire extinguisher next to the stock books could be helpful!

Nobody would find anything in my storage system. It is one big mess but a safe mess for the stamps and I being the owner of them!

Storm damage is real and I have no answer for that. But if my stamps were destroyed I would probably be in the same condition!