Anybody Feel Like Answering A Few Newbie Questions?

If you read my introduction post, you already know that while I spent most of my childhood around stamps, I haven't actually worked with them for very long. That being said, I have a lot of "newbie" questions that will either be really easy to answer or just unanswerable (the kind that are "depends on the stamp" and stuff.) But you know, I thought I would take the shot and see!

My biggest question consists of multiple parts. How can you determine values for stamps that are things like Trial Color Strips, Artist Proofs, Imperfs and stuff like that. At this moment I only have a Scott Catalog and hardly anything about those kinds of things are ever listed. Is there any set "rule" or does it depend on country, the topic etc? Age of stamp maybe? I have some pretty interesting FSAT trial colors and artist proofs, one signed by I assume the artist.

I've seen some listings for imperf sets going for what I assume are really exorbitant prices. Of course they haven't had any bids or anything. But does the reality come down to "make up your own price and hope somebody else is willing to buy it."

I have some other questions, but I don't know how to put them in English, so I assume a scan of the individual stamps is in order. I'll try to get around to that tomorrow when I'm not being an insomniac.

I really hope I'm posting this in the right forum, if not feel free to scold me. I promise I won't cry...too much. I look forward to getting to know some of you. My name is Kenny by the way, if you don't feel like typing out the user.

You don't mention which country or countries you had in mind - but even if you did, the answer would have to be, No: there isn't any rule on valuations. You may get some guidance from the deep specialist publications for specific countries, but the more rarified the material, the harder it gets to value.

For the really rarified stuff (for example, proofs from the Indian States, that I collect), it's impossible to say. It just depends on how many of the handful of potentially interested collectors see the item for sale. For US material, it's probably a bit easier.

If you can put up some scans of what you have, someone may be able to point you in the right direction.

Hi Scrubatelic,

First of all Welcome.

For any US material a Scott United States Specialized catalog is indispensable and worth the price. At lot of questions can be answered in that book.

Next question is are you a member of the APS? If so, you can take advantage of the APRL (American Philatelic Research Library).

I have found that specialized catalogs for a particular country will have a lot of answers. However, if you are a Worldwide collector that is not an option. Another idea is to look at auction catalogs, a lot are online, for material similar to yours to get a general idea of value. After the auction closes look at the prices realized if they are published.

In general, ask questions on this board. The people here are very knowledgeable and friendly and no question is too simple to be answered. There is a wealth of knowledge here in many areas.

Jerry B (APS124477)

Hi and welcome Kenny!

The best way for me to understand stamp prices at auction is.
Firstly a good relevant catalogue.
A very close second is contacting a wholesale stamp dealer
and asking how much for this stamp and base my bidding on this information.

There is no such thing as a dumb question here.
That is why we learn so much.

Welcome again! John

Thanks all for the helpful responses, and not making me feel too dumb. Sadly my Mom seemed to completely ignore the US. She concentrated on birds, and where they were from didn't seem to matter at all. Imagine the fun (and sometimes frustration||) of looking through pages in a book and seeing pages dedicated to a specific species. All those stamps being from different countries of course. It can really make it hard to put sets back together!

A good amount of the items I mentioned are from the French Southern Antarctic. She really liked collecting penguins, and that's mainly what all of them are. That being said I have a lot of imperf sets from African countries. Upper Volta, Gabon, and Chad off the top of my head. I'm afraid if I had to buy specialist guides for everything I could be dropping tons of money that could be spent elsewhere.

Most of the fun for me seems to be in identifying and valuing the stamps, not sure if that's uncommon. I'll try to upload a few things in a bit, though I think I'm gonna start mainly with things I have no idea what are.

Welcome to the forum Kenny

What you really have to consider is the fact that stamp collecting is really just a hobby, and a great one at that.

You decide how and what to collect.

Some facits of the hobby are hard to put a value on. Some areas of collecting do not have reference material readily available or was published some time ago and is long out of print. Therefore, if you are inclined, some collectors hunt for these items of literature in the process of trying to either find an approximate value, or understand the limitations, availabliity of some items that would in turn at least give you some kind of an idea what any particular item it worth, or, at best, the scarcity of any given item.

If you stay in any given hobby long enough, you will soon learn what is scrarce, rare and what is not.

It all really depends on you and how far you want to dig in to the hobby.

Hope I didn't add to any confusion you already had? <G>

Cheers


Bujutsu

Hi Scrubatelic,

If Most of the stamps you have are birds, then your mom was a 'topical' collector. The American Topical Association (ATA)

http://www.americantopicalassn.org/

might be your best bet for answers. They have a checklist(s) of birds and this list(s) usually have the Scott catalog numbers for the stamps. I am not sure if the list(s) is by country or species of bird or both. I believe you can purchase any of the ATA publications without being a member. If you are going to continue your mom's collection you may want to join. The dues cannot be all that much.

With a topical collection and the ATA you would not have to spend a lot of money to get your answers.

Jerry B

Scrubatelic

Hi. A huge Birds collection was recently sold via the UPA auctions based in the UK. Included were many proofs, Imperfs, colour trials and 'errors'. I have all the catalogues.
Tomorrow is my last Flea Market of the year so I am busy until Sunday morning and will check then.
If you can let me know of anything specific to look for regarding countries,values etc.
Can you post any scans at all ?

Londonbus1

Hi Kenny, (Scrub),

For the types of stamps you have mentioned, the colour trials, proofs etc, I have never known how to value them myself, even from Canada. Probably out of my price range anyway.

Auction catalogs, checking some online dealers (not necessarily ebay, etc), for France and territories Yvert et Tellier is the specialized catalogue you want but I am not sure if they have those types in their catalogue.
http://www.yvert.com/ (web site in English)
but keep in mind, other country's catalogues usually have different numbering systems that Scott's catalogues (better for USA).

Birds are a popular topic or theme of collectors. Very beautiful usually. People pat more for beautiful items so your mom chose wisely! More people bidding and wanting, the price goes up.

Some of the prices you have probably seen for the colour trials and proofs and imperfs are due to this popularity factor and dealers and sellers trying to take advantage of the impulse buyer. If you are collecting you can chose to be patient and diligent and mount the hunt and keep you eyes open for the deal. Works for a lot of people although I am myself prone to the impulse buy now and then.

Remember to search the collector site Delcampe (.com or .net for worldwide) for some items at more realistic prices (sometimes).

Stanley Gibbons (Catalogue maker and stamp dealer in Great Britain) has some topical catalogues available, or you may find them online somewhere.
ANTARCTICA & TERRITORIES 1ST ED

COLLECT AUTOGRAPHS CATALOGUE 2010

COLLECT BIRDS ON STAMPS 5TH EDITION--2003

http://www.stanleygibbons.com/online-shop/

Sometimes topical dealers online (google topical stamps) have the item.

Check the local stamp club or stamp shows too. Watch what happens and see how others do it. Shows have nice contest displays also usually. at least here they do.

Put you other questions in any language that Google can translate incorrectly and I or other more international members can have a go at it. Or, if you mean English but you don't know the proper words then just ask anyway and we will figure it out. I have been doing this stuff for years and I still don't know proper words.