New To The Stamp World

Hello, I'm Jake.

I recently inherited a massive collection of stamps. I've been researching online to figure out exactly what I've got.

Most of the stamps are in clear wax envelopes. I don't know what will and won't damage them, so I have not removed any from the envelopes. I just try my best to view them without removing.

The stamps I've looked through so far are mostly from early 1900s through 1960s (I think). I have only been able to go through about 1/4 of the collection so far though.

Any beginner tips are welcomed and appreciated. Im here to learn! Thank you.

Jake, welcome. There are so many people with detailed knowledge about many subjects on this forum. Your question in directly related to what type of stamps you have inherited. Is your collection primarily US, International, Postage, Revenue, or Cinderellas? Each of these areas, have a different source of information and a slightly different skill set.

Hope to see some of your collection.

Jake,

The real value in what are mostly common stamps is that they came up through the family and you are now their steward until they are passed onto future generations to come.

Enjoy having fun with stamps! That is the name of this game. Wonderful you are carrying on your father's collection. You are the next steward of a family treasure you can pass on to future generations. Its value as a family heirloom wil always surpass it monetary value.

Collecting for the enjoyment of collecting, whatever that might be, is the name of the game. Don't hesitate to ask questions especially if you need basic information and especially more advanced sources of information for any possible topic. You should be able to find folks on this board a little further along on their collecting journey glad to share experiences.

My personal bias is a used stamp loses the story of its journey in the postal service when it is removed from the cover it transported to its destination. Collecting postal history adds a whole new aspect to your journey in our hobby.

Wishing you many enjoyable future days in our hobby. Russ

Thank you for your responses.

Most the stamps looked like they've have never been used, and are still attached as a book.

I just looked through some more. I found some that are mid to late 1800s, all of these are still on envelopes and have the postage marks on them.

It's very interesting to see them on an envelope with someone's hand writing. I personally like these the best. Who thought to save these and take such good care of them? Was it common for people to save used envelopes/stamps during this time period?

Welcome!

Dale

even as you, Dale, got them in clear envelopes (likely glassines).

You have narrowed down the age range to several eras.

Could we have a clue to the country or countries, be they dead or alive?

Welcome Jake.
Hard to say if it was more common back in the 1800s to save correspondence than in the early to mid 1900s, but if you have entire covers (envelopes) with stamps on them used as postage from the 1800s, keep them intact. Don't trim the envelopes and don't soak the stamps off 'em. It would compromise both the monetary and philatelic value.

We love pictures, so if you can scan and post some of the earlier items you have, we will happily react.

Here are a few of the older ones that I've found. Let me know what you think!

Thanks

Correspondence was infrequent for most people of those time periods, so news from a relative or acquaintance tended to be kept.

The stamps that you have posted so far are very common. Nothing of high value. But, it's a good place to start.