It's Getting To Be That Time . To Stop

I've been collecting since 6th grade, so maybe since 1957/8(?) I started as a rookie by purchasing Harris 10c & 25c packets at the local Woolworth's with my paper route $$. An eclectic collection of WW & US to say the least..I stopped late high school, & military service, & picked it up again in late 80's, focusing on US, with a side of FDC. My modern issues collection is at least 95%+ complete, while my classics are at best 30%-40%. I started my FDCs with a subscription to PCS US issues, with an occasional "super collectible collectors special" & a World Wide Special Collection. I started a PCS back issue of US-FDCs for a while. I quit on the PCS early 2000's when I realized cost to value was not to be expected.

I was thinking of stopping this year, but because of the Boston Show, I have decided to extend one more year. (I live 4 miles from Boston Convention Center). After that, I will go to my annual show & browse the tables to fill in some missing moderns or get a bargain on a cool classic.

My collection is in 3-ring binders, 65# stock inserted to a document protector. I use Scott mounts for stamps, photo corner for sheets & FDCs. I have most of the US Postal Annuals & a number of pre-annual portfolios. I have a large extra US inventory, both classic & modern. There are stationary items in the modern collection, and a few in the classic. I have some special items from USPS, Challenger folder, Wildlife album, Wild West sheet, few designer signed FDCs, collection of FDC folders, ( some signed by attendee Dignitaries),
Inauguration cancels, USPS Post Office Awards, and others. (The FDCs are a mix of cache' & USPS non-cache' & DCP).

From my WW collecting days I have a HE Harris Ambassador Album, w/stamps & envelopes of foreign stamps, a box of mixed on paper (missionary mix), 2-early, spring load binder, Steiner albums, and other 'stuff'.

I understand that catalog value is for insurance or some remarkable classic. Would I be off if I thought a 5-digit (no decimal) value would be a safe assumption to my heirs or expectation from a buyer like Mystic or auction house consignment?

Always good to meet another 'local' here (I'm also a couple miles from the convention center)!

Would need to see some photos to get a better sense, but first thing that comes to mind is that the FDCs aren't going to fetch much at all - dozens of dollars, maybe? Never touched them, so others will have a better sense than I.

Much of the extra US would be sold for discount postage. You could call the NobleSpirit guys as they're in NH and are in the Boston area frequently. I think they occasionally do valuations at the Spellman, too.

The Harris Ambassador album doesn't have many spaces for high-value stamps, so unless you didn't collect to the album with it, you can expect it to go for the tens of dollars, depending on how full it is.

As for the US - I picked up a pretty complete US collection going from Scott #1 through approximately 1990 a couple years ago. Condition wasn't the finest, and of course it was missing the highest value stamps, but otherwise it was mostly complete (up to the $2 Colombian, for instance). Was offered in the range of $1200 for it from a dealer, and could have realized more probably if I consigned it. (Dealer price is not retail price.)

I bought it as part of a larger collection and shopped it around to get a quote, but ended up holding onto it. Hey, I like the stamps, and condition is decent (some heavy cancels, poor centering, etc. but otherwise sound).

So - we'd need to see some photos to give a better answer, but I think five figures is likely to be pretty optimistic. Maybe over $1k, depending on how much from the classic period is there, and what condition it's in. Otherwise the mint stuff, a few rare items and sheets aside, will likely be used as discount postage.

Your best bet would be to take everything on a small trip to Kelleher Auctions after you set up a appointment with one of their buyers. Doesn't sound like you got material Mystic wants ,besides they consign a lot to Kelleher already .

Right now dealers and auction firms are buying for the up coming show in Boston ,so your best price will be in the next few months .

There should be lots of auction houses at the Boston show, but be aware that a auction house estimate is at best just an estimate that could be off and at worst a lie designed to get you to believe their house will do better than other houses.

This is the TRADER speaking ,not the collector telling you.

You sell on the way up ,the hype of the show is HOT now ,sell into the increasing demand ,don't ----don't try to pick the top of the market to sell . The show if it is a dud ,then everybody will be unloading material dealers ,auction houses , collectors ,it could drop fast even during the show .

The prices are at their highest before the show .

Very low 4 digits maybe.

well, based on the above, I guess there will be no significant value added to the collection to worry about $$ gain for tax purposes when sold. All the modern are post office fresh, NH. Optimistic, sure why not. My Xtra stock of modern is small & I cannot find most at the shows I attend, so I'm still thinking face, not reduced for postage use to mail. I'll try to get some pictures up, but not in the immediate future. Thanks to those who responded, appreciate the comments, Just a note to clarify, my FDCs support my collection by providing a reference of when-where the stamp was issued. Next show is Boxborough MA Easter Weekend, so I will ask around there for some sense of value, bringing some general phone camera pictures. Again thanks for the comments.