Too Many Stamps . I'm Not Sure What To Do With Them

So I did an auction on a storage unit and have acquired PLEAE400,000-600,000 stamps. They are all in envelopes by the bundle, 5 envelopes per bundle which includes .. singles, pairs, strips, blocks and plates.. the gum either dried up or it looks like they might never have gum on them, they all look like their in mint condition.... they are all from years 1920-1960 but I'm just not sure what to do with them.. There must be thousands of different kinds of stamps. Please help and tell me what I should do with all of these stamps.

There should be local stamp groups in Texas that can help you out. I would suggest finding a local group and asking them for their opinion. Get at least 2 offers. Odds are that what you described are only worth a penny or so each, but there may be some winners in there. Good luck

Considering your posts in the other thread, I have my doubts about those being anywhere near mint. The years you quote are not known for stamps being issued without gum in large quantities.

Considering where you got them from, if they would have been mint, it sounds more probable they would have stuck together than have the gum dry out.

Here is what the back of the stamps look like and this isn't even half of them. Some of the envelopes have 400-600 stamps in each.

Please show front and back when showing stamps. It would be nice to see if the stamps are canceled.

Yup everyone who has posted here to try and help you and give you honest no BS opinions has done so and I'm of the same opinions. You have a long up hill battle ahead of you and I feel your pain. I have material that I cant even give away right now and I do have unused stamps that I use as postage rather than just selling for pennies on the dollar.

Your best bet is to go through it as quickly as you can finding the better ones to keep and give the rest to someone who has the time and the patience to insect dung hunt those that you cant see yourself moving anytime soon, or give to a crafter or make wall paper with it. I don't know what else to tell you other than get yourself a stamp catalog and educate yourself some more.

Good luck to you.

Jeremy

What does cancelled mean?

Appreciate you jeremy

The black lines on the stamp is ink that franks the stamp making it used so it cannot be used again. You likely have a boat load of used stamps on you hands.

Jeremy

Theres no better way to get started in the hobby than the way you have. Welcome to the rabbit hole. By the way that is the same type of material I have and can't even give away.

Jeremy

It means what it says it means. When a stamp is used to pay for carriage of the item of mail it is attached to, it is invalidated. Normally, it is invalidated by a stamp, a stroke with a pen, or an inkjet marking. These are called cancellation marks and they invalidate the stamp for future use.

In essence, it means the stamp was used, although a stamp may be used and escape cancellation. If so, it, still, has become invalid for future use.

The stamps you have shown here and in your other thread have been used. That is why they no longer have any gum. It has nothing to do with gum having dried out.

Cancels / postmarks come in a huge variety of types. Most are black ink, but there are other colors. If there are ANY markings on the face of the stamp that is not part of the original design, then the stamp is nearly 100% guaranteed to be used. There are such things as precancels that are not used, but if there is no gum, then they are considered used. You are encouraged to go to a local library and look at a Scott stamp catalogue. Read about unused vs used. You can also purchase older catalogs online for a very low price. If most or all the stamps are U.S., then get a Scott U.S. Specialized catalog.

Who and why would anyone amass a collection like this if they aren't worth anything?

Maybe it was a stamp dealer's stock.
Maybe someone bought collections, picked out the better items and put the remainder in envelopes to sell in bulk.
Maybe they were part of a collection someone amassed to check for interesting cancellations.
.
If there are 400,000 - 600,000 stamps, my money would be on a dealer's stock. It may well be someone who sold through Ebay.

Many, if not most, stamps are worth very little. Collecting stamps is a hobby. Hobbies cost money.

You sound like my wife.

People who do not possess the "collecting gene" will never understand those who do.

Haha I understand collecting stuff and spending money to do so but to do it not looking for a return on investment seems wild