Could You Recommend Some Supplies For Me?

Hello again.

I am just asking this question, because I would like to know what things I could get, such as books and software and equipment, that would be good for me and my purposes.

Here is my situation. I used to collect stamps as a kid, but I stopped. Recently, I found someone who was going to be sending a lot of unwanted letters off for recycling, but I salvaged them.

Since then, I have got interested in collecting stamps again.

I want to collect science based and historic figure based stamps, mint only, and I want to trade in kiloware, with the old used stamps, for profit, and to fund my mint collection a little bit too.

I need to know, what stamps are worth, for my mint collection.

I need to be able to soak lots of stamps at a time, for the kiloware.

I need some general information, maybe books, both both.

I also need, any general advice that you think would be useful for someone in my situation.

Thanks very much in advance.

Are you going to handle Spanish stamps or American stamps or worldwide?

Jack:

You will find numerous threads here about soaking and sorting. Use the Search button at the top of the page. Start here...
https://goscf.com/t/16056
https://goscf.com/t/6959
https://goscf.com/t/12959

Of course you'll need to decide on an album of some sort. Again, there are numerous threads here comparing albums. Personally, I suggest you postpone the album decision until your collecting evolves a little further. But do consider a good stockbook and/or some Vario sheets for organizing.
Vario: https://goscf.com/t/18163
Vario: https://goscf.com/t/15066
Stock: https://goscf.com/t/24735

Obviously, you'll need a set of Tongs/Tweezers (called different things in different parts of the world, but make sure they are for philatelic use).
https://goscf.com/t/29862

That should get you started on a a few hours of reading and research

KirkS

@doug2222 I am going to be collecting stamps from all over the world, as long as they fit in to my topics. As for the kiloware I have, the vast vast majority of it comes from English speaking countries, most notably the UK, Australia and USA, however there is a few from more or less everywhere in there.

@KirkS Thanks, I will be reading over those this week in spare time, specially the soaking, I need to try and find a way I can maybe automate it or do it in large quantities.

Thanks all.

One thing about bulk soaking, make sure you pull out any stamps on red or green Christmas card envelope corners. Those colors often run, and ONE CORNER can ruin a whole batch of soaking stamps by tinting them pinkish or greenish. Also remove stamps with that bright reddish-purple color; two immediately come to mind - the 4c Liberty (US) of 1954, and certain 5c values from 50s and 60s Malayan States. Those are among the worst for injecting color into the soaking water. And recall that the inks of many Netherlands Indies designs simply dissolve in water, you end up with a white thing with a very clear postmark LOL LOL.

Another thing about bulk soaking, I would not automatically soak everything that comes along. Damaged stamps, very common Machins from Great Britain, self-adhesive stamps that just make a sticky mess when you try to soak them -- I would put all these categories (and more) into a big box and never look at them again. Your time is valuable, and one aspect of "automating" the process is to discard what isn't worth soaking. I dry stamps face down on ordinary kitchen paper towels; the more you use them, the better they work. I think repeated usage kicks up the fibers so that they absorb more water faster.

I am agree that you should not waste your time in these things.