Stamp Collecting

HI I am New to the forum and stamp collecting, I have a bunch of stamps and a book given to me by a family member. I have a book title postage stamps of the world with hinged stamps some never used. I Also have some mint never used stamps in envelops and stamps that have been cut of envelops. What is the proper way to care for and catalog stamps To maintain best value. Should they be left in the book or removed and placed in something else to be labeled and identified? What should be done with the stamps that were cut off the envelopes?

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Robm1093:
Welcome to the forum.
I'm sure there will be other posts shortly to comment; in the meantime, do a search on 'Beginning Stamp Collecting.'

It's Mint Never Hinged (MNH),Mint Lightly Hinged (MLH) and other variations; also 'Used.'
'Mint' implies never used.

Hello Robm1093, welcome!

The stamps cut off of envelopes could have been left that way because the cancel or cancellations or postmark was of interest to the former collector.

Sometimes stamps left on paper are worth more to some collectors. But also, sometimes they are worth less, depending.

Pictures are always a help to see what you are seeing.


Searching on Stamp Community here is a big help as there are many topics by people who have looked for similar help before you. But, do not be afraid to ask.

Hinging stamps that are used or cancelled onto paper album pages is a common way to collect them. You can go to very fancy methods to protect expensive stamps and mint or post office fresh stamps also.

In your local libray is usually found Scott stamp catalogues which will help you to detrmine value for really nice copies of your issue of a stamp, mint or used.

Or look on ebay for the name of the stamp or topic and see differentwxamples of mnt or used versions.

Thanks guys, I asked about the Hinging stamps that are onto paper album pages because I have been told this decreases the value of the stamps, is this true or false?

Very true. If the stamp is used (cancelled) then it really does not matter if it's hinged or not as there is no gum left anyways. But for unused, yes it reduces the value quite a bit.

I tried to post a photo but could not for some rezone, in the collection book I have most are cancelled stamps but there are a few stamps that are not, The other problem is some of the stamps are coming lose when I turn the pages and falling off. I was thinking it might be best to take the hinged stamps out of the book and place them in one of those books with the slots so I can organize them and label category's with the Scott numbers for each book. This way the collection will be more organized something to think about.

Link to photos http://www.stamp-forum.com/threads/...of-the-world

Pretty common items from your scans so far. Try to scan and post some more, you never know if a gem may be hiding in there.

Posted a few moor but upside down sorry

Yours seems to be a nice small collection. Good to build up to a larger one, as you learn.

The plastic pages with pockets are nice to use and since I only collect certain stamps of some topics or themes (cancels too) I enjoy using these pages.

When you have a large world collection these pages can also be used to hold stamps to be mounted in the album with hinges or under plastic mounts. Sometimes they can hold duplicates or special ly cancelled stamps or cvarieties for study.

You will get all the help you could ever want here. There are so manyhelpful members that are willing to answer the most basic questions. You have a nice start just look around and see what works for you before you start making any changes. If you have MNH stamps in envelopes don't hinge them. Get Showguard mounts and protect them that way is the safest for a stamp of any value. The plastic vario sheets are great to help oraganize and store stamps especially if they are of lower value. As many ways as there is to store a stamp you will find someone here is doing it. So ask away and enjoy your new found hobby.
Nick

As a beginning collector, I'd recommend buying a new stamp album. I just think you'd have more fun and enjoy the hobby more when you can read a little bit about each stamp and see pictures of the ones you don't have along with the ones you do. Your album is old and very basic because being a worldwide album, they only had so much room for stamps from a specific country. You can't go wrong with the Mystic Heirloom. It's 3 volumes and only about 40 bucks. My entire heirloom album is here if you want to see what it looks like - http://home.comcast.net/~zeppelin33...s/index.html

Hinges are fine for used stamps and put your MNH stamps in mounts. Or you could buy a hingeless album and never have to worry about it (mounts are already there for each stamp and you just slide in the stamps)

Hi,
Stamp Collecting is one of those hobbies that can be enjoyed by a huge span of people, regardless of age, wealth, physical condition, etc. As suggested, get yourself a beginner Scott, Harris, or Mystic album and carefully move the stamps from their existing place to the new albums. Its not about speed, but about the learnings you can gather from each one - as well as the appreciation for their beauty.

ENJOY !!

Mike33,

I just checked out your virtual stamp album and it is really nice. Bonus is a cat in the stamp box!

Thanks Dan - It's been a fun project - going through about 10 pounds of kiloware now to fill in the modern holes. It's been as much fun as anything actually finding stamps I need or improved versions

For some resin I can't see the stamps when I go on the page I get a cat in a box and when I click on the left nothing happens however it Sounds like a good option the other option I am thinking of is getting some Stockbooks. At this time I don't think I will be collecting moor stamps later on however my main concern is protecting and labeling what I have now with scot numbers so they can be past on to my children or sold to someone that will appreciate them.