How Do You Display Your Collection At Home?

Please forgive me if this is a repeat topic but I've spent several hours looking and could not find this.

I am curious to see how we display our collections at home. I think most of us, myself included, just put the collections on a shelf somewhere and really don't have anything out on display.

I was thinking about maybe getting a book stand similar to those used in kitchens for cook books. But I would like to hear from others what, if anything, they do.

Thoughts? Comments?

not smart ------a open stamp album will damage the color of the stamp, due to natural light. May I suggest you scan a page and display it here for other interested collectors.

I think that would be cool. You could also look into a book pillow. I believe it's similar to the thing you are talking about with the cook book, except this one lies flat instead of being propped up.

I would be careful of the natural sunlight especially direct sunlight, as mentioned above.

I don't display my collection yet, I haven't actually thought of how to do it either. I will have to keep an eye on this thread...

I agree about sunlight being dangerous to stamps. That said (sheepishly) I do have a couple of stamps framed and hanging on my wall next to my computer. Also, I'm currently freelancing in the graphics department of one of Canada's 'Big Banks'. Recently they were unloading a bunch of stuff so I picked up these two display stands. They're thick acrylic held together with magnets. The leatherette base (I'm sure it's not real cow) has the banks logo embossed on it but it's not too intrusive. Cards and smaller envelopes fit nicely. I will change them up periodically.






I will point out my studio is in the basement. It is cool and dark most of the day, especially as I am now working away from home. So I figure these things are safe.

The display for your covers is nice.
I am also trying to figure out if I will display anything out in the open. It makes sense to promote the hobby that way.

Perhaps the less expensive items would be OK. There are many nice stamps/sheets/covers that would make a nice display.
Obviously, any more expensive items should stay in an album of some kind.

I try to make my albums easily accessible so it is simple to just walk by and pull something out to look at.

How to display items in the albums is an ongoing challenge. I have seen some members here display some of their album pages and they are real works of art.

One of the problems I have with displaying my collection in the common area of my house is I am not always there to monitor who my kids bring into the house. Maybe I'm too careful but not knowing who is aware of my collecting "problem" makes me uneasy. I also have a fairly large coin collection that could become an easy target.

What I have done is to frame a few objects behind UV rated glass but they are always objects that are common or don't mean anything to me. Then hung on the wall as art objects around the house. Actually there are only two that are hung at any given time, the wife would loose her mind if they were everywhere. But I have a few more that I change out from time to time.

If a guest shows interest in one of my art pieces they may be invited to my "study" to see the entire collection first hand. But they are few and far between.

My collection resides in an upstairs bedroom that has light blocking curtains drawn 99.9% of the time. Every thing is stored in albums or in plastic boxes waiting to be mounted.

Every here and there I need some natural light just to make me feel good. So I'll open them up and let the sun shine in.

...and walk off with it. I would seriously entertain the idea of not displaying them in a busy or well traveled room in your house (or near a window) but rather in your stamp room/man cave/ den or wherever traffic and accidents would be less of a threat. just my opinion on the subject.

Also I mirror what flyinlo said about the "anonymity factor". The less people that know the safer your collection will be. Remember people think just because your a stamp collector that you must be hoarding a huge fortune! Why I'm not exactly positiver (although I have my theory's) My point is that it may be better to err on the side of caution then not and lose something valuable to you.

I agree strongly with ILS. I built my house some 40 years ago in a quiet area, but have several neighbors now. In the years we have had two big break-ins. One was a gun collection and the other a coin collection. Both were recouped and the thieves were friends of the people involved! One can never be too careful!

Peter

I don't display my budding collection... Heck I have not even been able to finally choose what albums I will be using. However I do have one bookcase dedicated to my stamp collecting. I also purchased the classic photograph of FDR with his stamp collection from ebay and had that framed and it is hanging on the wall in my study/computer room!

David

The best place to exhibit stamps is in a stamp show exhibit.

Except for one sentimental cover in a lucite block like above, my stamps are displayed inside my safe.
they seem to be happy there.
and I don't mind, and in fact relish (like a kid finding treasure or booty), every time I walk down, spin the combo and see all the albums.
If I have friends or family, the binders and stock books are fine for hand held display

Hi!
I just got back into the hobby a year ago, but already have a decent investment in US and WW stamps - secured in 6 Scotts albums. While I don't make a secret of them, few (outside this forum) know I'm even involved in the hobby. I would love to display them openly in a bookcase, but if any bad guys saw them, they would certainly take them. Soooo, they end up in a file cabinet, or elsewhere when we are gone overnight.

Seems there are two topics here. How to keep a collection safe, and how to display.

I agree with you ILS, it's not wise to make a show of your collection to just anyone. However, I mentioned that I keep my stamps in an area that is easily accessible. They are not necessarily out in the open though. Used to be, everything was in my study and that was fine when I worked on them in there. It was a private/quiet place. I could lock the door when I left if I felt the need.

Now things are a little different for me. It is just my oldest son and myself in the house now, and so, it doesn't make sense to work in my study. Better to work/play in the same area (living room) during our leisure time so we can interact easier. (He does homework or plays around on the computer). I work on my stamps, or whatever.

So I put the bulk of the collection in two (lockable) nice wood cabinets in the living room (I rarely lock them though ...). Still they are out of sight when the doors are closed, but easily accessible as well.

I realize not many have the luxury of keeping their collection in the living room....

How to keep a collection safe? Hidden away and mouth zipped shut. How to display (stamps)? See first answer.

There a some really interesting options here. I like the lucite display for covers.

As for displaying a collection, since I don't consider my collection to be extremely monetarily valuable (not yet anyway) I may still get some kind of book stand and rotate my binders out of the office on a regular basis. I figure if I make sure it is not in direct sunlight, letting a book 'breath' every once in awhile should be ok.

Locking a collection away somewhere is not for me. Reminds me a bit of Jack Benny's Vault

LOL... My collection is displayed all over my desk, in a few boxes, accross a couple TV trays on stands, piled on shelves. Heck I cant even tell if my desk is made of real wood!!