Inherited A Collection -- Where To Begin?

Hello, everyone. I inherited a collection from my dad. He didn't catalog anything and many stamps are in glassine envelopes. There are new stamps, cancelled stamps, domestic (U.S.) and foreign. I'm really looking to get an idea of the value but I have no idea where to start. FYI -- I started looking in the Scotts Catalog but was a bit overwhelmed.

Any suggestions?

Thanks

Why not scan a few of what you think are the "best" and post them here? A few US and a few foreign mint and used. Too many at a time and you lose detail so just a few at a time. That way people on here might get an idea on how you could proceed.

When you say "best" what criteria should I use? I really have no idea.

"best"is very subjective,I know. How about any USA stamps without perforations, for instance. Or the same from GB and Europe. Normally the ones without perforations are older. You could also scan and post anything the is a "high value" stamp... ones issued with x dollar or x pound values. Or...just post what you like now and later you can be advised of anything worth following up.

Shellhead, if they are in glassine envelopes and if they are unused especially please do NOT handle them with your fingers! The salt in your skin is not very good for stamps. Even used ones can be affected. Maybe your dad's collection also included a pair of stamp tongues?
And by the way, welcome to the forum!

Peter

Actually stamp tongs not tongues.

No tongs, unfortunately. There must be over 10,000 stamps in total. I have a bunch of sheets of unused US stamps in addition to the used and unused US and foreign ones. Here are pics of a few of the items.

Can't really give you much advise other than to post some more stamps. The airmail stamp is scott number c-47. The average retail sale price is .30 (cents each), that would be on the high side of the pricing. I see people try to get .99 or 1.00 on ebay but that is way over priced.

Here is an example of an average retail price for this stamp.

http://www.ihobb.com/p/USAIRMAILSTA...SSMC047.html


I'm not a foreign stamp collector so I can not say what you have off the top of my head.

Generally with very few exceptions unused stamps from 1940 to today are close to the denomination of the stamp. Feel free to use them as postage for the most part or save them.

Keep posting maybe you have some classics or something of value in other stamps.

My guess unless you know he inherited an older collection from his father or you know he spent money for high value stamps the collection is probably like most and just a bunch of common stamps not worth much in value. Being that they are most packed together in glassine that would probably be a safe bet. But you never know.


It is still fun doing the hunt for what he has in his collection.

You may want to read this, it may help you get an idea of what to do.

http://www.inheritedstampcollection...apter_01.htm

I cannot see anything of great value but there are interesting items...




Something like this Republic of China stamp would interest postmark collectors for instance. Not of great monetary value but nice to have.

If you post any of your older looking or high denomination Canadian Stamps I could give you a rough value on them. The rest I'm clueless on.