Inherited Mothers Stamp Collection

I joined as I need some help. My mother died several years ago and I found in her things a huge collection of stamps. I have no idea what their value might be or if they were just something she did. It appears that some of the unused stamp date back to the 1940's. What is the best way to assess what she accumulated over the years?

I am Bill Willis. I live in Woodbridge, VA. I hope who ever can help lives close but will travel.

Thanks

Welcome here Bill!

The best thing to assess the value of your collection would be to take it to multiple stamp dealers in your area (at least 2) and see what they would offer you for it.

Or take it to your local stamp club and see if someone there can give you an evaluation. If it's predominantly a US collection then my guess is any experienced collector would be able to give you at least some indication as to whether it is worth anything. Most of these "side hobby" collections do not contain a lot of value. A lot can depend on what your mother put into it, ie. whether she just bought from the post office and saved stamps from the mail vs bought some of the higher values. But you never know!

Thanks....I will look for such people. She did buy mint sets blocks if 4? From the post office as well as several special edition collections.

Hello Profwillis, Bill, welcome to Stamp Community.

Any collection has a value to the collector and that value is what is sometimes missed by people inheriting or acquiring such a collection. The real market value however, is sometimes les and sometimes a lot less.

Some colelctors may have bought stamps as an investment back in the years when stamps were considered an OK investment by the government and you could value thngs at catalogue value.

But to sell to someone who is then only going to sell them over time to someone else and needs to make a profit, nowadays, you will take a loss seemingly.


If you yourself collect then they will be of value because they are from family. But if you are moving them on then show them and sell them.

Any concerns about any high balues please photo or scan and ask here on an appropriate forum area (eg USA in a USA forum).

The blocks of four are still collected but not as much. The special event covers are also down in price and some do still like them. Anything of real nice eye appeal and topical interest or historical interest will be worth something to those interested of course.

Do some searching on ebay or on here and see what you think and then ask questions all around. If you don't ask, you won't find out.

Puzzler makes a very good point about value! The collection could be worth a lot more to YOU if you take up collecting yourself, but not necessarily have much market value.

Post some photos that give us a general sense of the size and mix of the collection and we'll see if we can guide you from there.

Thanks to both you and Puzzler. Excellent point! I will consider collecting or perhaps get one of my grandchildren to pick it up. What I inherited looks like a good start.

Hi Bill and welcome to SCF
You've gotten a lot of good advice so I'll be brief. Before you even think about selling. Get a couple appraisals. Thoughts from stamp shops. Don't pay for this. Just get a rough idea. Don't expect much and then what you are told won't be upsetting. Then think about the sentimental value. Who knows you might just find that you would like to keep your Mom's collection and start collecting yourself. Again welcome to SCF. Do a lot of grazing on this Forum and a lot of reading. Stamp collecting is a great hobby. By the way. I do collect U.S. Plate Blocks, but the number of PB collectors of is few.

Thanks Tinman. Greatvadvice