Very Old Collection

hello
I found your community through the coin community because I am coin collector.
My wife received about 40 years ago a stamp collection in a catalogue edited in 1912.I think that since then , nobody touched this book with many stamps, only for Belgium they added some stamps till 1925.
Looking your discussions,I have some questions :
do you think there were already fake stamps 100 year ago ,
are some countries more interresting tham some others
how to conserve a book like this , it is about 32x28x8 and weights 8 kilos
how to make good pics of the stamps , scanning on my printer is impossible.
I join some pictures of the first pages of Great Britain with 2 detail pics,of Bavaria , Belgium and France .
I think there are enough questions now for a first contact, si I wich you a sunny afternoon like here in Antwerp , Belgium
Albert

If you're looking to sell or obtain a value you'll need to bring it to a stamp shop for appraisal.
Tom

You have an "advanced" collection from what I can see. That is, your collection has good value.





Yes, but I do not see any obvious fakes from the pictures I am looking at.




That is a topic that will generate a LOT of discussion. I will answer this way - there are some countries which are more popular, and therefore demand is high for those stamps. If demand is high, values go up. You have some valuable stamps in your collection.




Your album (book) should be stored in a cool, dry place, standing upright, and out of the sunlight.




A digital camera works fine. If you want your stamps evaluated, take close-up photos of the stamps - front and back. It would be wise to photograph everything in detail for insurance purposes.

If language is a problem, we have many French speaking members in SCF to help you.

Welcome!

Brian

no , I don t want to sell , it is in the family since more than 100 years and I want to keep it so.I am just curious to know what really collectors think of it,When I read your discussions on this forum,I am wondering that there can be so much problems with fake stamps,there can be so much different types of one stamp , etc .I am collecting greek and roman coins and received also a many 16-19 century coins from the grandmother of my wife,but with these coins , it is easier. <i wonder that even in the mid of the 19 century when stamps were creating,they had not the possibility to make a uniform edition in colour,print ... of a stamp.
I have to say also that all these problems make stamps for me interreting , so maybe ..
Albert

There certainly are! As an example, I noticed that your book has a Great Britain 2p blue stamp incorrectly placed in your book as a #2. That stamp is a #4. The differences between stamps can very very subtle!




So maybe? Maybe you want to start collecting stamps? You have an excellent collection to begin your new hobby!

Brian

hi Brian
thank you , I understand now that stamps are like coins , there are also many fakes.
But I think there are no (?) fakes in this album , because the person who made this album in 1912,used , I think,6 other older but smaller albums I have found with this oneThe oldest is from 1883 and there are still some doubles in it.
Thanks for the suggestion of French , but I try to explain it in English , it is a good exercise for me ,here in Antwerp we speak Dutch , but French is no problem for me as I was living and working many years in french speaking Belgium
Albert

so stamps #2 and #4 are the same emission of 1841 ? How can you see that? , it incredible .I think I leave it where it is ,since 1912 , I will leave a note with it .
Albert

That is good information! Albums are collectable too! If the album is in good condition, do not remove any stamp from it! During this era, most stamps were mounted to the pages using home-made "hinges". Removing stamps from your album could destroy the stamps as well as the pages.

Brian

#2 is solid blue, #4 has a white line above the words "two pence". It is a detail that is easily missed.

indeed , the home-made hinges are pieces of stamps

Welcome antwerpen2306 like Rileysan said you have a real beautiful and well maintained classic album. It's a treat to see thank you! Best wishes to your new hobby! I also collect coins (mainly "Indian head" & Lincoln cents) but my main focus is US classic stamps and US classic covers. Again Welcome. -Jeff

Antwerpen2306, you just made my day! I started collecting stamps when I was somewhere between 5 and 10 years old, about 100 kilometers north of where you live. Close to Utrecht. And I do remember that just after WWII most people used selvedge as stamp hinges!
Welkom! And if you ever have a problem with English, I do still speak Dutch!

Peter

Welcome antwerpen. I was in the city last night or the night before (in a wwII simulator game called Battleground Europe - WWII Online) LOL

Very nice album. I'd love to see some picture of the US Stamps in that album - might be some very nice things.

Good luck and nice to see someone arrive not looking to sell their collection but learn about it :)

Beautiful collection!

Your topic title "a very old collection" is appropriate as the photo shows the very first stamp ever issued...an 1840 Penny Black. It looks a very decent stamp and has great potential in philatelic and monetary terms. It is photographed at an angle so is difficult to identify... compare your stamp with the one on the right and the letters P B R B may look the same so it could be a Plate 5 Penny Black. These have a Gibbons catalog value of 350 UK pounds but are easily available for one third of that in good condition. Still quite valuable.



Your other imperforated UK stamps will not have such great value as they appear to be cut into or cut to shape. The third stamp is from the embossed issue and would have a Gibbons catalog value of up to 1,000 UK pounds if in good condition and cut square. As yours is cut to shape it is not worth a lot as it would be considered space-filler material at £5 - £20 only. Sometimes these come from stationary cut-outs but if yours has a watermark VR it will be an actual stamp. Your other UK stamps need a better photo or scan.

thank to all of you for your kindly information.
when I see your enthusiasm , it really push me to start collecting stamps , because what I have , I have received it.This album has been made in 1912 by - I suppose - a great-aunt of my wife,living in Bruges.At that moment,somebody has made one album of several albums , and once done that , never continued collecting.I do not understand it but everybody who could know is now dead.
I am also wondered about the value of some stamps , all this is chinese for me , just as some chinese stamps I have.
I ll make now pics of my US stamps and post it then.
Is anybody wants to see a particular stamp dating before 1912 , I ll check if I have it ,
Albert