US Mint Sheet Market Values

I'm just getting started and I'm starting to collect US sheets from 30's to 70's. I know not much value in most of these commemorative stamps but what do I use as a guide to market value. Would face value on these be a good guide. I hear most dealers pay around 40% of face for these types of stamps. How much should I expect to pay. I have just received my new Scott specialized but is there a catalogue that reflects the real market values for sheets? I want to get my feet wet with inexpensive stamps and hopefully my mistakes won't be to costly before I move into more expensive stamps. I'll be able to wall paper those Christmas parcels.

The Brookman catalog lists values for mint sheets.

The Harris Co. US/BNA catalog also lists values for mint sheets (link below). I don't think any catalog "reflects the real market value" of stamps, whether sheets, singles, or whatever. Your best bet would be to see what they sell for on ebay or bidstart.com.

But for the Harris Co catalog:

http://www.amazon.com/2014-BNA-Post.../0794840744/

And a link for the Brookman catalog:

http://www.amazon.com/Brookman-Unit.../0936937769/

Easy to buy, hard to sell.

I purchased close to a $1000 in face mid 40's to the early 90's at 50 % of face, took me two years to dump it.I ended up breaking up about half of the sheets, got between 50 % and 80 %, the 3 cent to 13 cent was a real hard sell, the higher values went better.

Thanks for the reply's . Good input on hard to resell because I found it cheaper to buy lots and now I want to resell the duplicates and unwanted sheets. We'll see how that pans out. Thanks

When will I get into some US sheets that are more valuable and hold a value? Pre 1930's. I find it hard to buy 40's air mail sheets at face value. I'm sure there are other sheet collectors on here. What sheets do your feel make a good collection ?

2c reds era and before.....
PREXY sheets hold value well......

I collect airmail sheets. You are not going to find them at less than face value. But whatever you do find them at, they will hold their value about as well as anything. As for increasing in value, that's something entirely.

I am wondering what you mean by "a good collection." It sounds like you are wondering about what makes "a good investment." You could search on that topic here, and find lots of opinions expressed about how unless you have deep pockets and can afford the rarities, don't buy stamps for investment purposes. Collect them for other reasons. I collect US airmail because of the interesting history surrounding it, and because of my general interest in things pertaining to aviation. I have airmail stamps, plate blocks, covers, and when I see a good buy on a mint sheet, I add it to the collection. As long as I consider the price "good" at the time I buy it, that is all that matters. Not whether it will grow in value. If it does, that's shiny. But not necessarily for me; chances are I will never sell, and it will be up the heirs to decide what to do with it. And for them, anything they get is more than they paid.

Basil

Brookman is overpriced.

Most issues #921 and before will run you over face (possible exceptions 899-901, 907-908)

All catalogs are at least a bit overpriced on most items.

There is also the "condition" factor. Scott Catalog values are based on VF condition; some of the other catalogs (i.e. Harris, and possibly Brookman) place stamp values in F condition. That can account for some of the value differences, too.

Although this link is a couple of years old now, most of the comments hold true today:

http://www.linkedin.com/groups/How-....S.176114658

Good to see Michael Ball writing here, he's a good dealer.

I would like some help with this sheet. It looks to be SC#513 13 cent Franklin apple green. It is pre canceled Alliance Ohio. What does the pre cancel do to the value? The sheet and stamps have no hinge marks and good gum. The sheet seems to be separating when I try to handle it. So would I be better off breaking it up into blocks or trying to sell the whole sheet even though its separating. Not sure of what to do with it or value it but I would like to put it up for sale to fund my collection. Any input on this would be great. Thanks

All of the precancels from Alliance, Ohio are considered relatively common. Precanceled stamps are considered "used" to most collectors, even with original gum. The value of the piece is therefore diminished as compared to a similar piece that is not precanceled.

Not what I was hoping to hear. Could you give me a ballpark of what the value of the sheet would be and should I break it up because its separating? Thanks

So would it be diminished to the used value or would you think even less!