Which Would You Prefer....... Album With Stamps, Or ???

Hi,
Sorry for the confusing title, but I just couldn't think of one more appropriate. Here is my situation........

I just picked up a Scotts II and a Scotts III International albums - both of which are practically new. They each have a few hundred stamps (nicely hinged), and very few hinge remnants.

I'm looking to sell them on ebay, but before I do I want to include several hundred stamps appropriate for each. The question is, do I take the time and trouble to hinge and install them - or - do I pack them in glassine envelopes and let the buyer have the fun?

Which would you prefer???

Thank you,
Mobilman44

Just my thought: If I were just starting out (or an intermediate collector,or somewhere between, looking to upgrade) I would prefer to place the bonus stamps into the album. There is a two fold reason: 1. It allows me to inspect the individual stamps up close and possibly require some research in a catalogue for proper identification. 2. It helps in the familiarization of the album, knowing where some countries are unique or as sub-categories of other countries. Working the hobby is half the fun of collecting. Learning the hobby is the other. Anyone can purchase an album, complete with stamps, peruse and set aside. But working the album one always wants to go back and take a second look, maybe longer at some issues, because there is 'just something' about it that draws you back.

I would like to have them loose, if I happened to get a stamp which I had a better example of I would rather mount that in the album. I also like putting them in the album and get satisfaction from doing it.

I agree - loose. Without denigrating your knowledge at all, whenever you buy a filled album, there is always a question of whether the prior owner correctly identified each stamp. Best to let the buyer do so.

As an ebay seller I would definitely NOT take the time to put them in the album. The albums would probably sell for a bit more with the extra stamps, but you would only be making a very small amount per hour for your time. It sounds like most of the value is in the albums anyway.

When I was a kid, I bought my album, then every week I would go get the 100 stamps for $1.00 grab bags, and stick stamps to pictures all week long. Loose stamps, for sure.

Definitely loose. It not only allows a collector to become familiar with the album but the stamps and their origin also. Their history and the artwork. It allows the album to become that persons personal album. I am going through this process right now. I am using the album that had hardly any stamps in it and therefore it is becoming my album where as the other album that is nearly full just sits on my shelves.

Macpappy those were nice days in stamp collecting when we were more naive and content with even a bag of loose used stamps. Ah if we could somehow instill these feelings in our youth today!

Hi,
I thank all of your for your comments/opinions. Obviously, you all are leaning pretty much the same way, offering the albums with loose stamps appropriate for the album. That makes my life a lot easier.

As I built up my own collection, I felt the same way you describe. I worked to get the best condition albums I could find, but preferred to put the stamps in myself - using Dennison or Fold O Hinges.