Stamp Book Found, New To Collecting, Need Advice

Hello all!

This is my first post so all tips are welcome.

I received a book full of stamps back in 2000 from a friend of the family and found it today. Many of the stamps are pre-1940 and most are used. They are from all over the world. They start at 1/2 cent and go up from there.

So... What should I do with the book now?

Thanks,

Mike S.

First of all, congratulations on getting that book full of stamps.

Secondly, you have to decide whether you are interested in continuing the collection. If you want it to take it further, then the easiest way is to select the best collection in that amount of stamps you have and pursue it further. As you have said that it contains stamps from all over the world, you can select a particular country of your liking and try to complete that particular period or complete country collection. If you are not interested you may give it to a collector or sell it.

Best of luck with your decision. I hope you keep it and take it further.

I hope you keep the album, too.

Is it an album? The front page looks like a dealer page and underneath are just notebook filler paper. I do agree it looks like the start of a collection if you want.

sdtom... I the book originally belonged to a man named Ralph Kaucher. Ralph was 83 when I received the book back in 2000. He began collecting them when he was a young man and also when he was in Europe in World War II. There are many, many countries- US, Germany, Russia, Romania, Japan, China, Jamaica, etc.
I am going to digitize the whole thing and post it online for everyone to look at, I just need to figure out the best way to do it. I have the equipment to photograph it, which I will do tomorrow evening. Then it is just a matter of getting the photos online.
The book is not in the best condition but there sure is a whole lot of history in it and is fascinating to look at.

So that you might better understand the images that stamp collector prefer to see, I'd suggest that you click on the "Search" button above and enter "new to collecting" and read the last 5-10 posts similar to yours. Photographs will work, but not as well as a scan does, and that scan needs to be at least 300 dpi, but the higher resolution the better. Good luck, and I hope that you've found a new hobby.

littleriverphil- Thank you for the info!

This is an approval sheet from a stamp seller, L.W. Hudson. My research shows he started placing small ads in magazines like Boys Life and Popular Mechanics around 1928 and was active till 1950. He started in Plainfield, N.Y. then moved to New York City and later to California. This sheet is from the Plainfield address so it is probably pre- 1935. The initial approval sheets were teasers to get you to buy stamps. I used them in the late 60' and early '70s. They would find out your area of collecting and start off by sending you cheap stamps. As your relationship grew they would send you the higher dollar stuff. On some you could buy the whole collection or parts of it and in the case of high end stamps maybe just one. You sent the rest back and they would then send you new stuff. This sheet appears to be Mishmash of world stamps. Anyway it is an early collection and may contain some real gems that have not had close inspection. Of much greater interest is the stock page beneath this sheet of US Stamps.

Mayer- Thanks for the input! I have another question for you- In the back of the book there is a sealed envelope dated 1931 and it contains stamps in it. Should I open it to see what the stamps are inside, or leave it sealed?

Depends what you want to do with the stamps. If you want to keep the stamps as the basis of your own collection and the book has no sentimental value to you in and of itself, I'd remove the stamps and house them in a new album or stockbook. The "right" album for you is a whole 'nother lengthy topic, which I won't get into. If you want to sell the stamps, I'd leave them in the book.



If it's a plain, old envelope, I'd open it. If it's a "special" envelope (first day cover, advertizing cover, etc, I'd still open it, but I'd just do it more carefully

TheArtfulHinger- Thanks for the input! I think I will have to open the letter, as not knowing its content is driving me mad.

The violet Philippines stamp with printed cancel is a popular collecting specialty. Many of these are worth big money.

Newbie772...

(I am the yellow one on the left helping hold up the sign)


Firstly, I sincerely hope you become one of us stamp nerds. It is an extremely rewarding hobby, though honestly, it is not a good hobby intended for investment purposes.

Secondly, becoming a stamp collector requires much knowledge and as I myself have found out, this is the right place to be. I am glad you came to this forum. The learning of this knowledge in large part, is the fun of the hobby. And remember that here, the only stupid questions are the ones not asked which need answers.

Always remember we all love scans! I will be looking forward to seeing them. I bet you have some collection there, based on who you described gave it to you.



-IBFS

IBFS- Thank you for the words of encouragement! I'm going to try to take pictures first as I think it will cause less damage to the pages, but if that doesn't work out then I will try scanning :-)

chasa- That's great to hear! But price aside, this is already becoming a fascinating project :-)

Newbie - Congratulations on entering into the fascinating world of stamps! I am sure you will enjoy it whichever path you will choose.

Now that you already have a little basis of a general WW collection - why not give WW a go? Collecting WW offers 'endless' opportunities without needing to spend big bucks (unless you want to). By going WW you will also 'visit' places and 'dead-countries', history and people (on the stamps) you never even heard off. If you are a curious soul, I would recommend WW. That's just my 2c. Whatever you do, have fun!
-Jon-