New To Forum - Have Many Questions About Family Collection Passed To Me

Hello, all.
I have been given my mother's stamp collection when she passed away.
The main volume is a Scotts Junior printed in 1943. I believe it was actually a volume she inherited from her god father - who was from Germany, worked in the Philippines from about 1910 to 1935 or so and was last staying in the US. Some of the collection seems extensive...lots of stamps in the margins. Countries such as the US, Philippines, Germany and several others.
First questions - Is it best to keep the stamps in that album or move to a more up to date set such as what Jkblue has discussed with the Amos Minkus Supreme pages?
Second question - Would it be beneficial and wise to move the stamps that are in the margins that apparently don't have a space in the Scott's Junior (1943)?
Third question - If there are stamps that should be moved what is the best way to unmounts (hinges) and remount in newer album (perhaps something other than hinges such as the different styles of covers that eliminate the hinge being on the stamp?
Fourth question - Is there any way to remove a stain from the hinge on a stamp? If so, what is the best process?

Right now, I am just sorting loose stamps into countries to see what else I have that may or may not be in an album. Any recommendations as to the best approach to take and what supplies to use would also be helpful. SOme stamps have been processed (released from the envelope) but many are still attached.

I have ordered a set of 2015 Scott's catalogues - the 6 volume WW and the Specialized US). Is there a good summary of key date stamps that I can use to target possible high value US and WW stamps or do I just go through the catalogues and find them as I go through a country at a time?

Any and all other considerations would be appreciated. Feeling overwhelmed at the tasks ahead but I want to preserve what is here as best as I can to pass down to the next generation.

First, welcome to the Forum and you will get as many ideas as there are members concerning your multiple questions. Your Scott's Junior album, is it the Part II of he old Scott International Junior Postage stamp album ?? If so it is limited to stamps after the 40s. Stamps in the margin are probably older stamps that do not fit in your Album....my thought.

I would do a search on this Forum on How to start a collection, and read as much stuff as you can.....stamp albums, stamp accessories etc.

Have fun...I see you started well by getting the Scott Catalogues !

Hello Renden!

The date range on this album is 1840 to 1940 (or a touch more). It is black cover album that is about 4 to 5 inches thick. Most of the stamps in the margins are of similar varieties to what's already on the page - some examples may be different perfs, coils, imperforate...for US stamps in the eaqrly teens and 20's. Same with Philippine and German stamps...probably some other countries as well. Most were annotated by my mother in pencil - year, perf, value (probably in the done in the 60s) and a number...don't know if it was a Scott number or other. I could probably take some pics but not sure what the quality would be. I would try to use a Canon digital.

I have been searching and reading....way too much stuff...go down the rat hole...hours go by...come back up for air and food...do more searching. But that's a good thing. Took me a while of floundering until I stumbled across a quality forum like this.

I do have some supplies. My mother's old things (so I guess that would make them vintage?) - stamp tongs, loupe, perf guide, small SS ruler, vintage hinges, Still need to get things for watermark checking. Want a better magnifier.

The Scott catalogues will be a blessing and a curse. over 10,000 pages! I told my wife what I ordered and she looked at me with that sad resigned look knowing that I will be going through all those 10,000 pages. Of course, being more practical minded she wondered out loud where I could store them on a shelf for my use.

Do you have any recommendations for supplies and such? How about that Amos Minkus Supreme Global pages that Jkblue has an extensive blog post on? Wasn't cheap though...$400 for the 1840 to 1953 US & WW. Gonna have to save up if that's the way to go. I would just be moving the margin and loose stamps from the Scott's ( to clean it up and give them a proper and correctly identified place) as well as the other stamps from 1940 something to 1953.

Iwirgau -Welcome to the chat room ,first try to scan or photo a few pictures of what you have . Don't worry about a perfect picture what we need to decide is if you have value from the pictures.

Iwirgau,
Welcome.
My recommendation is to keep the album 'as is' for the time being. I feel that too many times we, as collectors, are too quick to destroy the work that our family members have lovingly assembled. For decades to come you and your family will be able to enjoy and hold something that your mother worked on. If you quickly moved everything you would lose most of this family heirloom. You can always make a move to a larger album in the future if desired.

It is always possible to enjoying the hobby by adding to the existing album or expanding your horizons with new separate albums for now. This will grow your experience and knowledge and allow you to make a more informed (and possibly significant) decision in the future.
Don

So you have the 1st Volume of these 2 discontinued Scott Stamp Albums (as I also do). I agree with 51studebaker's comments. I do not have any recommendations besides what you have discussed except maybe get a good scanner............and lots of room in your house for your Catalogues etc.

Some people use various means to do inventory of their collection(s). I use this one:
http://ezstamp.com/software/stamp-c...5Zhgod_8wJFg

I was going to say what 51studebake said about keeping the collection intact. My grandfather gave me his collection many years ago, and at some point I decided to dismantle it and merge with my own collection in new albums. Now, I wish I still had what he'd given me. Part of me feels I've lost what he gave me, although another part of me believes a collection should be something worked on, enjoyed etc, rather than gathering dust on a shelf. It's tricky, but keeping them intact for the time being leaves your options open.

lwirgau, given the date range of your collection you might want to acquire a used copy of the Scott Classic Stamp Catalog, which covers the years 1840-1940 in one volume. Doesn't matter so much if it is a few years old. I notice a 2012 edition on ebay now with a starting bid under $10.

I agree with those who advise that you keep the collection intact as a piece of family memorabilia, especially since it contains your mother's own notations. The album she used was meant to house a representative (not comprehensive) collection of worldwide stamps, so for example if a country issued a set of 20 stamps the Scotts Junior might illustrate 3 of them and provide space for another 4--any other stamps from that set would have to go in the margins.

Other random suggestions from your first post: You can remove hinge marks from used stamps by simply soaking them in water and then pressing them dry between sheets of blotter paper under weight (there are special stamp "drying books" available for just this purpose). For unused stamps with gum on the back I wouldn't do anything about the hinge marks. Do not remove stamps from their envelopes. The supplies you inherited from your mother are still good, especially if the hinges are Dennison brand (these are not made any more and are like gold!). You would also need watermark detecting gear, as you said.

Bottom line: It sounds as if your mother was a more-than-casual accomplished collector. I'd study and learn about the stamps already in the collection (taking them out and rehinging them in place if need be) before deciding where to go in terms of expanding it according to your own goals.

ETA: I found it interesting and refreshing that you did not address the question of value in your original post. Not that there is anything wrong with inheritors wanting to sell collections that are bequeathed, but it sounds like you have an intuitive realization that the main value in collections like this is sentimental rather than monetary.

Some hinges are easy to remove, others are brutal and can badly damage a stamp, so since you are inexperienced I wouldn't do anything yet (and when and if you do decide to try, start with some rreal cheap stamps).




While as a general rule older is better and unused is better, these are only very general rules with tons of exceptions and there are no hard and fast rules that can be given (and what is true for one country would be different for another country).