Collection Storage, Good Idea Or Not?

I've collected U.S. principally for almost 60 years. I have a fairly valuable collection of used before 1890, and mint (mostly hinged) after that. At present, the bulk of the value of my collection is stored in a Davo hingeless album (Vol. 1). I keep it at home in a closet. My wife and I are both retired and there's someone at home almost all the time. My stamps are insured through the APS insurance provider Hugh Wood Inc. I confess that I rarely pull my stamps out to inspect them and when I do I tend to give a quick look at high profile items like the early imperforate, Columbians, Trans-Mississippis, and Zepps.
With the above in mind I've started giving thought to buying a bunch of small glassines and putting my stamps individually in the envelopes and in turn the envelopes in some sort of small, long box that would be stored in a safe deposit box. I live in Southern California, so humidity isn't much of a problem. Not sure if bank vaults are dehumidified on a regular basis or not. Is this a good idea or not? The only downsides I see are the time it would take to get everything all together, and the fact that the stamps wouldn't be as accessible as they are now (but I don't really view them that often anyway). There wouldn't be much cost because I already maintain a safe deposit box that everything could fit into.

I've invested too much in albums and mounts to ever consider what you're taking about. And I like to look at my little pieces of colored paper from time to time. You might consider buying a fireproof safe of sufficient size to house your collection at home. That will reduce your insurance premium, secure your collection, and let you browse or show it as needed.

I too have the APS insurance (for 70% of current Scott CV). The only time parts of my collection go to the safe deposit box is when we are going to be gone for an extended period of time.

Even then, only those pages with the most valuable stamps go into the SD box. While I'd hate to lose part or all of my home-housed collection, that's what insurance is for. I also keep detailed inventories and scans of the high-value stamps and/or certificates in multiple locations. Copies of same travel with us. Hopefully, I will never need them for a claim, but I'll have them if I do.

I also have a Winchester home security system plus a large, junk-yard dog of dubious parentage who is fed only occasionally. Thieves will be shot; survivors MAY be eaten!



YMMV.

I think you have already answered your question, as it would appear you are more concerned with the absolute security of the collection rather than accessibility.

I think you would find that the safe deposit box would give you some peace of mind and might reduce your insurance premium a good deal, as well. Safe deposit boxes are almost always in climate controlled spaces and far more secure than the shelf on the closet.

Given your age (at least late 60's?) having the collection secure would be a good idea. I would include something with your Last Will & Testament to allow your heirs to know where the collection is located, especially if the last place they remember it being located was the closet.

My collection is far too large for a safe deposit box, but it is insured and rather hard to miss for my heirs as it fills a couple of rooms. If it were smaller, I would place it in a safe deposit box myself.

Like uboatnut, I have protection for the collection in the form of dogs who are not overly people friendly and usually quite hungry. Of course, they will only be needed if I'm not home as my home is protected by Ruger as well as Smith & Wesson....

Stampman ---You stamps are worthless but would be interested in getting your Ruger and S&W ,these would sell fast and bring quick money . What the heck would anybody know about stamps. More interested in Laptops, cell phones, Big Screen T.V's and what's in your medicine cabinet. Times have changed .

That is far too true!

ADVICE ON STEALING FLOORTRADERS STAMPS-------Don't bring a car or a pickup truck , and don't do half a job with a one ton dual axel truck like you get at U-HAUL . Get a special license first to drive a medium size truck like a Ford F-450 or a Chevy 3500 HD ,something that max's out at 26,000 lbs . Then don't forget the dolly's and 4 wheel cart's it's a pistol to walk thru the house and up and down the stairs carrying boxes . Your also going to need a crew of minnium of three strong guys .
Your also going to need about 50 large shipping boxes and bring a few rolls of packing tape, you got a few hundred binders and red boxes to pack . The coffee machine is next to the refrigerator ,so bring your own coffee because all we got is decafe in the house , since the crew will be working packing and loading that big truck all night .My wife asks that you wash out the coffee machine because she goes nuts when I leave it for her to do .
One other thing watch out for the local cops they go out of their way to ticket you for parking a big truck at night on the driveway in our town ,they will ring the doorbell and ask you to move the truck if guys are loading it .

On safes: Many safes use materials that can result in condensation inside - which is bad for stamps. Some fireproof safes have warranties against condensation. (for example google "First Alert 3.12 Cu. Ft. Fire Theft Digital Safe") One of those plus a desiccant (google "200 Gram Silica Gel Dehumidifying Box") that you regularly recharge in the oven would make quite a good way to store stamps. Of course the safe needs to be secured or too heavy to lift so they can't just walk out with it also.

I also have two dogs, but they would probably help them load.

I should also point out that none of the banks in my major metropolitan area have safe deposit boxes large enough to take a Scott National album.

Box width is the problem; length and depth are more than sufficient. The individual Scott pages will fit lying flat, but not the binders.

Gone are the old large SD boxes that could easily hold a standard accounting ledger. Only us more senior collectors know what those are (were) from the days before computers.

On Condensation in safes.. There is a product called Golden Rod, that is a small heating unit for the interior of gun safes to reduce condensation. They are electric, so must be plugged into a wall outlet.

http://www.midwayusa.com/s?targetLo...1%26Ntpr%3D1

Point only hinted at here........one thing to tell potential heirs where a stamp collection is located. Something else again to tell them how/where to dispose of it. APS offers a member service; an estate advisory service with free cards to attach on the inside covers of albums. Howell: it sounds a bit that you're not really interested in this collection any more. Maybe time to think about selling instead of going to all that work, time, trouble, to pull stamps out of your album and stuff into small glassines?

All my stamps are in hagner sheets, with about seven or eight sheets in the plastic they came in.

All stacked in a safe, at least once a week I open the safe and let some air get in, the safe now is full and I could do with a bigger one.

Floor I'm more efficient than that . A 10 wheelers boomy truck 2 containers and 2 guy . We pass the containers through the walls throw the albums in them and get out in 5 to 10 minutes

Interesting topic and very amusing replies everybody!

A safe deposit box seems to be great in some regards yet being a fan of the former tv series "Masterminds", I personally would not trust the bank and their boxes. Of course your insurance covers for loss, however who wants to lose what they have so painstakingly put together after so many years?

I will suggest an alternative: perform some research into ways to construct secret rooms for safes or valuables within your home.

Also there are many ideas floating around the internet which are quite ingenious and creative where common, ordinary household items are converted to hidden storage spaces.

The possibilities are truly endless and if you have some basic to moderate handyman or construction skills you can devise plenty of ways to secret and secure your valuables with none being the wiser.

Key is do not tell or show anyone but the most trusted how you have done this. Maybe include an x marks the spot map or step by step guide in your will and last testament if you are considering passing your treasures on to loved ones.

Just my two cents.

If you would like further info send me an email and I'd be happy to point you in the right direction.

Remember if they (the average stranger burglar without any inside info) dont know what you have or where you have it then its likely not going to be found.

Cheers,

Dave

Of course I means open top containers . Phil is right build something hide in the house . When I build my house I made a room in the basement with regular 8 inches concrete . I then build a cinder block wall inside separated by air . They was demolishing and old bank I get the door for the cost of removing it only.