Inherited Thousands Of Stamps, Postcards, Etc From All Over The World, No Idea Where To Even Begin.

I recently inherited thousands of stamps from pretty much all over the world and I'm a little overwhelmed. My father was in the printing business and I know the likelihood of them being worth much monetarily is very slim but I'm still curious. Does anyone have any ideas on how to to even begin to go through these? I have binders upon binders full.

Example: American Heirloom Collection of United States Stamps (3 binders, with various stamps not complete) also many more.

I found a stamp labeled #389 in the heirloom collection, orangeburg coil from just quick research. Obviously not the same stamp as that would be extremely rare, but I have no idea how to even begin to identify the reals from the fakes and correctly labeled from the mislabeled.

I included a picture

FWIW, as it is perforated on all four sides, it cannot be a coil stamp.

In regards to your question, the DIY solution is to get the appropriate stamp catalogs (buy used or check out from you local library) and ID the stamps yourself. You will also need a perforation gauge, magnifying glass, and watermark solution and tray.

You could also try to get some help from a local stamp club. If you are looking to sell the collection, contacting an auction dealer is also an option.

Good luck.

Thanks for the information! He had quite the stack of catalogs to identify them I guess i'll have to to just slowly work my way through them!

For identifying Washington Franklins series (the picture you posted) you can look at this online resource.

http://www.stampsmarter.com/learnin...Designs.html

Special tools are needed such as watermark fluid (and ability to recognize them), perforation guide, and a good magnifying glass -- and some experience.

Stamp Smarter has many online references. Like a virtual library,
you sometimes you have to know what you need in order to find it.