New Member/ Have Collection Of Soviet Stamps, Mostly 70s/Early 80s

Hello. I have a fairly large collection of Soviet stamps I collected when traveling throughout the Soviet Union in 1983. They are in good shape, and there are a lot of them (I bought a large collector's book while I was there and they are all mostly in that CCCP book). I'm just wondering what on earth to do with them. Should I look for someone local (in Des Moines?) to take a look at them? They're very beautiful, but I don't think they're particularly rare, although I wouldn't have a clue. Any suggestions on where to start? If they're not of much value (I have two children yet in college), I will donate them, but I'm not sure even to whom I might donate such a thing.

"Stamps N Stuff" is a store on Hickman in Des Moines. They will probably look at them and may give you a price. But remember, nobody gets catalog value for stamps unless extremely rare.

A check through a Scotts Catalog from your local library would help you get a catalog price. If your not too well informed about stamps, I would do a quick internet search for a local stamp club, they will explain what you have, and how to dispose of it....members may offer to buy them outright or may take them as donations.

How many stamps are you talking about, 100, 400, or more??

Thank you so much, that's very helpful. I will take them there for some ideas. I think I have around 400 stamps. I doubt they're of particular value. I spent the summer there in 1983 and just started collecting them because they were so beautiful, and with no interest in their rarity, etc. I'll try to post a few pages with this. They're still in the book from the USSR I collected them in, 10 x 12 inches, and 1.5 inches thick. Thank you again!

Don't expect a windfall for 400 stamps.......it might average out .05 to .10 cents per stamp or something. Having the Russian album may help. You don't see too many of those. Of course dealers want to get as much for the least $ so they can resell and make a profit...keep that in mind.