Getting Things Certified In New Zealand

Hey all I hope this finds you well. Iv recently rediscovered a collection that was given to me 30 years ago that id put away. Its old. Whats your advice on getting things certified. I know theres a couple of good ones just from all the talk I see on here but lets face it its a hard road finding the perfect franklin. Besides they are beautiful anyway.

Way to soon to think about certifying. Stamp Smarter-learning. Show some scans-discussion. More learning.

lostand found: welcome to the Forum! Along with Randy's comment, it will be helpful to find out which countries are in your collection. Also, condition is paramount. Stamps with pieces missing, creases, thin spots (which you see from holding up a stamp to the light), missing perforations, are virtually worthless.

If you think you may have something really valuable, contact this gentleman, located in Otaki, outside of Wellington. Bear in mind that if your collection is a basic beginner collection, its primary value will be sentimental and something to build upon. Good luck!

http://www.mowbraycollectables.co.nz

thanks team. You want me to touch them? hold them? oh lordy no! they are mainly from the usa though there is also many from great britain canada and france including all the broken armed lady. a swag from Norway I wouldnt say that any are fakes because the dear people I got them from were seriously godfearing folk both highly educated at universities in the USA. they probably arent worth a bean but they are exciting and im sure that I am one of millions hoping to get the 'lucky golden ticket!' Yes I spoke to mr mowbray. he wants me take 5 pics of the ones that intrigue me the most. Yes well thats terribly difficult. but il show you a couple or so once I do the image tutorial. and yes im here to learn about them and if they are worth a few bob then il sell one and donate the rest to some museum. its the right thing to do.
thanks guys and gals!

I am not seeing anything so far of any value. Sorry.

Penny stamps at best. Stamps are a fun hobby. No $$. No certs., catalogues or museums at this time.

Let's see those W/F and why you think they are the "good" ones.

"W/F" = US stamps from early 20th century showing portraits of George Washington or Benjamin Franklin.

Thanks for the replies and advice
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Apologies for my tardiness in replying, many hours immersed in the world of stamps in between massive house renovations!

Redwoodrandy, I agree completely with your advice re learning learning learning. whilst this is underway, I will say that I feel they are good because some are nicely centred, huge variety, they were all free, beautiful colours, well maintained, exhaustive collection, thrilling learning history that is only depicted and somewhat forgotten, gosh the list goes on.. Whether any of the w/f's that I have are valuable is yet to be determined. For my skill set they are perfect. Mind you that section in the stampworld catalogue re mixed perfs...?! Still holding onto that 3c washington 1861.. Still think it has a all over grid haha! just kidding.

The steep learning curve of not impulse buying is not my forte but I am learning. So far I have acquired the near complete M.E.F. overprints, malta, india earlies, pennys, nz earlies,iraq,haiti, yes many oh and the falkland islands with grahams land sth orkney o/prints. From this inexpensive but impusive carryon, I have learnt people dont sell higher face value stamps in these 'sets'. They sell them individually after getting them expertised. So all good.Mint is best always but occassionally (perhaps with fraudulent activity) people prefer used. Go figure!

I had never heard of manuscripts on revenue stamps and to have something so old and delicate is a rewarding enterprise. I never knew the beauty of a cover that has travelled from belfast to auckland to enquire about a cousins health, yes I never realised how fascinating perfins were! JH on that 2c washington..or the OHMS on that canadian.. I do love it all.

Now I do have one more question.

How come so many different catalogues have differing values. Im not really caring about the economic outlook right now just wondering why.

Also what is the story with an album such as mine.Its a bit old being scott 1949. If I carefully wanted to reset them to a better album.. Would that affect the value? and what is the best to put them into please? and thank you team I do love your wonderful forum. Even when I get slightly 'told-off'

My understanding is that the catalogues published in Europe (Gibbons, Yvert, Michel etc) tend to show higher prices than does Scott. I don't know why. Gibbons and Yvert are actually price catalogues - i.e. they'll sell you stamps, whereas Scott doesn't - but that doesn't explain why Michel also prices high. Most of us have a rough-and-ready percentage in mind when it comes to translating catalogue prices for most stamps to the real world. For me, it's 10-20% of Gibbons or Yvert. Common stamps will be less, scarcer ones more.

There's nothing sacred about a 1940s stamp album. People chuck them away all the time after they've extracted the stamps. It's then for you to decide whether to use stock-books, stock-pages, blank quadrille pages or a printed album (whether done at home or bought from a manufacturer). Perhaps best as a first step to transfer the stamps to stock-books as you decide what interests you. You can always move to paper later.

Thanks GeoffHa again sound advice. Im glad to hear that about the values. Not that I pay any attention at this stage. I have found some unusual discrepancies and its nice to hear logical answers from the masters. I will be posting a question about cleaning stamps and its practises in a more appropriate forum after recieving some beautiful liberian stamps..