Mint And Used Stamps. Store Together Or Separately?

Hello all, was wondering how you long time collectors store your stamps. I recently acquired a stamp collection of used stamps that I am transferring to stock pages. I've also acquired some mnh stamps as well that are spread through the decades.

Right now, I'm organizing chronologically. Would it be a poor idea to combine both used and mint stamps in one large album, or is it better to keep them separate? Thank you!

Hello. The orthodoxy used to be that mint and used stamps shouldn't be mounted on the same album page - a page of one or the other is more presentationally attractive than a mixture. Unless one has a sufficiently wide range of each to justify separate pages, I suspect that most collectors mix them. If you're using a stock-book or stock-pages, it matters even less.

I mix mine. Mint is my preferred but if I only have a used example, it goes in that place.

I would combine to have as complete a collection as possible then any duplicates would be stored elsewhere.

Curious about your criteria for "poor idea" and "better." What do you imagine happening, should they be combined?

Dawn raid by the philatelic police armed with benzene drippers.

Welcome.
In my opinion, no right or wrong....instead do


Don

Not a problem to do it either way. My albums have both in.

@classic_paper I don't imagine anything happening, the question was in regards to what would be appropriate philatelic etiquette or common practice by those with more knowledge than I.

I try to maintain consistency within sets, eras, and countries. Within a set of related stamps for example, I feel that presentation on the page looks better if all are used, or all mint, but not mixed. There can be exceptions where used, or mint, is far more costly for a particular stamp as compared to others in a set or issued near the same time. For the 19th century, I prefer used based both on cost and the added interest provided by postmarks. For some countries for which completion didn't involve outrageous cost I elected to collect all mint. An example is the Maldive Islands from inception to 1970.

with cjpalermo1964

cjpalermo1964: Over all I'd agree with that except for some issues where mint, particularly in the 1800's, will never be in my budget. I also use a used as a place holder until I have an acceptable MHN in some cases.

It's whatever works for you. Obviously, using hinges on never hinged stamps defeats the purpose, etc. but your collection is yours. It will evolve and change with your interests, budget, and taste.

I've been doing this for 50 years or so. I was a dealer for a number of years. I mount them as I get them. Mint or used. If I end up with a set that is mixed, I attempt to upgrade at a later date to make the set all-mint or all-used. I've been looking for upgrades for some sets for years.

When selling sets, I only sold unmixed sets - that's the market. Mixed sets result when collectors buy partial sets, then add to them a stamp at a time.

Overall, do as you want. All of us do.

There is no right or wrong way, it is your collection do what works for you.

My personal preference is to collect both mint and used, which is why I like the flexibility offered by stock books, Vario sheets or DIY pages such as for example this page from my Ireland collection




Clive