What To Do With So Many Stamps?

I suppose anyone who has collected stamps for more than two months has a large number of stamps he does not want: duplicates of stamps already in the album(s), stamps from countries in which he is not interested or from time periods he is not interested, etc. Any idea what to do with these? Yes, one can send them to the APS, and perhaps take a small tax deduction. Do they want anything other than US stamps? Are there any dealers who might pay a pit more than mailing costs for these stamps? I would say of what I have, few are utterrly worthless, but very few are worth more than a couple of bucks. Anyone with any experience with this situation?

Break them down into countries or areas and stick them on ebay. You won't make much, but you'll clear some space.

I learned not to do that anymore. A number of years ago when we moved, I went through all of my stamps and the ones that I didn't have in my collection, I got rid of. I don't accumulate anymore, I collect. I buy only what I need and no others. Outside of my actual albums, I probably have less than 1000 stamps that I have no use for and that's only because I haven't gotten around to giving them away yet. It is so much easier only buying what you actually want, you don't get inundated with a billion stamps.

No such thing.

I now have thousands upon thousands, of duplicates,
I have two swapping partners that have gone quiet.
So I joined a swap club asking for 5000+ in swaps.
Nothing as yet.

When I go to the city, (once a year) I drop off
cartons to the Red Cross stamp shop.


Am thinking next time I'll throw them into suitcases,
and put them in Ace Stamp Auctions in Perth

if you can find an old box, cigar box whatever, chuck them all in that and place it in an auction house (it's a common trick from professional dealers)

but you'd have to have something of value, or really huge quantities, for it to sell.

people collecting cancellations and flyspecks often cherish these lots... if all stamps are pre 1940, you'll also spark interest from WW collectors that collect the first 100years.

i have this box, which I found on a yardsale, they are original storage boxes from the national museum.

sometimes I empty albums, because empty albums sell better than ones with cheap stamps in them. sometimes I have some leftovers from bulk purchases or some that are faulty.. I chuck them in that box and when it's full I sell it.

it has everything, classic Danish stamps, better stamps, good cancels and quite likely varieties for the flyspeckers..

Just describe your lot honestly... bulk stamps in old box, from classic to newer, better cancels observed and all qualities exist..
place it for sale at a very low starting price and let people decide the price after all, one persons trash is another's treasure.





I don't have duplicates, I don't have stock books, even though I attend the nearby stamp club meetings, and several times a year I go to stamp days around the country. It's my impression that very few people exchange stamps the old way - money is always involved.
so having stamps of value sitting in an album waiting on the chance that I run into someone who needs isn't worth it... better get rid of them for $ now, and buy what I want when I come across it.

inflation and energy crisis certainly proved that point - because a lot are selling from their collections now to pay the bills - and at the same time fewer are buying - the market is mine (evil laugh).

Why not do a give away? I'm sure a lot of collectors would pay the postage because some collectors just love to look thru stamps and hope they find something they can use.

I found some families with young children and gave them thousands of stamps from different countries in the hope of getting them interested in stamps. You could also do a children's lecture at your local library about stamps and stamp collecting and then give everyone a pile of stamps to keep.

I have sold on eBay. It is a lot of work for small return. I think one year I grossed $35, That's gross. Subtract stamps for mailing, envelopes, etc. Sometimes I am separated from my computer and stamps for several days at a time, usually having something to do with my being 81. So being a stamp merchant at my age seems irresponsible, However, the cigar box does seem a good idea. I might give that a try.

Thanks for your ideas. Oh, I do try to buy only stamps I want and do not have. Most of the stamps I get come from dealers showing off what they've got, 10 year old stamps used to mail me their stamps and adverts.

I think of it as a retirement interest, as well as a means of decluttering - the time spent probably isn't justified in economic terms, but economic terms mean little when you're a man/woman of leisure.

This is true for many people but there are some that approach every buy/sale situation as some great business deal.

Indeed. "If you cry 'bout a nickel, you'll die 'bout a dime", as Robert Johnson sang.

I was about to sell my duplicates on eBay and quickly came to the same realization. To have a "store" costs $60 a year. I don't expect to make that much. I just wanted to get rid of extra stamps before I'm drowning in them.

If you do sell on eBay, I would recommend selling them in one job lot and let the buyer sort them out.

I hear you on the dilemma. I sold on Ebay a few years ago briefly. It was ok but a lot of hassle. I have just gotten back into the hobby after a bit of a break. I had so much extra stuff. I actually spent some time organizing and portioning it and was able to sell on Facebook Marketplace locally. I always watch there myself because postage is so darn high. Otherwise I'm just not sure what to do with it all either and frankly the sorting time to only get a few dollars is really not worth it either but I just hope that it will go to someone who will appreciate/love the hobby!

As a longtime WW collector accumulated thousands of duplicates. Better quality (higher catalogue value) issues are shared with fellow collectors, often on a country or area specific basis.

Average material is donated to various youth and senior groups. Also send bulk material periodically to Stamps for the Wounded (veterans program) in the DC area.

I send all my unwanted stamps to the Houston Philatelic Society.
They hand out boxes of stamps to children and beginning adults at
their stamp shows:

https://houstonstampclub.org/Stamp-Donations.html

Thanks for the link johnbig, I just checked out that Houston Stamp Club page and their project for starting new people in the hobby is a great idea. I've been muddling myself over what to do with dups and such.