Newbie Introduction Just To Say Hello

Evening folks. Two years ago, I inherited a rather splendid - and very large - 'Yvert & Tellier' French stamp album from a local charity shop for a couple of pounds, sterling. I'd guess it was about 50% full of stamps, with some lovely mint examples. So since then, I got addicted and have been working hard to bring the album up to 100%, but obviously some of the stamps will always be out of my financial reach. However, I haven't done badly, and through a mixture of astute buying on-line and in charity shops, I now have the album up to about 90%, with some very valuable stamps I have found along the way. The early French stamps can be quite bewildering, so I'm hoping there might be someone out there who can help me sort out that part of the collection. Anyways, nice to be here!

How exactly does one inherit a stamp album from a local charity shop for a couple of pounds?

Opinion,
possibly a life's work, depending how deep you wish to go.

Purchasing a SPINK catalogue may be your next step,
and wonder at the depth of study that has gone into this discipline.
Your every question answered.

Hello Apwolf1333, welcome! Love to see some pics of your collection.
France is a favourite collecting area of mine.
Regards
DavidR

Howdy!

Apwolf1333,

Collecting for the enjoyment of collecting, whatever that might be, is the name of the game. Don't hesitate to ask questions especially if you need basic information and especially more advanced sources of information for any possible topic. You should be able to find folks on this board a little further along on their collecting journey glad to share experiences.

My personal bias is a used stamp loses the story of its journey in the postal service when it is removed from the cover it transported to its destination. Collecting postal history adds a whole new aspect to your journey in our hobby.

Wishing you many enjoyable future days in our hobby. Russ

welcome.
there are several collectors of France here so we look forward to your posts and learning more together.

Thank you, folks, for your kind and encouraging words! The French collection I ' inherited' is obviously the work of a devoted collector, it exudes attention to detail, and love. That might seem a strange word to use, but just the Semeuse section of the album is a work of devotion that must have taken many years to complete. The devoted owner has inserted page after page of colour variations, printing slips, transatlantic postmarks and other notable postmarks, like the Olympics, and then carefully made notations by each and every stamp. I was very pleased to recently add the following Semeuse advertising booklet to this amazing collection which I still regard as belonging to the original owner. I inherited it from them and am determined to carry on their amazing work.

After reading advice from French collectors here I also got myself one of these!

Inheritance tax? Fiscal duty stamp? I am just glad to have it, as it is a blessing.

Apwolf1333 - I am trying to understand if you inherited the album or purchased it at a charity shop.

Oh sorry, I purchased 'it'.

I think by "inherit" he chose the definition "to receive or take over from a predecessor" rather than by law, will, or bequest. Sometimes stamp collectors can be an obtuse (and by that I mean "insensitive") bunch.

Welcome to the forum Apwolf1333.
I love your sentiment of "inheriting" a stamp collection. It is true when we take someone else's property we have a responsibility to honor the love, attention and devotion the previous owner had for their collection and to carry their work on in the future.

I am glad that you found a new passion in life. Enjoy it to the fullest.