Looking For Advice On Organizing Surplus Stamps

After collecting stamps for over 30 years, I find myself at a crossroads. Initially, I stored away pre-1930s stamps with plans to determine my collecting focus later. Well, that "later" has arrived, and I've decided to narrow my focus to stamps from before the 1890s, particularly major varieties. Now, I'm seeking guidance on the most effective strategy for liquidating my surplus material.

Potential selling venues include club auctions, national auctions, and international auctions. However, given the variation in depth across my country collections due to varying investment levels, I'm faced with different considerations. For instance, while the USA boasts numerous color and plate varieties before the 1890s (read: less material to sell), other countries may offer more limited selections. Additionally, while some stamps, like MNH C15, warrant separate sales, others may be better suited for inclusion in bulk collections.

Take Belgium, for example. I possess three copies of Sc 39 and intend to keep only one or two, depending on nuances like shade differences. Hence, I could curate a comprehensive collection, including the tin hat set. However, it's worth noting that my stamps aren't expertized; rather, I've authenticated them myself through diligent study.

So, here's my dilemma: should I cherry-pick the most valuable stamps for separate sales, or should I incorporate them into attractive collections? Should I create a separate collection for the nicely canceled but inexpensive material, catering to collectors who appreciate such stamps, like myself? I'm seeking advice on how to navigate these choices to maximize the value of my collection while finding the right homes for each piece. Any insights or experiences you can share would be greatly appreciated!

In this circunstance I send the whole enchilada to an auction house. They will seperate the singles that warrant a seperate lot. The varities need to be handled differently. Unless they are exceptionally valuable, most auction house will leave them in the album, and then they hardly ever return their true value. I list those as a buy-it-now on ebay or Hipstamp and wait for someone looking for your particular variety. And that may be a long wait.

For common stamps up to about a dollar catalogue, the best way I have found to handle duplicates is to put them in a gallon-size (or 2.5 Liter ?) ziplock bag and I know they are "done." I would take the full bags to a stamp store and would get about $21 a pound in credit. That stamp store is gone so I wait until I have about five pounds and consign them to an auction house.