Advice On Getting A Fair Appraisal For My Stamps.

I think the OP is holding on to the possibility that they have some type of rarity, meaning something valuable, in their collection. Until we see an example of such an item, this discussion is almost at an end.

Appley, what is your plan?

@Chris s

Have you noticed the "United Kingdom" under OP's avatar?

Well that is the OP's choice on how much prep work he or she is willing to do. The OP can stop at whatever stage they choose.

I can compare my advice to the advice I give to someone who wants to learn piano and ask how much lessons will be. I usually ask for what purpose they want to learn piano. If it is to simply to master simplified versions of their favorite tunes or learn new ones by ear plus possibly read simple music notation, I direct them to you tube. If they want to go farther then I would recommend them first to study with an undergrad music student who will offer likely a very reasonable rate. If after awhile they want to tackle some tough literature such as the more difficult Beethoven Sonatas, Chopin Impromptus and Scriabin, then they would go to a professional pianist for lessons and be ready to pay $80 or more an hour. They may never want to earn money from piano playing or happy with occasional gigs as they are doing it for the love of mastering some good music. The benefits to their well-being far outweigh the cost of time and money at all stages and there is great flexibility on how much one may commit. So too with stamps, the OP after consulting the Scott Catalog may find they have not the time or interest in determining what to bring to a dealer or they may get excited and delve more into philately. In the former the OP would likely dispose of the collection as quickly as possible, for the latter he or she may keep some for themselves, toss those they have little interest or fiduciary value, and sell those of some value to a dealer. Let the OP decide how far they want to take it. All we can do is point to proper resources that show the way.

Sop

The OP doesn't want to play the piano. The OP wants someone else to play it for him/her.

No pictures No one can help. OP was offered free help and he did not take it. Go figure!

Chris S - did you read NSK's comment? No-one in the UK is going to be consulting the Scott catalogue.

I imagine that the OP has long since lost interest in this thread.

Do libraries in the UK even hold SG SoTW catalogues?

I suppose, by now, OP is having a nice hot cuppa sitting near the stamp fire on these rainy days.

To all - thanks for the clarification, didn't realize he was in the UK.

If anything can be got from this long thread from members is the great resource Worldcat.org is. I did a search for Scott catalogue for one of its volumne - WORLDWIDE. It is in libraries in the US and UK - this provides just a partial list but still illuminating.

https://search.worldcat.org/title/606905262

It's pointless referring UK collectors to Scott unless they specialise in US stamps - collectors and dealers don't use it. There are better European catalogues readily available.

The OP hasn't even visited our website sine the day they first posted. Right now, we're just preaching to the choir.

"The OP hasn't even visited our website sine the day they first posted. Right now, we're just preaching to the choir."
It's called a hit and run post. He accused some posters as being "snobbish" and then left. You can all interpret that how you wish. I for one think people were just being honest. The snobbish comment was just rubbish.

The world is a comedy to those that think; a tragedy to those that feel.
Horace Walpole, 1776




Perhaps if he had "done the work" beyond "rudimentary online research," he would know if he had rarities or not.

Let me apologise for my "hit and run" post. You see I have not been able to respond to any of the above since my accident. I did plead with the doctors to discharge me sooner so that I could get back to this forum, but they insisted that I remain in hospital until I was fully recovered. And so an update, for those who are interested, on my obtaining a fair appraisal of my stamps. I ignored some of the posts above and took the guidance of a few others (by the way, I already play the piano). I contacted two philatelic societies for further advice and met a member of one last week, I shall have a another meeting next week with someone from the other society. As I expected, most of my stamps are of little or no inherent value however, there are some which have stirred interest - the man I met with photographed several stamps for the benefit of his society. I won't be lighting any fires. Financial offers have been made, but it would be vulgar to reveal them here especially as I still have the second meeting to deal with. Suffice to say that the holiday I have planned to Japan with my husband next year will be more than covered. That is correct, "husband", those of you who assumed to address me as "he" got that wrong as well.
My thanks to those who were kind enough to point me in the right direction.

Enjoy your holiday!