I've Inherited An Extensive Collection And Feeling A Little Overwhelmed

I've inherited an extensive collection from my grandad and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. He collected for 90 years and I've got what seems to be thousands of stamps, many catalogued, all organised in stock books. I heard that this was a friendly forum and if I upload a few photos you folks would happily share your thoughts so here goes. I'm not looking to sell them, I just like to know a little more about what I'm dealing with.

More photos

More photos

Yes you have.



Now I will let the UK collectors chime in and lead the discussion.

Great! That you for reaching out!

Welcome!

Lots of lovely stamps, and no rubbish!

If you wanted to sell, the British Empire Exhibition singles would be worth a few pounds; likewise the King George VI cylinder blocks. But only a few pounds, not many pounds. And I don't know about the rest.

Please share more pictures of your stamps.

The initial pictures look great.

The first photo (Foreign Bill) shows revenue stamps, so they won't be found in traditional stamp catalogues. If you received his literature, too, you could look for a revenue catalogue from J. Barefoot.

The "Prudential" stamp is a commercial overprint, added by the business. Again, the stamp with that overprint is not in regular catalogues. The people who actively collect them are generally wild about them. The rest of the stamp collectors? Not so much. I like them, and I keep them when I come across them. (The stamp without the overprint is found in regular catalogues.)

The stamps in the background of that photo show control numbers (plate numbers) in the margins. Specialists collect those, too. The numbers are collected, and the ink colors (shades) are also collected. To the right side of the picture are official stamps.

You should assume that any unlabeled stamps might possibly have been kept for a reason. Don't automatically assume anything is completely common. This is completely opposite from our usual advice to someone who inherits a collection, where you assume everything is common until you see actual evidence to the contrary.

You have some interesting stuff. Looks like fun.

Welcome to the forum.

Thank you so much! Thank you for adding co much colour to what I've found here. I can't stop looking at them, I'll see what I can find on J. Barefoot. Here are some more photos.

Beautiful stuff. I'm glad to hear you're not thinking of selling. Maybe continue on what your grandfather started? It will be a long process of learning but this hobby is good for teaching patience!

You are lucky that it is all so neatly organized. If I went today, my heirs would get an accumulation of albums,stockbooks, shoeboxes and cigar boxes - some organized, much of it not ... but with fun pieces throughout .. would be a total challenge (and likely wind up with an auctioneer).

A quick question. If he collected for 90 years, how old was he when you inherited the collection. 105 or so?

You've all been so welcoming. Thank you #128591;#127995;

And a great question. He was 96 bless him. So much love and care in these books #129392;

A lot of nice material. Welcome to the forum. You'll learn a lot.

Two things that will help you a lot Kyle.

Did you inherit any catalogues? Also, and perhaps more importantly, did you inherit any purchase receipts?

Overprinted stamps from WW2 have been extensively forged. Purchase receipts may help in proving genuineness.

Now, any Australian States material in amongst it all??

Hello! He had a log book that's definitely incomplete but something. I don't know specifically about Australia but I'll take a look and post some photos if I find any! Thank you for reaching out!