Most of the time, if there is any value at all, it is in the usable postage.
I typically offer about half of current face value for "Forever" stamps.
That drops to 1/4 or 1/5 of face value for low (fixed) denominations.
I use the postage for mailing orders that are placed for my minted items.

But to say that "stamp collections have little value" is a bit inaccurate.

One recent collection had full sheets of four stamps each, of the newer Express Mail stamps.
I was somewhat surprised to see that the "Bethesda Fountain" sheets of four, in pristine unused condition and not counterfeits, will typically sell on eBay for $300 (face value is a little over $100). I also know about the "Legends of the West" sheet with the wrong photo (I have a couple of those). But I do not really know what other modern stamps are worth saving or selling via auction.

The way some stamp collectors treated their stamps is sometimes atrocious.
Like mounting their stamps in an album using "Scotch" type tape, across the FRONT of the stamps (the type of clear tape that yellows and cracks with age). I have to think that the attrition rate for some of this stuff is pretty high these days, since a lot of it is being thrown out or otherwise mistreated.

99% of the time, the stuff is junk, But once in a while there are better items, such as a pristine plate block of the C3 "Jenny" (not inverted, unfortunately, but still a good item), one album with a US #1 Franklin and a #2 Washington, and a few of the C18 50-cent Zeppelins.

A few of the better items (like the C3 plate block) I have put into my own small collection. Other than dispersing some of what I bought by using it as postage, I have not been getting rid of it. It is piling up and my wife is not too happy. I just don't have the time to sort it out and do auctions on eBay or wherever.

It would probably all fill a small "U-Haul" type truck at this point.

I might need a stamp dealer who can take it all on commission (smaller groups at a time), sort through it for premium items, and sell what is saleable on eBay.

Would you even make an offer?

85E Unused
85C Unused
499F Mint never hinged sheet of 30
449 Mint Hinged Original Gum
441 Mint Hinged Original Gum

I have been offered $175K so far, for the 1st 9 of 16 volumes. I know the value is in the front end.

What auction houses / dealers should I be in contact with.

Thanks for your time.

My family recently inherited a large stamp collection. I'd perhaps have a better idea of what to do with them on the coin side, but I have no clue what to do with them now. Are there any resources you guys recommend for this? Books, catalogues, something like the Red Book lol? Should I just take them to a dealer (though, I don't know of any honestly haha)?

Thank you all so much in advance!

Would like to know the identity and value of the stamp as shown in the photos.

Thanks for any help!

The Ameripex Stamp Show issues from the teens. Stunningly unoriginal and bland.

The Alex Trebeck stamp. Just a very odd looking issue. What were they thinking?

The Army, Navy and Marine Corps stamps that are currently on sale. (These strike me have been rushed into production. Just think of how interesting they could have been if they depicted things like uniforms over the years or Navy ships from 1775 to the present. I would love to have seen a USS Vesuvius stamp depicting the Spanish-American War Pneumatic Cruiser among other ships.)

.

I have a stamp collection from 1960 and before. about 500 US stamps, 1860 - 1960 Postal, 1900 - 1960 commemorative and Air Mail. etc.
Then about another 500 - 1000 from Poland, Hungry, Greece, Germany, Canada, France, Great Britian and various other foreign countries. It's been collecting dust for nearly 60 years.
I belonged to a stamp club up to the age of 15 or so and we use to meet at the "Old Slater Mill" in Rhode Island.

I have NO clue what if anything it may be worth.
Don't trust dealers in the area. If they are like most sports card dealers, they offer about 1/10 the actual value.

I want to get rid of it !!! ( without devoting a lot of time figuring out if there is a gem in the ruff )
Any ideas on how to do it ???
Hoping I can get $300 - $700.

Fred from RI

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FredJRIFredJRI Posts: 29 ✭May 8, 2024 3:46AM
Also a recent album of "Presidents of the United States ; proof cards from Washington- Regan .. seen on eBay for $175.

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291fifth291fifth Posts: 23,966 ✭✭✭✭✭May 8, 2024 1:23PM
@FredJRI said:
Similar problem but a collection of mine from prior to 1960:

Blah, blah,blah.

Fred from RI

Post some photos of what you think are the best items. It is impossible to guess at valuation based on your current description. Stamp collecting has been trending downward for decades and many items that were once in demand no longer are. In the case of the foreign stamps please state their condition so far as hinged/never hinged goes. Also, for the foreignstamps are they in complete sets (good) or broken sets (bad).

All glory is fleeting.
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LOL

pruebaspruebas Posts: 4,342 ✭✭✭✭✭May 8, 2024 10:43PM
@FredJRI said:
Similar problem but a collection of mine from prior to 1960:

I have a stamp collection from 1960 and before. about 500 US stamps, 1860 - 1960 Postal, 1900 - 1960 commemorative and Air Mail. etc.
Blah, blah, blah !!!
Fred from RI

Fred, what does it matter if you get 1/10 of the value as long as you get your $3-700 and don’t spend much time? Go ahead and ask someone local.

I doubt you want to be shipping all that material around (and back, when you don’t get what you wanted).

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FredJRI

Yes, most certainly, because if I thnk the actual value maybe be around $600 - 1500 the dealer will probably offer me
$50 - $100 not $300 - $700 I'm looking for.. lololol

Just for example, I took 4 cards to a local sports card dealer about two weeks ago , a 62 Topps Aaron, a 65 Topps Rose and 65 Topps Koufax all ungraded, also 2002 Topps PSA 9 Brady. Did a quick search on PSA Price Guide estimating the condition or grade. The Aaron and Rose were probably conservatively 3-4's and the Koufax was maybe a 5 or 6 definitely the best one excluding the 2002 Brady. I figured perhaps a rough PSA value of $600 - $1200 for all four cards.
I knew the dealer would low ball me so I expected an offer of about $300 - $400 from him.
The dealer spends about 10-15 minutes on the PC and his cell finally comes back and says**** " I can give you $128." *** I said " __How about without the Koufax_ " _, "**Oh,, that is the best one **(no shit Sherlock I'm thinking to myself.) **That is worth about a $100**" . In essence he was offering me $28 for the Aaron, Rose and Brady. I just shook my head and said said " __No I can't sell them for that price___ " .and walked out.

I put them on eBay last week and got about $200 excluding the Koufax !! LOLOLOLOL

I may not be the brightest light bulb on the string, but I still put out a few lumens!

@pruebas .. you did give me an idea.
If the stamp dealers are anything like the sports card dealers locally, I should have them give me a price and throw it on eBay or some place for 10X the amount. heheheeheehe

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FredJRIFredJRI Posts: 31 ✭May 9, 2024 2:24AM
291fifth said
Post some photos of what you think are the best items.
It is impossible to guess at valuation based on your current description.
Stamp collecting has been trending downward for decades and many items that were once in demand no longer are.
In the case of the foreign stamps please state their condition so far as hinged/never hinged goes.
Also, for the foreign stamps are they in complete sets (good) or broken sets (bad).

FredJRI said:
I could when I have more time.
I'm new here and stilt trying to figure how to navigate the site.
Primarily sports card collecting but noticed a coin & stamp area.
Great, only been here 3 or 4 days but I LOVE IT !!!

The majority if them are hinged in my album " The Comprehensive WoldWide Stamp Album" about 3" thick and black in color. Think I bought it about 65 years ago in my teens.

I didn't mean to highjack this thread EchoCanyon.. just learning the website , SORRY.

I ran into this piece while we were selling my mother's estate pieces. The appraiser told me that it is a stamp holder that may have been attached to a watch chain from the 1870s.

Do any of you know any more about there pieces? I found the subject matter and the detail on this piece quite interesting.

I believe these to be pretty valuable, especially the 5 Lire. What do you think?