Valuing US Mint Collection

Durmex

Just trying to get a "general" idea !

Collection consists of 90%: singles, plate blocks(250), sheets(50) 1930's(few)- 1990
10%: more high-valued per Scott's, ie. 1955 UN souvenir sheet.

Questions: Would most large dealers buy the lot?
If so, could I expect to get anything over face value for the 90%?

Answers/Comments appreciated!

edueku

What 1930's stuff do you have ? You might get over face for that type of material depending on what it is.

dougwtx

A dealer will probably not give you over face for modern US... ie stamps past 1930. If you have UN material, IMO, that stuff does not move very well. I would "shop" it around several dealers. You would probably get more by posting it on eBay, Stamporama, and the such. For US material, the value is not substantial until you get into the mid-1920s and earlier. Condition is a large factor too. Mint US after 1940, a dealer may offer 50% to 60% of face as they often sell this material under face.

Durmex

After further review, just some singles and some First Day covers. No sheets or blocks.

Thanks for the reply.

MeteoriteGuy

Most dealers will only pay about 1/2 face, unless there is something really special.....such as your UN souvenir sheet. 99.9% of stamps past 1930 are for the most part worth less then face. (Many dealers will sell them to you for around 80% face.)

I would break the US lot up in decades and ebay them. Sell the UN separate.

Mark

Durmex

Thanks for the idea of segmenting, ie. U.N., etc. It would probably help. I have only a few items prior to 1930.

I guess I ought to pull the plate block and several singles of a $5 issue and use them for postage, rather than sell at a loss?

originalisbest

Yep, use 'em for postage - might as well and, if you do regularly mail packages, at least you're getting full use of their face value!

Durmex

Well, I can still say it was a good hobby. Maybe not a good investment, like coins and cards.

But, I learned more from the stamps than I did from the coins and cards!

Thanks, all, for your help.

edueku

Oh yes stamps can be a good investment as of the past 4 or 5 years.

Durmex

Yep,
But nobody told me in the 1950's to collect only 1930's and before.!
I can remember buying that $2 stamp at the post office, that I still have. That was major money to me at 11-12 years old.
Now, wouldn't you think that anything purchased 50+ years ago, and maintained in mint condition, would be worth more than the purchase price 50+years later? I would! And, what has happened to the purchasing power of that $2 of 50 years ago? Don't even think about it!

I've tried, unsuccessfuly, to think of anything kept in mint condition over 50 years that is basically worthless.

But, it's fun to explain all this to the postal employees when I walk in with a box covered with 60 stamps.
You know what? They don't even verify if the postage is accurate! Ha!

edueku

Problem is EVERYBODY saved stamps in the 50's expecting them to be worth a bundle. They were produced in the millions. If everyone saved their Mickey Mantle cards in absolute perfect condition they would probably be worth a lot less on the whole, because everyone would have one in mint condition from their childhood. Well it's not all that simple but there is more supply than demand. On the other hand some 40's and 50's stamps that have been graded sell for quite a bit more than their catalog value. But even those are starting to become more common. I have sold graded stamps from the 30's with high grades for over $1000, but that is getting harder to do now.

edueku

What about a good dealer to buy FV stamps from, anyone know of a good one?