I was going through some stuff and came upon an album. My friend's grandfather had collected stamps (international and domestic.) He gave them to my friend, who is a college student who moves a lot and had no use for them, and asked if I wanted them. This was five years ago. The album was old and falling apart; I went through and took all the stamps out and looked through them. There are at least 100. Some are newer, some are old (not hugely old, but like from Vietnam before the war and Hong Kong in the 50's and stuff.) I'd like to know if any of them are worth anything before I offer the lot for a dollar on ebay or something.
A quick google tells me that there are catalogs that are used to value stamps. Are these available at the local library? Is one better than the others? I also found that there's a stamp store with a good reputation in Los Angeles, if I go down there will they be willing to glance through the stamps and tell me if any of them have any real value, like an appraisal?
I appreciate any help from anyone in the know.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by ketchupqueen: I also found that there's a stamp store with a good reputation in Los Angeles, if I go down there will they be willing to glance through the stamps and tell me if any of them have any real value, like an appraisal?
Would that be Superior Stamps & Coins, or the American Philatelic Foundation? They should both be willing to do a free appraisal, but I'd call them first. They may be able to give you some idea over the phone.
Also, unless these stamps were very well preserved (and from your description that seems unlikely), they're probably not going to be worth much.
The best catalogs are Scott catalogs, and your library may have recent ones. However, for an amateur, it can be quite difficult to determine whether the particular stamp they have is the same as the one in the catalog.
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
Rivka's probably right about the value, although it doesn't hurt to check to see if you happen to have any valuable stamps. You might check to see if there are any local kids who are into stamp collecting--I'm sure they'd be excited about inheriting such a collection.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Basically, before I give it away I want to make sure I'm not getting rid of something worth $50 or even $20 without knowing it. They're actually in pretty good shape for the conditions they had to endure. But you're right, I doubt they're worth more than a couple of dollars, I'd just like to know.
Speaking of storage, out of curiosity, how should stamps be stored? Right now I've got them in envelopes, out of direct light and heat and moisture, trying not to store them too many to an envelope, just in case they're worth anything to someone (even if, like you said, it's a kid.)
Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
Are the envelopes you're storing them in acid-free?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
They should be stored in glassine envelopes if possible, but acid-free paper ones are fine. Expensive stamps that one wishes to remain expensive are generally each stored in their own glassine sleeve.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
Awwww, I miss collecting stamps. My dad and I used to do that when I was little.
I won't be much help with this, though. I was too young to really learn anything technical about it.
-pH
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Thanks, all. The envelopes (which are acid-free) are a temporary solution, I intend to get rid of them really soon.
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