Stamp collection...

[Irene]

I have an album of stamps which belonged to my uncle, who passed away in the 70's.

He has dated the album 1957.

Is there any simple, uncomplicated way of knowing if there is anything of value?

I went to the local library and looked through a large collection of books, but it was mind bending!!

[deuces wild]

The only sure way is to take it to a collector who is capable of assessing it's value.

[-pops-]

Stanley Gibbons on The Strand is the place to go, Irene. They effectively define the prices of stamps for collectors.

Be warned though, stamps aren't nearly as valuable as people are led to think and all these first day covers that the Post Office used to extol us to collect are worth almost nothing - not even the face value of the stamps on the envelope.

[Irene]

Stanley Gibbons on The Strand is the place to go, Irene. They effectively define the prices of stamps for collectors. Be warned though, stamps aren't nearly as valuable as people are led to think and all these first day covers that the Post Office used to extol us to collect are worth almost nothing - not even the face value of the stamps on the envelope.

It was actually Stanley Gibbons books which I consulted in the library. I just couldn't recall his name. :)

I don't think there is likely to be anything of real value, but one never knows.

There are no first day covers, only lots of stamps, very well kept, from all over the world.

The album is rather nice. Looks like a Middle Ages soldier and his shield, impressed in 'gold' on the cover.

[-pops-]

I do think you need to take the stamps in to be examined. Stanley Gibbons is about two thirds the way along the Strand between Charing Cross and The Aldwych on the north side. An excuse for a day out in London!

[Irene]

I do think you need to take the stamps in to be examined. Stanley Gibbons is about two thirds the way along the Strand between Charing Cross and The Aldwych on the north side. An excuse for a day out in London!

Sounds like some good Retail Therapy to me! :D

Seriously, you may well be right. As you say, a good excuse for a trip to London.

Could even take in a show. Any recommendations? :D

[artist]

There's a Stanley Gibbons web site too

http://www.stanleygibbons.com/home/index.asp

[Gandalph]

I do think you need to take the stamps in to be examined. Stanley Gibbons is about two thirds the way along the Strand between Charing Cross and The Aldwych on the north side. An excuse for a day out in London!

Sounds like some good Retail Therapy to me! :D

Seriously, you may well be right. As you say, a good excuse for a trip to London.

Could even take in a show. Any recommendations? :D

As you will notice in my profile Irene, I am a stamp collector. There is a lot more to collecting stamps than just walking into a Post Office on a new stamps day of issue and buying one, putting it in an album and keeping the stamp in mint condition for the next fifty years or so. One of the ways to collect stamps properly is to make a lot of research into the history of a person or country then go looking for stamps for a certain period of that person or county's history. For instance I have several stamps the were surcharged with a frank mark when Japan was raising money at the time of the Pacific War. Stamps with the Shah of Persia and his family, now long gone along with the name of the country. Stamps issued prior to Hitler's rise to power. Russian stamps that were surcharged during the second World War with pictures of steel workers and Joseph Starlin. I could sit here all night and type away. Thematic stamps with butterfly's wasps, bees, birds, etc, etc, etc, hopefully full sets that are rare for a collector to get his hands on.

Stamps are also like Stocks and Shares, they can go up or down. Take them to Stanley Gibbons shop in the Strand and they will give you an evaluation for what they are worth on that day, but they could increase in a week or decrease in a week, it depends on what the stamps are and who is after a particular type.

Hope this helps.

[deuces wild]

My Dad collected corners of new issues and put them directely into protected envelopes. These date back to the 1960's and there must be hundreds of them. I inhereted them. There must be at least 1,000 envelopes in the book. Would you think these have significantly appreciated?

[Gandalph]

My Dad collected corners of new issues and put them directely into protected envelopes. These date back to the 1960's and there must be hundreds of them. I inhereted them. There must be at least 1,000 envelopes in the book. Would you think these have significantly appreciated?

Its difficult to say DW without actually seeing them to see if there is any significance to them. If they are just stamps that were issued by the Post Office as new stamps, such as Christmas designs or something along those lines, then I can't see them as being of any significant value unless your father had managed to get his hands on some that had slipped by the proof reader that had slight defects on them such as broken lines in the design or slight colour differences. I have two mint full sheets of Elvis stamps issued on January 8, 1993. What is special about these stamps is in the top left hand corner it has the price of 20 cents and the bottom left hand corner it has his name ELVIS. What is different about these stamps is the the one I have mentioned above was this particular design was only available on the date. The general issue of the same stamp through the US Post Office was the same design minus the name in the bottom left hand corner. These stamps are now sought after by collectors and are worth quite a considerable amount, whereas the stamp that was issued as 'General issue' by the post office will still not be worth more than 20 cents. So again it is difficult to do an appraisal on any stamp without actually seeing it in the flesh, so to speak.

I think it also worth mentioning that a lot of people who collect stamps do it purely as a hobby in that they will buy a general issue stamp at the post office every time a new one is released.

I hope this helps.

[deuces wild]

Thanks! What is the preferred method for safely protecting and storing the stamps? My Dad stored them in clear envelopes sold by the Post Office. Although not exposed to light some envelopes have cracked over time and I need to find what the current standard is for storing collector stamps long term.

TIA! B)

[Gandalph]

Thanks! What is the preferred method for safely protecting and storing the stamps? My Dad stored them in clear envelopes sold by the Post Office. Although not exposed to light some envelopes have cracked over time and I need to find what the current standard is for storing collector stamps long term.

TIA! B)

I have always used what is commonly referred to as a Stamp Mount which is a thin black strip of card with a clear acetate sheet (or window) on the front. The window just lifts back and the stamp is placed inside. They come in various widths and lengths. They can also be cut to house and individual stamp or can be placed in the album in strips to house thematic type sets. Store them in a dark cool place and definitely out of sunlight.

I have a large safe in a cupboard that houses my albums at a constant temperature of 55 deg. Fahrenheit.

It may also be useful to mention here that it doesn't matter what sort of appraisal a stamp or album is given, it is only worth what someone is prepared to pay for it. If someone is desperate enough for a particular stamp or set of stamps you will probably get far more than it's cataloged price at an auction. Also watch out for the rouge middle men. You might have a stamp that is worth $2000, he may tell a collector that he knows where he can get that stamp but it will cost the collector $4500 then probably tell you he can sell it for you for $1500. If you know you have a stamp of some considerable value never use a dealer, always try to contact the buyer personally.

[Irene]

Many thanks for all of that very interesting information.

I had no idea how much was involved.

I was not aware that my uncle was a stamp collector. It may well have been just a hobby, without any serious research, but I just wouldn't know. I came across the album when clearing their home after my aunt passed away (quite some time after my uncle had died).

I also looked at the Stanley Gibbons website, but again I became completely bemused and confused.

A visit to The Strand certainly looks to be in order.

Is it necessary to make an appointment? How long would they need to make an evaluation?

[Irene]

There's a Stanley Gibbons web site too.

http://www.stanleygibbons.com/home/index.asp

Thanks, artist.

I just took another look at their website via your link.

Having taken the Valuation option from the menu, it has answered the questions from my previous post. :D