Featured Stamp collection- anything of value?

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by Kimbert, Jan 4, 2019.

  1. Kimbert

    Kimbert Well-Known Member

    So to preface this, I have zero knowledge of stamps! I got a couple stamp albums from my grandpa when I was younger (he was apparently a huge collector. After he died, my grandma sold his collection for no joke, 10 000$! I can only assume that the albums I have are kind of scrap albums/ non-valuable ones that I was given for fun when I was younger. But I was just wondering if anyone who knows anything could spot anything in here that might be worth looking into the value of? I didn't post a picture of every page, just a few of the neater looking ones! I'm really assuming there's nothing valuable here, but thought I'd share!

    stamps1.jpg stamps2.jpg stamps3.jpg stamps4.jpg
     
  2. Kimbert

    Kimbert Well-Known Member

    there were a couple more pictures but it says "file is too large" to upload despite being the same size file as the other pictures... oh well!
     
  3. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    Your assumption is correct, very little value, very common stamps sold for young collectors rather than actual postage.
     
    Any Jewelry and judy like this.
  4. Kimbert

    Kimbert Well-Known Member

    ok thank you, as I suspected! Will hold onto them just to thumb through from time to time since they are very pretty at least! I don't expect to ever really add to the collection, I'm not a stamp collector myself, but maybe someday I'd get into it!
     
    pearlsnblume, judy and daveydempsey like this.
  5. afantiques

    afantiques Well-Known Member

    They appear to be thematic collections, birds, flowers, animals, etc.and date from a period that was pretty well past having any valuable stamps. A lot of minor countries made thematic stamps just to sell to collectors at the time. They do betray some philatelic origin as they are well presented not stuck all over paper pages
     
    pearlsnblume and Kimbert like this.
  6. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    Those were definitely kid collector type stamps; I've been known to make craft projects out of them, given the "value" generally speaking.
     
    Kimbert likes this.
  7. Kimbert

    Kimbert Well-Known Member

    thanks for the replies! I'm glad to be spared the trouble of foolishly trying to sell them- happy to hang onto them for the sentimental value!
     
  8. pearlsnblume

    pearlsnblume Well-Known Member

    My father collected stamps for most of his life. He was greatly upset when they were really not worth anything more than postage on an envelope. After my dad passed on, my brother took them all which is ok.
     
    judy and Kimbert like this.
  9. RinTinTin

    RinTinTin Well-Known Member

    There was an interview in a local newspaper last year with a guy who had just closed his shop for stamp collectors. He said they are all closing down and he was one of the last ones anyway. He also said that youngsters are no longer interested in collecting stamps.

    Am I right to assume this development has a devastating effect on the prices?
     
    judy and Kimbert like this.
  10. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    We've been using my dad's collection of plate blocks. They're all worth about face value unfortunately. The only stamps holding value these days are really old or really rare, preferably both. Even some of the early ones from the 1840s probably aren't doing that well. Prices crater when no one's buying.
     
    judy, pearlsnblume and Kimbert like this.
  11. Kimbert

    Kimbert Well-Known Member

    that's too bad they didn't end up being worth anything but I hope he still got enjoyment from his collection and that your brother will cherish it!!
    I thought probably most collections weren't worth much, but I was shocked when my grandma told me how much my grandpa's collection sold for! She said he used to have fellow collectors over some evenings and they'd trade stamps and all that, so I guess he was very serious about it!

    That would make sense! And it also makes sense that the younger generation is not as interested, less and less things are done by mail anymore! (though surely the collectible stamps are older ones that you acquire in other ways than from your incoming mail anyways so maybe that doesn't matter, but I feel like mail and postage just isn't on our radar as much in the world of electronic communication!)
     
    judy, pearlsnblume and RinTinTin like this.
  12. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    These days people only buy stamps to mail Birthday/Christmas cards and the occasional bill. Lots don't send Christmas cards any more either. Kids don't collect them any more. Coin collecting is probably headed the same way.
     
  13. Kimbert

    Kimbert Well-Known Member

    So true! I am a young-ish adult, and have never gotten in the habit of mailing Christmas cards- it was already mostly a thing of the past for our generation! I mostly send emails and make a card if I will see them in person to give to them!
     
    judy and pearlsnblume like this.
  14. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    I only send about a dozen myself, plus Chanukkah cards to a few people. Most of those are local and hand-delivered.
     
    judy, pearlsnblume and Kimbert like this.
  15. Kimbert

    Kimbert Well-Known Member

    I'm even impressed by you sending a dozen!!
     
    pearlsnblume likes this.
  16. daveydempsey

    daveydempsey Moderator Moderator

    Nooooooooooo,
    Coins and paper money are booming.

    Some coins have greater value than face because of their gold and silver content.

    CoinTalk has 50,000 members compared to our 8,200.
     
    judy, komokwa, cxgirl and 3 others like this.
  17. pearlsnblume

    pearlsnblume Well-Known Member

    My father loved collecting stamps until the last few years of his life.

    I finally asked him one day why he collected stamps and he told me cause the prez did way back when. It was always like pulling teeth to get my father to have a good conversation, so I have that little tidbit to hold onto now.
     
    judy, komokwa, SBSVC and 1 other person like this.
  18. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    That's how my dad started too. If it was good enough for President Roosevelt it was good enough for him.
     
    judy and pearlsnblume like this.
  19. gregsglass

    gregsglass Well-Known Member

    Hi,
    My stamp collection was started by my grandfather in 1901, it was given to my father in 1930. It was given to my step brother in 1953 and to me in 1957. It took me years to straighten it out. I donated about 25 thousand stamps to a military hospital for Veterans. A lot of the unused stamps from the 1940s I still use as postage today hoping to get some kid interested in stamps. Most of my collection is now focused on pre 1920 postage. I have so little time to devote to the collection since my "better" half thinks it is silly when I could be using a toothbrush to scrub baseboards instead.:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:
    greg
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2019
    judy, komokwa, SBSVC and 3 others like this.
  20. Kimbert

    Kimbert Well-Known Member

    Wow, your collection must be an amazing one then!
    Hope you can manage to find time for the stamps and the baseboard scrubbing :wacky: but don't give up your passion! sounds like yours is probably like my grandpas collection with actual value!
     
    judy, kyratango and pearlsnblume like this.
Draft saved Draft deleted
Similar Threads: Stamp collection-
Forum Title Date
Antique Discussion Any stamp collectors here? Nov 25, 2023
Antique Discussion Anyone recognize this stamp on Movement? Jul 29, 2023
Antique Discussion Greek/Roman Angel Stamp ring? Jun 20, 2023
Antique Discussion Dating an item by the 'Made In...' stamp ? Mar 4, 2023
Antique Discussion Stamps/Philatelic Sep 15, 2022

Share This Page