how do I sell my grandpa's stamp collection from around the world?

[dandy_cards]

 Hello,

I have a stamp collection my great grandpa gave me before he passed away. The stamps are placed in envelopes by country and there is some loose ones. 

They are from all over the world, and I know nothing about stamps. 

Any ideas of how or where to sell them and for how much? 

I have a 15" x 10" x 7" rubber made container full of stamps.

any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Dylan

[rose-dee]

It's just my personal impression, but wouldn't you rather keep the collection just as your grandfather had it?  

I don't know how old you are, but I can almost guarantee that someday you may regret having disposed of it, even if you have no interest in stamps yourself.  

Find a more decorative box to put it in, and include some photos of your grandfather.  It could become a family heirloom, and perhaps someone -- a son, daughter, nephew, niece, a generation or two from now -- will treasure it and be glad you kept it.  

Just a consideration, before it's too late.  Some things have more than simply a monetary value to be sold.  

[femmefan1946 · Accepted solution]

Because you don't mention any albums, I am going to assume that your grandfather was an accumulator rather than a collector.

Collectors tend to sort and display their items.

Anyway.

Stamp collecting is a hobby, like golf and bridge. It is not an investment.

Stamps do hold their value against inflation when:

a)They come from a country with both a strong currency and a high literacy rate. So. USA, Canada, Germany but not Russia (high literacy, poor economy) or Saudi Arabia (strong currency, low literacy).

b)The day they came over the PO counter they cost most of a man's daily wage. Those stamps still will be worth most of a man's daily wage.

c)They were issued before the Queen took the throne. This leaves out the millions of stamps issued by newly independent nations to put a little hard Western currency in thier national Treasury. Or the Postmaster-General's Swiss bank account.

Example. Canada Scott #158 (all the stamps of the world have been catalogued and valued). The 50 cent Bluenose of 1929.

It's from a country with a high literacy rate and a strong economy

In 1929, 50 cents was most a man's daily wage.

And the Queen didn't take the throne until 1952, so there is some age on it.

Issued at 50 cents, it paid the Registered Rate, which is now about $9, I think.

While you can buy rough examples for $20 or so, a very nice mint Bluenose will run an easy $300 and could move into the $1000 range given certain varieties.

So.

Go to granpa's collection.

Put out the envelopes from Canada UK US Germany.

Find the ones with the highest face value (50 cent to a dollar, with luck $5)

Look for those that are engraved and /or have a king on them. Or Queen Victoria.

(A penny Queen Victoria stamp is not going to be worth much, see 'man's daily wage" above.)

Now go to the Public Library and ask for the Scott Classic Catalogue of Postage Stamps.

Read the introduction, particularly the pages where there is a big annotated illustration of an African George VI stamp.

That will tell you what the catalogue is actually saying.

Look up your stamps.

Or phone a stamp dealer, ask if he does insurance appraisals, make an appointment, wait during his appraisal (this is for his protection not yours and usually takes under 15 minutes). Pay for the appraisal which will be written on his letterhead.

[pierrelebel]

Oh yes... grandpa's collection and accumulation!

I have offered valuations and purchased dozens of those over the years, prior to my retirement.  Some were worth a few hundred dollars while others went into the tens of thousands.

It comes down to something simple: if your grandfather spent money purchasing stamps from stamp auctions and stamp dealers, there may be value in there.  If your grandfather accumulated cancelled stamps from envelopes coming into the office... give the whole lot to a local Scout Club or church group.

Since you are in BC, not far from Vancouver, I suggest you contact one of the many dealers in Vancouver.  One of them runs weekly auctions and may help - over time - dispose of the collection/accumulation IF there is value in it.

Good Luck.

[Anonymous]

With lots of people losing jobs, etc, with economic problems in Atlantic and Alberta, I think it is time for people to downsizing their collections to get some $$$ to survive on rather saving them for children, etc., only to find out they threw them in the trash!  Think about it!

More and more people no longer save things as "heirloom".  I knew lots of Elvis fans who were fans and collectors from 1955s and when they died, their estates threw their very very rare valuable collections in the trash.  Had they knew, they would make lots of $$$ by selling them to auctions or eBay!  Again think about it.

[reallynicestamps]

There is a Stamp Exhibition in Vancouver in March.

http://www.vicstamps.com/pdf_docs/stamp_directory.pdf

Lots of dealers there who will buy your items.

[reallynicestamps]

Elvis is one of the few celebrities whose cult survived his death.

Princess Diana's collectible value was pretty well over 18 months after she died.

Generally if you don't have a personal interest, it's best to sell it quickly. And don't look back. Very few collectibles last past the first buyer.

You can't take the sky from me. -- Joss Whedon.