Inherited stamp collection? - What to do!

What to do with a stamp collection? If you inherited a stamp collection, here is a set of instructions about how to store, value, keep or sell the stamps.

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Additional Resources

[gavinwarman]

Funny I come across your video I inherited three large books of stamps. The stamps were my grandfather's and my uncles My grandfather was an electronic technician for NASA and traveled the world with the military in my uncle started the collection while he was in a boarding school in Scotland.

[gregske]

I was once told by a picker that it is important to know the difference between a stamp collection and a stamp accumulation.

[ericalynn]

I inherited my collection from my Grandfather 3+ years ago.  I never had the heart to sell it, but have slowly gotten into philately and really began to enjoy it thanks to your videos. I am also really tempted to make some stamp art with the duplicates.   Thanks!

[jeffglant]

Everyone should be so lucky to inherit a stamp horde such as the one featured to get started!

[LadyTomoyo]

I got a big, mostly unsorted, stamp collection from my mom's friend. Her father collected them, and none of her children were interested. She was happy to know the collection went to someone who cared.

[hansproebsting]

I've just been viewing a number of philatelic videos on YouYube. Mostly they seem to be produced by people just to make a random video on a topic that they know nothing about. So much misinformation.


I've lost count of the number of viewers who have been convinced that their old green stamp must be an original Ben Franklin worth $600, 000.


I have also watched a few of your videos now, and find it refreshing to see someone who does the research, tells the truth, and promotes interest without giving people false hope.


Keep up the good work.


Incidentally, I am a philatelic writer for an Australian national stamp magazine, writing mostly about stamps and postal history of Greater New Guinea.

[IIoveasl]

Very interesting video. I am a philatelist since 1972 (age 8). I started in Paris (25 albums), L.A.: 20 albums and now, only 29 albums here, in my apartment in Israel. I didn't inherit my stamp collection, I started it with my mother when I was a child. Today, I only have 29 albums in my final apartment. I hope to get more stamps. I love philately. I keep on doing it and probably will until I cannot anymore. Thanks for your videos. David

[repenney]

Wonderful presentation. Simply illuminating! With the unfortunate death of P-22, LA's beloved mountain lion, the subject of postage stamps is all over the news. Several congressmen have recommended that the US Post Office issue a postage stamp to honor him. I'm all for it. It may even generate increased interest in philately. And the preservation of mountain lions.

[WithoutTheBitter]

I'm not sure if YouTube has read my mind or something but this is EXACTLY the video I needed to pop in my recommended feed. Thanks for the info

[VondaInWonderland]

Mine are in a box, my father passed 17 years ago. I look at the box every few years and then put it away. I am now excited to go through and organize them ♥

[karnubawax]

Can I add a tip?

If you have a ton of old letters or postcards, DO NOT try to remove the stamps! In all cases, they will be more valuable still on the envelopes (and by old I mean 1920's or earlier in the USA).
One thing I see a lot of in people's collections - especially in California - is mail sent from China to the USA in the years immediately preceding WWII. Some of these can be VERY valuable, but far more so if they're still on the envelopes.
If you're going to find something of serious value in a collection like the one in this vid, it will most likely be stuck to one of those old letters, and NOT in the albums - which will be full of pretty pedestrian stuff.

You've done a great job with this channel. I've been collecting since the 1970 First Man on the Moon stamp when I was 7. Much respect from an old timer (even though I'm usually the youngest person at Westpex)!

[sirrathersplendid]

Gave up stamp collecting in my mid teens but it was a fascinating hobby — taught me so much about the countries of the world, and their history, especially of the British empire and its many colonies. Still have all my albums and also my dad’s albums though haven’t looked at them in decades. Sadly, I doubt that I’ll be able to get my girls interested in stamps — but will give it a try, if only for the educational value.

[UkuleleDude]

Full of great advice! In the US, members of the American Philatelic Association can obtain estate stickers to place in their albums or on boxes and bins with information on contacting the APS for assistance with inherited collections. Their site mirrors most of what is here, but not in nearly as an entertaining manner.

[monkeywash]

I really appreciate this video. I have a collection my grandma started for me in the 1980's and because she was a postmaster, I always just assumed it was full of great stuff. Thing is, having been knocking around in various closets for 35 years even the full plates and plate blocks have gone down in condition. Literally none of my stamps are postmarked except the FDC envelopes which also suffer from storage conditions. It hurts a little but it's good to know they are not worth what I think they should be worth.

[jeddmohlenkamp]

I am a full time picker, I have 3 different stamp collections. I do books and music to make a living. The last stamp find I got over 12 Lbs of stamps mostly from the 1890s-1840s.. they are all divided up in tiny wax paper envelopes there is also three books of worldwide stamps from the same age. Pretty interesting stuff

[ArtDecoJoe]

Good info! Though the subject of your video is “inherited postage stamps”, your suggestions and great advice can be applied by a family who has inherited any collection, whether it’s books, or victrolas, or dolls, etc.

[Mrdoubtfire]

Super! my favorite hobby love it I get chills when I see stamp albums. Like a kid in the candy store. Thank you for educating us.

[markpinther]

I really appreciate the solid advice you give. It's always straight forward, & honest. When we inherit stamp collections, I discovered that I had to become a great deal more knowledgable about stamps and their history to just scratch the surface. After getting a stereoscope and some software, I quickly realized that I probably won't find anything super valuable in the collection. I have yet to positively identify every stamp yet, but it keeps me coming back to it on rainy days. Many of them are so similar that it's almost impossible to tell them apart from each other.. making them difficult to even think about trying to sell them. (presidential stamps )

[ellaharvey]

I went to a house in Tasmania and collected a 75 litre container full of stamps from all over the globe. The China
virus had broken out and I spent month's sorting out the stamps. This raised my
interest about stamps and especially at that stage Aussie stamps. My intellectual capacity to obsolve the history of stamps was limited, but I read and realised that too many stamp collector's in their deliberations of stamp collecting, made the subject boring and too dogmatic . Through your website my wife and I have taken great delight at the humour, knowledge, and simplistic way you present your stamp programs.
We sincerely thank you for this, and we now aspire to many aspects you have delightfully displayed in order to make our hobby more interesting.
Nota bene ; Could you please do a segment about Artists who have painted or designed
their work specifically for stamps at the behest of
Philately organisations or postal authorities.
In Australia I have just begun counting and collating how many artists works are depicted on the Aussie stamps since Federation . Not finished, but do far over 120. This includes children. Thanks sincerely. Your a " rummin " ( Tassie saying for
good bloke )

[AlexandreLollini]

Excellent video ! That is much better from what I say to most people phoning to me asking for me to purchase their collection. I am specialised in Space stamps and covers, so from now on I will give them a checklist using your advice, this is much more enjoyable, enthusiastic and relax. There are a lot of used stamps collection around ...