O/T : Need Help W/Stamp Collection...

Goose · #1 05-09-2009, 05:45 AM

If you get to view this collection and see things like Graf Zeppelins, Scott 1 and 2, and complete Columbus sets take some pics. I've always wanted to get a 1 and 2 just for the heck of it.

barrysloate · #2 05-09-2009, 06:26 AM

You can find numerous Scott #1 and #2 on ebay any day of the week, and can pick up used copies in the $200-400 range pretty easily.

Bamacollection · #3 05-10-2009, 07:46 PM

My brother-in law is returning to Mobile this evening. I will pass all the info along to him and hopefully he can provide some scans for verification. Again, thanks for the jump-start.

Lance

Mark · #4 05-10-2009, 08:42 PM

You also might look in the local classified, craigslist, etc. to see if you can find a slightly used stamp catalog. If you have an international collection/ accumulation, you will want a multivolume kind. Scott's, I think, is a standard.

barrysloate · #5 05-11-2009, 05:24 AM

This may sound strange to someone who does not collect stamps, but most American issues sell for about 15-25% of the Scott catalog value. This applies to stamps in average condition with minor flaws. A gem quality stamp will be worth a larger premium, but very few stamps fall into that category.

tbob · #6 05-11-2009, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barrysloate

This may sound strange to someone who does not collect stamps, but most American issues sell for about 15-25% of the Scott catalog value. This applies to stamps in average condition with minor flaws. A gem quality stamp will be worth a larger premium, but very few stamps fall into that category.

Wow! I had no idea that the stamp market was so distressed. My dad is 86 and he has a huge stamp collection which includes plate blocks of almost every stamp from about 1975 backwards to 1900, as I recall. I know he has stamps from the 1800's also but I think I will spare him the sad news so he can think his eventual estate will include a lucrative stamp collection for his son

birdman42 · #7 05-11-2009, 10:39 AM

Bob,

I have a carefully assembled collection that I put together in the 1970s and 80s. A couple years ago I figured I hadn't done anything with it in a good while, so why not get rid of it. (And turn it into cards, of course--alchemy!) After a good bit of investigation I decided it wasn't worth it, = I didn't want to take such a big hit--and that after 20 years of "appreciation." I wrote a note to my heirs about how to dispose of the stamps and placed it in the front of the album. Anything they get out of it will be more than they had before.

And Barry's right on with his numbers. To go for more than 30% of catalog value, a stamp has to have something really special going for it. Of course, that does bring up the question, what good is it to have prices in the catalog in the first place, but we have the same questions about card price guides as well.

Good luck with your Dad.

Bill

barrysloate · #8 05-11-2009, 10:47 AM

Bob- I don't know if the stamp market is so distressed (it probably is) or that the catalog is simply way off. We have the same issues in the baseball card hobby with printed prices that do not reflect the market.

If a stamp lists say for $800 but it can be bought on ebay for $125-150, perhaps that is the real value and the catalog is wacky. Could you imagine if Scott's decided to print next year's book to better reflect the true value of stamps, and proceeded to lop off 80% of the previous year's prices? It would likely cause the stamp market to collapse.

Regarding plate blocks- all the ones from the 1940's up are worth a little more than face value, with the exception of some high value ones (a plate block of the $5 Hamilton would have some real punch). If he has some between 1900-30, there's a chance some are valuable.