what to do with old stamp albums

greenval

Whilst clearing out I found 3 stamp albums that I was given about 40 years ago. There's hundreds of stamps from all over the place some loose, others stuck in. I know nothing about their value.Any suggestions on the best way to sell them? I'm having difficulty finding a stamp dealer locally (Liverpool)
Thanks

soolin

I have several box loads of albums, I inherited several colllections from family members. I have resported to paying to store them on the basis that someone might want them at some point. As it is seems to be a forgotton hobby now and there is no interest at all in them.

Suzy_M

Start here - British Stamp Market Values 2010 - libraries may have older copies. Should give you some idea of what you are dealing with so you can target your market. Also there is a Stamps of the World book which your local library service may have copies of.

Then do another search for stamp dealer in Liverpool on yell.com - There's quite a few listed.

soolin

Suzy_M wrote: »

Start here - British Stamp Market Values 2010 - libraries may have older copies. Should give you some idea of what you are dealing with so you can target your market. Also there is a Stamps of the World book which your local library service may have copies of.

Then do another search for stamp dealer in Liverpool on yell.com - There's quite a few listed.

If only their prices were selling prices I would probably be a millionaire.

aaronm_2

If I have something which belonged to me for quite a long time like 40 years. I wouldn't charge it with a price. I would keep it forever or some day have another people kept them for me.

discountmummy

Try looking to see if you have a local philatelic group near you they maybe able to shed some light on values or any that maybe of interest and point you in the right directions.

DirtPoorGuy

Do a search on finished listings on eBay and see if you can get an indication of what sort of prices individual stamps in teh collection have sold for, take the books to respected auctioneers like Christies for valuation.

DirtPoorGuy

soolin wrote: »

I have several box loads of albums, I inherited several colllections from family members. I have resported to paying to store them on the basis that someone might want them at some point. As it is seems to be a forgotton hobby now and there is no interest at all in them.

Things just aren't the same, I can't see children in the future with a big book of SmartStamps and PayPal prepaid postage labels from around the world. :rotfl:

That said it is the move towards printing your own postage that may drive the value of stamp collections up as they become rarer.

soolin

DirtPoorGuy wrote: »

Do a search on finished listing on eBay and see if you can get an indication of what sort of prices individual stamps in teh collection have sold for, take the books to respected auctioneers like Christies for valuation.

Ebay expect about 99p per kilo of loose stamps regardless of age or value, I checked into that route. Approx £8-£10 an album.

None of the big auction houses are interested at all unless you know you have something very very rare, and Stanley Gibbons will charge an arm and a leg for a valuation but are no longer buying collections. My local B and M auction house (that I buy from) reckon they won't sell easily and I can expect no more than about £5 net for a good mixed album. This was after I thought i had the bargain of a century when i bought 100 pre 1980 first day covers from them a couple of years previously for a tenner and thought I would make my fortune. Most of those went to a charity shop as I think I managed to sell on about 4 at around 50p each before I gave up.

I did my research and that's why mine are all doubled bagged, boxed and in 'paid for' storage.

soolin

DirtPoorGuy wrote: »

Things just aren't the same, I can't see children in the future with a big book of SmartStamps and PayPal prepaid postage labels from around the world. :rotfl:

That said it is the move towards printing your own postage that may drive the value of stamp collections up as they become rarer.

On one of those daytime programmes they actually suggested that. The chap found some albums in his loft and was told they were not worth selling, but to keep them for his grandchildren as stamps will become rarer and rarer and may eventually have a rarity value.

DirtPoorGuy

soolin wrote: »

Ebay expect about 99p per kilo of loose stamps regardless of age or value, I checked into that route. Approx £8-£10 an album.

None of the big auction houses are interested at all unless you know you have something very very rare, and Stanley Gibbons will charge an arm and a leg for a valuation but are no longer buying collections. My local B and M auction house (that I buy from) reckon they won't sell easily and I can expect no more than about £5 net for a good mixed album. This was after I thought i had the bargain of a century when i bought 100 pre 1980 first day covers from them a couple of years previously for a tenner and thought I would make my fortune. Most of those went to a charity shop as I think I managed to sell on about 4 at around 50p each before I gave up.

I did my research and that's why mine are all doubled bagged, boxed and in 'paid for' storage.

I'll get my coat