Late mum's stamps loose in a box - what to do with them?

Herbyme

May not be the right board for this, but what can I do with a a big box of stamps and a few medals? My mum had written on it 'stamps and medals - keep safe' so I assume there's some value but no idea if financial or sentimental. Grateful for any pointers - don't want to go through them individually as I know nothing about stamps, but also don't want to give away something valuable that she seemed to think was important. MTIA

soolin

carolinerunner said:

May not be the right board for this, but what can I do with a a big box of stamps and a few medals? My mum had written on it 'stamps and medals - keep safe' so I assume there's some value but no idea if financial or sentimental. Grateful for any pointers - don't want to go through them individually as I know nothing about stamps, but also don't want to give away something valuable that she seemed to think was important. MTIA

Try a bricks and mortar auction house, many give free valuations. However don’t be surprised if the things have little more than sentimental value, stamps have completely gone out of fashion and my own late Dad’s collection of around 20+ albums plus several boxes of unsorted items and first day covers was valued at around £50 -£80 before fees. 

Grumpelstiltskin

The chance of finding a stamp or stamps that are worth anything is minute maybe 1 in 1 million.
Medals can be different it's a how long is a piece of string situation.
Do you have any local shops that sell medals coins etc? if so take the medals for them to look at and see what they say.

[Deleted User]

I've had the same - boxes of assorted coins, stamps and millions of cigarette cards.  Most are worth less than the material they're made of.  

Things like stamps and cigarette cards tend to be sold as a job lot for £30-40, the buyer picks out anything they like or need to complete a collection and then it gets sold on again.  

Marcon

Google to find which charities accept stamps and medals - that may be the best home for them.

JezR

If they are unused British decimal stamps use them on your letters.

Flugelhorn

I went through a relatives coins and stamps - the coins made about £3000 on ebay, the stamps (which were much more difficult to value and condition was everything ) about £250 at auction. 
I know that the local Oxfam take stamp albums and first day covers and coins - one of the volunteers values them and there seems to be an enthusiastic set of buyers. 

theoretica

Medals are worth looking closely at - they may have family names on them.  Also check for any hallmarks.

gt568

What are the medals?

Herbyme

gt568 said:

What are the medals?

As well as I can describe them:
a wreath shape with crossed swords and a crown on top, says Aug to Nov 1914, name of a soldier on reverse
Crossed swords in a circle 'Old Contemptibles' Aug 5 to Nov 22 1914
A wheel with banners - above says Ubique, below says Qua pas et gloria ducunt, crown on top

All the rest look mass produced so won't have any value I think

On inspection all the stamps are postmarked so no good there either I think

Marcon

carolinerunner said:

gt568 said:

What are the medals?

As well as I can describe them:
a wreath shape with crossed swords and a crown on top, says Aug to Nov 1914, name of a soldier on reverse
Crossed swords in a circle 'Old Contemptibles' Aug 5 to Nov 22 1914
A wheel with banners - above says Ubique, below says Qua pas et gloria ducunt, crown on top

All the rest look mass produced so won't have any value I think

On inspection all the stamps are postmarked so no good there either I think

This? https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30110553

Worth seeing if any of the military museums would like them.