While digging thru his basement, we recently uncovered a huge stamp collection my grandfather had. He passed away last April. He left everything to me and my brother. Neither one of us knows a thing about stamps but some of these appear to be quite old and we'd like to find out if there is anything of value. Some of this stuff goes back to when a 1st class stamp was a penny! Lots of mint sets sealed and untouched by human hands.

We need someone in the NOVA area who we van bring the whole box to. Way too many to photograph and catalog.

Any ideas? Maybe an antique dealer? Coin collectors?

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=fairfax+va+stamp+appraisals

DUH432938r754987439857 Wrote:
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> http://lmgtfy.com/?q=fairfax+va+stamp+appraisals

Gee thanks.....Google....never would have thought of that.

I was hoping to get some intel on someone who has a solid reputation in the area.

Stampy Wrote:
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> DUH432938r754987439857 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> http://lmgtfy.com/?q=fairfax+va+stamp+appraisals
>
> Gee thanks.....Google....never would have thought
> of that.
>
> I was hoping to get some intel on someone who has
> a solid reputation in the area.

And you came here? d'oh

Take your stamps and shove them up your ass.

OP, disregard the idiot posters.

Stamps are going to be tough because there just aren't as many people collecting them as there used to be.

I can't even think of any stores here for that. It's unlikely antique dealers will be interested. Coin shops might for your most rare and valuable ones.

I would suggest you start with these guys, http://stamps.org/Home Most likely stamp dealers will be members of their organization and they can point you to local ones.

What do you have?

I'll give you $20 for your whole box

stamp collector Wrote:
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> What do you have?
>
> I'll give you $20 for your whole box

Not ready to make that deal yet.

I'm wondering what was the last year a 1st class stamp was 1 penny?

>While digging thru his basement, we recently uncovered a huge stamp collection my grandfather had


we're not stupid. we know you stold it. we're looking at the records already to see if we have a report

that reminds me italy claims after borrowing money from chevrolete and not paying it back that they own chevrolete

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my idea here is to pay for "their debt claim" using OBAMA STAMPS

ebay

My Two Cents Wrote:
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> ebay

Ebay wont work. There are literally thousands of stamps. You want to list each one?

All I want to know is if there is a qualified stamp collector or appraisor in the NOVA area. If not, I'll head to NYC where I know I can find several.

Stampy Wrote:
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> My Two Cents Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ebay
>
> Ebay wont work. There are literally thousands of
> stamps. You want to list each one?
>
> All I want to know is if there is a qualified
> stamp collector or appraisor in the NOVA area. If
> not, I'll head to NYC where I know I can find
> several.

If ebay won't work for you - Who gives a shit.

Go to NY - Leave right fucking now.

My Two Cents Wrote:
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> Stampy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > My Two Cents Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > ebay
> >
> > Ebay wont work. There are literally thousands
> of
> > stamps. You want to list each one?
> >
> > All I want to know is if there is a qualified
> > stamp collector or appraisor in the NOVA area.
> If
> > not, I'll head to NYC where I know I can find
> > several.
>
> If ebay won't work for you - Who gives a shit.
>
> Go to NY - Leave right fucking now.

Thanks for your help. If you don't know fuck about stamps why did you click?

Feel better.

I'll be curious what you find out. I used to collect stamps and always wondered if they were worthy anything I didn't display them or anything fancy. Mostly bought from Littleton coin and stamp as a kid. I'm thinking now with mail being not so popular it might not be as lucrative as coins.

According to Google, a first class stamp was 2 cents in 1885. There are several in this collection so it's safe to assume the collection was started by my great grandfather.

Im glad that you were able to navigate to google, I knew you could do it! Keep exploring that site and you might find that your answers are all there. Thanks for the narrative though.

I have old stamps that are only worth their face value, go buy a book, maybe you'll find an upside down jenny.

Stampy Wrote:
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> My Two Cents Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > ebay
>
> Ebay wont work. There are literally thousands of
> stamps. You want to list each one?
>
> All I want to know is if there is a qualified
> stamp collector or appraisor in the NOVA area. If
> not, I'll head to NYC where I know I can find
> several.


The bulk of most stamp collections, coins too for that matter, contain highly produced, low volume stamps that are only worth their ability to fill a void in a collector's collection. Probably not worth your time even trying to sell them parted; better to sell the entire collection.

However, there will be some in there (hopefully) that actually are higher value either because of the desirability by collectors, rarity, age, condition, or some combination of all of these.

This is where you can use ebay to get a sense as to what collectors will pay certain sought after stamps. Take a look at what's commonly sold for how much then look in your collection to see if you have any of the same ones. That should give you a sense of their value, though keep in mind if you sell them to a dealer you won't get anything near what you'd get on ebay, but you won't have nearly the hassle either.

Worth checking out if you can find a shop, but as others have said, there's not much market for most of 'em.My dad had a ton of mint corner blocks from the 50s, and they were worth more as postage than as collectibles. So he used 'em.

If stamps and coins in general dont appreciate, why the fuck did so many people used to collect them? I remember there was a stamp club in my high school full of nerds.

Stampy Wrote:
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> If stamps and coins in general dont appreciate,
> why the fuck did so many people used to collect
> them? I remember there was a stamp club in my high
> school full of nerds.

Because the collecting was allegedly fun.

Greybeard Wrote:
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>
> Because the collecting was allegedly fun.

Fun? What's fun about looking at stamps? They don't do anything. And if you handle them it just fucks them up so all you can do is stare at them.

Old people were weird!

Electron Boy Wrote:
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> Greybeard Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > Because the collecting was allegedly fun.
>
> Fun? What's fun about looking at stamps? They
> don't do anything. And if you handle them it just
> fucks them up so all you can do is stare at them.
>
> Old people were weird!


The subject matter and aesthetics of stamps reflect the nation and time of their origin. Like collection old toys or comic books, there is more there than what you see.

Latherow's, on Lee Highway in Arlington, just west of Glebe. Been there forever.

Depending upon the years/types of stamps/covers/plates/stationary/etc. some stamps can be well worth taking the time for someone to appraise them. If they've been from your grandfather there is lots of potential. A good "start" would be to go to one of the local stamp shows - The next big one is SPRINGPEX 2015 STAMP SHOW; SATURDAY MARCH 7th 10am - 6pm; SUNDAY MARCH 8th 11am - 4:30pm

ROBERT E. LEE HIGH SCHOOL
CAFETERIA
6540 Franconia Road
Springfield, Virginia

SPONSOR: Springfield Stamp Club.

CONTACT:
Gerald Frazier
P O Box 544
Springfield VA 2215
EMAIL: frazierg@cox.net
WEBSITE: www.springfieldstampclub.org

Take a sample of what you have and there will certainly be someone who will be willing to take a quick look and let you know what you have - At least there you'll have 20-30 vendors who have good knowledge and can point you in the right direction.

^^^^

One of the most helpful response on here. I'm not the OP, but thank you for making this board somewhat useful.

Go to the American Philatelic Society Website. Just Google stamps.org. There is a ton of information there for you to use... appraisars, dealers, a store to give you an idea as to what stamps are worth, and information on what you want to do with your collection. There are appraisars and there are "appraisars". Before you go to a stamp show get some idea of what you have. Some dealers can smell a guy with no idea of what he has and will take advantage of it. Make sure that you are upfront with the appraiser... If you want to sell the collection tell him/her. If you want an insurance appraisal let them know. Understand that if you sell to a dealer you will not get what the stamp is worth on the market. Dealers have to make a profit in order to stay in business and you'll probably be offered about 50% of the market price. In this respect Ebay can be the way to go but you remember you do have to pay for the service. If the collection is especially pristine you might consider an auction house but it would have to be really really nice and it so happens that sometimes collections found in basements do fall under this category so don't disregard the idea. Whatever you do don't just walk up to a dealer and ask how much you can get for this.

Good luck and you actually might want to consider keeping the collection and adding to it. It might make your grandson rich one day.