BS: Stamp Collectors

Subject: BS: Stamp Collectors
From: Louie Roy
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 09:56 PM

Was cleaning out some old cabinets and came across three commerative 20 cent stamp with Harry Trumans picture on them still in the original plastic case and also a 3 cent unused post card.Does any of you mudcatters have any idea of the value?Appreciate all info and thanks for taking the time to read this thread. Louie Roy

Subject: RE: BS: Stamp Collectors
From: John Hindsill
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 11:17 PM

LR - Not sure what you mean by 'still in the original plastic case', but I can tell you about the stamp. It is a definitive from the Great American Series of 1980-1985. If the stamps are unused and unhinged (aren't we all sometimes?) the catalogue value is 40 cents, but typically might be found at face amount plus 5 or so cents; suggest you use them for postage. If they are attached to an illustrated cover (envelope) they might be worth more...maybe a buck at retail.

The sad fact of US stamp collecting is that most stamps of the last 50 or so years do not really appreciate much at all. I stopped collecting US about the time that stamp was issued.

Subject: RE: BS: Stamp Collectors
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 11:33 PM

I stopped collecting stamps in 1958....wish I had back the ones I sold...same with coins in 1963

Subject: RE: BS: Stamp Collectors
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 24 Jan 03 - 11:50 PM

Most "collectables" are of value only to the book-seller, case-seller, folder-seller, and all the merchants that caiter to the collector.

A dear friend had collected baseball cards since the age of six. At the age of twenty-six he became engaged. He went to a card-dealer to sell his beloved-treasures and purchase a treasure for his beloved.

The book-price to purchase-price was 10% of the value listed. (With U.S. stamps, at least one-cent is still one-cent...sort of...((its a good way to gage inflation))) The card-dealer told him, "The price-guide may say, 1,750.00 but I can't even give you 200.00....I recommend that you put them away in a safe, forgotten place, and let your grand-children marvel over them."

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: BS: Stamp Collectors
From: Louie Roy
Date: 25 Jan 03 - 10:49 AM

Thanks all of you for your input.I will take your advice and purchase a 17 cent stamp and use them on my next letters Thanks again Louie Roy

Subject: RE: BS: Stamp Collectors
From: katlaughing
Date: 25 Jan 03 - 04:58 PM

My brother gave me some of his stamp collection from the early 40's and 50's when I was a kid. Then in junior high, mid-60's I had a teacher who cleaned out his classroom and gave me a box of them. My aunt sent me a bunch in the 70's and 80's, from foreign countries, as she worked in a university office in Oregon which dealt with inquiries from other countries. I finally got them all categorised and put into a ring binder. THEN I went to the library and got some catalogues to find values.

I remember being really disappointed that some of them weren't worth much. My brother had some really neat ones from all over the world, some of countries no longer in existence, as they changed names, were liberated, etc.

Some of them are so beautiful, too! Gorgeous colours and shapes. So, I am happy to have them just for their beauty and historical significance.

I have a small bit of coins, too, all pre-50's still not worth much, though. A few buffalo nickels, lead pennies, etc.

Thanks, Louie Roy, nice to see you around here, again,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Stamp Collectors
From: tar_heel
Date: 26 Jan 03 - 01:59 PM

yep...they are worth their face value and nothing else,if they are mint or unused...
any postage stamps that you buy today for collecting,will always be worth their face value for use in mailing...nothing else...
only the classic stamps,errors or something that you find unusual or only one of a kind,are worth any amount of value...and then,only what a collector wants to give you for them...nuff said?
don't get me wrong,stamp collecting is fun,educational,good therapy and all of that,but if you want to make a fortune with it...forget it....it won't happen in your life time...