Does Anyone Know Anything About Stamps, First-Day Covers Etc?

[wolf63]

I am trying to find out if the pile of first-day covers and a mint sheet of stamps (and other odds and bods) are worth any money.

Do these items have to be in any particular condition before they are worth anything?

I doubt that any of them are valuable but even if they are only worth a couple of pounds each we may be able to sell them via our Charity's website. (Oxfam).

I also have a sheet of mint sheet of 100 stamps from Crimea. It is a full sheet of these stamps http://tinyurl.com/y6om5zv7 can anyone point me in the right direction for info?

I am still wading through a huge pile of postcards that people have donated to us. We actually managed to sell one postcard for £10 + postage but most have been sold for much more modest amounts.

Any help appreciated - I am cautious that I don't undervalue anything.

☺☻

[KARL]

The best thing you could do would be to discuss this with someone like Stanley Gibbons. They will give you a valuation (at a price) or even just tell you what the options are. They may still produce a catalogue/price list (don't expect to get the "guide" value on selling anything) but past auction prices are also an indicator. Yes, condition matters hugely, for example "mint" (unused) sheets of stamps must have the glue intact and be otherwise unblemished - any creases, stains, etc. immediately bring down the value. Some items are fabulously valuable, others you might think should be valuable (Crimea ?) could be of very low value simply because they are floating around in great numbers, not scarce at all.

Get reliable information from a good source - be careful with local stamp dealers if you think they might either be short of knowledge or inclined to want to cream off too much, but in the end you are likely either to have to pay money for the best information and/or share the proceeds.

[wolf63]

Thanks.confusing

When I first started volunteering I thought that a very old book meant it was of great value. But it doesnt.
We sell quite a few Railway Books, Fishing books.

We recently sold, at auction a scabby looking book for £1.5k. It would seem that stamps are just as confusing.

There is a few Stanley Gibbons books in the shop(to be sold) so I will have a look at them.

If Oxfam actually advertised their online store we might sell more.

Thanks again.

[woofgang]

well I know about it and look at the books and vintage stuff....but I hate to say this.....its well overpriced.

[wolf63]

Woof, I will deny saying that I agree with you.

Our shop is a book and music shop and our fiction is pricey.

I enjoy working in the shop, I do office type stuff, the volunteers are great company.

[woofgang]

nicely put wolf!

[fbg40]

Hi Wolf
I have about 240 First Day Covers in my loft that I have collected over the years and was looking to sell them. As an example, the average price for a FDC on E Bay sells for about 50p - £1, plus p & P. I phoned a dealer who I found by googling stamp dealers, told him what I had and all he could offer me was £50 for the lot !! He advised me to try and sell them individually on E Bay !!. Take from this what you will. Good luck.
FBG40

[wolf63]

fbg - thanks for your post. I hope that you manage to sell your first day covers. It'll take a lot of work on your part, but the financial result may be worth it.

I've been working through the donated postcards and, every so often, picking up a FDC to check out. I then wimp out and decide to look them up another day.

When my dad died he left us a house full of 'things' and 'stuff' - mainly train/railway related. He used to laugh about this eventuality.

I will attack the pile of FDCs at the weekend - maybe.

[fiveleaves]

Stamps, even first day covers are produced in such massive quantities that anything post WW2 is rarely worth anything much.
Specific collector interest can sometimes push up the market price, much the same as with any other type of collectable object

[wolf63]

fiveleaves - unfortunately, what you say is true.

It is also true of books - some 100yr old books are worth nearly nothing and some more modern books have increased dramatically in value. There are so many variables.