Inherited a Stamp Collection? What to Do First, and What Not To

What should I do first with an inherited stamp collection?

Keep it safe and intact. Store the albums upright in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and damp, and don't remove, soak or clean any stamps until you know what you have.

1. Store it properly: somewhere cool, dry and dark. Humidity causes toning and stuck-down gum, both of which destroy value.
2. Keep it together. Don't split the albums between relatives or give away loose stamps yet, because the value is often concentrated in a few pieces.
3. Photograph everything. A quick photo of every album page gives you a record for family, insurance and buyers.
4. Look for paperwork. Receipts, catalogue notes, expert certificates and dealer invoices can point to the best items.
5. Make an inventory: albums, stock books, envelopes of loose stamps, covers, and anything kept separately.

Is my inherited stamp collection worth anything?

Probably something, but most inherited collections are worth modest sums. The usual exception is a small number of better stamps: early issues, high values, unused classics and scarce varieties.

Many mid-20th-century collectors bought each year's new issues at the post office. Those stamps were produced in huge numbers, so they rarely sell for much above face value today. Older material, specialized collections and fine-condition classics are where the value tends to be. See are old stamps worth money?

Signs a collection may be worth more include stamps from before 1900, items the collector kept in protective mounts or separate envelopes, expert certificates, specialized albums for a single country, and handwritten notes of catalogue numbers.

How do I find the valuable stamps in an inherited collection?

Start with the oldest pages and anything the collector kept separately, then check unused stamps, high values and anything that looks misprinted. Identify each one and note its rarity and value range.

• Stamps in mounts or separate envelopes, which collectors used for their best items.
• Pre-1900 stamps, especially unused ones with gum.
• High face values, such as $1 and above on older US issues.
• Complete sets and blocks of four, especially unused.
• Anything that looks printed wrong. An error stamp can be the most valuable item in an album.
• Old envelopes (covers) with unusual postmarks. Keep these intact.

Should I keep, sell or donate an inherited stamp collection?

It depends on value and interest. Keep it if someone will enjoy it, sell the better items if the collection has real value, and donate low-value material to clubs, youth programs or charities.

How do I get an inherited stamp collection valued?

Get more than one opinion. Show it to reputable dealers, visit a stamp show, or pay a professional appraiser if you need a formal valuation for an estate or insurance.

The American Philatelic Society suggests getting more than one offer, visiting a local stamp show, and choosing dealers who belong to an organization with a code of ethics. Never let anyone pressure you into an immediate sale. It's reasonable to expect an offer to stay open for up to 30 days.

Before you ask for offers, know roughly what the better stamps are worth. See how to value a stamp collection.

Should an inherited stamp collection be split between family members?

Value it before you split it. Dividing albums without knowing where the value sits can hand one person almost all of it, and breaking up a specialized collection can lower its total value.

The fairest approach is to identify and list the better stamps first, agree on a total value, and then divide by value rather than by album. If the family plans to sell, selling the collection as a whole, or in a few logical lots, usually returns more than scattered sales.

If someone wants to keep part of it for sentimental reasons, such as stamps from a grandparent's home country, set those aside first and value the rest separately.