Collector’s Corner: Inheriting a stamp collection

By DENNIS VICKERY on January 29, 2022.

The inevitable has happened – a loved one has passed on and left a stamp collection. What do you do with it? I have had quite a number of people pose this question to me over the last several years. There is no real easy answer.

I generally suggest a variety of options. The first is to find a family member or friend who is interested in stamps and give the collection to them. The hobby of stamp collecting is not as vibrant as it once was and it is always good to encourage new interest.

Most people are interested in selling the collection. However, stamps rarely prove to be a good investment and few collectors engage in their hobby in hopes of turning a profit. It must be remembered that most stamps, regardless of age, are common and have little market value. Unfortunately, stamp catalogues do not reflect actual selling prices and are usually much higher than true market value. The sale of an average collection with stamps in fine condition will usually bring from 10-25 per cent of catalogue value. A variety of factors come into play including how the collection has been mounted and stored.

If you find someone willing to purchase a collection, try to ensure that it remains intact. Allowing someone to pick out the best items makes the rest very difficult to sell. Selling on the internet is an option if you have the time and the expertise to properly identify the stamps. In larger centres such as Vancouver or Toronto stamp auctions are an option.

Donating the stamp collection can be a satisfying option. There are still a number of collectors who absolutely revel in the opportunity to sort through a new selection of stamping material. I personally have a couple of charities that I donate surplus stamps to from time to time. They in turn sell them several kilograms at a time for collectors to sort through. A group of collectors here in Medicine Hat have a couple of large bins of stamps that we continually add to for the other members to search through.

Please feel free to come to one of our Medicine Hat Coin and Stamp Club meetings at Victory Lutheran Church. We presently meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. You may also contact us through the club website: mhcasc.ca.

Dennis Vickery. Collector’s Corner is contributed by the Medicine Hat Coin & stamp Club. For questions or comments about coin or stamp collection email medhatcsc@live.com

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