baffled
**Member** 
Inactive
Too many stamps too little time
Posts: 23
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Post by baffled on Apr 22, 2018 15:45:39 GMT
I am helping to preserve and consolidate an inherited stamp collection. Recipient desparately wants to respect the deceased's collection but the volume is unmanageable due to many duplicates, and variety of collection-stamps (cancelled and unused), as well as envelopes- embossed, cancelled, first day issue, airmail, non-profit envelopes. Bulk is US stamps and envelopes. We are trying to get some items out of manila storage envelopes and cardboard and into albums. We do not know what are doing but are learning. Recipient is adamant about preserving the essence of this collection but it is costly to put into albums and limited storage space so duplicates must go. This is consuming our time to a detriment to sleep and life. We are overwhelmed. Live in the South so we want to have in albums before summer heat and humidity get to the stamps. Recipient is not deluded into thinking there is any "hidden wealth" in this collection. Gaps in numbered boxes show that pre 1900's and 1970's had been removed before receiving and recipient knew owner very well. Owner never had any of the recognized rare stamps because he always lamented about it. Sad that the timeline is interrupted. Most posts will be questions for ID or which duplicate to keep.
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tomiseksj
Moderator 
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,385 
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Apr 22, 2018 16:08:34 GMT
Welcome to our Forum! Many of our members have had experience in acquiring large amounts of material and will be more than willing to share their thoughts on how you might proceed so don't hesitate in posting your questions. The Collecting Basics board may also have information pertinent to your situation so I suggest you spend some time familiarizing yourself with its contend -- the two search functions may also prove useful in getting answers to some of your basic questions. If you haven't already read the " Inherited a Collection?" article on the American Philatelic Society website, I suggest you do so. When it comes to help with identification, being able to post clear images is a must. Your situation may appear overwhelming right now but it will improve over time -- be patient and try to do things in manageable increments. Your membership status has been adjusted so you can now begin posting in other areas of the forum. |
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Mick
Member 
Posts: 992
What I collect: Mostly covers and postmarks. Also miscellaneous paper ephemera.
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Post by Mick on Apr 22, 2018 17:08:54 GMT
Hi baffled, and welcome to the forum. Sympathies for your situation, but I hope that you find the forum helpful.
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Post by stoltzpup on Apr 22, 2018 17:37:01 GMT
If the stamps are loose and in danger of adhering to one another, why not use cheap glassine envelopes to keep them until a more permanent arrangement can be made? Organize the envelopes by Scott numbers. The 1970s gaps for US stamps will not be hard to fill if you want to do that. Usually they can be bought for 75% of face value at stamp shows.
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baffled
**Member**
Inactive
Too many stamps too little time
Posts: 23
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Post by baffled on Apr 22, 2018 17:38:16 GMT
Thank you very much. I will try to take your sage advice but I already know I will need therapy and/or lots of alcohol by the time these stamps are logged into Excel, properly shelved and my house is once again my own. Recipient is even in worst shape and quite despondent that is why I am helping and am doing the posting. I know we will laugh at this when all is done but it may be hysterical.LOL
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bobby1948
Departed
Rest in Peace
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Sir Edmund Burke
Posts: 690
What I collect: WW to 1945; US mnh 1922-1990; US used and unused to 1922
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Post by bobby1948 on Apr 23, 2018 2:31:29 GMT
Welcome to the forum, baffled. The deceased kept the stamps in a rather chaotic manner, so to preserve the nature of the deceased's collection, the recipient should maintain the same level of chaos. The only reason for the recipient to change the pattern of collecting would be the pleasure the recipient derived from the experience. This does not sound like the present situation. Unless the recipient is enjoying the experience, I would recommend one of the following:
1. pack up the collection in a large, moisture resistant container along with several desiccant packs and store it pending interest by the recipient or his/her friends or family in philately;
2. find a local stamp club in your area, attend a meeting, and express an interest in seeing the collection go intact to someone who will appreciate it; or
3. donate the collection to a veterans' hospital (most are overjoyed to receive such donations).
If there is pleasure being derived from the process of organizing the collection, then this is what stamp collecting is all about and this forum and its members can guide you and the recipient along the way.
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zipper
Member
Posts: 2,649
What I collect: Classic GB, QV, France Ceres/Napoleon, Classic U.S., Cinderella & Poster Stamps
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Post by zipper on Apr 23, 2018 4:49:31 GMT
Welcome to the World's Greatest stamp forum.
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,699
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Apr 23, 2018 12:04:54 GMT
Welcome !!
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Post by butterfly on Apr 23, 2018 13:25:25 GMT
Welcome Baffled.  In reading your posts, I feel the urge to give lots of advice, but am holding off, as you already seem to be zooming up the learning curve at an incredible rate. My only contribution, I suppose is to repeat that getting rid of moisture is job one. With lots of envelopes in the collection, there will be a huge amount of moisture retained, I expect. I had a bunch of envelopes (first day covers, etc.) in a trunk and managed to pull out PINTS of water using calcium chloride desiccant. I read you are logging them into Excel. Making an inventory data base is a huge job. I would flame out rapidly if I tried that. I've(after 50years of collecting) regressed to the "stuff them in lighthouse brand stockbooks, ziplock bags, or glassine envelopes" stage. EDIT: I just realized I mentioned ziplock bags without mentioning that they can be a problem. Any paper item put into a closed container at low temperatures will exhale moisture on warming, leading to high humidity and possible mold problems. For example, many police evidence bags have holes to allow moisture release on warming. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2018 15:37:25 GMT
I just realized I mentioned ziplock bags without mentioning that they can be a problem. They make zip lock vegetable storage bags that breathe. - tip courtesy of my wife As for baffled Cataloging a large collection into excel by a novice - good luck , time and patience. Do you have good specialized reference books and what is the purpose? As bobby1948 mentioned - a local club is a good place to start and to eventually get rid of duplicates that are not colour, paper or plate varieties which are not as common on modern (post 1940) stamps. You need someone knowledgeable to look at the whole collection not just pieces and to visually see how others tackle large finds. |
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dorincard
Member
Posts: 1,623
What I collect: My focus is on Wild Mammals on maximum cards. Occasionally, I get or create maximum cards with other animals, or any other topic.
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Post by dorincard on Apr 23, 2018 15:41:59 GMT
Welcome!
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Londonbus1
Moderator
Cinderella Stamp Club Member 3059
Posts: 5,064
What I collect: Wonderland; 1912 Jubilee International Stamp Exhibition, London ('Ideal' Stamp, ephemera); French Cinderellas with an emphasis on Poster Stamps; Israel and Palestine Cinderellas ; Jewish National Fund Stamps, Labels and Tags; London 2010, A Festival of Stamps (anything); South Africa 1937 Coronation issue of KGVI, singles or bi-lingual pairs.
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Post by Londonbus1 on Apr 23, 2018 19:22:12 GMT
Welcome to the Forum.
Good Luck in your venture. (Adventure, Mis-Adventure!)
Have fun at least,
Londonbus1
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