What old US stamps are valuable?
Stamp collections are the most commonly over-valued inheritance. Enormous albums assembled in the 1950s–70s are usually worth a fraction of what families expect. The value, when it exists, is usually in a handful of items or in unusual covers — not in the bulk.
What decides the value
- ·Whether the stamp is used or mint, and if mint whether the original gum is intact and unhinged
- ·Perforation count and watermark — these separate common printings from rare ones that look identical
- ·Covers with legible postmarks, unusual routes, or early dates
- ·Centring: a well-centred example can be worth many times a poorly centred one
- ·Country and era — pre-1900 material and early airmail are where value concentrates
What old US stamps are valuable?+
Stamp collections are the most commonly over-valued inheritance. Enormous albums assembled in the 1950s–70s are usually worth a fraction of what families expect. The value, when it exists, is usually in a handful of items or in unusual covers — not in the bulk.
What should I not do with us stamps?+
Do not soak, peel or lift stamps off envelopes. For many stamps the envelope — the 'cover' — with its postmark and route is worth substantially more than the stamp alone. Removing it destroys that.
How do I find out what mine are worth?+
Photograph them. Five photographs are free; a full report is $39. We never buy or sell, so there is no reason for us to undervalue anything.