Valuing a stamp collection

[Wigeon]

My MIL has given us FIL’s childhood stamp collection that he collected when he was a child in the 1940s/1950s, which also has some stamps, first day covers etc from the 1970s /1980s.

Is this kind of thing likely to be worth anything or are there thousands of identical collections in peoples attics? How would I get about getting any sense of whether I should just freecycle it or get it valued? Bit concerned if I found an auction house they might just laugh, if it’s essentially worthless.

DH has said he definitely doesn’t want to keep it and he’s inclined to either bin it or freecycle…

You need a reputable dealer. Contact Stanley Gibbons. You have to sit with the dealer while they examine the collection. Not all of them are honest and stamps are very small.
alternatively go to a local auction house.
I was going to give my collection to a charity shop till I went to an auction and saw one album go for £25.

Thanks very much for the suggestions. I had a look on the Stanley Gibbons website and they actually have a really useful advice section, and even a little video, about valuations, including of childhood stamp collections. On the basis of reading /watching the stuff from Stanley Gibbons, it looks like the one I’ve got is unlikely to be worth anything, so it’s been freegled today. Loads of people wanted it, so hopefully it’s gone off to a home where people can appreciate it.