Reliably valuing stamps and 1st day covers

[NurtureGrow]

Does anyone know a reliable app or way to value stamps and first day covers?

Thanks so much

Go and visit a Philately professional?

I'm looking at doing something similar. Stanley Gibbons can give you an idea by emailing them or if you happen to be near London they will look in person.

Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogues - although don't expect too much as I don't think they hold their value unless it's a really specialist collection.

Ebay sold prices

Having recently sold a shoe box full of these, we got enough for a cheap meal out, for 3 people.

It really depends on the condition, the rarity, and what is currently in fashion with collectors. The overwhelming majority of GB first day covers are worth very little for instance, as there are so many of them.

How old are the postage stamps and what countries are they? The stamps for some countries are far more popular than others. Are they in albums by country or are they in some sort of theme, such as flowers, trains etc, or commemorative such as for the Olympic Games. You also need to think about whether they are used or mint (unused).

Antiques and specialist collectors fairs.

Thank you all! I went to a local stamp shop and they said they are worth very little. There are many albums, quite a lot mint.. but of course people don’t really collect now.

They were not even as positive as enough for a cheap meal 😅

But… I will go to Stanley Gibbins. I also want to look up each one individually to check there isn’t a surprise high value one… fingers crossed 🤞😁

Thank you again

They also said GB first day covers are worth very little. And they need to not have addresses written on..

@NurtureGrow If you go to a larger library, they normally have a collection of Stanley Gibbons catalogues for reference.

Yes the value has declined a lot as collectors are dying out.

I inherited a lot of stamps in presentstion packet folders from my grandma. I kept some for sentimental reasons but the rest I just used for mailing letters...Including my wedding invitiations, which I hope she would have liked. Sorry that doesn't help you with your collection much.

Thank you, it does really help actually, it’s a good idea. I recently went through 20 years of letters and cards and cut the front of ones I don’t want to keep, so may recycle and make into other cards for people. I like the reuse idea.

It’s lovely you used the stamps for your wedding invitations. I was thinking I could use some unfranked for posting, but the UK only accepts barcoded stamps now unfortunately. I also have quite a lot of Channel Islands, but they can’t be used in the UK. I really appreciate the idea though, thank you!

Guess growing up, I had the idea one day they would be worth something 😅

Just fyi it is only King/ Queen’s head stamps that have to be barcoded now - you can still use old picture stamps (assuming they are in mint condition) to send letters etc

@Plantainplantain is right - all mint unused GB commemorative stamps in decimal currency can still be used for postage even if they are not barcoded, it is just the definitive (Monarch head) ones that can't.

Double check with the Post Office , but I think that it's only definitives (i.e the ones with just the kings/queens head on) that have to have a bar code on. You can still use commemorative ones without a bar code, even old ones as long as they don't have a pre-decimal value.

I've noticed that if I buy something off e-bay they often come with old commemorative issue stamps on - I presume the sellers are buying old first day covers or presentation packs simply to provide a cheap form of pootage.

Thats so good to know, I didn’t realise, thanks so much!!