What should I do with an inherited stamp collection?
Leave the stamps in the album and photograph two or three pages that look different from one another. Keep envelopes, letters and the collector’s notes together. These first steps keep your options open while you decide what you want for the collection.
Start by preserving the collection as a whole
Keep albums, stockbooks, covers, letters, catalogues, and handwritten notes together. These materials may explain the story and structure of the collection better than any single stamp.
Store the material in a dry, stable place. Take general photographs and write down how many albums, boxes, envelopes, and binders there are.
Do not judge value too quickly
The value of a stamp collection depends on country, period, condition, rarity, completeness, provenance, and documentation. Sometimes full sets, sheets, covers, cancellations, or family context matter more than individual stamps.
- do not remove stamps from envelopes or postcards
- do not throw away catalogues, notes, or old lists
- do not divide the collection before it is reviewed
- do not assume age alone means high market value
When to contact the Foundation
If the collection has a Polish, historical, family, or documentary character, the Polish Stamp Foundation can be an appropriate first contact. We can help discuss whether the collection should be preserved, documented, donated, or referred for more specialized valuation.
Frequently asked questions
Are inherited old stamps always valuable?
Not always. Condition, rarity, completeness, provenance, and context matter more than age alone.
Can the Foundation be the first contact?
Yes, especially when the collection is Polish, family-related, or historically meaningful.
Would you like to offer us your stamps?
Tell us what you found and where the collection is located. A few photos of complete pages will help us understand what you have.