Are old stamps worth a lot?

[aklo]

Are they automatically worth a lot if they are old or must there be a criteria for it?

My parents have a full album of really old stamps which is pass to my father by his late brother...they have though of selling it but don't know about the price and you cna't find from the internet..since we don't even know the name of the stamps.

There are different stamps inside the album from China - England and other countries stamps and especially a particalar stamps of a country which doesn't exist now or is it the name of the country is changed...i'm not sure what it is...been years since my parents let me see it...

If i'm not wrong, some of the stamps are from 1800s, most are from early 1900s to 1970s/1980s.

So i wonder...

[Dougie187]

Are they automatically worth a lot if they are old or must there be a criteria for it?

My parents have a full album of really old stamps which is pass to my father by his late brother...they have though of selling it but don't know about the price and you cna't find from the internet..since we don't even know the name of the stamps.

There are different stamps inside the album from China - England and other countries stamps and especially a particalar stamps of a country which doesn't exist now or is it the name of the country is changed...i'm not sure what it is...been years since my parents let me see it...

If i'm not wrong, some of the stamps are from 1800s, most are from early 1900s to 1970s/1980s.

So i wonder...

I don't have any idea, but you could always take it to an antiques appraiser. They would probably be able to tell you the value, if there is one.

[Uncle Spellbinder]

Like anything else collectible, the value depends on the age, condition and whether it's been used or not.

A good site to start with might be The American Philatelic Society (http://www.stamps.org/)

[Khakilang]

I use to collect stamp as a hobby when I was young. To what I know it worth something depending on what year or whether its a limited edition or it was print base on certain important event. I don't know any website that value stamp. Try Google around or maybe eBay. Sorry can't help much.

[Uncle Spellbinder]

Here's another link in addition to the one I posted above. It's a "links" section that has a lot of seemingly great, reputable resources.

http://www.stamps.org/directories/dir_UsefulLinks.htm

[suyashpandit]

for me yes

[falconindy]

Sentimental value? Perhaps... Actual value? Probably not. My grandfather's stamp collection, after being appraised, is now being used as postage on a semi-daily basis.

[Fenris_rising]

Another link, UK centric

http://www.stanleygibbons.com/

Apart from condition, rarity, faults play a part. Other than that it's whether someone needs what you have to complete their collection that will drive the price.

Find either an antiquarian or a collector shop to get an appraisal.

regards

Fenris

[fatality_uk]

I seem to remeber an Upside dow plane US Postal service one being worth bucket loads!! Other than that, they have to be pretty rare to be worth much AFAIK

Found it, that one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_Jenny

[swoll1980]

Like anything else collectible, the value depends on the age, condition and whether it's been used or not.

A good site to start with might be The American Philatelic Society (http://www.stamps.org/)

Add it's rarity, and the current market for said collectible to this, and that's your answer.