Stamps - keep them on the envelope, or take them off?

Question

Are stamps worth more to collectors still on the envelope or removed? I've been given a collection and I'm looking to sell them, but I don't know what would fetch more money. What's normally done?

Answer 1

Sounds like you have an accumulation of stamps, not a collection. The difference in sellable value is probably not that much. Have it appraised both ways.

You'll probably find it's not worth the hassle to remove the paper from the stamps, especially if they're mostly newer issues that everyone has one of already.

Answer 2

No! don't take them off! Sometimes the ink stamp from the post office is worth money too. If you're planning on selling them anyway, there's no need to do anything more to them - you risk damaging the stamp and the buyer can always take them off if they want to.

The Wikipedia article on Stamp collecting has some usefule info, and you can see sample stock on the ebay section dealing with stamps.

Answer 3

My Grandfather has a stamp collection.  He's kept them in the books or leafs they came in.  On the postcards if they were mailed and the singles are in plastic sleeves, not laminated.  

Answer 4

My dad has a stamp collection ! :)

He takes them of the envelopes and then sticks them in an album.

Answer 5

Stamps that are worth the most are those without cancellations.  If they have been canceled, you probably won't get a lot of money for them whether on the envelope or off.  That being said, if you are interested in resale, a buyer will know how to remove them from the envelope if he wants to, so I would leave them on.  It will help preserve the integrity of the stamp (keep it from being ripped, etc.).  Whatever you do, do not laminate the stamp.  That's as good as destroying it.

Answer 6

Do not laminate them!!  Yes, you can remove them from the envelope, and there is a correct way to do that so that you do not damage the stamp, and then you can display them in a special album or in plastic sleeves designed for stamp collecting.  These links should be helpful.

Answer 7

laminated.

Answer 8

They should be laminated, so I would take them off of the envelope.

Answer 9

take them off and laminate them to protect them from damage