Great Grandfather's US Stamp Collection

Thanks for your reply that' good to know .. I'm not that lucky but if there worth a few dollars I'd be happy with that..as I've a few albums of various countries to sought out..anyway thanks again.

Over this July 4 week I've been visiting family in California. It turns out my grandfather on my dad's side (who died in 2020) collected stamps too. He appeared to focus on Hungary as his specialty, but he has a Blue Scott international album with a nice smattering of countries filled in to various degrees. Austria appears to be the most complete.

He left behind correspondance to his stamp dealer and a few Hungary Experts, including someone named Otto. The discussion focused mainly on a 1900 3kor stamp that was being mentioned as a 69B. If I understand correctly, the stamp was one of three known at the time in 1994 when my grandfather had it certified by APA as genuine. I am still searching for the APA cert but I do have a receipt number. I believe I do have the stamp within the Hungarian Album. Of the other two, one was with Otto G. Schaffling (who appeared to have died circa 1995/1996) and the other was in Hungary. I will be bringing back the stamp albums and a few small boxes with me on a carry on luggage when I return to Rhode Island and get some good scans of the letters and stamps

Oiman:




That said you know way to little to even know how little you know. You are NOT in a position to sell any of this wonderful collection, especially at a local club, and have any idea if you were taken, stolen from, got a fair price or got over paid.

This collection will take some time and effort, usually enjoyable effort, to learn about such that you can make informed decisions about how to proceed.

I will call this a US Collection which you inherited. It is a far more advanced US Collection than most people have as their own "US Collection." Your include items others do not have as well as special items even fewer folk have.

You received some pretty pieces of paper from your great grandfather. Does it have money value, yes more than $100 and less than $1,000,000. Is it worth a lot of money? Frankly that depends how much money you need in you pocket to have some, just enough, comfortably enough, a lot or even, WOW. BUT what you really received was an insight into your grandfather and his philatelic interests as well as a way of thinking. I would suggest you explore that area and learn about your great grandfather. This is not a collection made by one who saved all their mail received for 40 or 50 years. No, even if he did, there are many items he sought out and got via trade, purchase or blind luck.

Life is short and it always ends the same, so our job is to enjoy it while it lasts. Here you can treasure the communications from the past in your conversations of your gone great grandfather. Lastly, the stamps we collect are not really ours, they are items we care take for the next collector just as with the fact that knowledge is not our to keep but ours to pass on.

"You are NOT in a position to sell any of this wonderful collection, especially at a local club, and have any idea if you were taken, stolen from, got a fair price or got over paid."
If you bothered to read the whole tread, the OP has said multiple times they do not intend to sell the US collection (as for the collection they just picked up, they have not indicated their intentions). Also, they seem to be far more intelligent and enthusiastic than the average heir, so while it will take them time and effort to learn more about it, they seem willing and able to do so.

Oiman - my Scott catalog lists a Hungary 1900-04 #69b (no 69B) as being a very common 3f (not 3k) stamp. Please check again when you get the chance.

Also, be aware that the occupation of Hungary issues are a land mine field as there are tons of fakes out there.

I am not sure if it is a Scott number, but rather a Michel number. It confused me at first too. If I understand correctly, what made the stamp special was the perf was normally 12x11.5, but this example was 11.5 x 11.5 and had a specific cancel from Trenscen. I have not located the stamp yet and am still searching for it

Ah, that could be it. Anyway, curious exactly what it is.

Still no luck on finding that Michel 69B stamp, but I did manage to come back with a suitcase containing the majority of stamp materials I found. The international book is pretty interesting, but not 100% filled of course. Until proven otherwise I will not treat it as a valuable asset without thoroughly analyzing the contents of stamps. There is a lot of material that will take some time to fully sort. Even if nothing is of value among all the stamps, I still intend to keep everything just like with my Great Granfather's collection.

Here's a few snippets of the stuff I found. I really hope to find that 69B Stamp because my grandfather was really proud of it when reading his letters.

I like the air mail cover.

I became a member of the APS today, member 238000 circa. My grandfather was 167947 from 1992 to 2002, and I don't know if my great grandfather ever joined. I also sent an email to APA about trying to see if they can find a copy of the 69B APA cert, but so far they have not been able to track it down. They did confirm the duration of my grandfather's membership though.

What is the APA?

Possibly, do you mean APS?, the American Philatelic Society?

Sorry yes, it was a mispelling but I meant APS. I edited the above post to reflect that correction

APS has such records if you ask about him by name and give a helpful time period.

Olman, today I ran across this image of an Abe Jefferson to go along with your Abe Washington.

GASS is coming up in 6 days, and I will be going to the event. If anyone is also going and want to meet up, let me know in a DM!