Somewhere in your house there is a box of stamps. This book tells you what's in it.Maybe it came from a parent or grandparent. Maybe you bought it at an estate sale. Either way, you'd like to know what you have, and whether any of it is worth more than the postage. Worth the Postage is the friendly, honest guide to finding out.It is not a price catalog. It is the part that comes before the catalog: how to tell one stamp from another, how to judge condition the way a dealer does, how to spot repairs and fakes, and how to think clearly about value without being dazzled by big numbers or discouraged by small ones.Inside you'll learn:What to do (and never do) in the first hour with an inherited collectionHow to identify stamps by printing method, perforation, paper, and watermarkA step-by-step path through the dreaded Washington-Franklin headsHow centering, gum, and hidden faults decide what a stamp is worthHow to recognize regumming, reperforating, faked grills, and other alterationsWhy a plain old envelope can be worth more than the stamp on itThe honest truth about mint sheets, plate blocks, and first day coversHow to sell well, avoid lowball offers, or build a collection of your ownWritten in plain language with worked examples throughout, a full glossary, and elegant pen-and-ink illustrations, this is the book to read before you soak, sell, or throw away a single stamp.