EVER wondered what your old stamp collection or photograph album is actually worth, or whether those medals in the attic are anything more than just family heirlooms?

Well now you can find out, because auctioneers and valuers Warwick and Warwick are visiting the Parkway Hotel in Cwmbran next month for a free valuation of stamps, coins, cigarette cards, medals and postcards.

Of particular interest to the valuers are old picture postcards depicting animated street scenes with cars and trams, and industrial views such as coalmines and ironworks. Collections of these items can be quite valuable.

Colin Such, director of Warwick and Warwick, said: "In terms of postcards, I'm hoping to find scenes of the industrial heritage in South East Wales, with coalmines and miners. Cards depicting trams and traction engines would also be a good find as they are very rare and valuable.

"Medals can also have a lot of value, especially if they are for bravery. They are worth even more if they are accompanied by a bit of history of the person who owned them, such as pictures, dispatches or a service record."

But antique valuing can often be disappointing, with exciting collections proving elusive and truly valuable ones few and far between.

"Around one valuation in every ten is really exciting and the other nine are quite routine, but you can never tell," said Colin.

"It all depends on that one particular collection turning up. Every once in a while a collection comes up that's worth several thousand pounds and that just makes the day. "But I usually go home having found a nice collection of postcards."

Colin advises people to search through their attics to see if they are hiding any valuable collections. Service medals, he says, are often passed on through families and left hidden in boxes. But on the other hand, schoolboy collections of stamps are usually worth very little.

"People will usually have a fair idea of how good their collection is and what it's worth," said Colin.

"If someone thinks their collection is rubbish then it usually is. On the other hand, if someone thinks their collection is pretty good then they are probably right."

The valuation takes place at the Parkway Hotel, Cwmbran, on Thursday, July 3, from 11am to 3pm. For more information call Warwick and Warwick on 01926 499031. Darren Evans