Posted on 01/30/2015 9:47:40 AM PST by kjam22
I've inherited this good size stamp collection, and I'm trying to figure out what its worth and how to sell it without getting taken to the cleaners.
Do any freepers have any experience with this sort of stuff?
Do not sell it to the same person that appraises the collection.
If you have a 24 cent U.S. stamp with an upside down biplane printed on it, I’ll give you $500 for it. No? how about $5000?
Don’t let a anyone come to your location to see the
collection . Forget Craigslist. You can go to the internet to get an idea of what you have, but the value you see are retail prices not what you can sell items for. Also, its hard for a novice to objectively know what the actual condition grade a stamp is. Also, some stamps of the same kind have different varieties, such as type 1, type 2, etc. That makes a big difference on some stamps.
If the collection has a LOT of value, an auction house may be the way to go. Call local dealers and tell them about your collection. Don’t sell to the first one. Some charge for appraisals of particular stamps and for collections. Selling rare items, if there are any, individually may be the way to go. Good luck.
It’s a fascinating hobby, very relaxing. Much more relaxing to collect than to sell.
You should sell it and get a good price... then spend the money :)
Same way I know a Texas gator is really just a gecko with a thyroid condition..
“Didn’t see that one coming!”
Things like this do happen! I took a cheap old violin to a store that dealt in vintage instruments. Got $35 for the violin. Got $900 for the bow!
Nah... most of what we have are commemorative collections. My father in law was a post master.
Of course they will. I used to buy & sell antiques on the side. Sometimes people would accuse me of buying low to sell high. I would tell them - yeah, that's the idea.
It's no different than a pizza place charging more for a pizza even though the dough, sauce & cheese do not cost that much. No different than any other business or industry.
Careful - they’ve re-issued the upside down “Jenny” stamp.
I collected stamps as a kid, and I learned more about the world from that hobby than anything I learned in school. I would see a stamp and I would go to an encyclopedia to read up on the subject of the stamp.
Find a GOOD Auctioneer...one who knows something about stamps and who advertises well. We sell them often. The advantage is that you will multiple collectors bidding against one another.
We sold a small collection for someone who had been offered around $200 by a dealer. We broke it up and sold it in “pieces” for our client for a total of nearly $2000. May take a little legwork, but should be worth it.
All of a sudden you want advice on stamps? What have you done for me philately?
Most commemoratives past 1920 from the U.S. and Britain are not worth a lot. Also depends on the range of countries if there is anything other than U.S.
Aside from using a Scott’s reference to catalog them, you can get a good idea of what some of these types of commemorative collections go for by looking on Ebay under Stamp Collections. Some old albums by the way can go for a lot.
My old friend who has had tables at gunshows for decades told me how the directors would take the tables at the event's entrance, which let them cherry-pick the items coming in the door and nab them at low-ball prices. Rather P.O.'ed the other vendors a tad who never got a shot at the goodies. But all's they could do is grouse...
Not easy unless you have early stuff in good condition. Might try selling individual items on Ebay.
thanks much!
I didn’t know what philately was until recently....
Are you talking about the yearly issue of the entire group of stamps for the year, with a book?
Ah, you mean deliberately issued for “collectors”.
Again, I’m more a numismatist but I’m sure the same holds - “forced” items like that aren’t usually worth much. People want things that were seriously used in real life, not “meant for collectors”.
I have some of those issues but really just because I love the subjects involved, not because I think I’m going to get rich off them someday.
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