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Before selling stamps, owners must accurately appraise their collection’s value using catalogs, guides, or professional appraisers. Well-maintained collections with valuable stamps are more likely to sell. Selling options include reputable dealers, local collectors’ clubs, and online marketplaces, with the latter requiring more effort.
Selling stamps and stamp collections begins with a thorough appraisal to determine value. Catalogs and guides are available to help owners determine an average price for each stamp, or they can be taken to a reputable dealer or appraiser. Once the owner has an idea of the value of the collection, a place to sell stamps, face-to-face or online, must be selected.
Valuing stamp collections can be a tricky business even for dedicated hobbyists, and when collectors pass these collections on, new owners often have no idea of the actual value. The first step in selling inherited or handed down stamps is an accurate appraisal. Those who are not involved in philately often imagine these collections as small fortunes. For most hobbyists, the true value of a collection is in the entertainment it brings, and most stamps have very little monetary value. Well-assembled and annotated collections, in which obvious effort and care have gone into, are more likely to contain valuable stamps worth selling.
Serious collectors also usually own some literature to help them put a value on their stamps. These books can also be used to evaluate a collection, although generally the prices indicated refer to stamps in excellent condition. Postage stamps, dog ears and general wear and tear will reduce this listed retail value.
Self-appraisal of large collections can be tedious and difficult, especially for those unfamiliar with the hobby, and owners may choose to hire a professional appraiser to value a collection for a fee. Stamp dealers can also help value a collection by making an offer, but owners should remember that these dealers are looking to make a profit and an offer may not represent the true value of the collection.
Once the owner has accurately determined the value of the collection, it’s time to decide where and how to sell the stamps. Selling stamps to a reputable stamp dealer is one of the simplest methods, requiring the least amount of effort on the part of the owner. The dealer examines the collection and, after haggling, a price is agreed upon and paid immediately.
Another easy method to sell stamps is to get in touch with a local stamp collectors club. The clubs connect the owner with a range of motivated buyers eager to add to their collections. Some clubs also organize stamp exhibitions, where you can establish contact with an even larger group of potential buyers.
Owners can also sell their stamps online, through a site specializing in stamps and collectibles or a more general website. This option usually involves more work on the owner’s part, as high-resolution images of each stamp must be taken and downloaded to the website. For large collections, it is generally recommended to divide the stamps into smaller lots.
