SELLING YOUR COLLECTION TO A STAMP DEALER 

Things you need to find out before selling a stamp collection

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Very Small Collection: A collector's album (often a young person) with a few hundred worldwide stamps. 

($5 - $10) Most dealers will not make an offer on this kind of collection as they don't need the common stamps usually found in them, and/or they feel it would make the seller feel bad to be offering such a small amount to what the seller thinks the collection is worth. There are hundreds of these little collections with stamps from the 1930s to the 1980s. Most often it is better to try to interest a young person to use the collection as a springboard toward a fulfilling hobby that might last a lifetime than to try to find a buyer.

Small Collection: Established collector with one or two nicely filled albums and 200 to 300 loose stamps with some covers. 

($10 - $100) There is little difference between this collector and the above category except that this collector has accumulated more. The stamps are usually of limited value as the collector generally collected only the most common stamps; such collectors usually do not spend money on the high value stamps. Look toward giving it to little Timmy or donating it to a charity.

Average Collection: A sometimes collector with 4 or 5 albums, a specialized collection or two, several hundred loose stamps 

($100 - $500) Generally, a life-long collector starts accumulating some stamps with more value. Dealers can sometimes separate out the stamps and/or covers with value to sell separately to help recoup what they paid for the collection. Dealers have a hard time selling this type of collection as a collection, although in recent years, more and more of these small collections are being offered whole in online auctions.

Large Collection: A life-long, continuous collector with 10 to 12 albums, several specialized collections, 1000s of loose stamps 

($1000 - $3000) These are collections that can sometimes be re-sold as a collection to other collectors although they are often broken up into country collections. Not many small stamp dealers are willing to pay more than $3000 for a collection no matter what it is; therefore, many of these collections are broken up and sold at auction where they usually have more value.

Very Large Collection: The stock of an active collector/small stamp dealer. 

($2000 - $3000) Most stamp dealers are extremely successful collectors who buy and sell adding needed stamps/covers to their collection and selling what they don't need. A stamp collector/dealer of this size almost always sells their collections to another stamp collector/dealer, but once in awhile a person will inherit such a collection. Since it was established by a dealer or an extremely knowledgeable collector, many of the stamps have good value. Companies who buy these collections (sometimes you can consign your collection to them) are fairly easily found in stamp publications or online (see below).

Dealer Collection: A large well-established over years stamp dealer or substantial, eminent collector. 

($3,000-$8,000+) Today, sale of this type of collection is almost always handled through a stamp auction house where they are broken into lots and sold to dozens or hundreds of individuals. Even so, a collection like that shown on the right can usually be sold as a collection. The seller must understand that this "wholesale" selling price will almost never be as much as it was purchased at on the retail market. However, really rare single stamps are heavily advertised in glossy catalogs and sold separately; they often bring extremely high prices, especially on the auction market, thus distributing these valuable stamps into many different collections.

First Day Cover Collection 

Sometimes, not often, a nice collection of first day covers might be a part of a collection. First day covers are envelopes with a design or picture (cachet) on the left and a stamp with a cancellation on the first day it was issued. After the 1950s, most can be found without the address. Virtually every collector has a few covers, but a specialized collection of several hundred covers, some in albums, makes a great collection. Dealers will sometimes offer $.10 to $.15 each for large numbers of these covers; however, not all dealers specialize in first day covers.

Plate blocks of four collection 

Quite a few collecters bought plate blocks of four for all the new issues. These are four mint stamps with a number attached on the selvage. Almost invariably these collections are from 1960 to present and are worth no more than face value to a dealer; so be prepared to be offered 20 percent or less than face value.

Dealer with Shop

See if a dealer has a stamp shop in your city or a large city near you. There are not many left; most dealers are selling their stamps on the Internet or in stamp shows. It is nice to look someone in the eye when you are selling your stamps. You can probably sell smaller collections here.

StampShows

If there is a stamp show near you. you might want to take your collection there These are often small dealers who sometimes will buy smaller collections. Ask the greeter at the desk as you go in who is buying collections.

Mystic Stamp Company

"I think of everyone who interacts with Mystic as a member of our stamp family. So whether you are buying or selling stamps, we treat you the way we'd treat a family member." This pretty much says it for Mystic. They are an old stamp company with a great reputation. Generally, they probably would buy large collections up to dealer collections.

Greg Manning

This is a large auction company usually dealing in the largest collections. Scroll down to order the "How to Sell Your Stamps" offer if you would like.

Dr. Robert Friedman

"Trust - Integrity - Fairness - Dependability...ALWAYS" is the motto of Dr. Robert Friedman who is a large auction dealer usually dealing in very large collections. Click down to order a "Selling Guide" if you would like their brochure.

Great Stuff on Amazon 

Printing by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils, and Silk Screens

by Lena Corwin

Amazon Price: $18.15 (as of 10/07/2008)

The Word of Promise: New Testament Audio Bible

by Thomas Nelson

Amazon Price: $29.99 (as of 10/07/2008)

Create Your Own Hand-Printed Cloth: Stamp, Screen, and Stencil with Everyday Objects

by Rayna Gillman

Amazon Price: $18.45 (as of 10/07/2008)

The eBay connection 

You might want to sell your collection yourself. eBay is the leading seller of stamps and collections in the world. Below are some examples for you to see what other persons are asking for their collections.

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