Michel Catalogue Prices.

I am a Stanley Gibbons user, (yes, have pity on me)
and after 10 years you get a feel for what an average
stamp will fetch based on their recommendation,
I am sure Scott users feel similarly.

How about Michel? how optimistic are their catalogue prices?
any Gibbons users au fait with Michel as well?
Are you able to generalise?
Thanks for any contributions.

For Scott users I have found 20-25% as a general rule, but alot of that goes out the window with this new super centering craze sending pitifully cheap stamp into the stratosphere. And of course there are rarity exceptions but generally if I can get over 25%, I am pretty happy about it.

Rod,

My sample size is small so I don't know how much help it will be. I deal with a couple of serious German collectors in Berlin. One is a contributor to Michel. Like Scott prices, Michel prices depend on the stamp. My experience has been that common issues MNH run around 15-20% CV. However, I have paid close to 50% CV for early S/S with expertization that I couldn't find (or didn't trust) in the US.

I may be getting a deal or getting hosed. I don't really know for sure but the quality of their stamps is excellent and I made a couple of German friends.

Dan

Thanks guys, sounds right,
although I was prompted by a previous post I read here,
that suggested they were <very> optimistic prices in Michel.

I wanted Londonbus's Bulgarian SS
but a bit heavy for my wallet.
(not listed in gibbons)

Hello Rod,

I'm based in Austria therefore here Michel is the one in use. I'm speaking only from my experience of what I bid and what I saw other bidding. In general is common accepted an upper limit of 25% from Michel and I use this as a middle value when I'm calculating what I'd like to spend on an item. But for the common items or the ones that were artificial created as high-value (see block from Romania 1960-1980, up to 130 EUR) then also 10% is fair enough.
Also for pre-WWII I saw the prices going up to 70-80% or even better as Michel prices. That really depends on items, demand...

Thanks for you input ionut77
so a certain amount of knowledge (as usual) is of benefit.

Hi



The percentage of Scott is pretty much dependent on the country or countries involved and quantities available. I pay pretty close to catalog value for the South American countries I collect (Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela) and if I could purchase for 20-25% I would be a happy camper. For early material I ignore catalog value totally and go on scarecity only.

Jerry B