Four More Album Pages From New Collection

These are two good examples why you should seek the opinion of an expert committee.
They are extremely fine and I'm sure there are double transfers, aka, doubling of the printed image on both stamps. This can add value to the stamps. If your seriously going to do your client right have these expertise to retain maximum value. Their rare in an unused condition as these display. On the other hand, these are the types of stamps that are often enhanced with chemicals to wash away postal cancels and offered as unused or mint. You also need an opinion on gum, is it original, re-gummed or issued without gum. Many factors that need answers.

The bottom stamp looks to be Scott# 38, value is worth more unused then used.

top stamp, 90cent, looks to be Scott# 39, value for this one is actually worth more used. What I also notice is a possible double transfer that adds to the value of unused.

Good example below why you should have these looked at.
The obtaining of a certificate from the expertization process is an assurance as to the condition, quality, and genuineness of a philatelic item based on it being "reviewed" by at least three philatelic experts. The "certificate" may implicitly suggest an acknowledgement to collectors, dealers and auction houses that this item is the real "cookie" and may be "special" or "valuable." Most higher quality or higher value stamps and covers should have a certificate, otherwise it is "buyer beware" and "buyer could be sorry." It is usually understood that a stamp or cover accompanied by a PF certificate, which is less than five years old, should not be returned except for extenuating circumstances. This rule is usually found in the "conditions of sale" included with every auction catalogue.

So the "certificate" gives the stamp or cover a "respected blessing" by nature of its having been carefully examined by philatelic experts who do this for a living. It also may have been reviewed by "consultants" whose opinions are recognized as being highly respected in the philatelic community. There is always the human element that mistakes can be made and new information or new standards could result in a change of opinion, but for most cases the certificate will be correct.

The value of the item will depend on what is stated in the certificate. For instance, a stamp which appears to be an unused ten-cent 1847, Scott number 2 may not be worth anything close to its Scott Catalogue value of $35,000.00 especially if it is certified as a used example with a removed cancellation, re-gummed, with a repaired tear and a filled thin. A U.S. #2 with this on its certificate would most certainly be worth less than $100.00.


PF 461488
Submitted as unused
Opinion: #2 used

PF 392483
Opinion: #2 unused, OG
Previously hinged

PF 490847
Opinion: #2 used, regummed,
repaired tear, filled thin

This collection belongs in a NY auction house. Don't waste your time reading catalogs, go to a professional organization such as the Philatelic foundation and have them refer you to an accredited appraiser. Build the appraisal fees into the collection price as you should not have an issue recovering the costs.

stallzer, I understand your sentiment. Windy is not going to maximize the client's value by looking at a catalogue and then logging in to ebay.

That being said, this is a nice educational opportunity, and if there is any interest in learning about stamps, this is a good chance. Many part-time dealers won't see some of these stamps very often, and spending time with nicer stamps is a head start on an education.

If it was me, I'd still get a Specialized to learn what I could. But then, I like stamps. If this was a one-time event, and not the start of a process, then passing the client on to an auction house might be fine.

Also, in the interest of setting appropriate expectations, I might say that this appears to be a very nice collection, but I don't know that I'd attach "important" to it. Too early to say that based on what we've seen. And I don't say that to take anything away from what we've seen.

Windy,

Thanks for the pictures. Keep 'em coming! It is a real pleasure to look at a collection like that!

Regardless how these stamps finally spec out, it looks to be top flight material. A question to members with expertise in this area: would maximum value be obtained by selling individual stamps and sets, or the whole collection in one shot?

It's purely a theoretical question for me, I'll never get to this collecting level.

A collection of this magnitude should be kept together.