Do You Over Value Your Collection ?

It really is amazing to see different collectors perspective on their collection value. Some are just off the wall like this seller who states in his add that he's collected for 42 years. How can someone who has been collecting 42 years be this far out in left field ?


http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/c...0112312.html

If someone is a relatively casual collector - this guy might have got all the stamps from the post office or on his mail - and doesn't read stamp catalogs, periodicals, or blogs, they probably have no clue whatsoever as to the true worth. As for me, I think I have a fairly realistic idea of what mine would fetch, as a whole or in various pieces, and I'm sure it's a lot less than what I paid.

There is a particular vocabulary used by certain sellers; 'priced to sell', 'sold as is', 'cash only please' and such. And as soon as an aged relative is mentioned, or the ubiquitous 'loft find', I stop reading any sales blurb. If the snaps are anything to go by, I have seen £30 buy better than this lot.

Terry

Maybe he left a decimal point out of his listing after the first zero....???

In all seriousness, that is not a 1950 Harris album and he is not showing any stamps of value at all in his listing. Craigslist is full of this crap that people find at a yard sale or that was passed down to them and they think is worth a fortune.

Could be a lot of reasons.

Don't believe every seller's story; that doesn't just apply to used cars. Ever notice the sellers that keep listing their "grandfather's stamp collection" or inherited collection over the years at different venues? Seriously, how many grandfathers or relatives did they have?

Some people are just fishing for fools.

Some collectors are simply in denial.

Maybe they used the Mystic catalog to value their collection.

Then again, every once in a while you really meet a collector who really doesn't know. So many disappointed subscribers to the Postal Commemorative Society...

Agreed. And the listing description is confusing. I suspect that what the seller meant to say was that his grandmother started collecting in 1952 (probably where the first stamps start).

Not relevant, since, as you pointed out, the pics don't show any stamps with a major premium.

Looks like someone who would benefit from a visit ot the Northern Philatelic Library.

http://norps.org/

Perhaps, khj, he's the guy who really deserves the old insult "son of a thousand fathers".

1980s garage sale. Literally a cigar box, maybe half-full (and also half-empty). Recent US, from the post, on paper. The then-wife was a master low-baller at garage sales, so I thought I'd try to keep-up, and offered a dollar. "Oh, no, we'd want at least five dollars for all those stamps." Another bargain, slipped away, forever & ever.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

My guess would be this guy is not really a collector or once was as a youth a long while back. Probably just throwing out a high price in total ignorance just in case.

As mentioned earlier, Craigslist is full of people like this. I've looked at a few collections in person that were basic beginners approval type material. Only reason I look on craigslist is because one time it did pay off and I hit the proverbial motherlode.

Looks like ebay has some too... inherited grandfather collections that is...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/U-S-C25-31-...em19f1b73859

Bob

I try not to put a monetary value on my collections so I'm not dissapointed. I like to think that I'm wise enough to know it'll never be "monetarily valuable" and as long as it holds it's historical value I'm good with that.

A few of those folks pointed out in the above post though are straight out of line! PERIOD! lol

I'm trying to figure out what kind of album he really has. A 1978 Harris Liberty, with pages up to 1993 that was started by his grandmother in 1952. Hmmm. Collecting 40+ years ago => started circa 1984. Any chance this is his childhood album which granny helped him with by giving him her old "collection"/accumulation? Sadly it has not been well cared for. Notice the wrinkling on the page edges? Those 1991 space issues are stuck down. Moisture! Wanna bet it smells of either moth balls or mildew? What a mess. Of course, if you've been collecting for 40+ years and price it at $3000, it's worth it because you know what you're doing. How about "Collected 40+ years ago for a while." To all appearances this seller knows not what s/he does?

"cash only please" lol. can I get a receipt?

now where did I put that 3 grand my wife gave me to buy food? She would much rather have these magic stamps.

EDIT: I've collected for 40 years too. I just took a break from 1977 to 2009.

Let me make your dream come true

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/h...4196163.html