Duck Stamps

Thanks everyone. I have a broader question related to the responses. It has to do with these particular ducks stamps but also every other stamp I am trying to catalog. I am using the US/BNA catalog I bought from Barnes and Nobles a few weeks ago. I know (from reading many posts over the last couple of weeks) that the price given in those catalogs is not near the price one would actually receive from selling the stamps; nevertheless, I'm wondering what to record in my "value" column in my catalog. For example, the catalog lists RW 26 with a retail value of $185. I have no illusions of selling this stamp for that (and I probably will not sell it all). However, I'd like to have some sort of system that places a value on these stamps as I catalog them. In my spreadsheet, I am recording Scott's Number, Name of Stamp, Condition, Number of stamps, and Value of stamp.

Has anyone else run into this? Any good advice for a newbie? Again, I'm just trying to find a way to keep a good, accurate record of the stamps I have.

Thanks!

Depends upon what you would like to see in your spreadsheet.

In my opinion your RW46 would fetch about $40 if you sold it on ebay. You would have to give ebay $4, some more to PayPal, and then pack and ship it to the buyer so you would realize about $30-33. If you took it to a stamp dealer, they might give you $20-25 on a good day, other dealers might offer you $15-20.
Don

I have an incomplete catalog of my collection of stamps and covers, and in the "value" section I use 1/3 of catalog value. So for your $185 item, I'd put in $62 as the value. I've told my kids that this is what I call "ECV" -- meaning " ebay Catalog Value," i.e., a rough estimate of what they might get if they try to sell individual items from the collection I leave behind on ebay. They know they will get a lot less than that if they just sell the whole lot to a dealer. But that's up to them.

The 1/3 rule is helpful. Does anyone else use a similar formula? Should I start with the US/BNA value? It seems a bit high compared to other catalogs I've seen. I know Scott's seems to be the standard, but I've used Mystic for ease of use--in order to identify stamps quickly. Then, I've been looking up value in the US/BNA catalog. Any other good methods?

Tyler Ted,
Just my two cents worth but: I have a Scott's catalog that I use (look on Amazon, you can find one a year or two old for relatively cheap or go to your library if you live in a semi-large city, it should have one). But, I also know that I'm "never" going to get catalog value for any stamp. So I also look at ebay and check the "sold" listings. I base my relative value on an average of the two plus what "I" think it's worth.
Your duck stamps (you posted the pictures, right?) are spectacular (to me). If they were mine and I was going to sell them, I would first reach out to any hunters (or conservationists) I know and see if they are interested or know someone who would be. Try to find someone that is a member of your local Ducks Unlimited for the same purpose.
You'll realize more for your stamps (in my opinion) by avoiding ebay and trying to work the local route.

Ah, just saw your post again: I also have a BNA catalog; I started out with it for ID; now I rely very heavily on the Scott's for ID. I wouldn't use the BNA for value (inflated).

I have several of these duck stamps that are signed. How would you classify those stamps? They are not "used" in the sense of having been used on an envelope, but they are not "mint" either. The stamps are supposed to be signed, per the instructions on the stamp. I have some signed and some unsigned. Thanks.

Signed is considered used, hunters were supposed to sign them.

Here is my collection of the Hunting Permit Stamps.
http://stampsmarter.com/learning/al...ck_home.html

Don

Thanks, Don. That is a great collection! How long did it take you to collect all of those?

I have them all MNH too. Can't believe it costs me $50- each year just to keep current.

Jack Kelley