A Journey Towards Disposing Of A Stamp Collection ,,,

Some of the newer members of the community are newbies seeking help
in disposing of a stamp collection left to them by their grandfather
or father or some other relative.

Well, I'm not a newbie, and the kids call me 'Pops'. I want to save
my clueless heirs from having to make that plea for help. Hopefully,
there may be some value for the newbies in my post.

I started collecting in the 'olden' days of 1947, at the age of 17.
While never spending more then $350 on a single stamp, lots of time
and patience had brought me a Dealer Catalog collection valued at
over $100,000. Realistically, I thought I'd be lucky to get 20% of
that on selling.

Fortunately, I had started a spreadsheet inventory some time ago.
(Sorry, newbies, but having an inventory is absolutely essential in
selling what you've got.) So, where to start?

Getting an ebay basic store was an easy decision. The economics were
compelling ... only $20 per month, free listing fees (for my small
operation) and commissions of 6% instead of 10%.

ebay had sub-categories of 19th Century, 1901-1940, and 1941-now.
It's common knowledge that US mint stamps from the 1940's and up are
worth less then face value. My collection was COMPLETE from 1920
thru 1999, and there was a need to offer some value. I listed the
1920-1999 group for $1400 Buy It Now. It took several months but it
sold.

I also listed my mint and unused Air Mail collection, complete from
c1-c146, for $1300. It also sold Buy It Now.

That left my pre-1920 stamps ... about 380 in number. I originally
listed 35 stamps with at least a catalog value of $500. Currently, I
have 62 stamps and 6 partial sets listed ... all Buy It Now.

As of 11-17 (goodbye #382) 47 stamps have been sold. Only 12% of the
stamps, but with 40% of the catalog value and with an average of 21%
of catalog value per stamp.

Unfortunately, this post may not be of much use to those with massive
collections and other than US stamps. All I can say is to get
yourself a free Dealer catalog (Mystic or Kenmore), and get started
on that inventory. It may take some time, but there is light at the
end of the tunnel.

Sounds like your realistic about prices , a lot of sellers don't have months to wait to sell items . There is a big difference on ebay with a collector sell their life long collection and a dealer who is trying to buy material at a stamp auction and turning it around to sell on ebay for a profit .

Yes, Floortrader, we have different agendas. Yours is certainly the more noble one ... providing for your family. I hope we don't meet in the market place, competing for a sale.

I have the advantage there, I think, because I have patience and time on my side. After all, I'm only 85 !

I think this thread brings up an interesting topic for collectors...do we sell our collections before we die (not wanting to burden our family with the task of getting rid of it) OR do we just keep collecting until we die not really caring what happens?

Of course, none of us know when we are going to go and a lot will depend on if your collection is really worth anything.

Quite by accident I came across this site dealing with many considerations and techniques for the disposal of a stamp collection. It should be required reading for anyone who wants to post a question about how to move an inherited collection to a new home.

http://www.inheritedstampcollection.com/index.htm

I am not here often enough to take on the chore of posting this to every new listing, but perhaps someone who is a regular might want to do so.

Mike

carlberky,

Thank you very much for sharing your experiences with selling your collection. I've been reading posts in this forum for over a year and a half, and yours is the only one I've ever printed!

I will be going through the same process of selling all of my more modern stamps, and some of my pre-1940 stamps sometime in the next five years or so. Ultimately, I don't want to leave any of my collection for my heirs because no one in my direct family would have any interest in the stamps, and they might end up selling them for five percent of catalog value. That would be a real shame because I have a very high-quality collection with 90 percent of the value in 19th Century US.

Another concern of mine is I'm afraid my stamps would end up in the thankless, undeserving hands of my in-laws since they are local, and none of my direct family is local.

I'd rather get some money for my stamps and take another European vacation, and a couple of cruises while my body is young enough to endure the travel and the walking.

"And, I believe that if a man dies with a single penny still sitting in the bank, he's a fool." (Dan Aykroyd)

huh, I'm thinking mine would get me, dinner at an Italian restaurant and a boat ride on the Erie Canal...

caelberky,

What is the name of your ebay Store?

Jack Kelley

Jack Kelly, the store is called Berky's Place.

I'm pretty new here, and I don't know if a link will be acceptable, but I'll try.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_ssn...ky10&_sop=10

carlberky: thanks for sharing. And, mml1942, thanks for the link.

One of the benefits of APS membership is that a member can get a free volunteer appraisal for the family after the member has passed on. I have APS cards in the front and back of all my main albums. A benefit especially for those who live alone; as I do; no family within 800 miles (first cousins several years older than me); and an attorney is charge of the estate when I pass on.

Thank you Carlberky. Coming your way.

Jack Kelley

Personally, I applaud the use of "Dealer Catalog Value" as the basis of pricing, although the term "Dealer List Price" may be more accurate. If I understand correctly that you are quoting numbers from Mystic and Kenmore, they are prices, not values - they are the asking price of those particular dealers, and retail prices of others as well as true market value may be different. The idea that a dealer's list price represents a universal value across a particular market is a myth that persists only because of the labeling used by Stanley Gibbons and others, where "catalog value" really means "the price we want you to pay." Brookman, for example, refers to its offering as a "price list".

cipalermo1984, perhaps the term "Dealer's Catalog List Price" would be most appropriate, but I'm already pushing the envelope on title limitations.

Instead of "Dealer's Catalog List Price", how about "Dealer", and let the chips fall where they may.

Cipalermo1964, the more I think about it, the more I like "Dealer List Price". As they come up for re-listing, I'll incorporate your suggestion.
Thank you!

Happily, selling my stamps is somebody else's problem, not mine. Will enjoy what I have until I join the great majority.