Any Comments On The Following Mint Collections?

All the NH stuff is on the cheaper side., or valued for postage.The balance is completely over priced. If you check the prices realized at Maresch for collections, stuff like this sells for 15-20% of catalogue.

I would agree with fantail. Not really any expensive stamps there so collections like this are easily purchased at an auction sale for $1000 - $2000 range. The stamps are very neat/fresh and the set is very clean for what it is.

Really, the stamps that make a Canadian Collection like this valueable are the higher denomination Jubillees and anything pre-Small Queens. Also Victorian era NH Mint stamps. I don't really see any of that in either of these two offerings.

regarding jogil's question...

To me, this is a graphically beautiful collection. I haven't seen many collections of Canada & Provinces so perhaps jimjung and fantail aren't nearly as impressed as am I. But one of the primary things I love about classic stamps are the beautiful engraved graphics. I was trained as a graphic designer and art director, and I find these pages to be visually gorgeous. Stamps are presented in premium albums that allow space around each stamp makes for a stunning visual.

The previous comments are financial. And I admit that I am inexperienced with Canada pricing let alone Canada auctions. Just getting started with my British Commonwealth collecting. But using pricing in my Stanley Gibbons 2011, the first Newfoundland page catalogs at some US$3600. So fantail indicates that we might purchase that page of stamps for $700 or so? If that's the case, would you kindly share contact info for an auction house that handles such lots?

Put another way...

If fantail and jimjung are correct, this all-mint collection that looks stunning and has an asking price of $12,000 should auction for between $1000 & $2400.

And if that's the case, my reactions are:
a) we certainly can't use the Gibbons pricing as a realistic barometer of marketplace valuation, can we?
b) not sure why collectors are bothering to place greater emphasis on MNH.
c) and if I ever hope to recoup my investment were I to sell my own collection, I'd best be sure to pay less than 15% of catalog for any issues no matter how pristine.

Scaraz1949 , this is not a stunning collection, I just get a quick look and all the 1908 series are not well centered . Even the Bluenose ( THE most know Canadian's stamp ) is off center.

If you want the pristine items, there is a cost for quality.

Dan

The rough percentage of Gibbons's CVs that people tend to work on in the UK is 10 %, rising to 20-30 % for better material, especially from the Commonwealth - and, of course, more and more for top quality, scarcer material.

Geoff

area66,
If more demanding collectors in this Forum would value these pages at less than $2000, then I will probably never become excited about perfect centering. I can't afford to collect perfect specimens. Period.

However, to my eye this set of Canada pages are visually very appealing -- based on the brilliance of the uncancelled images and bright color. I'm not saying that I would offer $12,000 for the lot, but I am very interested that folks are suggesting that this collection is way over priced and not particularly high quality.

Like I said earlier...please share with us your favorite auction house where this level lot would be had for $1000 or so.

GeoffHa, Thanks for the guideline on Gibbons.
SG seems from comments like yours to be more over priced than Scott Catalog CVs. THis is good for me to keep in mind as I've been very actively purchasing old British Commonwealth albums and lots.
Some have been very fairly priced; some seem excessively high (much like with US lots).

One thing I have encountered with many UK ebay sellers has been an unrealistic high shipping cost for delivery to US buyer. Just won a bid for a small lot at a cost of <$5.00. But the seller planned to use international priority shipping with signature request for 20 stamps. My cost would be $24 for shipping. Other I assume more experienced sellers packed up stamps in a regular envelop an used Royal air mail for a bit over $3 shipping.

Excessive international shipping costs seems the greatest limiting factor to transcontinental sales.

I would never expect to sell or buy a selection of stamps in this price range without seeing the backsides of the stamps. I see he has listed what HE thinks the backside of the stamps are, but throwing over ten grand down on the table would make me inspect the backsides. And even if they were exceptionally clean and all original gum, the asking price seems quite high. They are pretty to look at!
Don

stallzer, I understand. Each time I see deep-pockets paying $35K for a nice looking stamp that falls into the "pristine" category I am always reminded that in stamp collecting, as in the rest of life, there are those who can afford anything they want. And the majority who can't.
Just saying, that I am not collecting pristine MNHOG exhibition-quality items because my goal is to collect as many classics as my budget allows. I enjoy soaking up the experience shared in our Forum, but in the end, each of us follows our own drummer. And budget

Dan

Some people are pulled - by ebay - into the Global Shipping Programme, which is very expensive, and involves tracking etc. I usually just send stuff out by standard international mail, but the risk is all with the seller in those cases.

Geoff

Hi Geoff, I hear you! Newcomers have to learn about the shipping choices. First time I sold a lot on ebay to a buyer outside the US, I thought the ebay International shipping system was the only choice. That method is obviously another profit center for ebay. And makes no sense for the more modest price range of international shipments.

I went back and forth with a UK seller to clarify that I wanted his stamps but was unwilling to pay $24 for mailing me 20 cheap common stamps.

Most of the small lots I have recently purchased from UK sellers are shipped air mail for a bit more than GBP 2 which is perfect unless shipping a valuable item or album.

Don, you point out a critical point about not seeing the gum side!
I see a pretty face and forget to look at the backside!

Couldn't agree with you more. Plus regarding the seller -- how does someone offer a $12K deal and say upfront they will not accept returns? That takes large testicles, no?

Without being able to inspect them personally before buying them, I would have no interest. They are attractive-looking stamps.