The Disposition Of Our Collections

As collectors we really owe it to our family to make sure they have an understanding of how to disposition our collections when we are no longer around. Some of us might already have done this but many others probably have not addressed this important task.

To assist those who have not there is now a free, downloadable "Album Disposition Instructions" form. It is a simple, quick interactive PDF form which you can fill out, print, and then place inside each album or stock book.
http://www.stampsmarter.com/album_landing.html

If anyone has any suggestions on improving the form please let me know.
Don

Great idea. I keep a "So Where is the Money" binder next to my desk that explains all my $$ accounts, bills to pay, insurance policies, location of important documents, etc. I have a page that deals with how to sell my stamp collection (I doubt anyone would carry it on), etc. I will add this completed form for each of my volumes, books, accumulations, etc.

The only thing I would add is a option to suggest a recommended disposition source. I mention 3 potential options to consider if my survivor want to sell my collection. The form might provide space for such suggestions.

None of my dependents are interested in stamp collecting, so I have very clear instructions in my will what happens to my collection.

Bringing yet another dimension to "stamp smarter". Well done!

I would not know where to begin to estimate a value on my collection. It is not all in one country although a lot in USA. My 37 volumes of Scott Int'l is worth over $4,000 empty. I will have to figure out something to let my brother know it's value and how to disperse it. I looked at the form and I would do it much differently. Point out the high points of value in each album or country.

This is a great idea, actually. I'm only 46 and hope to have a long life yet, but you never know what can happen. I'll plan on filling some of these out and will put them in each album in a sheet protector so they're easy to find.

Don,

Great idea. Here are some constructive suggestions.

"Estimated current cash value" - You may want to add a brief note to distinguish between what a collector would pay at retail, and what a dealer would pay to buy for later resale, which of course would be less. The label could be changed to, "Estimated retail sales price", or you could add in small type, "(Dealers buying for resale will pay less)"

"Desired Disposition" - You may want to provide a way to indicate alternatives (e.g., Pass down OR Sell), or include an "Other:" field where we could write instructions.

"Insurance" - Possibly include a field for "Insurer," or change "Policy Contact Name" to "Insurer/Policy Contact"

Great job, I'm planning to use these immediately.

Chris

I thought the same thing, maybe a cash value to collectors if sold in smaller pieces vs. what I would estimate a dealer would pay for the whole thing at once. I really like the idea of attaching a document like this to each album, but I'll probably just create my own document in MS Word and print it out.

Thank you all for the feedback, it helps a lot. I have updated the form as follows;

• Added Album Highlights field


• Removed existing 'Estimated Cash Value' field and added in two new fields; 'Estimated Collector Cash value' and 'Estimated Dealer Cash Value'. Also added the following note; "Note: Estimated Collector Cash Value is what a typical collector might pay for his album, Estimated Dealer Cash Value is what a typical stamp dealer might pay."


• Added more detailed insurance fields. Changed 'Contact Name' to 'Insurer/Policy Contact'.


• Added second page to contain larger Album Disposition instructions. Added the following note to Desired Disposition boxes, "Note: If a single box is checked it indicates that this is the single method desired. If multiple boxes are checked it indicates any of the methods are acceptable." Added large 'Additional Disposition Instructions' field to hold more detail on disposition.


• Added Stamp Smarter logo and 2D bar code (scanning takes user to Stamp Smarter web site) at bottom of form.


• Added action script so that PDF opens at 100% zoom


• Bumped version from 1.1 to 1.2

The form is now two pages but will print out on a single page if the printer is capable of two sided printing. All additional feedback is welcome.
Thanks Again,
Don

Good idea. My kids know that my collection is worth something; they have no idea how much, nor have I. Any suggestions on how to figure its worth, other than sitting down wit a catalog and going through it, stamp by stamp? No one is going to want to come to my isolated part of the country to buy my collection.

Any suggestions as to whom it might be sent for a fair appraisal and price?

Don

I think my wife values my covers in terms of BTUs. Hopefully, my children will have a greater appreciation.

What a great idea. For years I have been putting notes in pencil an adjacent blank pages. This will give my children a great way to understand value and method of sale if desired.

My Wife cares only about 2 things as far as my collection goes,

What's it worth and when are you selling it. She has jade it very clear that she doesn't want to deal with it.

My wife has learned that her issues with my stamp collecting is best be kept to herself. I have collected stamps long before I met her and she REALLY does not want me to choose between them and her. She looks at some of them now and then, but has no idea what I pay for any of it. When I get a pack of stamps in the mail, she does not ask what I paid for the stuff. I would probably lie anyway. My brother knows nothing about stamps but is smart enough to take a good look before getting any offers.

I do need to figure out something, even online reports, to document what I have.

It can be a very difficult situation when a doctor delivers a grim prognosis, having to make a collection disposition decision only adds to the stress. I selfishly decided to hold off selling my lifelong collection on the outside chance that I might recover and continue to enjoy the hobby. A long shot operation appears to have granted me more time enjoying our hobby and my wife and I are very happy that we didn't decide to sell it off.

My point is, when the time comes the decision might not be easy. We often may hold on to the intrinsically enjoyable aspects of our lives so if the medical crisis passes we aren't left with emptiness. I think this is why many hobbyists pass without selling their collections off beforehand.

This makes recording and communicating our disposition desires all the more important.
Don

Disposition of a collection -----how we sell it and to whom ,all depends on a real estimate of what is part of that collection . The first thing to remember is "what did you pay for the material" "what did you do with it " and "who is going to buy it" . My experience of viewing other peoples collections is that it is a mess .I like to view collections up for sale the first day of viewing or a few days before the auction . Let's get this clear there are very few collections that have all the material layed out in a organized manor and written up to identified each item on display .
I could write pages and pages about the junk I seen over the past 40 years . But I also seen some beautiful stuff written up and mounted in beautiful albums or stock books with tiny tags identifying all the types. In my life I purchased four or five collections that I don't dare take apart ,so I keep them on a bookselve and they are a joy just to read and view from time to time ,they are that well done on a rare subject .