What Percentage To Expect From Dealers?

I'm curious to know what percentage of catalog to expect an honest dealer to pay for my U.S. collection. My collection begins at Scott #1 and continues through to mid 60's. I realize that most stamps, with the exception of Zeppelins, from 1930s on are good for postage. My stamps are for the most part used from 1889 on back and mint from 1890 on. My commemoratives are complete. Airmails are also complete. For the most part, if a stamp catalogs less than $500, I have it. My stamps are primarily VF and most issues valued in excess of $100 come with certs from PF or PSE which state that they are genuine and without fault or alterations. My belief is that sale to a dealer is going to yield the least amount while auctioning and direct sale on ebay would garner the most. I'm 68 and in excellent health physically an financially. I'm not really considering selling at this time, but I'm curious as to the answer as I have seen this question many times, but the person asking the question usually has a collection that is modern and of little or no resale value.

I would start by researching prices realized at Stamp Auction Network. It has a huge database of sales results with real world numbers that are recent. Look at US collection sales from Kelleher, Rasdale, HR Harmer and so on. Your collection sounds as if a one size fits all percentage would might not work. Keep in mind that an auction house will take a fee but will also present it, including breaking out items as necessary, to get the most out of it.

http://stampauctionnetwork.com/NorthAmerica.cfm

Good question but if it were me and I lived 30 minutes away from HR Harmer (Tustin) I would start there. I think a lot depends on how much they would break it down, I believe good US singles sell for more at a good auction house than on ebay but Harmer may or may not recommend breaking it up.

I think most ebay consignment sellers get 20-25% which matches the auction house commissions.

After you talk to Harmers you could take it to a dealer and see what he offers, but my guess id the auction house is the best option.

20-25% commish sounds high for a decent collection

I spoke to Kelliher when I was in Colombus about consigning a $4000-$5000 collection to be sold as 1 item and that's what they told me. I was surprised too, maybe others have more actual information.


Going back to the original OP question I think the only way for ebay to be an effective method of disposing of a high end collection is if the owner is an experienced ebay seller and does it himself.

Kelleher is 20%. Cherrystone is 10% but I do not believe intact collections of US would be up their alley. You need to shop around. Commissions can be negotiable.

The Big Auction houses are mainly interested in the bigger Specialized collections, that run upwards of $ 100K or more. Those collections will have items that will sell on their own, and not be lumped into a lot to make it worth their while. The commission at this point may be negotiable depending of the rarity of individual items that stand out. Otherwise, they have no interest in breaking down collections of smaller size. A $4-5K collection, will have many if not all the common items. Therefore, it would go into the hands of a dealer, that will break it down and realize the majority of the value of it. By the time you take out the fees for selling, and the buyer pays the commission on the hammer price, there has to be enough left over in it to make some money. For the most part as collectors we pay retail prices, and dealers try to buy at wholesale prices. We fail to forget, that we will only get the wholesale price. Which at best maybe 20-30% of catalogue value. Unless you have some really rare items that collectors will fight over at auctions. At that point you may get the real catalogue value minus the commission rate they charge you.

100k is not the marker at the big auction houses unless you do not count Harmer, Kelleher etc.. They regulary offer collections at all price points. If you have desirable higher cvindividual items without condition issues they will likely be broken out. Condition, condition, condition is the key as well as centering. C13-15 and dollar value Columbians/ Trans Mississippis are prime examples. Very popular. Certs will increase the odds of better results.