Inherited A Large Collection

Hi -

I'm looking for advice on the best way to sell a stamp collection that I inherited (particularly the higher value ones). I've learned a lot about coins/metals and paper money, but I just don't have much interest in retaining many stamps other than a couple of albums for sentimental value. I've used a service

I'm currently talking to a couple of dealers who are interested, but I'm hesitant to sell too much at once. I was going to post some of the certified items for sale here, but I don't have enough posts.

I have some pictures up here if anyone can offer any advice or is interested in anything. I have many more to evaluate, but I'm starting with this batch.

I'm trying provide a link to the pictures, but the site is not allowing. Currently trying to find another way without re-uploading everything.

Thanks

Here are some of the individual / certified stamps. I have a lot more in albums and lots, but I need to find a new image host that the forum supports.

Any advice on what I should expect for these would be very much appreciated. I've looked up catalog values and searched ebay for sold auctions, but not many results for exact matches.

There are a number of auction houses that will most likely be able to sell these for you, though they take a huge bite (~20%) out of the seller and another bite (~20%) out of the buyer plus tax. They specialize in higher quality, higher value items like most of these appear to be. See stamp auction network's directory of auction houses for some contact info and possibilities. Siegel is a 'big name' that has left SAN recently but should be considered.

You could also sell them yourself on ebay or Hipstamp online sites but without certificates and an existing reputation/presence expensive items like these may be difficult to sell. There are also stores/dealers on ebay or Hip that will sell them for you on consignment if you want.

As for prices, the auction houses are probably better positioned to estimate realizations, however they are down significantly from 15 years ago, but appear to be on the rise as of late to me.

A lot, if not all of these, came from Langs so caution is warranted. For example I did a quick search on the 155 multiple and found it in Siegel sale 1025, lot 170 where it started out as a block of 12 and was broken up by Lang. The block of 12 sold for a bit over $5000 with tip and Lang broke it in half and sold each block of six for $8000 to $10,000.Good for Langs but not so good for the buyer. The rest can be found no doubt but I don't have time right now.

OK, one more. The 449 Line Pair sold for $4800 with tip in Siegel sale 1159 (2017), Lot 239. Langs peddled it for $12,000.

Lesson Learned: Buy items like this at auction yourself.

Thanks for the info! I know some of these didn't come from Lang (at least not directly, as I have some receipts.

I don't know much about this guy, but it's not at all surprising to me that a dealer is buying low and selling way high. Does he have a reputation of selling counterfeit items?

Bill Lang has died. If you search this site there are a number of posts about him and his ways.

T-muns - Langs had a reputation for "losing" certificates that were unfavorable in some way such as pointing out flaws. So if a certificate from 1984 did not state that an item was reperforated and a later certificate did, the later certificate would likely not be presented.

Absolutely no problem with a dealer making money although Langs margins could be laughably large. He was a pro at knowing what pig's ears he could make into a silk purse. He honed in on items that had the "wow" factor but also had issues such as centering or the aforementioned certs that could be "lost" and that most collectors would not pay too much for and he would scoop them up. The 155 block is a prime example. The no gum, poorly centered multiple was a great candidate and after breaking it up he quadrupled his money. He also focused on items that had huge catalog value but in reality had a market value of far less and knew what he could reap with some good marketing. On the other hand Langs had a lot of items sit for many years unsold because of his otherworldly asking prices.

Not much wrong with most of this but as with a lot of collectibles if they are purchased as an "investment" they are losers by and large.

The 9x1 cover sold in Siegel sale 906, lot 1411 for $450 plus tip. Retailed out the door for $1750.

For an inheritance, those items are a very nice windfall! The only sale I could find for the pretty 1a "chestnut" cover with blue MD cancel was 2009 Schuyler where it realized $3,000. And that was with 2 additional certs, one conflicting-
"ex Stauss, Hart, with 1991 P.F. certificate, 2008 W. Saadi certificate attesting to the Chestnut Brown color and 2008 P.F. certificate stating this as the deep red brown color (Scott No. 1)."