Valuing A Stamp Collection Only With Pictures : Possible Or Not ?

The picture should be clearer, and it should be cropped much closer. Based on its condition I think you would be lucky to get $100 for it.

If all of the stamps that you are purchasing from the dealer are of similar condition, then he is robbing you.

Ok

I'll show you other ones tomorrow and you'll tell me what you think.

The condition of the stamp.

The stamps you are buying are typical space-fillers. Every one you posted has major obvious faults worth 10-15% of catalog value. There is nothing wrong with that of you know that's what it is and are buying/selling with that knowledge.

The quality of stamps you have shown are often not sold individually. Your dealer friend is making a lot of money off you. He probably bought an entire album of similar material for $200 and is selling you one stamp for $200.

How much did you pay for your US #1? Yours is a $10 stamp. Your #10 is likely a #11, and worth a dollar (I could be wrong - it either needs to be plated, or we need a very good scan to have a chance to determine the color).

Based on what you've shown, I would guess your collection's replacement value is 20% of what you paid for it. If you tried to sell it, you'd get 10%.

I hope you keep collecting, but I recommend buying from multiple dealers to get different perspectives. I don't know your financial position, but I recommend buying lower-catalog value stamps first to get a feel for how pricing and stamp quality relate. Lots of interesting material catalogs for under $50.

Ray Charles saw this coming.

It's an important time to let Captain Stamp know that we've all been there.

Indeed, compared to some of us he may have gotten off quite lightly!

All of us have made mistakes in this hobby, so please don't be disheartened Captain Stamp.

If the dealer is a straight ahead guy, go and get your money back.

As did Stevie Wonder

It's far from a choice Canada #1 but I have seen worse. The laid lines are stronger than I'd expect to see (sometimes they're faked) but likely it's genuine. It might be of interest for plating specialists. But, for that quality, $200 is asking a lot.

If I may share an observation, though it doesn't answer your question -

When I first started collecting, everything was new to my eyes and I was overpaying much of the time. Time and experience have taught me patience and to wait for the right material, at the right time, for the right price. I'll step up and pay retail sometimes, but researching and hunting is more fun than owning.

Bobby de la rue, thanks for encouraging me. Archerg, I'm completely agree with you and thanks for the reply !

Captain Stamp - As others have said, we have all made mistakes in our collecting journey. I most certainly have (some painful memories persist!). That being said let me offer you a few words of advise.

1) Education, education, education. Learn all that you can about your subject matter before spending any real money on your material. These days there is so much great info online that was not available when I started. You have an advantage here. And the cost of most books or a membership to an organization like the APS where you can access their library will be a pittance compared to the money it saves you. Vacuum up knowledge. There are so many people right here on this forum that will help you BEFORE you spend money.

2) Think of catalog values as rough guides and fully understand that those values are almost uniformly for VF stamps without any problems. Know that any faults or less than very fine centering drastically reduces the value. This point will become clearer as you do your research as noted above.

3) Tying into catalog values is the "shiny object" principal in collecting, especially stamps. Do not be distracted by sellers dangling large catalog values. Base your offer on what YOU think it is worth to you after researching it. What have similar stamps actually sold for on online marketplaces. The research is free. ebay sold results cost nothing to view. Use these free resources.

4) You can build a relationship with one or two sellers, maybe even a friendship, but always keep in mind that when money is involved put your interests first. Close families dissolve over money. Assume that someone whose main tie to you involves taking your cash might be trying to maximize what they extract. Sounds cynical but I always reevaluate whether a buy-sell relationship is good for me. This might seem or be cynical to some but unless they are paying your bills who cares.

IMO the most important points are education and not letting catalog values influence you. Put in the work and establish good purchasing hygiene and you will be a happier collector. Too many come here after spending money and become disillusioned because they overpaid or were cheated and they swear off the hobby. They lose and we lose.

Hang in there and make it about the journey.

rogdcam & chesham85 - I didn't know they were both collecting stamps

@Captain Stamp - You have been given some very good advice by a lot of knowledgeable collectors who have done this for a long time and have nothing to gain from what they tell you. Be also careful of other collectors you meet because they could also be there to make a good dollar (or a lot more) for what they offer you. But I'll also say that some collectors will truly offer you some very good deals/trades. This forum is the best place to learn and the education is free. And like anyone here will tell you, we've all made mistakes.

@captain stamp, if you persist in taking pictures with a mobile phone, use a shoe box or a pile of books and lay your phone on top of it. Enlarge and focus the picture. Also, use a black background for contrast and do not use coloured light.

Even with the terrible quality of that picture, it is obvious the design is cut into on the right. That detracts a lot from its value. As others have written, if the dealer charges you $ 200, he, likely pays you $ 100 for it. If the stamp you posted is catalogued at $ 400 and the dealer charged $ 200 for it, you have been ripped off. That is a faulty stamp.

Thank you so much for all these advices ! These are the best advices I got about philately !!
I recently remarked something about my seller.

I remarked that every time he was selling me some stamps, he was always checking the catalogue value for a used one, if the stamp (s) that I'm going to buy is/are used, or for a unused one if the stamp (s) are/is unused.

But he wasn't really caring about the default (s) of the stamps that could affect the price. Except the biggest ones. So he was selling me stamps based on the two catalogue prices (used and unused).

Example : I recently bought a Penny Red, and it was used. The catalogue value was 32.50 $ CAD for a used one. He didn't even checked the stamp correctly and he sold me the stamp for 16.25 $ CAD (half price)

My stamp was missing a margin. And is looking like having several defaults. Picture below.


Do you think that it could be a way to robber someone ? I remarked this when it was too
late, unfortunately.