Expert Auction Estimate

To quote Flightle_Bee

Edit to add,my family name as is is Dutch which is funny as it is the smallest ethnic portion of my make up. So yes, ,Flighle_bee.

A Dutch auction is an auction in which the asking price starts high and is then decreased until someone makes a bid. There is only one bidder, and that bidder is the successful bidder.

I am of course teaching my grandma to suck eggs.

It is a common practice for fish and flower auctions, Universal Philatelic Auctions does something like it. But it is completely irrelevant (which is somewhat of a theme).

"Dutch" is unclear, "Dutch Bid" auction is a far better choice when discussing sale varieties held in the Dutch geographic areas.

Does the context, along with everything that has been explained and written, not mean anything? @flightle_bee

The image for the 1921 airmail stamps in the original post says at the top

"Dutch Stamps Auction (Carpe Diem Stamps)."

Ah, yes, that pesky, for some, "s" gumming up the works.

The lot sold for € 68 before auction fees (€ 9.12, "buyer protection") and postage by registered mail. That price was more or less as expected.

The same so-called expert values a lot that even the seller acknowledges has a 2024 catalogue value of € 120 at € 150 - € 180. I would be surprised if the lot makes more than € 30. The perforated 10 cent stamp in the lot has its issues. So, even that € 30 may be too high a price.

You can order the three stamps for € 60 + € 15 plus postage from Postbeeld that is not known for being the cheapest of the reputable stamp shops. They, probably, send you a better-quality stamp.

My view regarding expertising is that you should develop your own skill and knowledge to become your own expert. I'd rather spend $100 on research and reference material than spend to the same to get someone else's opinion.

I do not understand the desire for older mint, never hinged material. You are setting yourself a target that is really difficult to achieve and set yourself up to be cheated by unscrupulous people. I sold four stamps at a fair last weekend that were of average centering but the buyer was happy to pay a premium because they were unhinged.

I recognise that we all find our own way to collect, I'd rather have a facially attractive, previously hinged stamp than a poorly centred one that is unhinged. (I should confess, I do hinge stamps to pages in my collection).

This is not about expertisation. Nor is it about whether or not the stamps are genuine, or even the state of the stamps.

It is about a so-called expert (valuer) who, repeatedly, provides ridiculous auction estimates. In this last case, he does so far above catalogue value for relatively common stamps.

In this case it appears that the value is being based on the idea that the condition makes them worth over catalog. That's always in the eyes of the beholder. I personally have no idea what they are actually worth, this is simply how it appears to me. It's usually the other way around, auction houses usually estimate things a bit low to make themselves look good. That way they can point to the "great prices" that they get.

I think we need clear up a lot of the discussion here . For new collectors and new readers here as they discuss auction prices and stamp values . Since much of this is about experts and pricing .

At FLOORTRADER AUCTIONS ,we have two tier stamp pricing . There is what I own and what a consignor owns at my auctions . If your the owner of material and want me to sell it ,I tell you to let the market establish the price and let the buyers fight over it. But you need start at a low price and watch it climb .
But if I own it your not getting anything cheap, so pay up if you want it at a higher opening price ,there is no bargins with my material .

I hope this makes auction bidding more clear how it works in real life .

Remember as a stamp auction firm and a "EXPERT " I have to throw a bone to my buyers and friends ,so I need to throw them a bone every once in a while ,the only thing IT IS NOT MY BONE that is thrown out to them.