Expert Auction Estimate

I think this "expert" is too lazy to be bothered and copying his estimates.

My, slightly, aged 2015 catalogue prices them at € 90 / € 16 / € 16. The sellers states the 2024 catalogue prices them a little lower at € 120. The catalogue price is for perfect unmounted mint with original gum and even brick-and-mortar retailers ask south of 65% catalogue price. The two imperforate stamps are among the more common stamps for the early 1920s.

This is the listing. But it does not appear the expert did much of the above.

https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/99614...a-nvph-81-83

For the purposes of your own collection, I agree. However, should the item(s) ever be sold, depending on the item, a recognized third-party opinion may be required. Your say-so or explanation, especially if you have shuffled off this mortal coil, may be unavailable.

Additionally, for some items, the populations are so small, that even doing best efforts, you may not be able to view enough examples to be able to gain the expertise required. At that point, the wealth of historical knowledge, past expertizations, and reference collections that some of the expertizers maintain, become essential.

For example, this is a reason why I tend to look for higher-cost more-scarce items when I am at Chicagopex. Both Eric Jackson and Richard Friedberg, two of the most respected U.S. revenue experts in the hobby, have booths at the show. I get informal opinions from them prior to major purchases, just to make sure I am on solid ground. While not the same as onsite expertizing, it alerts me to potential issues prior to making a large purchase. Last year it was Scott #R5f, an incredibly scarce imperf-between pair, with populations in single digits. This year it was R84a, a scarce stamp that is very heavily faked.

While I consider my expertise to be strong on 1st issue revenues, I always correct people when they call me a "revenue expert". I'm a specialist, but not an expert. I've seen only a fraction of what true experts have seen. I always doublecheck myself where possible, as I'm not so egotistical to think that I can't be wrong... and a second opinion (or multiple opinions) is the prudent thing to do with expensive items.

But yes, the ideal is to become as knowledgeable as you can be, for your own presence of mind.

This afternoon, someone bid € 29. The bidder must have been very eager to het these stamps. Another bidder posted a bid for € 34 and the first posted the winning bid of € 39.

I think he overbid somewhat. After auction fees, he will be paying € 45.49. The € 39 is a little over 30% of the NVPH catalogue price and a fraction of the lower estimate of the so-called expert.