World Largest -Biggest Stamp Collection

You would expect them to highlight at least the most valuable sets if those are in a condition that warrants more than 10% of the catalogue. If they do not, likely, there is nothing beyond run-of-the-mill stuff of average or worse quality that has catalogue values as you suggest.

Cherrystone's estimates are always aggressive for all lots, singles to cartons. They have one of the lowest commission rates in the business so that may be a factor. Compare them to Siegel that estimate large lots very low and always end up with multiples of the estimate which they can show other consignors as results. It's all a game.

Agree with both of you ,some real concerns with the ways this firm is describing this lot ,I always had good experiences with this firm in the past . But must have a new person on staff .
NSK is correct about not showing the $100.00 up catalog stamps . Maybe they are the common stamps ,yes they may have the $100.00 + catalog value but can still be the common stuff you see all the time and be less than VF quality , off center or heavy canceled ,like something that sells in the market place at 1/20 of catalog .
ROGDCAM "That estimate large lots very low " sounds like a better way to sell this lot after 3 failed auctions . Let the bidders fight over it and bring this lot up to the real value . Instead of opening high and hope to catch a inexperienced bidder to suffer with the results .

I can't really imagine a collector buying a lot like this one. And it would be a lot of work for a dealer, so it's hard to believe many would bid on it. After viewing, of course. So it's hard to see just who would bid.

ABC Auction's February 20-21 sale also has a large worldwide collection. It is Lot #700. Currently $8000. Their description of the lot:

EXTENSIVE WORLDWIDE COLLECTION IN 128 ALBUMS, includes tens of thousands of mixed mint and used singles, sets and S/S's, housed in 128 albums and three ring binders(1,2,3, and 4 inch binders), included are 21 large blue international post binders, virtually all are Scott album pages, there appears to be over 200 different countries here and includes a good showing of many of the major countries with 1-3 albums for most, the collection is mixed mint and used but we estimate that there is about 80% used here, many of the countries have 1-3 partial sets of pages over various years so duplication is here especially in the early issues, there is a wide range of dates across most of this collection but there appears to be only a small amount of material post 1980 for most of the counties, the overall condition is mixed and faults are to be expected but there is a good number of stamps which are sound and Very Fine too, also some of the mint stamps are in mounts instead of hinging, in addition there are five albums of misc. Worldwide at the end of this collection, some of the more valuable countries include: Austria (4 albums), Bulgaria (2), Canada (2), Germany (2), Greece (3), Hungary (3), Ireland (2), Netherlands (4), Portugal & Col. (2), Russia (3), Spain & Col. (2), Sweden (2), Switzerland (2), there are many singles, sets and S/S's with values in the $50-100 range and some higher, as for the overall evaluation of this collection - here is how we figured it: 10 albums valued at $1,000 or more, 20 at $500+, 20 at $300+, 20 at $200+, 40 at $100+ and 18 at $50+, there may be a few which are worth less than $50 but we feel our estimates are conservative since there are many albums which catalog thousands of dollars each and in fact we would not be surprised that the total catalog value here easily exceeds $300,000, so factoring out our estimates would make the total estimated value in the $35,000-40,000 range, a bid at half this would be a tremendous bargain, one must figure in that shipping will cost several hundred dollars unless it is picked up at our office(which would certainly be preferred), there is an incredible opportunity here to break this massive lot down for retail singles and sets or even into individual country lots especially with the duplication in some countries, since most are in three ring binders this breakout should really quite easy to work with, we have included a few scans of this huge collection but viewing will be a tremendous advantage for the serious bidder, certainly one of the better Worldwide collection lots we have offered in quite some time and this one is well worth a good look and serious consideration.

Those are many words that say nothing.

Last time I checked




is for at worst very fine stamps and not for




As for




that, usually, is one step up from space filler.

Who buys these extensive worldwide collections ?

First it is not me or any other stamp collector who has a large worldwide collection .Because it would be 90% to 95% duplicates to what a long time collector already has .Second my wife would kill me if I try to bring another 175 binders into the house ,it is no joke this is another 2 bookcases of material in my stamp room again it is a no go for those reasons .
A stamp store or a show dealer also will pass again no room and a mess of boxes to be hauled around to shows . If they took 20 binders to a show , then customers always in my experience they will ask for what you didn't bring .

Next we get to a ebay seller as imply by who ever wrote is description , problem is most ebay sellers don't have the $10,000 or $15,000 for inventory . Those who have the money wants something they can sell in weeks not over 2 or 3 years . Shipping binders and albums is already a pain to handle but sales are down and we are seeing inter-net dealers boxing up their stuff to sell at stamp auctions .

You can forget shipping this overseas , the ad already says a few hundred to ship in the U.S.

Fascinating to read all of this. In an attic somewhere....

Very interesting discussion. I wonder if it's the nystamps type seller on ebay, perhaps? Agree with floortrader that the majority of ebay sellers don't have that kind of spot cash to tie up in inventory, but the larger ones just might... and they happen to be within a reasonable driving distance of both Cherrystone (NJ) and Kelleher (CT), so presumably that saves on shipping, too, if you can just drive your van over and load everything up yourself in an afternoon.

I'm not talking about that specific Cherrystone lot, but these types of lots in general... They do a ton of volume and it has to come from somewhere.

Interesting discussion .

I would like to put something in perspective, that is pricing and how it changes with massive worldwide collections .

This collection above at Cherrystone Auctions has 175 binders and 110,000 stamps being offered at $14,000 opening bid . The collection at ABC has a 126 binders and estimated price of around $15,000 but opening at $8,000 . Both collections have many better high catalog stamps .

So two collections are close and you would have to look at both and compare which a person wants and has what your looking for , I can't do that from where I am sitting ,I am sure both have difference .

Now we know what a 110,000 different stamps which catalog around $300,000 is estimated at ..

But lets see where a collection that has a catalog $600,000 {no idea of number of stamps } this sold at Kelleher Auction a few years back . Well at twice the catalog as the two above collection , it realized $95,000 at auction . So twice the price catalog wise at $600,000 catalog but see what happen to the price it is 7X GREATER .

Very important jump. Because that extra $300,000 is all better higher price stamps not the 2-5 cent stamp ,it does not have low value stamps ,the firm was clear many items are auction lot stamps that can stand on their own .

That is the goal of the most top tier worldwide collector , that is where the 1/2 of 1% at, is how many top tier /stand alone stamps are in their collection .

So many red flags on the ABC lot.




They are saying that they do not really know what the catalog value is at all and yet they use the $300,000 number to go on to assign value ranges to individual albums. A worthless valuation but for marketing they need to get a big number in the description without committing to accuracy.




When you see Hungary and Bulgaria in this list you know they are trying really hard to find some positives. No offense to these Countries collectors but apart from the very early issues these are not blue chip collecting areas.

The "mixed mint and used", "80% used", "duplication is here" and "faults to be expected" are all classic ways of saying "if your not pleased don't say we didn't warn you".

And this is supposed to be a surprise?

Alas, no.

Cherrystone should just cut the price.

Agree Cherrystone is just looking for a wild-eye buyer who hasn't been following large worldwide collections .
Cherrystone already stated the album/binders are of no value .Something may be wrong with them . First the 100,000 stamps are mounted so maybe a value of 5 to 7 cents each , that is a $5,000 value if it has some better ,otherwise it should be discounted even more .
Then they may have $30,000 catalog value of better stamps cataloging above $100.00 per stamp or set ,again depend on their condition and countries they are worth $2000 to $5000 .

So that whole lot is a $6,000 to $9,000 bid not a $14,000 opening bid .-

Let's watch it and see if we are surprised on the sale.

On collections like this I would like to see what is in that middle ground ,that is were the hidden value is those $20.00 to $100.00 stamps