A Look At The Basics Of Stamp Appraisals

By Gary Bailey


If you have a collection of stamps safely stored in your home, you should consider selling it. There are many dealers out there who are willing to pay a fair price once stamp appraisals are finalized. Before estimating the value of your collection, it is important to understand how to go about getting the best deals possible.

First and foremost, always remember the fact that the storage method used always has an impact on the final value of stamps. For this reason, ensure your storage location is moisture free. Paper is the main material used to make stamps. When stored in damp areas, their colors always fade. For instance, bright green colors may become lighter. When valuing collections, dealers look at changes in color among several other factors.

Also remember to look at the texture. If your collection dates back several years, chances are most of the stamps have lost a lot of their original texture. Sadly, there is nothing you can do to improve this. The best thing you can do would be to get a professional dealer to put the highest value possible on what you have. You would be lucky if your collection is made out of durable materials.

Gum perforation is also a big role player in the evaluation process as dealers usually check whether it is still functional. If the gum in a set of stamps is worn out, simply sell the collection as it is. Avoid the temptation of adding gum bought in retail stores. Experienced dealers can easily tell the originality of the gum used in stamps.

When dealing with collections stacked close together in a small box, find out whether there are any stuck together. Do not separate them on your own if you do not know how to go about it. If you do so, you may damage the whole lot. Find a competent expert to handle such issues. Most professionals can easily work on delicate collections without damaging them.

Ensuring you get the most competent person to handle your appraisals is of the essence. It can be pretty disappointing to get a valuation that is not a true reflection of the value of what you have. There are many important qualities that all ideal dealers should have.

The most important one is having membership in a professional body in their trade. Being a member of a professional association always guarantees a dealer access to useful information concerning postage stamps. Such professionals always know how to price collections and the best techniques to use to ensure they remain in mint condition.

If your plan is to engage in the appraisal business for a long time, it is a good idea to study every aspect of the trade in detail. Make an effort to identify and master all the stamps available with regard to their characteristics. Rare collections cost a lot of money most of the time. Once you become knowledgeable enough, there will be no need to hire professionals when selling. Taking charge of what you do is always gratifying.




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