Most libraries have copies of the catalogues. Each stamp has two list prices: one for used and one for mint or unused condition. Start with Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogues, which are benchmark sources in the United States. Whether you’re a collector or inheritor, you’re probably going to want to get an idea of your collection’s worth before you decide to sell. Did the collector keep an inventory? If so, are there indications of catalogue numbers? These can be used to look up values.Are there invoices, bills of sale or canceled checks from dealers or auction houses? A significant amount spent on a collection often suggests a high value.
Does the collection come with an insurance policy?.Does the will contain details about value?.When you inherit a collection, you might also receive information that provides clues about the stamps’ worth. That information serves as a guide to your collection’s value. Keep an up-to-date inventory of your stamps to monitor market changes. You have an idea of which stamps - and which countries’ stamps - are most valuable. If you’re a collector, you probably already have a sense of market value. The more familiar you are with the hobby, the better you will be at estimating how much your stamps are worth. Seek expert assistance, or you can make matters worse.Īlthough some stamps have great innate value, collectors who take action to preserve their stamps retain - or increase - their value. If you have stamps that are attached, don’t try to peel them apart yourself. Stamps should be stored upright and never stacked, which causes them to stick together. Storage: Store stamps in a cool, dry, dark area so they stay in peak condition. Number: Blocks, pairs or sheets of stamps can be worth more than single stamps. Original purchase prices: If a knowledgeable collector spent a lot of money buying stamps, they probably have significant value.Īge: Modern stamps have very limited value, usually just a small percentage of face value.įace value: Stamps with higher face value typically add to a collection’s value - of course, higher original price would add to the value. Professionals who plan to resell stamps buy at prices that let them make profits. Purchaser: Stamp storeowners, show dealers, individual collectors and sellers through auctions and mail sales often earn different amounts. Margins that may contain printing plate numbers or other inscriptions are found with blocks of stamps. Also, complete perforations around a stamp’s four edges are preferred. Ideally, the stamp’s own gum should be as pristine as possible. Hinges sometimes leave marks on the back and can reduce a stamp’s value. The value is higher if a stamp’s design is centered inside its perforations.Ī hinge is a small, gummed paper rectangle that attaches the back-side of a stamp to an album page. Stamps are worth more if their colors have not faded due to sunlight, indoor lighting, dirt, pollution and human contact. Other criteria that affect condition are color soundness, centering, gum, perforation and margins. This feature - SON - refers to a cancellation that centers on the stamp. Stamps that have been “socked on the nose” are sought after. However, some unusual cancellations - such as pre-machine hand stamped marks - add value to a stamp. The ink should not block the stamp’s design. The envelope - or “cover” - may contain historical information that some collectors find important, such as date, writer and recipient names, as well as geographical origin, destination and journey through which it traveled.Ī letter that’s been mailed will have a cancellation, or postmark, on the stamp. Has the stamp been used on an envelope? Although you may be able to soak it off, it’s better to leave the stamp in place. However, for some collectors, worn stamps are interesting because they are evidence of postal history. Stamps that are torn, wrinkled, dirty or otherwise damaged lose value. Rarity: How common is the stamp? Were many issued originally? How many are available now?Ĭondition: Does the stamp look like it just came from the post office? If so, it’s in “superb” condition. The price of a stamp is determined by several factors: Learn how stamps are priced, and then find out about getting an appraisal for your collection.
#THE FACE OF MARS COLLECTOR STAMPS HOW TO#
When you’re wondering how to sell your stamp collection, you’re probably also curious about how much your stamps are worth.