Laura Berkowitz on wed 27 aug 03
Hi Janet,
You or your friend should do two things. First, look in your general area
for other stamp collectors--there is usually a club or group that gets
together periodically. Asking at a stamp shop, if one exists locally, is a
start to finding a physical group. That shop can also tell you if there are
any "stamp shows" where buyers/sellers physically get together in your area.
http://www.stampshows.com (scroll to Europe, and your area) might help.
Second, search Google.com for "stamp+discussion+groups" or like phrases.
There are likely one or more excellent online discussion groups, like
Clayart, but for stamp collecting.
From these efforts I'm sure your friend will find interested collectors that
will lend a hand at fixing prices, as well as giving ideas on where to sell.
There may even be someone willing to buy the entire collection.
A little time taken to check out reputations of the people giving advice and
your friend is one her way. If she asks on a discussion list, she should
ask that the answers be posted to the list rather than back channel--that
way list members are posting in front of their peers.
I collect vintage fountain pens of certain types and many times have
seen/read people that have inherited collections of vintage or modern pens
coming to the list I'm on asking for values or advice on sales--it is given
honestly and without motive. I'm sure this exists in the stamp collecting
community as well.
Laura (Fairbanks, AK)
> How best to get a
>realistic percentage of its potential value.
lela martens on wed 27 aug 03
Hi Ya Janet,
My brother and I had the job of liquidating my father`s stamp collection,
and it was tough. We didn`t know anything about them. We did learn that the
unused Canadian stamps were (at that time anyway) only worth face value, so
we used them on our own mail.
I advertised some in the classified adds and did sell some to another
collector. I had previously got a ball-park figure from a member of the
philatelic association . In the past, group members had an auction every
couple of years, but not for decades.
Is there a group of collectors there, and do they have auctions? Could
your friend get some advice from a stamp collecting friend? Unless one wants
to spend an awful lot of time doing research, finding a trusted,
knowledgeable person may be the best way to go. I don`t know enough about e
bay, but she would still need to know an approximate value.
It took us a long time,I`m sure we would have done better in a more
populated area. It will take time. We could have hired an appraiser but they
are expensive.
Good luck to her.
I hope things go better with your health, soon, Lela, who has 2 torn
muscles and a break to the upper arm where the round part fits into the
shoulder. Part of the round broke after the tumble down the stairs. Some
fingers still numb, but drs. say it should heal eventually. physio tomorrow.
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Janet Kaiser on wed 27 aug 03
A friend of mine was left a collection by a good friend of the
family who had been collecting for 60+ years. She has a son just
starting university, is separated, a mortgage to pay and has no
job, so she definitely needs to raise the funds a.s.a.p. Knowing
that there was nothing truly outstanding, no great pieces or
rarities as it were, she took it for appraisal to a specialist
trader and auction house.
They came back with an offer from a client... =A3450 for the lot.
Now she herself had gifted =A360-70 worth over 30-40 years, so
she knows that is a joke. Refused the offer and was then sent an
amended =A3480 offer.
My question to everyone: what would you do without a yard of
counter yourself?
My immediate reaction was auction directly through eBay or a
similar site.. Individual pieces, not the whole collection in one
lot.
My 2nd thought: given she has the time between jobs (hopefully,
but at 50+ and unable to speak Welsh, things look grim) and has
pc/scanner was to advise setting up a web site with images of all
the "pieces" and sell direct herself via the internet. She is not
great at technical things, so I would have a major "support" role
in this option.
I do not think selling via car-boot sales and flea markets is a
good choice, especially now winter is approaching.
BTW this is not a ceramic collection, it is stamps... 53 albums
full from countries all over the world. But I imagine the
principle is the same for ANY collection. How best to get a
realistic percentage of its potential value. I think it is pie in
the sky to expect to expect the full worth of all the individual
pieces as listed in catalogues and brochures, but a little more
is surely possible than selling to or via a trader?
Any thoughts and personal experience would be most welcome!
Thanks!
Janet - stitches out :-) but complications ;-(( may be heading
for another failed bone implant due to infection entering via
split in gum... Ho-hum...
***********************************************************
The top posted mail was sent by Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art : Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : Wales : UK
Centre of Excellence for The Arts
Home of The International Potters' Path
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 http://www.the-coa.org.uk
Open: 13.00 to 17.00hrs : Tuesday to Saturday
************** AVG Virus Protected ********************
kruzewski on thu 28 aug 03
Janet Wrote
"BTW this is not a ceramic collection, it is stamps... 53 albums
full from countries all over the world. But I imagine the
principle is the same for ANY collection. How best to get a
realistic percentage of its potential value. "
Janet,
What about going direct to a phalatalie (OK, spelling's terrible - stamp
collectors) club, organisation? When I thought it was pots ahe was selling I
was going to suggest advertising in potters journals - would it work for
stamps ?- cut out the middle men (who have done her no favours already) and
go straight ot the customer base.
Surely she's find them by trawling the internet. What she'd get from boot
sales, especially round here, would be derogatory.
Jacqui
Up the road.....North wales
Janet Kaiser on thu 28 aug 03
Thanks to everyone for their input on selling a collection. I
will let you all know what transpires in the end, but it is just
my friend's luck that she should inherit something which will not
be easy to cash in on. Some people are just born that way, whilst
others could fall into a muck heap and still come up smelling of
roses!
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser -- with an (almost) empty and POLISHED table!!
WooHoo!! Hope you are all impressed? I am... Not seen it since
Christmas... Only large potted orchid, large slate plate with
candle and basket with used syringe collection for needy potters
left on it for want of space anywhere else. Still, I am sure we
will be able to manage eating around those bits and pieces...
Almost civilised!!
***********************************************************
The top posted mail was sent by Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art : Capel Celfyddyd
8 Marine Crescent : Criccieth : Wales : UK
Centre of Excellence for The Arts
Home of The International Potters' Path
Tel: ++44 (01766) 523570 http://www.the-coa.org.uk
Open: 13.00 to 17.00hrs : Tuesday to Saturday
************** AVG Virus Protected ********************
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