We have not had any freezing weather since the middle of February. Today it hit 82 degrees. My indoor plantings are almost ready to put outside and I am ready to be outside a bit more.

We added a lot of very high quality items to our web site in recent weeks. You will have some seldom offered material throughout our listings. We added many new items in the categories Feldpost, Danzig, Litauen, and German occupations.

Auction results

We watch most major auctions to keep abreast of what is selling and for how much. The long term trend is that scarce items in collectible condition always set at good prices. Middle range stamps sell at all in F/VF or better condition and at pretty steady prices. Better stamps with small faults will sell but at lower prices.

Stamp collections follow the same pattern as individual stamps. Collections containing complete sets and the scarcer items sell in sound condition bring the highest prices. Collection of sound stamps but missing the better items will sell but at low prices. Similar collections with visibly damaged stamps will usually not sell at all.

Another noticeable pattern is that collections sold in the US have lower realizations than those sold in European auctions – and is despite European lots generally having higher fees attached.

Here are some results from the Daniel Kelleher December collections auction.

– two similar lots of Germany * & U each estimated at $1.5k-$2k and each sold for $800.

-Ger colonies collection * est $1.2k -$1.8k sold for $4k

-German states collection U & * est $1.5k -$2.5k sold for 1.3k

– a private post collection * & U est $2k – $2.5k sold $1.6k

German propaganda stamp and cover collection et $8k – $12k sold $8k

Overall of the German area collections – 5 sold at or above the estimate, 18 below the estimate and 6 lots were unsold.

In the same auction 3 Austrian collections were offered and one sold below estimate and two were not sold.

Other auctions of collections during the last three months had similar results to the Kelleher auction. During this period I would comment that the majority of offered collections could best be considered as average or slightly below average and this was reflected in the realizations.

SELLING YOUR COLLECTION

I receive many inquiries asking me for help in selling collections. Most inquiries come from family members who have inherited a collection. Most often they have no stamp collecting experience and little or no idea of the value of the inherited collection.

An inventory with catalog numbers and either purchase price or catalog values provides an excellent start for family members to know what to do with the collection.

A smart way to keep an inventory now is using your computer spreadsheet. It is easy to set up, record data, and easy to update. If you maintain a spreadsheet you should also print it out periodically and keep a copy in a safe place like your safety deposit box or home safe. You can also keep a copy with your stamp collection.

I have received collections accompanied by printed inventories listing items in the collection. Listing catalog numbers, whether the items are NH, hinged or used and their condition makes valuing the stamps a snap.

If you are not a collector and have no inventory and no idea what a collection is worth there are several places to go to get a start. Look up your local stamp clubs on line and then show up at one of their club meetings with stamps in tow. I am sure there will be knowledgeable collectors there who will like to give you an idea of what you have. You can also take the stamps to your local stamp dealer (if you have one). Most stamp dealers will give you a rough estimate of the value of your collection at no charge. Lastly you can visit your local library and look for the 12 volume set of Scott Stamp catalogs. If your collection is in a stamp album, the stamps are most likely sequenced in the same order that they are listed in the Scott catalogs. You can look for the price of your stamps in the catalogs. Keep in mind that the catalog prices are retail prices for stamps in fine/very fine condition. If you sell your stamps to a dealer you will get 25-50% of the catalog value for fine/very fine stamps and less for stamps in lesser condition.

Once you have at least a ball park idea of the value of your collection you are ready to sell. If you have a collection from a specific country or group of countries seek a dealer who specializes in that area. If your collection is worth thousands rather than hundreds of dollars you might consign your collection to an auction house. Auctions have the advantage of offering your stamps to many potential buyers but most auction houses don’t want to handle inexpensive collections as the selling process is costly.

Another suggestion is see if you can determine where the collector bought his stamps. If you can offer the collection to a dealer who sold the stamps to the collector you well might get a better price. I have been a dealer for 50 years and have bought back the same collection more than once!

R SCHNEIDERSTAMPS
PO BOX 978
IOWA PARK TX 76367

618 975 2099

email:: RschneiderStamps@gmail.com

WERSITE
RSchneiderstamps.com