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SELLING,
APPRAISING, ESTATE ADVICE
What
is a collection worth?
The value of any stamp collection is determined by demand. Does
someone want these stamps either for their own collection or for
resale.
If you have inherited a collection, we urge you to learn about
your stamps. For example, find a stamp catalog at your local library
and look up your stamps in the catalog to determine their value.
This will help you to understand what you have and you will also
get some pleasure from the stamps. Collecting stamps is a great
hobby. The APS can help you get started.
| Note: A collection is going to be more desirable if it is
well organized and in good condition. If you have inherited
a collection, make sure that you keep it in a cool, dry place.
Humidity or moisture can destroy the value of a collection.
Albums should be stored upright, rather than standing on their
side. Pressure on an album will sometimes cause the stamps to
stick to the page. |
Appraisals
When a collector dies, a formal appraisal of his collection is
often required to determine its true value for estate tax purposes.
An appraisal may be sought at any time for personal reasons. Stamp appraisals require detailed examination combined with a
high level of technical philatelic knowledge and market savvy. Detailed
appraisals demand extensive examination of each individual item,
and not all stamp dealers are qualified to offer this sort of service.
Before taking a collection to a dealer for an appraisal, please
phone to make sure that he is able to do the appraisal for you.
Appraisals can be expensive. Some firms charge a flat hourly or
daily fee, plus expenses if travel is required. Before commissioning
an appraisal, make sure you and the dealer have agreed on the fee
to be charged.
Methods
for Selling Stamps
Outright Purchase
A buyer may purchase the material outright. This method
generally results in the fastest settlement and produces immediate
cash. On the negative side, it generally results in the lowest
return for the material. If the collection is an accumulation
of packets and boxes which contains little material of value,
then offering the material for outright purchase may be the only
choice for disposal.
Private Treaty
For rarities or very specialized collection, a dealer
will sometimes agree to act as broker, and for a commission arrange
a private sale of the material. When negotiating a private treaty
sale, make sure that you establish in writing a mutually agreed
time for the sale - say three to six months after which you may
withdraw the collection without charge or obligation.
Public Auction
An auction is the most popular option for selling quality
material. Though considerable time may elapse between the consignment
and payment, auction sale generally offers the best return. But
before consigning material to an auction, be sure to review the
firm's consignment contract, its terms of sale and payment schedule.
If you are selling your collection through a dealer,
always make sure that you are dealing with an APS dealer member,
because they are required to abide by our code of ethics. You
can access the name and address of all the 1900+ APS
dealer members from this website.
Donation
If you want to dispose of a collection which you or
a relative began as a child, you may want to consider giving
it
to a child in your neighborhood. Often a modest collection which
has little monetary value, can bring immense pleasure to a young
collector. If you don't know a child, you can send it to the
APS at 100 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823 and we
will use it in our youth program. As a non-profit organization,
the
APS
will
send you a letter of acknowledgement, which may entitle you
to
a tax deduction. Additional information on donating collections
is available at our Donations
Program web page.
For
APS Members Only
In addition to the standard methods of selling stamps,
which we have described above, the APS offers several special sales
programs to help our members and their heirs to dispose of their
stamp collections. If you are not a member and would like to take
advantage of these services, you may join by clicking
here.
Internet Sales Unit
The Society has introduced a highly successful new Internet
sales program, which allows you to mount your stamps on our
sales sheets and mail them to us. We do everything else from scanning
the stamps, posting them on the site, mailing them to the purchaser
and we mail you the check when they are sold.
Sales Division
The APS also operates a members only sales circuits,
which is a very effective method of disposing of low and medium
value material. While realizations are often higher than by other
sales methods, the owner is obliged to sort, identify, mount and
price his own material. Time is also necessary to circulate the
material. If time and ready cash are not decisive factors, this
is an excellent method for maximizing return. Visit our Sales
Division on-line for more information.
APS Estate Advisory Service
If you are an APS member or the heir of an
APS member and would like more information about disposing of
your collection, you may contact the APS Estate Advisory Service
by filling out the information
form
or by calling 814-933-3803.
Further
Estate Information
Below are
some further Estate articles from the presentation "Plan Your Philatelic Estate - A Collector's Guide" a
condensation of a series of seminars sponsored by Women in
Philately. Please note the Disclaimer below.
Disclaimer: The information and facts herein the articles
below are provided as a gratuitous service and are not intended
to substitute for personalized advice. The reader should realize
that these ideas are not updated nor are they tailored to an individual
situation, but are provided as an intellectual starting point.
Please consult with appropriate professional advisors.
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