An Overview Of Stamp Appraisals

By Gary Bailey


If you have a great passion for hoarding stamps, you should think about turning it into a business venture. Selling them for a profit has always been done by lots of people, especially with the easy availability of dealers who are skilled at making stamp appraisals. Before contacting someone to do an appraisal on your load, you should acquaint yourself with the basics of valuation in this type of business.

To begin with, you should know that the way you store the stamps always affects their value when selling. As such, store them in a room that is free from moisture. Stamps are usually made using paper. When exposed to weather elements, they tend to fade in color. A bright green one for instance may turn to light green. When making an evaluation, a typical dealer will look at the difference in color as compared to when it was originally bought.

Texture is also an important factor in the valuation process. If the stamps you own are several years old, there is a high chance that they have lost the texture they originally had. Sadly, this is something irreversible. The best decision you can make in this case is getting in touch with an experienced dealer to try and find the right price for your possession. Although rare, there are stamps that are made using highly 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.

In case you have stacked them together in a box, check if they are stuck together. If this is the case, avoid trying to separate them. This is because you risk damaging your entire lot in the process. Instead, get in touch with a professional in the trade. Most professionals have the experience required to do such work.

The person whose services you seek to make appraisals should have the necessary skills for the job. In business, there is nothing as disappointing as selling something for a price that is far less than what it is worth. Good dealers should posses a number of important qualifications.

For instance, they should be members of professional associations with respect to their trade. This is a good method of getting access to crucial information on stamps. Professionals always have what it takes to set fair prices and keep collections in perfect condition.

If you dream of engaging in this line of work for a significantly long time, make sure you study the trade and understand everything it entails. Get a good grasp of the different characteristics of stamps, regardless of their origins. A rare collection is bound to cost more than a common one. You will not need expert help once you have a good understanding of the business. The control you have is what will give you the motivation to continue.




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