Promoting your stamp assortment might be a simple solution to earn cash whereas downsizing your belongings. There are a number of locations to promote previous stamps that may have a excessive collectible worth.
It’s attainable to get free value determinations to check patrons and obtain fast funds. Your appraisal gives can range broadly relying on what’s in your assortment so it’s important to seek out the perfect stamp costs.
The place To Promote Stamps for Money
Discovering stamp collectors domestically and on-line is less complicated by way of these platforms.
1. Apfelbaum
Apfelbaum has been serving to philatelists increase their stamp assortment since 1910. It’s attainable to ship your precious stamps with free delivery on to the service provider and obtain an prompt money supply.
In-person value determinations are additionally out there for high-value portfolios. An Apfelbaum consultant will journey to your location to make an analysis. For instance, the service may help you put together for auctions or property planning.
You can begin the method by offering your title, e mail and cellphone quantity. A consultant will enable you to resolve if mailing off your assortment or an area appraisal is healthier. You’ll obtain a pay as you go UPS delivery label when your stamps are prepared for cargo.
2. eBay
Think about eBay to promote a set that will encompass many widespread points or could be too small to promote by way of a specialised stamp-selling service. You might also be capable to earn extra by way of this platform as you’re connecting with philatelists straight and will pay fewer charges.
Listed here are some examples of latest product itemizing titles:
- 1,000 Stamps From Hoard Of Hundreds of thousands of Stamps I Collected for 70 Years I’ve Stop
- Mint US Postage Stamp Heaps 50 to 120 years previous MNH Classic Stamps
- 1000s All Totally different Outdated World Stamps
- Low cost Postage — Over $25 Face Worth
Many listings promote used stamps at roughly $15 for 1,000 stamps. There are additionally many listings for contemporary U.S. Postal Service Endlessly Stamps and might nonetheless be used to mail letters along with being collected.
You too can promote uncommon stamps and earn cash on eBay. Probably the most precious single stamps promote from $6 to $10,000. The vendor charges are 13.25% for the primary $7,500 in transactions and a pair of.35% on quantities above $7,500.
3. Etsy
You’ll be able to efficiently promote postage stamps on Etsy which are glorious matches for craft provides or marriage ceremony invites.
There are various listings for classic stamps which are in mint situation and are exhausting to seek out. Some sellers manage their assortment by theme comparable to by coloration (blue, pink, inexperienced) or theme (Christmas, historic figures, wildlife).
Whereas you almost certainly received’t be promoting to a conventional stamp collector, you would possibly find a way to earn more money on Etsy when you’ve got a chic assortment. That’s as a result of the brand new proprietor might be proud to show of their house decor.
It’s free to create a vendor account however every itemizing prices $0.20. Moreover, you pay a 6.5% transaction payment when an merchandise sells plus a cost processing payment of three% plus $0.25.
4. Fb Market
Chances are you’ll desire promoting uncommon stamps and postage stamp heaps on Fb Market as you don’t have to danger harm or loss throughout delivery. Additional, the potential purchaser can examine your assortment earlier than paying which might result in a clean negotiation course of.
Native gross sales are fee-free though the vendor payment is roughly 3% for gross sales requiring delivery. Your folks can share your itemizing which can enable you to join with a purchaser sooner.
I personally discover Fb to be among the best apps for promoting domestically because it has many energetic customers and quite a few product listings. It’s additionally good being able to view the customer’s profile to search for potential scams and organize contactless pickups as a result of schedule conflicts.
5. Mystic Stamp Firm
The Mystic Stamp Firm is a widely known stamp vendor in operation since 1923 with a mailed catalog and on-line orders. I bought stamps a number of instances from this service throughout my stamp gathering days.
You’ll be able to promote all these postage stamps to this firm:
- United States
- Overseas
- United Nations
- First day covers
- Specialty collections
First, begin by calling Mystic or submitting an internet inquiry offering the fundamental particulars about your assortment. There are separate contact kinds for informal and critical collectors. From there, you’ll be able to resolve if it’s value mailing your assortment for an appraisal.
One draw back is that you’ll pay for delivery. Moreover, your closing appraisal worth can differ from the preliminary estimate.
6. Sandafayre
Sandafayre operates from the UK however is open to worldwide sellers and buys worldwide stamps. Transport bills for United States-based sellers might be greater due to the geographic distance.
Relying on the worth of your assortment, you’ll be able to obtain an prompt buy supply for much less precious portfolios. The platform might advocate public auctions for rarities and high-value stamps.
You can begin by emailing pictures to the seller for a fast evaluation. Subsequent, you’ll be able to mail your assortment or go to their Knutsford, Cheshire workplace for an in-person appraisal.
7. Sotheby’s
Sotheby’s may help you promote precious stamps in varied private and non-private channels. Auctions and on-line buy-now listings are in style however personal gross sales and retail areas can be found for unique merchandise.
Receiving a preliminary estimate is free and your objects might be listed on the market inside 20 days. You’ll ship footage and a primary product description to finish the preliminary estimate.
Relying on the kind of itemizing, it’s possible you’ll have to ship your merchandise to Sotheby’s to arrange the merchandise on the market. Your agent will assessment your assortment and enable you to navigate the promoting course of. Transaction charges range by gross sales methodology.
Many listings on this platform are sometimes 100 years or older. Nonetheless, fashionable stamps comparable to uncommon first day covers or sketches are additionally more likely to promote.
8. Stamp Sellers
Working with an area stamp seller may help you make a fast sale whenever you don’t need to spend time discovering a purchaser or making ready your assortment for the mail.
So as to add a layer of credibility, search for sellers related to both respected group:
If you happen to’re attempting to promote worldwide stamps, you may also discover sellers focusing on a selected area or matter. A number of sellers settle for mail shipments in case you are comfy with a long-distance transaction.
One good thing about going native is that you may obtain a free appraisal that you may settle for or reject with out processing delays or return delivery prices. You’ll be able to obtain aggressive buy gives and might be an efficient possibility for stamps not precious sufficient to take to public sale.
9. Warwick and Warwick
Warwick and Warwick conducts month-to-month on-line stamp auctions in the UK. It may be a wonderful possibility for uncommon stamps from throughout the commonwealth and non-British entities. UK residents can request in-person pickups for intensive and precious property collections.
Value determinations are free however you will want to pay for delivery. Return delivery prices are incurred after an unsuccessful public sale or evaluation. Unsold objects can even relist for an upcoming public sale for a lower cost. Public sale charges are roughly 21% of the hammer value.
In choose conditions, the platform will negotiate personal treaty gross sales to ensure a sure transaction value as an alternative of risking incomes much less at public sale.
The usual cost methodology is by financial institution examine as soon as a purchaser submits cost. Further cost choices can be found however must be mentioned upfront.
10. West Coast Stamp Firm
The West Coast Stamp Firm purchases home and worldwide stamps of any measurement or amount. You’ll obtain a free appraisal and the service provider pays for delivery or will go to you.
Your cost choices embrace examine or wire switch. Some on-line buyer evaluations point out receiving cost in as little as three days after mailing off their stamps, though extra intensive value determinations can take as much as seven days.
You can begin the promoting course of by offering your title, e mail and cellphone quantity from their web site. Residents of Fresno, California can go to their native retailer for same-day value determinations and funds however ought to schedule an appointment first.
After conducting the appraisal, the seller sends cost inside one enterprise day after accepting your supply. Return delivery is free for those who reject the appraisal bid.
Promote Your Stamp Assortment for Cash
Listed here are a number of tricks to promote your stamps for extra money.
Search for Pre-1930 Stamps
Stamps with situation dates earlier than 1930 are typically extra precious as a result of greater shortage ranges. Their collectible worth might be greater than the face worth. Stamps with a better face worth are typically extra precious as fewer have been made and even much less stay in existence immediately.
Whereas previous to present-day shoppers, stamp manufacturing ranges elevated considerably beginning within the Thirties and there are numerous used and unused points in the marketplace. Consequently, most stamps produced throughout the final 90 years are “fashionable” and extra more likely to promote for face worth.
Arrange Your Assortment
Being organized can require extra time however the effort might be value it if you’ll be able to make a number of additional bucks. As an illustration, you would possibly type your stamps by situation 12 months or nation as an alternative of getting a combined bag the customer should sift by way of to evaluate the worth.
Mounted stamps in a transparent plastic sleeve can even fetch greater premiums as they’re protected. Nonetheless, stamp mounts add value and are space-consuming which might make them a problem to retailer and transport.
Promote Unused Stamps
Unused stamps might be extra precious than these with a postmark as they’re rarer. Just a few exceptions apart, ones with out errors, fading and wrinkles might be value extra.
Additional, it’s widespread for stamp collectors to hinge previous stamps which can use among the gum to maintain the merchandise in place. Non-hinged stamps with undisturbed gum are extra precious because the collectible is nearer to its unique mint situation.
Promote On to Collectors
It may well take longer to promote on to an individual, however you keep away from the intermediaries who additionally have to make a revenue. Fb Market, eBay and websites like OfferUp might be one of the best ways to attach with collectors with no or minimal vendor charges.
Use a Stamp Catalog
Think about selecting up a duplicate of the Scott Stamp Catalog earlier than getting value value determinations so you could have a ballpark thought of a stamp’s present market worth. Stamp sellers might ask for a “Scott quantity,” which is the identification quantity for a selected stamp within the catalog.
Possessing a tough thought of how a lot your stamps are value makes it simpler to check buyback gives and keep away from low-ball value determinations. You must try to obtain honest market worth and a value information might be well worth the funding.
Continuously Requested Questions
Listed here are a number of components to think about as you attempt promoting postage stamps for extra money.
Discovering a stamp seller close by might be the quickest solution to promote your stamp assortment as they’ll present prompt money gives.
Nonetheless, you would possibly be capable to obtain a better premium by promoting on to collectors on Fb Market and different native buy-and-sell apps however should anticipate a purchaser to contact you.
The U.S. Postal Service started issuing “Endlessly Stamps” in 2007 and the face worth is at all times well worth the present first-class postage value for one ounce. New stamps promote for $0.66 every as of August 18, 2023.
Endlessly Stamps bought earlier than a postage charge enhance are value the brand new charge although you spent much less. So, for those who purchased the first-ever Liberty Bell without end stamp for $0.41, it now has a face worth of $0.66 and can proceed to match future postage charges.
U.S. postage stamps issued sooner than 1930 usually tend to promote for a premium greater than face worth as they’re rarer. Extra particularly, unused postage stamps minted within the 1800s are normally probably the most precious.
Three of probably the most precious stamps to promote at public public sale are the 1868 Ben Franklin Z Grill ($3 million), 1918 Inverted Jenny ($1.74 million) and the 1867 Abraham Lincoln Z Grill ($1.6 million).
Abstract
Evaluating on-line stamp sellers might be the quickest solution to see how a lot you can also make and obtain funds quickly.
Nonetheless, it’s possible you’ll attempt promoting domestically or on a do-it-yourself promoting web site to keep away from charges and promote stamps that sellers will not be focused on.
