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Selling your stamps
Your stamps for sale generally fall into one of three categories:
a carefully assembled collection that the collector
has eventually decided to sell;
a stamp collection passed down from a family member that needs
assessment for possible sale;
new stamps purchased from a PostShop that have a printing
error.
In all three cases Ashford Stamps Ltd can provide a professional
opinion on the best method of sale. We understand that not
everyone with stamps to sell is a stamp expert so we can
offer helpful assistance without obligation. If there are
items we are interested in purchasing we can make a cash offer,
or perhaps suggest alternative avenues for disposal. There
is no charge for a verbal purchase valuation.
Before visiting us for a purchase valuation please phone
or email Brian Rumsey for an appointment. Our office is located
in Newmarket (Auckland) with free parking outside the building.
Telephone (09) 520 5946 or email ashford@stampsale.com.
If outside of Auckland please contact us with brief details
of the collection for valuation. We can then advise the best
way for us to view the stamps for assessment.
It is best to leave the collection exactly as it stands
rather than spend unnecessary time tidying or sorting. We
are constantly assessing stamp collections and the presentation
is not important in the valuation process. However, it is
important to show us everything, including old envelopes and
postcards as well as the stamp albums. Sometimes just one
boring old envelope can be worth more than all the stamps
in the album!
Most collections can be assessed to a useful degree of accuracy
while you wait. Once we discuss an approximate value it is
sometimes helpful for us to borrow the collection for a few
days if it is particularly large or complicated. This will
allow us to devote some quality time towards a detailed valuation,
frequently assisted by our library of reference books and
catalogues. If you prefer not to leave the collection we can
usually come to a suitable arrangement.
The value of a stamp collection is often determined by the
knowledge, enthusiasm and budget of the collector. If the
collector has made frequent purchases from stamp dealers or
stamp auctions there is a good chance that some valuable material
is present. For top quality rare stamps we aim to offer the
best market prices possible. For very large or valuable collections
we can normally exceed the offers of general stamp dealers
who buy anything that is offered to them.
On the other hand, collections passed down through the family
or assembled by purchasing new issues from the Post Office
can often be of little value to advanced collectors. Sometimes
collections are in poor condition. Although it may be disappointing
to the owner, in these cases we may not be interested in purchasing.
Printing errors of current stamps (or older stamps) are very
interesting to us. We have often purchased misprinted stamps
for hundreds of dollars, and on a couple of occasions many
thousands of dollars. If you have stamps missing the perforations,
with misplaced perforations cutting through the designs, stamps
with a colour missing, or any other printing faults we are
keen to see them.
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