Friday, September 2, 2016

A Look At The Basics 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.

First and foremost, always remember the fact that the storage method used always has an impact on the final value of stamps. For this reason, ensure your storage location is moisture free. Paper is the main material used to make stamps. When stored in damp areas, their colors always fade. For instance, bright green colors may become lighter. When valuing collections, dealers look at changes in color among several other factors.

Texture also plays a major role in valuation. If any of your stamps is many years old, it must have definitely lost some texture. This aspect cannot be reversed. If you find yourself in this situation, find an extensively experienced dealer to price your collections appropriately. As an alternative, you may consider only stacking stamps that consist of tough materials.

When checking for the condition of stamps, dealers never forget to look at the perforation of the gum used to attach them to envelopes. If your collection has very little gum remaining, leave every piece as it is. Do not be tempted to add a little more gum purchased from a retail outlet. Professional dealers always know how to tell whether what they are looking at is original or refurbished.

Look for pieces that are stuck to each other if you have a small box filled with several pieces. If you have no clue how to separate stuck pieces, do not proceed without professional assistance. Damaging them in this scenario is very easy. To be safe, enlist the service of a professional. Stuck pieces are highly susceptible to damage if removed by an untrained person.

Ensuring you get the most competent person to handle your appraisals is of the essence. It can be pretty disappointing to get a valuation that is not a true reflection of the value of what you have. There are many important qualities that all ideal dealers should have.

For instance, one should be a member of a professional association. This guarantees unfettered access to vital information. A competent person should have no difficulty setting a fair price for a collection besides checking its condition.

If your plan is to engage in the appraisal business for a long time, it is a good idea to study every aspect of the trade in detail. Make an effort to identify and master all the stamps available with regard to their characteristics. Rare collections cost a lot of money most of the time. Once you become knowledgeable enough, there will be no need to hire professionals when selling. Taking charge of what you do is always gratifying.




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