Friday, September 2, 2016

An Analysis 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 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, 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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