January 2019

BUY AND SELL
BY WENDY MASORTI
sales director | wendy@stamps.org
‘Can StampStore sell my Entire Album
or Collection?’ No, but Yes.
At APS StampStore, we get asked this question so often
that we decided to feature it in this column. The
answer is NO, we do not sell entire collections or albums
as a single lot. However, a partly filled album or small
collection could be broken up and sold in individual pages.
Each page would be an individual StampStore lot, priced for
all items shown.
It is important to note that stamps sold through the APS
StampStore are sold on an individual basis or for small sets
within a single country. Each item or set is mounted to or
attached to a submission sheet with one scan permitted for
each submission.
We do not have the resources to scan an entire collection
as a single lot. Without images of everything being sold, we
could not take responsibility for the contents if it was sold
and then returned later. Disagreements between buyer and
seller over quality, contents, even the number of stamps in
the transaction would become a matter of “he said” vs. “she
said.” That is why StampStore must insist on scans of everything
that is being offered. Also, StampStore is simply not
set up to handle the additional shipping expense of mailing
heavy albums, oversize stock books and the like.
We do have some sellers who describe and sell an individual
page of stamps as a single item, at a set price. This allows
for a scan of the entire album page so that the buyer clearly
sees what is being sold. Of course, to sell your stamps this way
you must complete a submission sheet for each page, complete
with catalog numbers, an accurate description with one
price for all items on the page. A good example of this sort of
sale is this offering of a Scott album page of modern U.S. Official
stamps, Scott O127-O141, StampID: 501088608.
How would a buyer know that you are selling five individual
pages from a particular collection?
In the description area you could note something like
“5 individual album pages from this collection being sold –
search by my seller ID to see more”.
Breaking up a collection and pricing it can be time-consuming
and requires access to recent stamp catalogs for proper
descriptions and pricing. Collectors who meticulously
price a large collection this way frequently feel that the monetary
return may not be worth the time it takes. Therefore, you
may want to first contact a local stamp dealer, or members of
your local stamp club, to see if perhaps they would make an
acceptable offer for the collection in its entirety.
Your collection could be sold to a dealer as one unit or –
again, if you have the time – you may sell parts to different
dealers. For example, a dealer specializing in Latin America
would likely pay more for your Mexican stamps than someone
who deals mostly in U.S. stamps; a postal history specialist
may pay more for covers, and so on. Remember to visit the
APS website to find dealers or stamp clubs near you.
It all comes down to how much time and effort you want
to put into selling the collection. What’s important is that you
make the choice that’s right for your collection, your circumstances
and you.
Circuit Book Sales Categories Needed
We continually monitor categories that are in particular
short supply for the Circuit books (not StampStore). To see
our full list of stamps needed for circuits (as well as those not
currently in need) visit www.stamps.org/Stamps-Needed. If
you have material in these areas that you are interested in
selling, consider using circuit sales. For those new to selling,
seller information is available online or can be requested by
contacting our staff at 814-933-3803 ext. 231.
TOP SELLER
This imperforate 1920 United
States 2-cent carmine rose type
IV Washington stamp (Scott 532)
was a top-selling U.S. item in September
on StampStore.
Overall monthly sales reports
are posted each month online at
stamps.org/Stampstore-Sales-Report.
You can view sales and see
what is hot for the month, and
compare that with what you’d like
to add to your collection.
60 AMERICAN PHILATELIST / JANUARY 2019