How to Sell Stamps



If you have duplicate stamps and you don't want to give them to a child or donate them to a charity, they'll just continue to accumulate. There are two solutions to this stamp collecting "problem:" if you know other stamp collectors you can trade your duplicates for other stamps that you don't already have; or you can sell them.



You can often sell stamps and covers at the same places you bought them, except for stamps that you bought at the post office (they won't buy them back). Sell them back to stamp dealers, advertise them for sale in the philatelic press, offer them for sale on an internet stamp auction, or sell them to fellow stamp collectors at stamp club meetings. You can also consign them to a stamp dealer, who will sell them for you in exchange for a commission. Be aware that most stamp dealers at stamp shows are there to buy as well as to sell stamps. When they're not busy with customers they'll be happy to take a look at what you want to sell. If the first dealer you try isn't interested, move on to the next.



Maximize the money you receive by grouping the material that's for sale and offering those groups of stamps separately rather than as a general worldwide mixture. You can group your stamps by country or by topic.



Keep in mind that the stamp Values listed in catalogs are estimated retail prices and represent what a stamp collector might have to spend to buy specific stamps in very fine condition. A stamp dealer will almost always pay less than catalog value when buying stamps - after all, dealers need to make a profit on resale. You may make more money by selling to other collectors, but it may be easier (and quicker) to sell to a dealer.



Stamp values depend on condition, the number that's available, and market demand. These factors interact with each other, and it's a matter of common sense. Condition will have less influence on the value of rare stamps because everyone wants them, even flawed copies. The high market demand together with low supply counteracts, at least to a certain degree, any faults in those rare stamps. But for stamps in large supply and/or unpopular stamps, value will be low even if they're in perfect condition.



Any questions? Just contact us, we'll be happy to help.