Starting Out

I had no knowledge of stamp collecting when I inherited my dad’s huge stamp collection. Selling at auction was an option but after talking to some auction houses I didn’t trust that I’d be getting the best price. I thought I’d have a go and value them myself using stamp catalogues. A year later, I’d valued and sold the lot – but something had changed that I wasn’t expecting – I became interested in the whole business of collecting stamps…and – six years later, here I am, still collecting.

Recently I have found that the best way for me to increase my collection is to buy collections from people who have ceased collecting. There is always something of interest in a collection for me and the material that is not of interest gets sold or given away. Often, people that I have bought from have inherited a collection from a family member, they may have no idea how to go about valuing or selling the stamps that they have been left – it is the same dilema that I faced six years ago.

Stamp Values

Like many people, when I first looked at a stamp catalogue, I was delighted to see that my dad’s collection was worth a fortune! I then found out that the catalogue price was not the stamp’s value but simply a sale price given by the catalogue company. It is, in fact, what you’d pay if you bought the stamp from that catalogue company and is not intended to be taken as the stamps actual value.

Catalogue prices can be very useful when used as a benchmark price and many stamps are being sold using a percentage of the catalogue price, for example, a stamp (or a collection) being valued at a quarter of the catalogue price is one of higher value, selling stamps at ten percent or less of catalogue value would be for low value, common or poor condition material.

Valuing and Selling Your Stamps

If you have a collection to sell (large or small) and you are local to me in the Frome/Warminster area, contact me using the form below or call me to arrange a viewing. You can bring your stamps to me in Bath where I have a shop in the centre of town.

I can also view stamps remotely using Zoom and Face Time, just use the contacts below. Valuations are made free of charge

Basic Principles

1. I will treat you as I would like to be treated
2. I will not pretend that something that has value does not
3. I will value your collection and offer a price based on what I can see in the time available. If it is a large collection it may take more than one viewing. 

Buying Stamps From Me

I am sometimes approached by other collectors looking for something specific, please contact me for anything on your wish list.