Selling A Collection - Tips

Selling a collection of postcards, stamps, etc. can be rewarding if one left instructions on how to sell.  However, there's items which are better suited to sell piecemeal, or not be listed here on eBay.

Just because eBay is a household word due to a sucessful marketing campaign compared to other auction websites, it doesn't mean this is the best place to sell off an entire collection. For one selling Graf Zeppelin covers or rare 19th century stamps on covers should be the job of Christies or other firms which handle high end valuables.  However, an FDC collection, general worldwide covers from the last 50 years can be sold here in lots vs. piece meal with good results. If you sell 1950's FDCs and there after of a common maker like Artcraft, results are poor overall. Certain issues by popularity/topical interest will do well. Two examples are Boy Scouts and Malaria.

Do Your Research

Look at sales data on eBay within the past month. Use Scott's Stamp catalogue to get an idea of value as to the stamp on cover, postcard, etc. Do you see something different like a xmas seal tied to the postcard/cover? Then, list it under postal history. Use the internet to find out more about a ship or help identify a postcard as it it's location. For example, I sold a unidentified real photo, but it was a railroad depot from Idaho. The result $20+ dollars vs a buck or two.

Don't Rely On Catalogue Values?

A catalogue is a good reference material, but however supply and demand dictate what an item will bring. A lot of dealers are buying here only to mark stuff up for shows. eBay is not a retail venue! Think of it this way, if you were to go into business, buying stuff at retail would be a curse. Unless your covers have something unique about them or there's certain material which is listed during a trend (i.e. Flight Covers), then results can be very good.

I got an Offer before my Auction Ended - Is It Good?

Although, eBay frets on this, I have sold  directly with good results. However, I didn't sell a very rare British Empire Lion Cancel on a Singapore cover for $90. By being careful, the item went for $400. Ironically, it was found in a $40 cover lot here on eBay.  Although, people are being more careful, there's still stuff here to buy and breakdown.

Is eBay still a good place to sell?

The answer is yes when wanting to clear things out and recover a part of an investment. When you have too much of a certain cover or very low end item like uncacheted FDCs. Certain postcards like older 1900's era items from China or Asia do very well here.  I've learned it's better to sell first flights and navals for example here, vs. selling to an auction firm for a $100 or $200 for a box, when you can break it down and make a few hundred.

Conclusion

Although, this is a general guide, the point is to watch what your selling, do research, and be careful of outside deals. Ebay want's you to sell everything with them, but in some cases why should they get more