Stamp Collection Appraisal
Find out what your whole collection is worth. Send us photos of your albums and boxes. We write a formal appraisal of the collection and email it to you in 5 business days.
- The overall condition of the collection.
- What a dealer would likely pay for it, called the wholesale value.
- What it would likely sell for to a collector, called the retail value.
- An offer to buy it where the material suits our stock needs. Buying an appraisal does not guarantee an offer.
Up to 20 photos, taken on your phone. Nothing is mailed to us. This values the collection as one lot rather than stamp by stamp.
Need more than 20 photos? The Unlimited Collection Appraisal at $149.99 has no photo limit.
American Philatelic Society member dealer, member 224675. More than 30 years appraising collections.
Photos you will need
Up to 20 photos. Show the albums, the pages, the boxes, and close-ups of anything that looks special to you. Good light, one clear shot at a time. A phone camera is fine. Most of the photos we receive are taken on a phone. You send the photos after you buy, using a link we email you.
What this service does and does not cover
This appraisal values the collection as one lot. It does not list what each individual stamp is or what each one is worth. If you want stamps identified and valued one by one, the Single Stamp Appraisal does that.
How It Works
1. Purchase the Stamp Collection Appraisal
2. You will be emailed a link to upload your images.
3. Your formal stamp appraisal will be emailed to you within 5 business days.
Returns & Guarantees
Because this is a service, refunds are not allowed once your stamp appraisal has been emailed to you. To cancel a pending order, please email support@westcoaststamps.com
We will do our best to identify and value your stamp collection based on the photos provided. We do not guarantee 100% accuracy in our remote identification, as our evaluation is limited to the quality of the provided photos. All appraisals and estimates are final. If you want to submit additional photos or obtain a second opinion, you must purchase a new appraisal.
Purchase offers: we require a formal appraisal before we purchase a collection or make a purchase offer. Whether the report carries an offer depends on the material and our stock needs, so buying an appraisal does not guarantee a purchase offer. For large or high-value collections we may arrange an in-person inspection or collection, though that is not guaranteed either.
Who does the appraising. West Coast Stamp Company has been a stamp dealer since 1989 and is a member dealer of the American Philatelic Society, member number 224675. More than 5,000 people have sold collections to us.
Questions before you buy
Which appraisal do I need?
One stamp: the Single Stamp Appraisal, $4.99, delivered within 3 business days. A collection that fits in 20 photos: the Stamp Collection Appraisal, $49.99, delivered within 5 business days. More than 20 photos: the Unlimited Collection Appraisal, $149.99, no photo limit, delivered within 10 business days after your 14-day upload window. More than 10 single stamps? The $49.99 collection appraisal is the better value.
Do I have to mail you my stamps?
No. Every appraisal is done from photos you send us after you buy. A phone camera is fine, and most of the photos we receive are taken on a phone.
What should I photograph?
For a single stamp, one photo of the front and one of the back. For a collection, you do not need to take photos of every page or stamp. 20 photos usually is enough for us to provide you with an idea of what the collection is worth. You can take photos of large groupings or pages of stamps in a single photo. Use good light and do not remove stamps from albums or envelopes.
Will you buy my collection?
We require a formal appraisal before we buy any stamps or make a purchase offer. Whether the report carries an offer depends on the material and on what we need in stock at the time, so buying an appraisal does not guarantee an offer. When we do buy, you are paid by bank wire.
What do I get in the report?
The single stamp appraisal identifies the stamp by Scott catalogue number and gives a condition analysis, centering grade, catalogue value and estimated retail value. The collection appraisals give the overall condition, an estimated wholesale value and an estimated retail value. The Unlimited Collection Appraisal also lists the key stamps individually and values bulk material by lot.
Who does the appraising?
West Coast Stamp Company has been a stamp dealer since 1989 and is a member dealer of the American Philatelic Society, member number 224675.
Can I cancel?
Yes, while the order is still pending. Email support@westcoaststamps.com. Because this is a service, refunds are not available once your appraisal has been emailed to you.
More answers: Appraisal Help and FAQs
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