please could anyone help with my dilema my father passed away last year and now my mother has also passed away myself and my brother have the task of emptying the house
we have found a large and i mean largeeeeeeee collection of old postcards and ciggerett cards the latter dateing back to the the 1930s
we are selling most of the property through a local auction company but im not sure what to do with the postcards and ciggerett cards i have some idea on the value what do you think i should do with them ?
many thanks
keith
auction or private
Moderator: MichaelDay
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longbowman21
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:10 pm
Re: auction or private
Hello Keith,
From the sound of things you have a large mixed collection of cards. Rather than sell them to a dealer who wants to make a profit of course,why not sell your collection on e-bay. This will take longer and entailes some little effort with listing and photographs,but you will get a much better price. I myself have done this, buying and selling via the internet, for the last five years. There are other sites you could use, but none with the following e-bay has.
You will find postcards under the heading of collectables
I myself collect military postcards, especially a series called History & Traditions by a company called Gale & Polden and uniform cards by an artist called Harry Payne.
I hope you get the prices your collection deserves, as someone has collected and treasured these cards over many years.
Best Wishes.
geoff longbowman21
From the sound of things you have a large mixed collection of cards. Rather than sell them to a dealer who wants to make a profit of course,why not sell your collection on e-bay. This will take longer and entailes some little effort with listing and photographs,but you will get a much better price. I myself have done this, buying and selling via the internet, for the last five years. There are other sites you could use, but none with the following e-bay has.
You will find postcards under the heading of collectables
I myself collect military postcards, especially a series called History & Traditions by a company called Gale & Polden and uniform cards by an artist called Harry Payne.
I hope you get the prices your collection deserves, as someone has collected and treasured these cards over many years.
Best Wishes.
geoff longbowman21
Re: auction or private
Rather depends on the types of card in your collection, Jasper. There will probably be a lot of dross - common cards - that exist in many collections, including mine. You probably won't know what they are, and have little idea of the value of individual cards.
Set a starting price that is too high and you're wasting your time and listing fees - I constantly see cards over-valued by optimists. And most people don't like the idea of setting a low starting price in case they end up selling it as a bargain.
A good description is vital when listing, and you may falter here if you don't know anything about the subjects featured. Again, I often see cards mis-, under- or over-described.
If there's a postcard fair near you, why not take the cards along and show them to a few dealers. They'll be prepared to advise on the overall quality of your collection. Or is there a postcard club near you? Its members could also advise. The same sources should be able to advise on the cigarette cards.
Selling a collection card-by-card on eBay may sound appealing, but the novelty can soon wear off. After a year of selling off a specialist stamp collection piecemeal I'm resigned to batching items in to large lots.
If selling the collections unbroken at auction, you would be better off doing this through a specialist auctioneer than a general one who sells everything under the sun.
Set a starting price that is too high and you're wasting your time and listing fees - I constantly see cards over-valued by optimists. And most people don't like the idea of setting a low starting price in case they end up selling it as a bargain.
A good description is vital when listing, and you may falter here if you don't know anything about the subjects featured. Again, I often see cards mis-, under- or over-described.
If there's a postcard fair near you, why not take the cards along and show them to a few dealers. They'll be prepared to advise on the overall quality of your collection. Or is there a postcard club near you? Its members could also advise. The same sources should be able to advise on the cigarette cards.
Selling a collection card-by-card on eBay may sound appealing, but the novelty can soon wear off. After a year of selling off a specialist stamp collection piecemeal I'm resigned to batching items in to large lots.
If selling the collections unbroken at auction, you would be better off doing this through a specialist auctioneer than a general one who sells everything under the sun.
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coverkid72
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:28 am
Re: auction or private
Agree, but dealing with a dealer isn't necessarily bad either.
The following is some sound advice from MJM Covers And Postcards which is my company in the US.
I sell postcards and without seiing it's hard to say what your cards would bring. All the very low end subject items like churches and scenic stuff is better off dumping to a dealer to get some money. Some of them won't want anything you may want to send. I don't know if UK has a tax write off as to charity - but if so, donate the damaged items or the very low interest cards. Auctions are also unpredictable as to what cards will bring.
Cigarette cards are better off selling intact in collections. The subject like postcards will drive prices.
Since these were free, you may want to start the items you really could care less about at under 99 cents.
A new site that sprung up is Auctiva Commerce.
If it's a huge collection, look at what categories are selling the best on eBay. Asia is always hot, Better France (Not chateaus and paris will do well), Rest you can group pretty much (i.e. 50 germany early 1900's for $5 if it's Berlin, but be careful not to do this if you flip the cards over and see German Hitler stamps, semi-postals or censorship.
The publisher also is something to consider. People like Tucks or Raphael Tucks and Sons Cards. Some countries do better also.
If the collection isn't sold, feel free to send some scans and I'll offer an advice. Have been buying ans selling collectibles on eBay for years now, and also sell off my junk to dealers.
In closing, if you have time send some scans and will give some advice.
Best Regards,
Mike Maniurski
P.S. I don't want to see you get screwed over by some of these dealers. Have some jerks here in the US.
The following is some sound advice from MJM Covers And Postcards which is my company in the US.
I sell postcards and without seiing it's hard to say what your cards would bring. All the very low end subject items like churches and scenic stuff is better off dumping to a dealer to get some money. Some of them won't want anything you may want to send. I don't know if UK has a tax write off as to charity - but if so, donate the damaged items or the very low interest cards. Auctions are also unpredictable as to what cards will bring.
Cigarette cards are better off selling intact in collections. The subject like postcards will drive prices.
Since these were free, you may want to start the items you really could care less about at under 99 cents.
A new site that sprung up is Auctiva Commerce.
If it's a huge collection, look at what categories are selling the best on eBay. Asia is always hot, Better France (Not chateaus and paris will do well), Rest you can group pretty much (i.e. 50 germany early 1900's for $5 if it's Berlin, but be careful not to do this if you flip the cards over and see German Hitler stamps, semi-postals or censorship.
The publisher also is something to consider. People like Tucks or Raphael Tucks and Sons Cards. Some countries do better also.
If the collection isn't sold, feel free to send some scans and I'll offer an advice. Have been buying ans selling collectibles on eBay for years now, and also sell off my junk to dealers.
In closing, if you have time send some scans and will give some advice.
Best Regards,
Mike Maniurski
P.S. I don't want to see you get screwed over by some of these dealers. Have some jerks here in the US.