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I do not not know much about stamps, just a enough to stumble through the process of selling them off on eBay.
I inherited a bunch of stamps from my dad, nothing too special (except some specimen brit commonwealth) mostly returned APS sales books.
He had many small lots in glassines.
I found these in a glassine and they are fairly low value stamps so I sent them out in 2 lots and immediately got an offer 10x the starting bid and right at about 100% of CV (I usually start my stamps at 10% of catalog).
I am assuming (bit not certain) that is the extra plate information, am i right ?



http://www.ebay.ca/itm/200786131453?ssP ... 1555.l2649

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/200786131419?ssP ... 1555.l2649

Welcome.

We type in Queen's English on this board please, and use Capital letters when usual, full stops, and paragraphs. At ALL times, in ALL posts.

Please go and edit your post. All members can edit for one hour. The "PREVIEW" button is your friend.

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To answer your question, of course HK KGV control number blocks get a VERY large premium - we discussed that a few days back here.

Had you read that thread, and made your heading on ebay "Selection of Hong Kong KGV corner Number Margin Control blocks etc" you'd end up with double what you will get now.

'Knowledge Is Power.'

And being clueless does not always guarantee top dollar on ebay. Julst means you give away material, due to dumb and lazy headings!

Headings are important. And this near totally meaningless "Hong Kong Scott Lot 1921-37 Wmk 4 1-2-3-4-5-8 Cent (see description)" gets a score of 2 from 100 from me, for attracting KGV Control block buyers. As you do not mention blocks at all, much less control blocks.

Glen

Thank you. Corrected as per you request.
Yes, I could have titled better.
They have many faults as I tried to point out.
The number of watchers tells me I'll get a fair price in the end.

Thanks for the attempt to get post into English.

No, you will get HALF what you should as the heading is appalling. If you light cigars with $50 notes well let it run, as clearly money is of zero importance to you.

There is nothing to stop you cancelling the auctions (Check "error in description") and re-listing with a vaguely intelligent heading.

Adding the both lots together will see you get the best $$$$ result.

However, I have only sold stamps for a living for 35 years so what would I know about sales.

_________________
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I was offered $150 and turned it down since I have always felt it to be kind of unethical to end auctions early and accept offers. If I was willing to do so I should put a Buy It Now price in the auction.

This auction has many watchers and enough bidders. My experience with eBay is that you only need 2 or 3 bidders who know the value of the item and you will do fine.

Do you have an idea of the value of these lots ? They do have faults and frankly I have never ended an auction early. I am fairly certain it will make bidders angry.

Is this a common and or ethical practice ?

I guess that "error in the listing" is certainly true enough however.

Light that cigar.

I sold this FAST for $125 a few years back - SG cat £18 as 4 mint singles today. I'd get $200 for this same block today - easily.



1912 Hong Kong KGV SG#100, in NE corner block 4, with scarce control "1" on margin. On fancy display sheet ex David Field Ltd. On the gum of stamps and on face of Certificate is a 2 line red handstamp saying: "From the Franklin D. Roosevelt Collection auctioned Feb-April 1946 by H.R. Harmer Inc. N.Y." $A125

Well my very long experience is that clueless sellers with hopeless headings mean those 2 bidders will buy things for a fraction what a savvy seller will get, and laugh their heads off.

TEN keen bidders due to a savvy heading, and GAME ON.

But again I probably have no idea re selling stamps.

Glen

I am glad I asked. Thank you for your help. I do appreciate it.

Well re-list as one lot, and you'll do FAR better than $150 with a savvy heading I feel sure. You will owe me a bottle of Chivas if you do.

You are mixing up describing "faults" with normality I think. Many of the HK issues in 1920s and 30s had browned gum arabic as NORMAL.

With regard to the faults, I was thinking mainly of the fact that there are some thins.
Also, there are a couple of perf separations.

Your example (thank you again for that) makes me think selling in individual lots would be best since I can a) describe and show the item more clearly and b) allow bidders to get what they want and c) presumably, though I am not certain, attract collectors rather than dealers which would maximize price and make collectors happy and d) i wouldn't have to deal with the stress of a higher value lot.

But perhaps a single lot with a better title and more detailed description is best. I think I will put them away and need to do some research.

Aargh. I am a lot happier selling low value common stamps. These have caught me off guard. Thanks again.

"The Good Sells The Bad".

Bung them all up as one lot, say "condition varies", offer good pix, and move on with your life. Some tips never change.

Selling is simple if you strap your IQ hat on.

Read this below -- ebay buyers are often totally clueless - don't join their little club. 3rd grade stamps attract good prices on ebay as naked greed motivates and mesmerises many buyers who know little.

http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=38504

Right. Thanks for that link. It is helpful. It is true, I am not a collector and I often have trouble understanding what "normal" condition is for some stamps. I start everything at 10% of CV and try to provide good scans and that has worked well enough.

Some of the blocks have separations between perfs which I think would put buyers off if they are expecting none. I am selling a USA Parcel Post with separated perfs and it isn't getting much interest. Not surprisingly since an intact block would presumably be a must for collectors.

Anyway, your advice is good, the dogs will ride with their masters I guess.

I just returned from the post office where they warned me that your Chivas will never arrive as Aussie postal workers "are a thirsty lot" (their words not mine) so it's possible your Chivas will not arrive. But rest assured, it's in the mail as we speak, er type.

Thanks for your help sheriff.

Remember much HK buying is done out of China and they have not a clue re condition. Few perf seps -- bah - who cares. Say say "condition varies here and there" and your nose is clean,