There are several IMPORTANT CONCERNS that you should observe in order to get the best price for your collection.
1. It is best to
deal with an honest and ethical buyer who knows postcard prices and can recognize rare
cards.
2. Do not sell off parts of the collection without first knowing the market value of the part(s) you wish to sell. You have the best chance to realize the full value of the collection if you keep it intact and sell it as a whole. Too many people will unwittingly sell the best cards and then must sell the balance of common cards at giveaway prices.
3. If you know that the cards are valuable, you may wish to obtain an appraisal prior to selling. If you have no idea of the value of the cards, you may attend a postcard show and ask a dealer for an appraisal. The cards must be seen for a fair appraisal to be made.
4. Do not offer your cards to a stamp dealer, general antiques dealer, or paper ephemera dealer as none of these people are specialists in postcards and they usually cannot recognize rarities or high priced postcards.
5. You may wish to consult with your accountant or tax attorney if there are to be significant capital gains realized from the sale.
6. You should expect to receive a fair offer based on the postcards values. Of course, the current market price and the dealers' purchase price do
vary. The difference is greatest with common, newer, multiple copies, and low
demand, hard to sell cards. A reputable dealer will be happy to review those items with you.
While there are many DIFFERENT WAYS TO SELL collections, the most popular and reliable approaches follow:
Sell to a Fellow Collector. If you have a specialized collection i.e. a collection of movie stars, views
of one city, an album from one foreign country, etc., try to find a collector who collects that specialty as they will probably know and appreciate the true value of the cards.
Sell to a Reputable Dealer. If you have a specialized collection i.e. a collection of movie stars, views of one city, an album from one foreign country, etc., try to find a dealer who deals in that specialty as they will know the market best.
Sell or consign the collection to a Reputable Auction Dealer. If you work out a consignment plan, be sure to discuss and receive a signed statement of the percentage you are to receive and if there are to be additional costs to you.