Properly appraising your collection is the most vital part of the process. If you’re a lifelong stamp collector, you probably know your stamp portfolio’s value. However, if you’ve inherited a collection, you might need some more help.
Catalog values are almost never the same as the appraised value, and few collectors or buyers pay attention to the catalog value when buying stamp collections.
Before you schedule your appraisal, or at least before the date of the appraisal, you need to organize your collection as much as possible. Most stamp collections are woefully disorganized, making the appraisal process more time consuming and difficult.
Find a qualified appraiser that is USPAP certified (Unified Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice). These standards were developed by the Appraisal Foundation, which is a body of the US Government.