Understanding a collection begins with a careful look at its stamps, postal history and background. Send us a few photographs for a free, confidential initial opinion, with no obligation to sell. This helps identify material that needs closer examination and lets us agree the next steps with you.
Prefer to use the form? Tell us about your collection.
How does an appraisal work?
01 · Initial Guidance
Outline the collection's origin, countries, periods, and volume. Send overall views, a few old pages, letters, and any certificates.
02 · Examination tailored to the items
Depending on the stamps, the study may focus on perforations, watermarks, shades, gum, overprints, cancellations, or repairs. A photograph can support an initial opinion but doesn't always replace examining the original.
03 · Clear explanations
We distinguish common items from specialised sets and explain the possible next steps. You can keep your collection: an appraisal does not obligate you to sell.
A catalogue value is not a selling price
Catalogues help identify an issue. Their listed value does not automatically correspond to the amount obtained during a sale. A flaw, altered gum, or a difference in cancellation can greatly change an item's appeal.
Prices asked in advertisements also do not prove that a sale took place at that amount. The study focuses on genuinely comparable items.
What influences value
A collection's value depends on the items' interest, quality, and demand. The number of albums or age alone is not enough to establish an appraisal.
- Rarity of the issue, varieties, and specialisation of the collection.
- Condition, freshness, centring, gum, hinges, and flaws.
- Authenticity of overprints and cancellations.
- Certificates, signatures, annotations, and provenance.
- Interest of letters, their franking, and their postal history.
Which collections can I bring?
Stamps from France and around the world, former colonies, letters, covers, booklets, miniature sheets, mint or used sets: also present any documents and annotations accompanying the collection.
Our approach and the people behind it
Our business draws on more than 40 years of experience in philately. We examine the material itself, its condition, provenance and market interest. Meet the team who will guide you.
Appointments take place in L'Isle-Adam or Pamiers, from 8 AM to 8 PM, 7 days a week, subject to availability. We can travel throughout France, including Corsica, depending on the nature and significance of the collection. An initial discussion allows us to agree whether a visit is appropriate, check availability and explain the arrangements before an appointment is made.
Before the appointment: preserve the essentials
Keep the existing classification, certificates, and annotations. Do not detach stamps from their letters, do not clean items, and do not discard a document because it seems ordinary to you.
Our guide to useful photographs for an initial opinion will help you prepare your images. An initial conversation helps determine if a direct examination is necessary.
Questions about the appraisal
Is the initial opinion free?
Yes. This initial opinion helps identify the interest of your collection and offers guidance based on the photographs and information available. It is neither a certificate of authenticity nor a guarantee of a selling price. If a closer examination or specific work is needed, the arrangements will be explained before any commitment.
Can you appraise everything from photographs?
Photos are used to guide the study. Authenticity, gum, certain flaws, or technical details may require examination of the item itself.
Is an appraisal a certificate?
An opinion on value and a certificate of authenticity serve different needs. If a certificate is useful, we will discuss the appropriate procedure for the item.
Am I obligated to sell afterwards?
No. Any potential purchase offer is separate from the appraisal and remains non-binding.
Your philatelic project
A few overview photographs, representative pages and the town where the collection is kept are enough to start. You do not need to identify every stamp.