From: jaSPAMc@gbr.online.com   
      
   On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 04:59:17 GMT, "Mr. Correct"    
   found these unused words floating about:   
      
   >I haven't even seen a dealer that asks 'book value' for a stamp (though they   
   >get close to it sometimes). The catalogue price is only good as a RELATIVE   
   >scale of value. And many of us use it that way, so the catalogue is a big   
   >factor determining what we think is the relative value of a stamp.   
   >   
   >I think dealers try to buy for 20% of catalogue price or less. I feel I've   
   >made a fairly good purchase if I pay 30% or less. I think 45% is the maximum   
   >I should ever pay. I think most collectors use some factor like that. I   
   >consider the price I could potentially get by reselling the stamp. I   
   >wouldn't expect to get more than 35% of book if I resold a stamp on eBay.   
   >   
   >If I have the high bid for a stamp on eBay I win the auction. Since no one   
   >else bid as high as I did, I could assume that the market value is just   
   >below what I paid.   
   >   
   >Another factor is how an individual buyer estimates the condition between   
   >VG, F, and VF. That is partly subjective even when you apply the established   
   >criteria for grading the condition of the stamp.   
   >   
   >Bill S.   
   >   
   This would apply for common material. It definitely doesn't apply for   
   specialized or above 'catalogue' grade items.   
      
   I can't find a copy of the Harrison perf. 14 printing of the King Edward VII   
   2.5d Blue, centered, MLH or better. So what's the value ---? Nobody's   
   selling even at full 'cat'.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)