Cholera Disinfected Letters: Postal History from an Age of Epidemics

Long before modern medicine understood the true causes of cholera and other infectious diseases, postal authorities treated the mail itself as a possible carrier of contagion. During the 19th century, letters moving through ports, quarantine stations, and international trade routes were sometimes disinfected before delivery. These “cholera disinfected” covers are fascinating artifacts from a time when fear of epidemic disease shaped not only public health policy, but also the physical movement of correspondence around the world.

Explore the Collection

Cholera Disinfected Letter 1856 Boston MA to Reims, France

Cholera Disinfected Letter 1833 Bordeaux to Santander, Spain

Cholera Disinfected Letter 1849 New York to Madeira, Portugal

Cholera Disinfected Letter 1831 Baltimore to Madeira, Portugal

Cholera Disinfected Letter 1841 Alexandria to Madeira, Portugal

This group of letters, dating from 1831 to 1859, reflects that extraordinary intersection of medicine, commerce, travel, and postal history. The routes include Baltimore, New York, Richmond, Alexandria, Boston, Bordeaux, and Nantes, with destinations such as Madeira, Reims, Santander, and Bilbao. Many of these locations were important maritime or commercial centers, making them natural checkpoints for mail moving across regions affected by recurring cholera outbreaks.

Disinfection could take several forms. Letters might be slit, pierced, fumigated with sulfur or other vapors, exposed to smoke, or otherwise treated so that the supposed disease-carrying “miasma” could be neutralized. While many of these methods were based more on fear and theory than scientific fact, they left behind visible marks that collectors can study today. Stains, cuts, punctures, and quarantine markings transform each cover into a small surviving document of 19th-century public health practice.

For collectors, cholera disinfected mail offers far more than a postal route or cancellation. Each letter is a tangible reminder of how societies responded to disease before germ theory, vaccines, antibiotics, and modern epidemiology. These covers preserve the anxieties of their age in paper form, making them compelling pieces for collectors of postal history, medical history, maritime mail, and epidemic-related artifacts.

George Washington Inaugural Button (1789): Rare Early American Political Artifact & Presidential History Collectible

A Rare 1789 George Washington Inaugural Button Discovered in New Hampshire

At first glance, it’s easy to overlook something so small, just a modest metal button unearthed from the soil of New Hampshire by a metal detectorist. But this remarkable piece, valued between $2,000 and $6,000, is far more than a curiosity. It is an original 1789 inaugural button tied directly to George Washington and the birth of the American presidency.

For collectors of early American political memorabilia and Revolutionary-era artifacts, discoveries like this are exceptionally rare, especially when they surface from the ground after more than two centuries.

The 1789 Presidential Inauguration: The Birth of American Political Tradition

In April 1789, Washington traveled to New York City, then the temporary capital of the United States, to take the oath of office under the newly ratified United States Constitution. The ceremony took place at Federal Hall on April 30, marking the beginning of the American presidency as we know it.

As thousands gathered to witness this historic moment, Americans celebrated in a way that feels strikingly familiar today, through commemorative items. Among the earliest examples of political collectibles in U.S. history were medals, ribbons, and inaugural buttons like this one.

Early American Political Memorabilia: The Origins of Campaign Buttons

Long before modern campaign buttons and mass-produced political merchandise, these 18th-century inaugural buttons were individually crafted by skilled artisans. Typically made from brass or copper, they were stamped with patriotic designs and inscriptions, then fitted with loop shanks so they could be sewn onto a gentleman’s coat.

These pieces are widely considered some of the first examples of American political memorabilia, making them highly desirable among collectors of early U.S. history, presidential artifacts, and numismatic-adjacent items.

“Long Live the President”: Symbolism on George Washington Inaugural Buttons

The design of this button offers a powerful glimpse into the mindset of a newly formed nation. At its center are the initials “GW,” surrounded by the phrase “Long Live the President,” a direct echo of the words proclaimed by Robert R. Livingston, who administered Washington’s oath of office.

The surrounding imagery often references the original thirteen states, symbolizing unity at a time when the concept of a centralized republic was still taking shape. Even the title “President” was debated, with some suggesting more monarchical alternatives. Washington’s rejection of titles like “His Highness” helped define the democratic identity of the nation.

Why Washington Inaugural Buttons Are So Rare and Valuable

Unlike coins or medals that were intentionally preserved, these buttons were everyday wearable items. They were used, lost, and discarded, making surviving examples exceedingly scarce.

That this particular button was recovered through metal detecting adds another layer of intrigue. Finds like this continue to fuel interest in early American artifacts and underscore how much history still lies hidden beneath our feet.

Today, authentic Washington inaugural buttons are considered cornerstone pieces in collections focused on early U.S. history and presidential memorabilia. Depending on condition and design variety, they typically sell between $2,500 and $6,000, with rarer examples commanding significantly higher prices at auction.

A Founding Era Artifact: Collecting George Washington Presidential Memorabilia

For collectors, owning a 1789 George Washington inaugural button is about more than value, it is about connection. These artifacts link directly to the founding of the United States and the moment the presidency was first established.

In an age of mass production and digital ephemera, objects like this stand apart. They are physical, enduring, and deeply human, once worn proudly by someone who stood at the edge of history as it unfolded.

Few collectibles can claim such proximity to the founding era. Fewer still can fit in the palm of your hand.

NobleSpirit 2023 Year in Review

2023 was an exciting year for NobleSpirit, filled with successful catalogue sales, well-attended events, and fulfilling community engagement throughout the hobby.

Events & Engagement

NobleSpirit founder Joseph Cortese providing a coin appraisal at our Stamp & Coin Appraisal Roadshow event at the Spellman Museum.

This year we held a number of exciting events in partnership with the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History. Most notable was our very first Stamp & Coin Appraisal Roadshow, where community members brought their collections for a free appraisal from our and Spellman’s team of philatelic and numismatic experts. The event was a smash success and we had a full house!

We had the honor of attending the Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Awards Gala at the National Smithsonian Postal Museum in Washington DC. It was a wonderful night to connect with our fellow philatelic community members and celebrate the impact the award winners have made in the hobby.

The NobleSpirit team at the Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Awards Gala.

We also attended a number of other events, including hosting a booth at Westpex and attending the New Hampshire Antiques Show, where we networked with local dealers and explored old treasures.

New Video Channel!

We also launched our company YouTube video channel this year! We produced a lot of exciting video content, including an inside look at some appraisals we provided at the Roadshow event, interviews and discussions with philatelic community members, and in-depth review of collections we put up for sale. Featured interview guests include: Brian Howard, the new Executive Director of the Spellman Museum, Jennifer Miller, Jasmine Lacerte, Todd Gantzer, and Leven Parker.

Catalogue Sales

In reviewing our eBay performance and page traffic for 2023, it was difficult to find a significant contrast from the previous year, with a few key exceptions. 

In 2023 we doubled the number of curated catalogue auction sales for our consignors from the previous year in 2022. Since our inaugural catalogue auction sale in October 2021, we have now held some 44 dedicated traditional auction style catalogue sales.

These catalogues are an innovative sales solution exclusive to NobleSpirit on eBay. The catalogues allow you to see what goes up for sale on eBay, before it goes up for sale on eBay. These catalogues provide the lead time necessary to discover, research, and plan informed buying decisions for highly focused specialized as well as general areas of interest.

Catalogue sales led to an increase in the number of high value items and an increase in the minimum lot value company wide. Each and every catalogue sale brought new buyers to eBay, many of whom were not previously registered on the marketplace. This produced a sizable increase in customer acquisition and retention.

NobleSpirit’s Presence and Sales Numbers

For NobleSpirit, 2023 statistical traffic numbers, quite interestingly remained consistent with the previous year with respect to; 
just over: 120 million impressions 
just over 2 million page views.

However the greatest meaningful difference was fewer items sold: 21,000, with a 160% increased total sales price.

The eBay Impact

With a decrease in overall items sold and an increase in total sales price, this past year represented a shift for the company that we're seeing across all collectibles. Higher value and more curated collectibles are making their way to eBay, the largest collectibles marketplace in the world. eBay continues to be the undisputed leader in collectibles at every level, from hobby to investor. Perhaps the greatest testament to eBay's dominance is the ability of a marketplace to run Stamp, Coin, and Paper Money catalogues side by side in quantifiable ways that are simply not possible on a secular level. It's about the power of numbers.

Over the past 23 years, eBay has perfectly curated the largest collectibles customer base globally. It's in the tens of millions (10,000,000's) simply because collectors love to collect everything where everything lives and breathes. That would be the what, why, and where that more and more companies are realizing to be the essential power and competitive advantage of online marketplaces and digital catalogues.

NobleSpirit in the News: Tewksbury Town Crier, ‘That Coin Collection Could be Valuable”

Here at NobleSpirit, we pride ourselves on helping people find hidden value in the forgotten treasures that have been stashed away in their homes or passed down through generations.

It’s always a delight to receive positive feedback from our clients, and this week, one of those valued clients, Paige Impink, published a story about us and the value you can find in collectibles in the Tewksbury Town Crier. Paige came to us with some stamps and her grandfather’s coin collection in search of a way to “liquidate the cache”.

In the article, Impink says:

“[Joe] Cortese is noted for his transparency and meticulous attention to detail, and treated our humble piles of coins with as much care as if we were numismatists ourselves…Some of the coins were surprisingly valuable.We agreed to consign the collection with the company. And thanks to a customer-facing dashboard, we can watch our items being sold in real-time, track the value, and pass the proceeds on to our mother”

NobleSpirit 2022 Year in Review

NobleSpirit VP, Michael Cortese, held a booth at the Great American Stamp Show in Sacramento, CA in August, 2022.

2022 was one of the most exciting years for growth within the hobby in recent times, invoking renewed interested, invigoration, and innovation throughout. A hobby united under one focus, to improve and adapt to shifting marketplaces and environments. 

For NobleSpirit, it was our best year yet, with respect to growth, service, and advancement within the company. Our catalogue sales solidified themselves as an integral part of our future plans. 

NobleSpirit VP, Michael Cortese, held a booth at the Boxboro Philatelic Show in April, 2022.

Michael Cortese was elected to the board of the American Philatelic Society as Director-At-Large with the intent to aid the hobby, and we welcomed Tor Bjork to our team as a consultant to help further our in-house expertise and bring in new ideas. 

Both within the hobby and outside of it, visibility remains one of the largest battles to fight for those trying to sell material or spread a larger message eliciting support for their club or society. 

In this global issue, eBay’s dominance remains unparalleled. Last year, NobleSpirit accrued 123 Million impressions, with over 2 Million page views. With just under 24,000 items sold, this results in 5,400 impressions and just under 100 unique page views per item, entirely on eBay.

These numbers seem impressive for the hobby, but when reiterated that these were the results of just one company, perfectly exemplify the impact internet marketplaces such as eBay have on philately. It's increasingly difficult to attend a club, auction or show venue without online marketplaces as the central topic of discussion.

While analytics can be interesting and a good cause for reflection, if you do not act on the data it is largely meaningless. That is why driving forward in 2023, our company's goals are to further increase the relevance and discussion around growing online marketplaces as the solution for an evolving hobby, as well as focus on expanding educational opportunities by providing similar events to that of the Bill Crowe event at the Spellman Museum this past December, and raise awareness of the responsibility internet dealers have to the hobby at large.                                                                                           

   - Michael Cortese, NobleSpirit Vice President  

Bill Crowe live expertizing event sponsored by NobleSpirit at the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History in December, 2022.

NobleSpirit Featured Consignor: Lois Regestein

Our July catalogue sale features a coin collection of Rare Date Gold and American Silver Eagles from renown organist, Lois Regestein.

The sale will run July 15th, 2022 – July 30th, 2022

Lois Regestein has been playing the organ for what seems like centuries. She began organ studies at age 12 and played for church services on a transplanted Wurlitzer theater organ at age 13. Hence, she thought that organs included snare drums and cymbals. She played her first solo recital at age 15.

She graduated from Oberlin College and Yale School of Music with a degree in music and organ studies. Thereafter, she served as National Councilor of the Organ Historical Society for four 2-year terms and played concerts at more than 20 OHS national conventions. She served a 2-year term as Dean of the Boston Chapter of the American Guild of Organists – then by far the country’s largest Chapter – and gave concerts at regional and national AGO conventions. She served one term as Executive Director of the Old West Organ Society, often concertizing on the internationally celebrated 1972 Fisk organ there.

Her European concert tours included arduous tours in former East Germany. Lois then arranged concert tours throughout the United States for East German musicians. She has also concertized in West Germany, Italy, Ireland, and Portugal, including the dedicatory first organ concert on a Berlin record producer’s house organ.  

She has performed on the unusually large organs at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, the Medina Temple in Chicago, and Methuen Memorial Music Hall in Massachusetts. At the latter two locations, she performed a “storm piece,” a popular genre during the 19th century that incorporated klieg lights flashing from inside the organ in the darkened hall.

New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York asked Lois to play a program of music from circa 1800, the time of American polymath Charles Wilson Peale and his sons, in conjunction with an exhibit of their paintings. Inspired by the museum’s newly acquired Thomas Appleton organ, she recorded pieces on all seven of the existing Appleton organs in the U.S., scattered from Maine to South Carolina (Raven Records). She has rededicated newly installed 19th century organs at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Yarmouth, ME and Alfred Town Church in Alfred, ME.

Lois has served as organist at First Church in Winchester, MA for 22 years, and the Congregational Church in Auburndale for 10 years, where she arranged installation of an E. and G. G. Hook Organ. She is currently preparing to concertize for the 50th anniversary of that installation. She was also organist at Immaculate Conception Church and St. Thomas Aquinas
Church in Boston, and St. Lawrence Church in Brookline.

Her efforts to preserve the organ at Immaculate Conception earned her the Distinguished Service Award of the OHS. She favors mechanical-action organs, particularly those built by E. and G. G. Hook in the 19th century. She lives in Boston, where she is involved in historic preservation. Coins have been a pleasant diversion. 

Research Experts at NobleSpirit Highlight the Top Online Collectible Blogs for 2021

If you’re passionate about your collections, be they stamps, coins, or other collectibles, then you must be eager to read about the latest news and stay informed about the talk of the town. Collectible blogs are some of the best sources to keep yourself updated about what is going on in the industry. 

Here at NobleSpirit, we deal in a whole manner of rare stamps, coins, and collectibles. Founder Joe Cortese started dealing in stamps from a young age and then eventually expanded his expertise to encompass coins and a wide variety of other collectibles as well. Today, NobleSpirit services thousands of customers and collectors of rare collectibles all over the world, operating as a highly successful eBay business.

When it comes to collecting or dealing in rare collectibles, having knowledge of what you’re working with is key. However, literature and information on any number of items or artifacts may sometimes be scarce in this field. Believe it or not, blogs can be a great source of information, so we took the liberty of putting together a list of some great collectibles blogs that our very own experts here at NobleSpirit are partial to.

The United States Mint

If you’re serious about your coin collection, then The United States Mint should be your first stop to learn not just about the history of the U.S. coins, but also where to purchase them. This is one of those collectible blogs that both novices and experienced collectors will benefit from. The experts at NobleSpirit recommend this website since it’s a valuable resource for learning about medals, engraved prints, paper money, as well as coins. The blog also contains sections about the history of the national mint in the U.S., the artists who have designed coins throughout the years, and a special section for kids.

CoinNews

Collecting coins is not just about the history of the coins, but also about the latest updates, public auction results, and the best price tools to evaluate coins. And that’s what makes CoinNews such a respectable resource for every numismatist worth their salt. The website doesn’t just cover U.S. coins. You’ll also find valuable tools to calculate the value of silver in coins from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand as well. The website also keeps you updated about the latest precious metal prices and offers an inflation calculator and an international currency converter among its many tools.

Newman Numismatic Portal

This portal was started by Eric P. Newman, a passionate numismatist who had devoted his life to collecting, studying, and tracing coins. After selling his coin collection, Newman dedicated some of his resources to the website. It has an encyclopedia for beginners, a list of books for further study and research, and plenty of videos that offer tips for the more advanced collectors. Joe Cortese, the founder of NobleSpirit, considers the media collection to be by far one of the most entertaining and educational aspects of the portal.

PCGS CoinFacts

Since the establishment of the first national mint in 1792, the U.S. has issued numerous coins. Some became instant collectibles while others just unceremoniously went out of circulation. PCGS CoinFacts is a comprehensive encyclopedia of every coin worth mentioning that ever came out of the national mint. The blog details the history, value, coin grades, and public coin auction results. It’s an indispensable resource for all numismatists.

The Spruce

One of the top collectible blogs in 2021, The Spruce, is a blog that informs, educates, and entertains all rolled into one. Joe Cortese, who is the primary numismatic expert here at NobleSpirit, appreciates how some of the blogs offer insights into the best sources to collect coins while others are replete with trivia and anecdotes about everything related to coins and collectibles. The blog also has something for everyone. It teaches beginners the basics while the more seasoned collectors will gain more skill and knowledge about how to evaluate their collections and take care of their collectibles.

How Valuable Is Your Coin Collection? NobleSpirit's Numismatists Offer Insight

Whether you’re starting a coin collection or you already have one, one thing is for sure: there’s more about this hobby than meets the eye. Either way, you still need to familiarize yourself with the basics of coin knowledge and understand not just what makes a coin collectible, but also your collection value.

While NobleSpirit deals in a wide range of collectibles, we specialize in rare stamps and coins. NobleSpirit founder, Joe Cortese, has been collecting and dealing in stamps and coins for over forty years, and has acquired a wealth of knowledge and experience along the way. If you’re thinking about investing in numismatics, or you already have a coin collection but aren’t sure how to best determine its value, we have a staff of numismatic experts that are here to offer some insight.

Types of Coins

In the world of rare coins, not all coins are collectibles. According to Joe Cortese, the founder of NobleSpirit, there are four main types of collectible coins. The first is gold. Gold coins are usually issued in small numbers to increase their value as collectibles. The highest standard for gold purity is 99999.

Silver coins with 99.999% purity are in high demand by coin collectors. Silver requires little maintenance and can endure extreme temperatures. Another silvery metal, platinum, shares some of the best qualities of gold, including its high resistance to rust and decay.

The fourth type of collectibles are innovative coins. Their inherent value doesn’t come from the type of metal but the artwork and design. These coins often have multiple colors and holograms, high relief, and plasma effects. If your coin collection falls under one or more of these types, chances are your collectibles are highly valuable.  

Coins Worth Collecting

In the world of collectibles, the rarer the coin, the higher its value. Even if the coin doesn’t belong to any of the above four types, its scarcity will make it an instant collectible sought after by collectors. For this reason, the numismatists at NobleSpirit place a high value on 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln Cent. It’s a one-cent coin with the initials of its designer, Victor David Brenner, at the back. Joe Cortese, who has been dealing in rare coins for over four decades, advises coin collectors to start their collection with Lincoln pennies and if you happen to come across the 1909-S VDB, the value of your collection will skyrocket overnight.

Other rare coins worth collecting include the 1921 Peace Dollar, a silver dollar designed by Anthony DeFrancisci to commemorate the end of WWI. The 1916-D Mercury Dime, a product of the Denver mint with only 264,000 coins in circulation at the time, is another sought-after rare coin. And also, be on the lookout for either the 1917 Standing Liberty Quarter or the 1932-D Washington Quarter. They will cost you a pretty penny, but their value and prestige are preserved over time.

NobleSpirit Explains How to Care for Your Valuable Coin Collection

Joe Cortese is the head numismatist here at NobleSpirit, and he always stresses the importance of caring for your collectibles and rare coins to maintain the collection value over time. The way you handle and store your coins plays a big role in preservation. You should always use cotton gloves and avoid touching the coins with your bare hands. Don’t use latex gloves, since they’re covered with powder or chemical lubricants that can be deposited onto the surface of the coin.

Hold your coin gently by the edges between your thumb and forefinger and never hold it by the reverse or obverse surfaces. Finally, you should never try to clean your coins yourself. That could damage the finish of the coins and decrease their value. You should always send your coins out to be cleaned by a professional service that specializes in rare numismatic material.

Starting a Stamp Collection? Philatelic Experts at NobleSpirit Offer Advice to Beginners

Stamp collecting is more than just a hobby. It’s a never-ending adventure exploring the rich tapestry of different cultures and countries all over the world. If you’re just taking your first steps into stamp collecting, you need a guide to walk you through the intricacies of this colorful journey.

Here at NobleSpirit, we deal in all kinds of collectibles, but specialize in rare stamps and coins. Company founder Joseph Cortese began collecting stamps from a young age, and as he expanded his expertise and founded NobleSpirit, he grew the company to be one of the most successful online businesses in the history of eBay. Now our team includes several philatelic experts and researchers, who have a wealth of knowledge and advice to offer beginner and seasoned collectors alike.

What is Stamp Collecting?

Stamp collecting is the art of delving deep into every culture, learning more about it, and getting an intimate look into the lives and artwork of diverse peoples and cultures. Stamp collectors, or philatelists as we like to call ourselves, don’t just collect stamps. All things related to the mail and postage are considered collectibles. This includes envelopes, covers, postage meters, revenue stamps, Christmas Seals, and mail markings, explains Joe Cortese.

What makes stamp collecting such a popular hobby is that it’s a flexible pastime that suits every age. It doesn’t have a steep learning curve, nor does it require special tools or equipment. Anybody can start this hobby and watch their stamp collection grow over time. So the question is, are all stamps collectible? And if not, which stamps should a beginner focus on?

Which Stamps Should You Collect?

According to the philatelic experts here at NobleSpirit, you should start a stamp collection that matches your interests. Some collectors gather stamps from all over the world, while others only focus on certain countries or regions that they have a keen interest in. However, you might find it hard to get many stamps from a specific country. So, Joe Cortese’s advice for beginners is to cast a wide net, collect as many stamps as you can, and build your collection. Then you can narrow your scope to the categories or countries that interest you.

The more time you spend building your stamp collection, the better you get at appreciating the different stamp classifications out there. Some collectors prefer mint stamps, while others only collect used ones. And then there are those who specialize in coil stamps used to pay for special services or deliveries. It all comes down to your personal preferences.

NobleSpirit Discusses Where To Find Stamps

With emails becoming ubiquitous, you might think that stamps are going out of fashion or are on their way to becoming extinct. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Believe it or not, stamps are alive and well. According to the experts at NobleSpirit, you won’t have to go out of your way to find stamps. Just a small trip to your mailbox or your local post office would yield a decent trove of stamps. If you fancy stamps from different countries, then pen pals are your best option. Not only will you ensure a steady stream of exotic stamps all year round, but you’ll also make new friends along the way.

There are also other ways to get your hands on stamps. You can subscribe to newsletters from local businesses and encourage your friends and family to go back to old-fashioned snail mail. And, there’s always the option to join local stamp clubs to trade stamps and brag about your stamp collection with other like-minded philatelists.

Announcing an Exciting New Partnership: NobleSpirit and the Spellman Museum

We are thrilled to announce an exciting new partnership between NobleSpirit and the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History. NobleSpirit is proud to have been selected as the official event sponsor for The Spellman Museum in 2021.

These two organizations have enjoyed a long and flourishing relationship, with the Spellman Executive Director, Joe Mullin, appearing as a guest on Conversations with Philatelists, which is co-hosted by NobleSpirit vice president, Michael Cortese. This new partnership will not only further strengthen an already prospering professional relationship, but also benefit the philatelic community greatly.

Located in Weston, MA, The Spellman Museum first opened in 1963, and is home to many interesting exhibits of postal history. The museum hosts events throughout the year to benefit the public, including philatelic symposiums, various stamp shows, youth programs, and special featured exhibits.

 NobleSpirit is excited to take part in this partnership and contribute to events that will educate and engage the philatelic community both young and old.

“It is a thrill to partner with our good friends at the Spellman Museum. Each and every day, their efforts make a huge difference in the hobby as they cultivate new generations of young collectors. It is humbling to be a part of such an experience.”

— Joseph Cortese, President of NobleSpirit

Conversations with Philatelists Wins 2020 Creative Concept of the Year PTS Award

We are thrilled to announce that Conversations with Philatelists has won the Philatelic Traders’ Society 2020 Creative Concept of the Year Award!

This award is a huge honor for both Michael Cortese of NobleSpirit, and Charles Epting of HR Harmer. The Creative Concept of the Year Award “celebrates the best innovations in philately – for the trade and the hobby.” This was the most competitive category of the awards this year, receiving eleven nominations in total. Michael and Charles received very honorable praise from the award judges, Scott English and Chris King:

“I always like to brag about Charles and Michael because they are both alum of our Young Philatelic Leader’s Fellowship, and that’s a program we do here at the APS. Now, we didn’t make them great, we just let the rest of the hobby know how great they are. They should be very proud of how far they’ve come so far, and the accomplishments they’ve made. They’ve done a phenomenal job with Conversations with Philatelists, because they touch on the community aspect of the hobby that we all know and love. Both Michael and Charles have an intuitive sense of blending a good knowledge of philately and a very warm presence to make people comfortable to share more than just the stamps.”

— Scott English, President of the American Philatelic Society (APS)

“Anyone who can bring Daisy Todd and Gordon Eubanks into the same series has done brilliantly well. And bringing these people into our studies, into our stamp rooms, into our homes, during the pandemic has been absolutely fantastic...Wonderful, wonderful work.”

— Chris King, Former President of the Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL)

Congratulations to the Runner-Ups in the Creative Concept of the Year category:

• The Royal Philatelic Society of London

  For their fast-acting movement to launch virtual content and meetings for their members, encouraging people to engage with the hobby.

• The Museum of Philately

  The Museum of Philately provides an abundance of information and digital access to private collections for hobbyists.

Also a huge congratulations to the other category winners:

• Ambassador of the Year: Markand Dave and Bill Barrell

• Legacy Champion of the Year: Graham Beck

• PTS Contributor of the Year: Spink Auctions

How To Sell a Stamp Collection

Stamp collecting is one of those hobbies that can creep up on you over the years. One minute you’ve just begun, and before you know it, you have piles of stamp albums sitting in the attic that you haven’t looked at in years. Whether you’re a stamp collector who wants to cash in on your hobby, or you have recently inherited a collection, there are numerous avenues through which you can sell a large stamp collection. But if you’re not heavily engulfed in the world of stamp trading, it might be difficult to iron out which option is the best one for you.

While it might be alluring to try and sell your collection yourself through means such as eBay or Etsy, we only recommend doing so if you are a truly experienced philatelist and stamp dealer. Determining the true value and condition of stamps requires an expert eye and years of experience in the field, without which you will likely be at a loss when it comes to describing and pricing your items correctly.

With that in mind, the three easiest ways to sell a stamp collection are: to a private dealer, through an auction house, or consignment. Before we take a closer look at the pros and cons of each option, we’ll walk you through some key tips to help you prepare your collection for a quick and painless sale.

Preparing Your Collection for Sale

The amount of work required to prepare your collection for sale can vary greatly depending on the size of it, and whether or not you have kept it organized over the years. Nevertheless, there are few key steps you can take to ensure for a quick and easy selling process.

Size up The Collection

If you’re a stamp collector, you likely already know what’s in your collection, the size of it, and how it’s organized. However, if you have inherited a stamp collection, you may need to spend a little time determining the true size of the collection. If you’re not an experienced stamp collector, we recommend that you actually don’t try to organize the collection yourself, as you may end up damaging rare or valuable stamps accidentally, which is easy to do.

However, you should definitely take stock of the size of the collection, and what it’s composed of. How many albums, stock books, or binders are there? Have a peek inside the albums to determine what kind of stamps there are, such as countries or topicals (animals, sports, space, etc.). Are there boxes of loose stamps? Being able to answer all of these questions will allow you to better describe the collection to interested parties before they travel to view it.

Take Photos

This one is super important. In order to attract potential buyers, you should take photos of the collection. Having these photos on hand will come in handy when you want to advertise the collection for sale and talk to dealers about an appraisal.

We’re not suggesting you take a picture of every page in every album, but 10-20 photos will provide potential buyers with a general idea of the size and what the collection contains, so they can determine whether or not they’re really interested in it before traveling to see it.

Sell Your Stamp Collection to a Private Dealer

Selling your stamp collection to a private dealer is definitely one of the easiest options if you’re looking to unload the entire collection in one go. Dealers will often post ads looking for collections, such as on Craigslist or in your local paper. However, stamp dealers also often browse these resources looking for people who are advertising a collection for sale, so make sure you take photos of your collection and post it online for people to find. Facebook Marketplace is also a great place to advertise your stamp collection.

Serious stamp dealers travel all over the country (and all over the world) to look at collections they’re interested in buying, so don’t limit yourself to just your local area. When a dealer comes to appraise your collection, they will likely spend some time looking at it before providing a final estimation of value and making an offer. Some dealers may charge a fee to appraise your collection, while others will do it for free.

While this might seem like the most alluring option for selling your stamp collection, there are a few pros and cons to taking this route.

Pros

• You receive one large lump sum for your collection.

• The selling process is made easy, as the entire collection is sold in one go.

Cons

• Trying to sell the entire collection as a whole may take longer, especially if it is particularly large. Many dealers do not have the capital to purchase a large collection.

• In the long run, you may receive less money for your collection than you would have through other methods of sale, such as consignment or auction.
  

Consign Your Stamp Collection

When you meet with private stamp dealers, they may offer you a consignment contract in lieu of purchasing the entire collection outright. When you consign a stamp collection, the dealer essentially sells the collection for you.

How Does Consigning a Stamp Collection Work?

The dealer breaks up the stamp collection into small lots to maximize its value and selling potential. This is something that can only effectively be done by true experts in the field of philately, who know how to sell stamp materials in a way that maximizes value. They handle the entire selling and fulfillment process – from listing the item for sale, to payment, shipping, and customer service. Every time one of your items is sold, you’ll receive a payment for it (keeping in mind consignment dealers generally pay out every 1-3 months, so you’ll likely receive large installments every couple months, rather than lots of individual little payments every week).

Basically, you get to sit back and let the dealer handle the whole thing for you, while you periodically receive a check in the mail. Of course, the dealer has to get something out of this arrangement, so they usually take a commission rate out of the final sale price. The commission rate generally covers all the time and effort the dealer puts in sorting, selling, and shipping your goods, while ensuring they see a small profit as well.

Consigning is a particularly good option for those who have a large stamp collection, because even after the dealer takes their commission, you will likely receive more money in the long run for yours goods than if you sold the entire collection as one lot.

Transparency is Key

If you’re considering consigning your collection, it’s important to partner with a dealer who you can trust. It’s not an easy thing to hand over your cash cow without receiving any immediate money-in-hand. This is where seller transparency comes into play. Some dealers will offer full transparency to their consignors, allowing them to oversee the entire selling process, so they know which items sell when, and for how much.

For example, here at NobleSpirit, we use an in-house software designed specifically for providing transparency to our consignors: Meridian.
With Meridian, each of our consignors has their own individual portal where they can log in to check in on how the selling process is going for their collection, and how much they can expect in their next payment installment.

Pros

• If you have a large collection, you will likely get more money from consigning than selling the entire collection as one lot, because it will be broken up into smaller lots to maximize value.

• You gain access to a much bigger market audience for selling your collection, as a reputable dealer often has thousands of customers whom they sell to.

• It’s a truly easy selling process for you, in which the dealer handles preparing the collection, selling it, shipping it, and all buyer relations.

• Full transparency between dealer and consignor allows you to oversee sales.

Cons

• The dealer takes a commission rate.

• You may wait longer for your entire collection to be completely sold, and will receive periodic installments instead of one large payment.

Sell Your Collection Through a Stamp Auction House

Selling your stamp collection through an auction house is very similar to selling it through consignment, with a few key differences. The process is largely the same; the auction house handles everything when it comes to handling and selling the collection. They also take a commission rate just as a stamp dealer does, though it’s usually a smaller percentage. Similar to a consignor, the auction house will break your collection up into smaller lots, and you’ll reach a large audience of interested buyers.

the Differences Between a Stamp Auction House and Consigning with a stamp dealer

There are several key differences when choosing to sell your stamp collection through an auction house vs. consigning with private dealer.

First and foremost, the break-up of lot sizes differs greatly. While auction houses will be hard-pressed to break materials up into lots that are worth less than $250, a private dealer may choose to break a collection down into much smaller lots that are worth just $50 or less. Breaking down the collection into much smaller lots actually allows the dealer to extract the whole value of the collection, so you end up receiving more money in the long run.

Secondly, auction houses don’t offer the transparency that some dealers offer to their consignors. With tools such as Meridian, consignors can easily track the selling process, and are allowed full clarity into how their collection is broken up, and how it’s being sold. When you sell to an auction house, they generally advertise the materials being sold in an upcoming auctions through an auction catalogue. More often than not, you don’t know how your collection will be broken up and sold until that catalogue is published for public view.

Speaking of catalogues, that brings us to lead time. Auction houses plan out auctions months in advance, and a lot of time goes into it. After your collection is handed over to the auction house, it may not be offered up for sale for months. In general, 7-9 months could pass before you see any money for your stamps. When you consign to a private stamp dealer, however, the lead time is generally much smaller – usually just 3-4 months. This is because private dealers don’t spend time planning out big auctions and publishing catalogues to advertise the sale.

Finally, while many private stamp dealers have strong reputations within the philatelic community, it’s hard to beat the respected institution of auction houses, such as H.R. Harmer and Siegel Auctions. While both parties reach a large audience of customers, the respected reputation of auction houses draws in big name clients.

Pros

• Auction houses generally take a smaller commission rate than dealers.

• Auction houses have strong, respected reputations within the market.

Cons

• Longer lead time between handing over your collection and receiving payment.

• Your collection may receive less than its true potential value.

• Lack of complete transparency for the consignor.
  

Choose the Best Option For You

It’s important to remember that there’s no wrong way to sell your stamp collection, you just need to choose which option is the best for you. Also, this can be largely dependent on availability and the offers you receive. While an auction house may not be interested in taking on your collection, a private dealer might be interested in, or vice-versa. While selling your collection as one giant lot can be alluring, there are also some real advantages to consignment and the stamp auction house route, taking into consideration lead times and varying commission rates.

Keep in mind that selling a stamp collection can take time, so you’ll need to be patient with the process.

NobleSpirit Celebrates 22 Successful Years on eBay!

Today, September 28, 2020
marks our 22nd Anniversary on eBay!
 

From (0) Feedback to nearly 1/2 million sales!

When we bought our old rambling New England colonial farm house built in 1787, we found this Civil War soldier's pocket bible on a ledge of the old barn attached to the house. Normally, one would keep such a historically as well as personally significant antiquity. Instead, we had a mission for the bible. We sent it on a journey of good fortune to launch our new inaugural business on eBay.

Some 440,000 eBay sales ago, this was our first ever sale. I remember our first sale on eBay as though it was yesterday. 

Within the retaining brand, the front inside leaves were inscribed:

“This book went through the Great Rebellion with its owner, A.W. Bartlett. Bought in the city of Concord, 1862”

— A.W. Bartlett

It was instantly clear that eBay not only captured our target demographic collector/investor, it encompassed the perfect auction model within a vibrant and comprehensive vertical and lateral cross merchandising marketplace. Soon after we decided eBay delivered a perfect global distribution system, we started to replace all those staples in the top left margin by investing many $100,000's in our Meridian software. It was a time well before professional business solutions existed on eBay around the turn of the century. Where each staple told an admin story, technology made it possible to run complex operations with seamless automation.  Once we noticed the astonishing loyalty that provided unprecedented consistent daily, weekly and monthly traffic, we committed 100% to the platform. Exclusively. Who wouldn't when customers are in the 10's of millions and page views are in the hundred's of millions!

Our eBay NobleSpirit username was adopted from a boat I named in my father's memory. It was fitting that the business he fostered should continue his legacy.

Prior to eBay, dealing in stamps here in the US and abroad, Europe, South America, Middle East, and beyond meant that if you weren't prepared to drive 100's of miles or fly 1,000's of miles,  you weren't in the stamp business. This was the norm for NobleSpirit for decades before eBay provided global access at one's fingertips.
 
It was 1997 on an overnight sleeper train on one of my regular trips to visit with clients in Florida that I found myself sharing a dinner table with the Chief Marketing Officer of Amtrack. The usual exchange of queries regarding respective occupations, led him to share his story describing how he spent his free time selling his military memorabilia on eBay, which was on the Internet.

"What's an eBay?", I exclaimed.
"You just take photos, create the listing, and the checks just keep rolling in...", he explained calmly.

To be sure, on reflection, I now feel delighted, I never followed with a question asking, "What is an Internet?"
 
It wasn't until a full year later on this very day in 1998 that I decided to see what all the eBay chatter was about. The journey from (0) feedback to (100,000) plus does not actually tell the full story.

The reality is many 100,000's of sales to over 150,000 customers in nearly 80 countries around the globe, encompassing 100's of millions (100,000,000's) of page views over the years. We ship 55,000+ packages a year.

If there is any doubt that eBay has fundamentally reconfigured the stamp industry at its very core, think again. With over 200 million sales in stamps, eBay has sold more stamps for more money than all other secular markets combined over the last 22 years. You can actually now search Stamp Market Index to access each and every one of those sales.

That eBay has transformed our industry along with virtually every other collectibles sector and maintains the leading first mover role is indisputable.
 

It has been an incredible journey on eBay since that remarkable dial-up modem started screaming for a better way to communicate on this day back in 1998. In 2003, I founded a trade organization of professional eBay merchants. The Professional eBay Sellers Alliance (PESA). We amassed over 8,000 members world wide turning over some $20Billion GMV. We held 12 conferences in the US and Australia. It was a first of its kind organization that shaped how marketplaces would draw benefit from uniquely qualified engagement with its merchant and service provider resource. Several eBay Presidents delivered powerful keynotes, bringing their C-Suite management teams with them at these summits to tap into the vast seller base knowledge bank of experience and expertise that drives the eBay engine at its core. 

That the possibilities are limitless going forward regarding the core foundation and innovation that will continue to put the global eBay marketplace at the fore of the stamp industry is a factual certainty.

NobleSpirit in the News: USA Today and the Union Leader on USPS Delays

“In this 2019 photo, Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-NH, tours the inside of NobleSpirit — a Pittsfield-based eBay seller of rare stamps, coins and antiques — with the business’s managing partner, Joe Cortese. Cortese spoke with Hassan during a recent roundtable on the impacts to businesses caused by the USPS slowdown.” – NH Union Leader

NobleSpirit founder, Joseph Cortese, was recently interviewed for a number of articles about how the recent USPS deficit has caused delays and impacted business.

Here at NobleSpirit, we have an entire department dedicated to packing and shipping goods to our customers, sending out an average of over one hundred packages every day. Needless to say, we do a lot of work with the U.S. Postal Service, and when they’re not operating smoothly, that not only causes issues for NobleSpirit, but for all small online businesses that depend upon shipping services.

Read the articles here:

USA Today: ‘Like Somebody Turned Off a Switch’: Small Businesses Say USPS Delays Are Hitting Them Hard

“For rural businesses like NobleSpirit, the USPS is a lifeline.”

Union Leader: NH Businesses Hit By USPS Slowdown, Pols Push For Solutions

“Think about how much money is frozen out of the economy when that economic machine stops moving because somebody unplugged a sorting machine somewhere.” – JC

The eBay Content Cycle Catalyst

The future of the stamp industry is a fundamentally exciting and necessary conversation we should all be having more often. The stamp industry encompasses a wide spectrum of interest, across a vast series of platform engagement vehicles, from ecommerce, to clubs, shows, discussion forums, traditional auctions, and so on, and so on. Central to any discussion of online engagement, we are compelled to acknowledge eBay as not only the prime mover in that space but, clearly elemental in dramatically reshaping the entire industry.

Stamp Market Index notes with interest that with over 200,000,000 (two hundred million) stamp sales since its inception up to and including values into the $100,000's (hundred's of thousands of dollars) for some of the highest price sales ever recorded for singles and/or collections, eBay is arguably the epicenter of the stamp industry.

At these levels, eBay's role, impact and influence going forward in the industry is undeniable. We are convinced eBay's profound marketplace layers of cross merchandising, ease of global access, zero barrier to entry and frictionless adoption has been and will continue to be a foundational distribution network for any serious stamp business or stamp collector.

It happens every day on eBay.

So, if you miss a day, you might miss a spectacular opportunity. It may be a great rarity that has eluded your best efforts and years of searching. Or it may be an exhilarating collection that promises to be the chance of a lifetime.

The eBay content cycle is a daily catalyst.

It's a 7 day window of opportunity. Not monthly, not bi-annual. The benefit of being there every day, can pay huge dividends.

Whereas, traditional auction houses can take weeks or months to process and prepare material, that in many cases is designated for targeted, audiences, eBay auctions tap into the true nature of the thrill of the hunt. The serendipitous experience of browsing eBay's auctions daily contrasts with traditional auction sales of targeted specialized areas interest.

As we now encounter a new world where every human being on the planet has been impacted in some way or another, traditional auction houses are only now discovering and understanding those fundamental experiences that eBay pioneered over 20 years ago.

We're also proud to mention that the experience of viewing 100's of photos on many of our NobleSpirit(collections and mixed lot) listing, in many ways surpasses traditional first hand experience, because the levels of information and engagement amount to far in excess of first hand handling constraints. Even photos of individual stamps we sell on eBay provide immeasurable information on condition that is simply not feasible during first hand viewing.
 

In the coming weeks we have invited a renowned author, whom has spent decades establishing the tangible values for asset class investment grade stamps to join us on eBay to assemble clusters of recommended stamps based on their historical performance.

It was eBay that changed everything.

Just over 20 years ago, a declining stamp, coin and collectibles industry was transformed overnight by eBay's frictionless global access to world markets. Today, as stamp shows close for business, traditional auction companies along with clubs and all other manner of gatherings place indefinite postponements or cancellations of their scheduled events, it is eBay that has; and, will continue to change everything going forward.
 

The migration from the real world to the virtual world has already commenced, and in many respects will probably never return to the world as we once knew it. Not only do we see a tremendous surge of adoption to stamp collecting by younger generations born and raised on the Internet, those of us with our fair share of grey locks certainly plan to take extra precautions before venturing out for safety's sake. As masses of dealers and collectors once again descend on eBay, as they did all those years ago, so also is that shift taking place now, like never before. Like never before, eBay has never been so relevant for our industry or so profound and necessary for any aspiring entrepreneur with a dream.

What the Analysts are saying about eBay

4/13/20 "Our proprietary tracker of eBay.com GMV suggests that volumes increased both on a dollar and Y/Y growth basis since late March (three consecutive weeks of volume growth), reaching the highest level of growth in our tracker in more than a year."

4/9/20 "More broadly, we believe eBay has a competitive advantage in e-commerce outside of "new in-season" products, which is largely the domain of eBay's individual and SMB seller base."