Expert Appraisals

Where should I bring the collection?

In person, Stamp Appraisals are at 399 Strand. Please call the buyers department direct for information and to book an appointment. Tel 020 7836 8444
Address; 1st floor reception, Stanley Gibbons Ltd, 399 Strand, London, WC2R 0LX.

PLEASE NOTE THIS SERVICE IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

What will it cost me?

This depends of the type of appraisal required.
An on-the-spot assessment costs £5.00 inclusive of VAT, this should tell you whether the collection has value and is saleable. If the collection is entrusted to Stanley Gibbons for a more detailed verbal assessment the charge is £15.00, or £25.00 if a confirmation in writing is required.
Written Insurance and Probate valuations are charged at 2.5% of the stated value with a minimum charge of £100.00, these fees are subject to VAT at the standard rate.

Appraisals charges, where material is purchased, placed into Stanley Gibbons auction or donated to charity, are refunded or not charged.

If I entrust my collection to you how long will the valuation take?

This varies depending on our workload, however it is normally best to allow two to three weeks.

If I live in the UK but cannot bring the collection to London, what are the alternatives?

The collection can be sent to us by post, or courier, to Buying Department, Stanley Gibbons Ltd, 399 Strand, London, WC2R 0LX. Please make sure each parcel of the consignment has a covering letter in with details of how many parcels in the consignment.

If required we can arrange collection from you by Parcel Force. The charge for this is £15.00 per package per journey, you would need to pack the material into a secure box or case, enclose a covering letter and label the outside with our name and address (for each parcel in a consignment). The box should be sealed. Please note that each package can weigh up to 25 kilos.

Or you can check our Roadshows to see if we will be in your area soon.

If we are not in your area soon please let us know where you are and we will invite you along to a roadshow when we are in your area. Please click here to leave full address details and some details of the collection you have for sale.

If I live abroad are there any import restrictions on bringing or sending stamps into the United Kingdom?

Residents of European Union countries may bring or send stamps into the UK, providing any VAT or other local taxes have been paid in the country of origin.

Material sent or brought into the UK from outside the European Union is subject to VAT at the standard rate (currently 20%). Packages sent to Stanley Gibbons should bear our VAT registration # 239 0883 41. If the declared value is over £1300 the package should also bear our VAT deferment # 841 31 00. Failure to do this may result in the package being impounded by UK Customs & Excise. Please make sure each parcel of the consignment has these detail on the package and a covering letter inside with details of how many parcels in the consignment. This way we know when we have received the full consignment.