Consignment process
Unlock the full value of your collection.
Consignment – by post or in person
The easiest way is to send your stamps by post to Wiesbaden. Of course, after prior arrangement, your shipment will be separately insured during transport. You are also welcome to schedule a personal appointment for the handover of your collection – either at our offices in Wiesbaden or, for larger collections, at your home or another location of your choice.
Philatelic processing – detailed lots or entire collections?
After the consignment is received, the core of our service begins – the expert philatelic processing of your collection by our specialists.
Sellers often ask us at the outset: should the collection be offered as individual lots or as a complete collection? Based on our expertise and many years of experience, we know that for traditional country collections, the highlight items should be offered individually, as collectors tend to focus on the stamps missing from their own collections and are prepared to bid competitively on those.
For this reason, we usually break down specialised collections, which often consist of significant items, into detailed individual lots. Stamps that are susceptible to forgery and require certification by a recognised expert to achieve the best sale results are, by prior agreement, submitted for expertisation before the auction. The resulting expertising fees are deducted from the final auction proceeds of the philatelic treasures.
The auction catalogue – the heart of a professional presentation with editorial and emotional value
Around four weeks before the auction, we distribute our auction catalogues worldwide. As a consignor, you will receive in advance a list of the lot numbers under which your stamps and collections will appear in the catalogue. This also gives you the opportunity to review the philatelic descriptions of your lots before publication.
The experts at Heinrich Köhler provide consultation, valuation, and detailed descriptions for a wide range of collecting areas, drawing on their decades of experience and exceptional philatelic expertise. We reach many thousands of international clients. German areas are described in German, while non-German areas and collections are described in English. When the market demands it, specific specialised fields are additionally translated into the respective local language.
Our high-quality catalogues feature first-class reproductions of stamps and covers, accompanied by expert descriptions of their philatelic and postal history significance. Editorial features and evocative historical illustrations complete the overall presentation. The printed catalogues are, of course, complemented by digital formats that include search functions and often provide additional images of the lots.
An especially important aspect of our emotionally engaging presentation is storytelling. The fact is: philatelists collect history and stories. Learn more about our professional presentation of your consignment here.
The auction – experience it live and share the excitement
From the auction catalogue, you can find the day on which the lots containing your stamps will be offered for sale. The auctions are usually held in our own premises in Wiesbaden. You are, of course, welcome to attend the auction in person and follow the proceedings. However, there is no need to travel to Wiesbaden – you can also join digitally via online live bidding and experience the auction in real time through live video and audio streaming.
The results and payment of proceeds
The hammer prices achieved are published on our website the very next day. Only a few weeks after the auction, we transfer to you the proceeds from the sale of your consignment. We charge a success-based commission on the hammer prices, which is deducted from the payment. We look forward to working with you and thank you in advance for your trust!
What happens next? The choice is yours.
Home visit
Would you like to have your treasures appraised? Our experts will be happy to visit you.
Callback
Would you like to know the value of your items? Schedule a callback now and have your treasures appraised free of charge by our experts.
Estimate
Do you know the true value of your items? With us, you can have your treasures appraised free of charge. Take advantage of our expertise and discover the real worth of your collection.