Are you a sports memorabilia collector?  If so, you might be surprised at how much the value can climb by the time you choose to sell.  On the other hand, your special collection could decrease in value.

Avoid Disappointment.

We have all heard stories about enterprising kids who get involved in sports card collecting.  With the promise that the sports cards are worth a great deal of money and will be worth a fortune in the future, these youngsters buy boxes of cards that are supposed to be a really great deal.  Most of these are fakes and worthless … and a waste of a young person’s long saved allowance.  When you buy a ‘group’ of sports collectible items, beware of this type of scam.  The appraisal value will be 0!

For the serious sports collector, an appraisal is essential.    People just breaking into the collectibles business are often sorely disappointed because they did not get their items appraised for value before selling. They discover after the fact that they sold their memorabilia for just a fraction of their worth.

Where to Have Sports Memorabilia Appraised.

Some reputable sports memorabilia appraisers include:

• AllAuthentic Sports Memorabilia — This organization is staffed with professionals who can provide references and offer instant appraisals.
• Vintage Sports Memorabilia Appraisals — Vintage Sports has a sports artifacts library for thousands of vintage sports items.  The company prefers to work by email. Requests for information should be limited to two items that are older than 1980.
• Krause Standard Catalog of Sports Memorabilia Price Guide.
• Robert Connely holds clinics about appraisals.  He’s a member of the American Society of Appraisers and was honored by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
• Founded in 1992, American Legends provides paid appraisals.
• Sports Memorabilia Appraisal Expert Witness provides a tollfree phone number and volunteers background information to help give reference to its value as an appraisal business.

Appraisals Will Help Establish Insurance Values.

Not only are appraisals of your sports memorabilia important to determine resale value, but if you have valuable collectibles, you will want to have your valuable insured.  Insurance companies will be more willing to recognize the claimed value if you have had an appraisal done.  Make sure you have documented proof.

Is the Price Right?  What Are the Standards?

Courts, banks, insurance companies, auctions houses and even the IRS recognize the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice.  Don’t just depend on a local sports shop or the first available appraiser you come across if you are thinking about selling your sports memorabilia.

In the case of very valuable sports collectibles and memorabilia, it is worth the additional cost to pay for more than one appraisal.  Before selling, realize that prices will change.  If you had an appraisal done several years ago but decided to hang onto your sports memorabilia, you should get the updated value before selling.

Some Tips About Sports Memorabilia and Collectibles.

• Collectibles that have to do with retired players will hold their value better. This is because once retired, the player’s status is not going to change.
• Sweat stains do not necessarily make a jersey authentic.  Anyone can wear a jersey long enough to sweat in it and try to pass it off as the real thing.
• Watch for smudged autographs, dog-eared pages in books, worn edges on cards.
• There is a system with trading cards called grading.  A graded card has a more reasonable guarantee of authenticity.  Graded cards are sealed to discourage card switching, a low tactic of some sellers.  The appraiser will recognize graded cards and their value.

Want to know more?  Discover some more tips about antiquing and collectibles at the Blurbosphere.