Insuring your collection

The following information is provided to educate and inform. eBay™ is not liable or responsible for any type of damage or loss caused, or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly, by the information below.

New collectors usually don't need to insure their collection. Most beginners do not have a particularly valuable collection.

When insurance is necessary, however, you should make sure that you have enough insurance on your stamp collection. Check your home contents insurance policy to see if you have enough coverage. Many policies will insure specific categories of items only up to a certain amount. Ask your insurance company for specific details and advice.

Since many insurance companies will reimburse you for the replacement value of a stamp collection or individual stamp, save magazines or catalogues that include values. If you got a great price at an eBay auction, make sure that, if anything happened to the stamp, you can easily get a replacement and not rely on getting that great sale price again. Some companies may require a professional appraisal, which may be very worthwhile for an especially valuable stamp.

Save all your receipts for your stamps, and you may want to photograph your stamps. Keep a file of your stamps with a detailed description of each stamp and of how you acquired it (details include from whom you purchased the stamp and when you purchased it). Keep track of any repairs or enhancements that you make to the stamp. You may need to provide proof to your insurance company that your new, improved stamp is still the same stamp that you purchased previously.