new seller queries

I am about to begin selling on Delcampe and am waiting for my code to set up an account / store from which to sell. In the meantime seeing as though I will have a lot of entries (pictures) to go into the store I am wondering how to prepare my stamp pics. Do I photograph each stamp/ block etc individually or do I prepare a sheet like a hagner sheet with the stamps inserted and then scan the sheet.
I look forward to any members advice, kind regards Russell

When I was selling on Delcampe (before the new charges) I used a hagner-type sheet, scanned the whole sheet into a photo program and crop each individual stamp. Then save the cropped stamp using a reference number to identify the stamp if you sell it. When you start to sell you can upload the saved pictures into your sale listing
Hope this helps.

From a buyer's perspective, my advice would be:-

i) For stamps and postcards, always use a flatbed scanner to capture your images.
Camera photos for these items always look wrong due to distortions produced from the angle of capture, and blurry images produced from mobile phones just reek of desperation. Photos taken of items on the kitchen table, or on the bedspread, tell buyers all they need to know about the amateurism of the seller!

ii) Always use a black background to provide contrast to your item.
This can be a simple stockcard or stocksheet for stamps, or a scan of the stamp in a single mount. However, make sure the stocksheet/stockcard is clean and does not contain visible dust, stray hairs, or have ink writing on the cellophane front covering the stamps.
Alternatively, it is often preferable to use a hangar sheet that does not have a front to it which might otherwise obscure the resultant image of the item itself.
Remember that perforation/margins on stamps need to be clearly visible, so that white backgrounds are generally not acceptable. Other coloured backgrounds are simply naff and are a real turn-off for serious buyers.

iii) Scan items at a resolution of at least 150dpi.
For specialist items where plate flaws, postmarks etc. might be of interest, then this should be at 600dpi. Don't worry about the size of the resultant images as I believe that Delcampe will automatically scale these down to thumbnail size to fit the auction format. The importance of high resolution scans is that buyers can then enlarge the images to get a more detailed view that is not readily apparent in the thumbnail.

iv) Take some time to learn how to use your scanner software properly.
Images need to be cropped so that the amount of background to the actual item is minimised. Some clowns on here submit images of a whole stocksheet containing a single stamp on it - so that even on enlargement you cannot see the stamp itself. This is just lazy and self-defeating preparation by those sellers.
Accept the fact that preparation of appropriate images takes time.

v) Probably the quickest way to scan multiple lots of single stamps is to lay a selection of these out on a single sheet, scan the whole sheet as a single image, and then cut out sections of this to save as separate images for each item. Hence the need to learn how to use the facilities of your scanner software correctly.

vi) Before posting, always check the quality of your images, and after posting always check that the correct images have been linked with the appropriate auctions.

vii) Always scan the actual item itself, as the image serves as part of the item's description.
Library images, or the repeated use of the same image for multiple copies of the same stamp, are generally not acceptable for most buyers.

viii) Where necessary, don't skimp on producing an additional scan of the reverse of your item.
This is useful where any cancellation makes the perforations look short against a black background, or where the stamp has control figures, advertisements, or authenticating marks on the back - which may be critical for its identification.

Hope this is useful. Good luck!

I agree with all the above but would add (i) scan single stamps or sets at 300 dpi and covers or postcards at around 150 dpi and (ii) have a white stock crad handy for scanning stamps which are inherently dark, for example some GB commemoratives which are dark and with no white border

Here's just one example...

For scanning I use an old stockcard with the front flap removed and the cellophane strips cut down to about 4mm with a scalpel - enough to hold the stamp(s) in place without covering too much of the design