Passport Collectors Market Reflections

In more than two decades, I have experienced many collectors worldwide. One fact is significant – it’s a male domain! Of all the hundreds of collectors I know or met, I have seen only a very few women collecting old passports. Reflections passport collectors market

Each collector sets its price limit for items to collect. Some like to spend only a few bucks per item; others have deeper pockets and spend serious money. In my book, LET PASS OR DIE, I elaborated a guideline for the value of old passports. If you are interested in the guideline – sign up for my newsletter, and you will get it.

If you collect just for “fun” without a real purpose, you will hardly spend more than $20-$30, let alone $100 for a document, but if you are ready to pay between $300 and $1000+ for a single passport, then indeed you have a passion and a purpose (or just deep pockets to collect still for fun). A collection is also an investment. Collectibles are luxury items. They are unnecessary, but someone can spend extra money on them. Reflections passport collectors market

Only a tiny fraction of all offered items at all the different online platforms get sold. I guess I have told you nothing new. But you might be surprised to read that this share of sold items is often only 5%-10%. Occasionally, I do some research on auction platforms.

So, it’s of course, my experience I share here with you. As a matured and long-time collector, you always need to stay informed about the items you collect.

90%-95% of collectible passports will not sell, and this has several different reasons

1. Too many ordinary items (some sellers list dozens of the identical/similar types and yet don’t sell any of them even at a bottom price)
2. Too high price (The strategy of some sellers, set an excessively high price but with an offer option). Always know the market value for the items of your desire!
3. Condition (poor/incomplete item). Acceptable only if a scarce document fills a gap in your collection!
4. The seller doesn’t have an adequate payment method nor ships internationally (I never understand domestic sellers, it’s the Internet, for god’s sake, and it’s global)

Price versus Value Pricing* Reflections passport collectors market

Numerous individuals establish exorbitant prices for their items because of a lack of understanding. Seller one failed to conduct adequate research and likely lacks awareness of the true value of their possession. The pricing is influenced by their emotions, as they believe they own something unique or rare.

Seller two, intentionally pricing their item too high, could be a collector reluctant to part with it at a fair market value and is solely interested in obtaining an exceptionally high price. They present a pricing option, and even if your offer at 50% less is agreed upon, you could still end up paying more than the collector’s market value. Reflections passport collectors market

Certain sellers consistently showcase identical items every few days, maintaining consistently unrealistic high prices. Despite listing numerous “treasures,” their actual sales remain minimal, with only a few transactions occurring in the last 3–4 months. I’ve noticed one individual who has been listing the same passport for approximately three years without making any adjustments.

Perhaps some of these sellers are in a state of desperation or have a limited learning curve. Alternatively, they may tender to the belief that “every morning, a fool wakes up, and I just have to find him (to pay my ridiculously high price).”

Then there is a long-time collector who sets reasonable start prices for his collectibles and lets the market find its collector’s value. His items always sell for a good/fair market price.

Of course, a collector should be able to profit when he departs from a collectible he has been hunting for years. With a price way higher than the value (market) pricing? Well, then, I would be cautious with such a seller!

Collect Quality Before Quantity! A fact that I can’t stress enough. Rather spend solid money on one “Diamond” than on a few “Rocks.” Thank me later.

Cambridge Dictionary definition
*a way of deciding the price of a product based on what customers’ collectors think it is worth and what they are willing to pay, rather than on what it costs to produce – rather than based on what a seller thinks it is worth! (adapted by the author)

Conclusion Reflections passport collectors market

Only 5%-10% of “collectible items” are available to meet a collector’s needs. If you are a long-time collector, you are getting picky, and this number is even lower.

Therefore, again! Do your homework on the items you collect and desire. Do your research! How often was a specific passport type offered on the market in the past? In which condition? To which price? Market knowledge is critical.

Russia Alexander I. 1803 Passport

Passport-collector.com is an extensive online platform dedicated to the study, preservation, and appreciation of passport history. Founded in 2010 by passport history expert & author - Tom Topol, the site offers a wealth of educational articles and resources that explore the origins and evolution of passports, their historical significance, and the impact of global events on travel documentation. With over 950 meticulously researched articles, Passport-collector.com not only serves as an essential repository for collectors and historians but also provides insights into the role of passports in shaping national identity and cultural heritage. Passport history, vintage passport collector, collectible documents, travel history, i94 travel history, passport collection, passport, diplomatic passport, passport office, famous people passports, celebrity passports, vintage passport, travel document, vintage passports for sale, old passports for sale, value of old passports, Reisepass, passport fees, most expensive passport in the world, passport color meaning, passport prices around the world,