Ask before you post, always
You never have to commit to anything to start. Photograph a few album pages, any whole-collection labels, and anything you think might be special, then send them on WhatsApp. We give you a steer on whether it is worth posting before a single item leaves your hands. GoldPaid works entirely by post across the UK, so there is no shop to visit and no counter pressure.
What we buy
- Whole collections and albums, including part-worked and unsorted accumulations
- Great Britain and Commonwealth stamps, used and mint
- World and thematic collections, country runs and topical lots
- First-day covers, presentation packs and mint sheets
- Loose lots, kiloware and box files of mixed material
- Early and pre-1950 material, which is where condition and rarity matter most
If your collection includes coins, medals or banknotes as well, we buy those too. Send everything and we will sort it. See sell coin collections and sell medals and medallions.
How it works
- Ask first and send photos. A few clear photos of album pages on WhatsApp are enough for a plain indication. No charge, no obligation.
- Request a prepaid Royal Mail Special Delivery label. We send a free Royal Mail Special Delivery label, tracked and signed for. No printer? We send a QR code for the Post Office counter.
- Post it when you are ready. Pack albums flat and snug in a padded box or envelope. There is no deadline.
- We assess your collection by hand. Stamps are reviewed individually against condition, catalogue value, rarity and completeness, not by weight. You receive a written, no-obligation offer.
- Accept or decline. Accept and you are paid by bank transfer via Faster Payments. Decline and everything is returned free of charge by tracked, signed-for post.
How we value stamps
Stamps are valued by hand, not by metal weight or by a guaranteed figure before we see them. Value comes from condition (centring, perforations, gum and cancellations), catalogue listing, rarity, and how complete a run or collection is. A clean, well-kept early collection can be worth far more than a large modern accumulation, which is why we always start with photos and follow with a written offer once the material is in front of us. If part of your collection would clearly do better with a specialist philatelic auction, we will tell you honestly rather than absorb it.
Postage and cover
Your parcel travels on Royal Mail Special Delivery, and Royal Mail cover may be available up to £2,500 depending on the postal method and cover level used. The label we send is Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed: tracked end to end and signed for on delivery. Cover level is confirmed with you (WhatsApp, email or the form’s description) before the label is issued. If you believe your items are worth more, message us before posting. £2,500 is the highest cover level Royal Mail sells on Special Delivery Guaranteed, so we split the items across more than one prepaid label, each with its own tracking number and its own cover, at no charge to you. Full detail is on postage and cover, and is it safe to post gold? walks through posting valuables safely.
If you decide not to sell
There is never any obligation to accept. If the offer is not for you, simply decline, and we return everything free of charge by tracked, signed-for post, with no fee and no follow-up pressure. The full return process is on what happens if I decline the offer.
Two things worth knowing before you post. There is no countdown on the offer and no expiry date attached to it, so you can take the time you need and forward the written valuation to anyone else who has to see it. And you may accept part of a parcel and decline the rest: there is no minimum acceptance and no penalty for splitting it.
Who this helps
People who have inherited a relative’s albums and do not know where to start, collectors downsizing, and families clearing a house who have found boxes of stamps. A photo costs nothing and tells you quickly whether it is worth posting.
The payment step
Acceptance triggers payment: a direct bank transfer by Faster Payments within one working hour of acceptance, to the account you give us. Nothing to bank and nothing to chase.
Common questions
Are old stamps actually worth anything?
It depends on the stamp, its condition and how complete the collection is. Common modern stamps in bulk are worth little, while scarce early stamps in good condition can be worth a great deal. The way to find out is to send a few photos on WhatsApp for an indication, then a written offer once we have assessed the material. Final offers depend on inspection, condition, rarity, completeness and the current market.
Do you buy whole albums and unsorted collections?
Yes. Whole albums, part-worked collections, first-day covers, presentation packs, kiloware and unsorted box lots are all welcome. You do not need to sort anything first. Photograph it as it is and we will advise.
How do I post a stamp collection safely?
We send a free Royal Mail Special Delivery label, tracked and signed for. Pack albums flat and protected in a padded box or envelope. Your parcel travels on Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed, tracked and signed for. We agree the cover level with you on WhatsApp before the label is issued, and Royal Mail cover may be available up to £2,500 depending on the postal method and cover level used. If the lot is worth more than that, we send more than one label at no charge so each parcel sits within its own cover. If your collection is worth more, message us first and we will confirm the right postal option.
What if I decline the offer?
Your collection is returned to you free of charge by tracked, signed-for Royal Mail Special Delivery. There is no fee for declining and no follow-up pressure.
Not the question you had? The full GoldPaid FAQ covers the rest, from postal cover and ID checks to what happens if you decline the offer.
Request a free prepaid Royal Mail label
Two quick steps. The label arrives by email, usually within about 30 minutes during working hours. Requesting one commits you to nothing: you get a written offer after the XRF assay, and if you decline, your items come back to you free.
Two things worth knowing before you start, rather than after. Everyone sends a photo of a UK passport or driving licence, whatever the parcel is worth — it applies to every seller, so it is never a comment on you. And the parcel is handed in at a Post Office counter rather than dropped in a postbox: the receipt they give you is the proof of postage any compensation claim depends on.
Would you rather ask a question first, or send a photo? Message us on WhatsApp. It is the fastest way to get a sense of what something is worth before you post anything.