I need advice on how best to estimate the open market value of a mixed collection of new engines, carriages, track and track side equipment, sadly most of it without packaging, for inheritance tax purposes. I would also appreciate some idea of how best to find a new home for it all when I finally have the letters of administration for her estate. I'm still working my way through her flat and have yet to establish the extent of the collection but I'm would say that there are up to 20 mostly passenger engines with a variety of complete coach sets from Pullman down. I also know that there is a boxed Hornby live steam Mallard because I bought it for her one christmas a good few years ago. Any help will be much appreciated. Andy
Ebay will probably have most of what you have if it's Hornby - check out the auction prices on Ebay history and current auctions (not the buy it now prices) for lowest proof or value perhaps. Or simply get a value from a local auction house and ask for a low valuation for the lot - save a lot of work.
Just had a squint at flea bay and I am clearly under valuing some of this stuff. Several people are offering the Mallard live steam second hand and they are all around the £450 to £500 buy it now :Jawdrop:. Andy
ill ask my brother where he buys his stuff, he is collecting battle of britain class locomotives.( rides a bmw - buff said)
I had Princess Elizabeth locomotive............... ....but don't let Philip or the press know.............
Might be worth checking out The Hornby Magazine website and their links on it. Also going to a model train show might be worth while as you can then see what prices are being asked. I sold my Hornby set many years ago and for that time it went for good money, there are a lot of collectors out there.
How about contacting your local model railway society?Being enthusiasts and in touch with the market they might be of some use in not only valuation on a realistic scale,but also advising of possible sale of the items.
Thanks Mervyn, that makes a lot of sense and should have occurred to me. First things first, got to catalogue the collection. Andy
The "little" collection turned out to be 10 brand new, boxed locomotive, carriage and track sets, 14 brand new, boxed locomotive and carriage sets, 7 brand new, boxed locomotives, a boxed "live steam" OO gauge double tender locomotive with transformer and track and 2 further different "live steam" locomotives in boxes. 16 of the locomotives are numbered "limited edition" models. I haven't started to go through the half dozen boxes of transformers, track and track side buildings or the locomotives and carriages that were unboxed and stashed on shelves. I knew my sister collected stuff but I'm gobsmacked at the quantity of it that she managed to accrue over the years. I e-mailed the secretary of the nearest model railway club today and just waiting for a reply. Thinking about it, I could probably start up my own club with this amount of stuff. Andy
