International philately, described properly.

How we describe material

Every item is listed individually. The scan on the listing is the piece you receive — never a stock photograph, never a representative example. Where a piece has a reverse worth seeing, the reverse is shown too.

Condition and centering follow standard trade usage. Where a fault exists it is stated in the description rather than left to be discovered; where a catalogue value is quoted it is for reference and is not a valuation.

Certificates and expertisation

Items accompanied by an expert certificate are marked Certified and the certificate is illustrated in the image gallery. Where a certificate is absent on material that would normally carry one, the description says so.

If you would like a piece submitted for expertisation before purchase, ask — for significant items this is usually possible.

Shipping

Orders are despatched registered and insured within two business days of cleared payment, with tracking provided on every order. Express courier is available at checkout.

Import duties and taxes, where they apply, are the buyer's responsibility.

Combined shipping

One postage fee covers the whole order, whichever of our dealers the pieces came from — we gather them and despatch one parcel. It depends on what the order is worth rather than on how many pieces it holds: up to US$ 50 is US$ 6, up to US$ 200 is US$ 10, up to US$ 1,000 is US$ 15.

Above US$ 1,000 it is free, and the whole order counts towards it. Everything you buy travels as one parcel, whichever dealers it came from: we gather the lots and send them together, so five pieces cost a fraction of buying them one at a time. We ship worldwide.

Returns and guarantee

If an item is not as described, return it for a full refund including outward postage. That guarantee has no time limit attached to it beyond a reasonable examination period.

Items returned must be in the condition sent — not mounted, hinged, soaked or removed from their cover — and, where applicable, with their certificate. These are single pieces, so a stamp that comes back altered is not the stamp that was sold.

The Returns & refunds page carries the full terms, including the period for changing your mind.

Payment

Payment is by bank transfer, by Payoneer, or by arrangement for larger purchases. You are sent the details once the order is placed, and the lots are held for you while it clears. An order that is never settled releases its lots back to the catalogue on its own — nothing is charged, and a word from you is enough to hold them longer.

No card details are ever entered on this site or stored by Rare Corner. The Terms of sale set out prices and payment in full.

Offers

Many items are open to offers. Offers are reviewed personally, usually within one business day, and an item stays available to other buyers until an offer is accepted.

Contact

Questions about a specific piece, a want list, or a collection you are considering selling are always welcome. Include the item reference where relevant and we will come back to you directly.