Miniature collectibles come in a variety of forms. They can be figurines, miniature villages, scale models, tiny tea sets, etc, and made from a variety of materials including plastic, porcelain, pewter, crystal, and wood. Because of their size, value and fragility, miniatures must be properly packed before shipping to ensure that they arrive in their new destination with nary a scratch and in pristine condition. Here are some helpful tips on shipping miniature collectibles.
Prepare all the necessary packing supplies including sturdy shipping boxes, acid-free tissue paper, styrofoam peanuts, packing tape, masking tape, foam, and a sharpie pen. To ensure optimum protection, the double box system is best for shipping miniatures so prepare a couple of boxes with one slightly larger than the other.
Hollow miniatures must be filled with acid-free packing tissue or shredded styrofoam peanuts.
When shipping several pieces, wrap each miniature separately with acid-free tissue then in bubble wrap secured with tape.
Place the miniature in the inner box with packing peanuts in the bottom. Add more packing peanuts in the sides to fill empty spaces and prevent shifting. For smaller items, you may pack several pieces in a single box as long as they are well wrapped with bubble wrap and protected by enough packing peanuts.
Close and seal the inner box and place inside a slightly bigger outer box. Fill the space between the outer and inner boxes with packing peanuts or crumpled papers to prevent shifting.
To be sure, place a card with the recipient’s name and address on the inner box before sealing the outer box. Use packing tape to secure the outer box.
Address and label the box and take to your local post office or shipping company.
You may want to consider buying insurance for breakables or valuable miniatures before shipping them.