Armand Rousso in the Detroit News

Rousso, operated of a Florida trading company that deals in rare postage stamps, has received a wait-and-see response from organizations representing professionals and hobbyist in the stamp field. They said they would need more information before they could evaluate the idea.

But that isn’t stopping Rousso from investing “a couple of million dollars” of his own funds to start what he calls the International Stamp Exchange Corp. in Miami Beach. He hopes to have it in business by September.

Dealers or individuals who offer stamps for “listing” on the exchange will be required to send the stamps to the exchange, where they will be insured and stored in safe deposit boxes. The stamps’ authenticity and condition will be evaluated by professional appraisers, Rousso said.

If a stamp is sold, the seller will be charged 6 percent (with a minimum of $6) and the buyer will be charged 3 percent (with a minimum of $3). Amateur collectors who trade on the exchange through dealers could be charged additional fees by the dealers.

Rousso said this would be less expensive than using auction houses, which normally charge both buyer and seller 10 percent. Moreover, “countless millions” of collectors could participate in bidding through the exchange.