Hi, new here. Nice forum!

I have collected quite a few Persian rugs over the years. Many, not all, are from Qum, and most of those are silk. The smaller ones are all pictorials. I have enjoyed the rugs very much (understatement), but recently I moved to a smaller place where I don't have room for many of them; additionally, my kids are in college and I have more of a need for tuition money than I do the rugs. I don't really want to part with them, but this was something I knew I might do when I bought them, mostly 15-20 years ago.

I am wondering what is the best way/where is the best venue to sell them, and is one at a time best or in groups? I have an appointment tomorrow at the store where I purchased a few of them to have them take a look at one of the rugs and see what they'd offer for it. The rug is approx. 4'6" x 6'9 (not including fringe), very fine, in perfect condition - it has only hung on a wall for the past 16 years or so. It's silk pile on silk foundation. The design is that of the Pazyryk rug - I have not seen another like this anywhere in my travels.

My approach with the store was to tell them that if I'm satisfied with how this goes, I will let them see some of the others, one of which is a very impressive approx. 9 x 12 Qum with center medallion that I think is more like jewelry for the floor than "just" a rug. I think if I have to sell them at all, I want them to go for the best possible price. Is it also crazy that in the back of my mind I am hoping they will find good new "homes" where they will be enjoyed and appreciated and taken care of?

Anyway here are a couple of photos of the rug I'm taking in tomorrow (note: it has nice full fringe, you just can't see it in the photos because I have the rug draped over a king sized bed and the fringe is hanging off the sides). Your feedback and suggestions would be welcome!

Thank you very much for the reply! I spoke with several dealers locally, all of whom told me I would do better to sell the rugs myself than to go through them, and that ebay would be an appropriate place to start, so I suppose I will start there. Can you explain how I go about getting the rug(s) verified? Is it as simple as using the appraiser on your site, or is there more to it? I want to make sure to price them appropriately and leave no doubt in the mind of someone reading my listings that the rugs are authentic and worth what I am asking.

This is what I got using your (very helpful, by the way) appraiser:

<a href='http://www.RugRag.com/AppraisalViewer.aspx?QueryID=5D7B2879-F8A6-4985-A4F3-0950AD19FACE'>RugRag.com Appraisal Value</a>

I have used craigslist for selling less expensive items; my concern about it is that it seems as though craigslist is really only for people hunting for major bargains; I don't want to give my rugs away, and I fear that's what it would take to sell them on craigslist - though I may try just once and see what sort of response it gets.

Again, thanks for the welcome and the advice!