eBay Users’ Stamp Club meeting Oct 14-16 “New vs Old Collecting Areas”

[sheryll*net]

*** eBay Users’ Stamp Club ***

************** Heads up - change of date, but still a week to go ****************

 Please join us on this thread for our monthly meeting on “New vs Old Collecting Areas” from any time Friday October 14 till midnight PDT on Sunday October 16.

New vs Old Collecting Areas

• Have your collecting habits or interests changed in the last few years? If so why?
• What are your new collecting areas?
• Do you have a collecting area that is being ignored due to the priciness of adding items?
• If so, is there any way you could get back into the area without spending a large sum of money?
• Have you sold off a collecting area? If so, why?

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• Anne will show items from her newest collecting area – student mail in the digital age.
• I will be putting up a display of stamps of denominations from 1 to 100. You may or may not notice the printed scans of 8 denominations I still need to complete this collection, in spite of having looked for these items over the last nearly 20 years.
• Please bring a new dish for the balcony party (something you have never eaten before - we are all trying something new)
• The workshop area will be set up with stamps from over 100 years ago, and covers from the last 10 years, in case this idea of old and new stimulates some new collecting interest.
• Auction catalogs will be provided with laminated pages so you can drool freely over items you can’t afford to bid on but which would add an "ooh" factor in your collection.

See you there!

Sheryll and Anne
eUSC 2014-15 Co-Presidents sheryll*net (Sheryll in OR) and abt1950 (Anne in NJ)

[jaywild]

Is the meeting on? No posts yet? I see mention of a change of date.

Anyway, on topic I have resumed selling my collections. I am disposing of them but keeping clear images of all the stamps and covers, which I print out and place in the album where the actual items were. My current offerings are the last of my machine cancels, with the exception of some extreme rarities I possess which I hope to either auction or donate to the Smithsonian Postal Museum.

I still have my October 5 collection, and since it’s not worth anything it’s not worth selling. It has sentimental value only. I actively add items to it (thanks Sheryll!) Likewise with my complete run of every US commemorative on cover from Scott 776 through 1425. I can’t remember what possessed me to start that collection. I stopped right at the changeover to the 8¢ rate. After that the US produced IMO some pretty ugly stamps, and began relying more and more on cheap offset printing than intaglio.

Soon I will begin selling my solo Prexies, solo Liberty series, and solo Prominent Americans. Should keep me busy for a while!

Below, page 1 of my "virtual album" of US classic stamps.

[abt1950]

Hi Jaywild & Sheryll & anyone else in the balcony.

My collecting is mostly inactive at the moment, partially due to circumstances beyond my control.  The stamp room is a mess--the part of the ceiling came down a few weeks ago and I'm still cleaning it up.  It didn't hit anything important, but there's a layer of dust still.  Also, we've been having plumbingl problems.  Access to the pipes is through the closet in that room.  All the stuff in the closet is deposited in various areas of the room, including the stamp desk.  Eventually we're going to have to bite the bullet and redo the entire thing.  But in the meantime, it's been one thing after another.

Also, we've been helping The Offspring out on medical school application expenses, which aren't cheap. We're hoping he gets in someplace. 

That said, my collecting interests have changed.  I'm no longer actively collecting Egypt.  I have a most of the affordiable stuff and a few pieces of the less affordable.  But most of what I want I can't afford.  Also, I'm finding myself the odd person out in some ways because of my lack of Arabic.  That's ok, i've taken the collection a long way and still have to write up most of it.  Plenty of work to do.

Luxembourg is in a similar state. i may buy a couple more things if they have certificates, but that's a way in the future.  I doubt I'll ever get many of the Officials.  Most of the ones floating around are forged and they're expensive anyway.

I have a bunch of other things that I've been working on off and on over the years.  There's a lot of worldwide that I picked up over the years that still needs to be albumized.  I also have albums of stamps from Greece, Iceland, Sweden, and Austria.  Also have an interest in Malta.  Ive been trying to restrain my serious collecting interest to places I've been or that have some other personal connection.  That only partially works.  So basically, I'm still in a transitional phase from one type of collecting to another.

Here's a cover that illustrates the transition nicely.  Egypt to Austria.

Anne in NJ

[malolo]

Hi,

I've been accumulating cancels used on named Swiss private railways. They all have the name of the line, so it's possible to look for mail that went onto the trains at intermediate stops. I have items from about 75 private railways where they ranged in length from 2.5 miles to 50 miles. It has been fun researching the reasons the railways were built and how many have survived to this day. I'm in the process of writing my first articles, and have a goal of an exhibit for PIPEX next spring.

They looked like this in their simplest manner. The Val-de-Travers Regional opened 1883 and still running. This card was put onto the train at the terminal in Travers, being sent to the next station at Couvet.

Some obviously went to other countries, so destinations is fun to look for.

[djs127]

Anne,

Sorry to read about your problems in your stamp den. Hope they get cleared up this winter. My yougest so wil be appying to medical school next year.

I have been adding to my worldwide used collection lately by trading stamps on Facebook with people around the world. Have been buying scott specialty pages and binders used on Ebay for storing my mint stamps (I will use mounts for them). Just bught a collection of over 800 First day covers and postcards from Israel so now I have to match against my own colelction and add what I need and try and sell or trade the duplicates.

David Snyder

[msgtdavid]

jaywild

So are only collecting images now of stamps?

What use is this?

Give me an education, why is this good for you, I cannot see why this would be good?

Reply to attention reference 1037

[billsey]

When I originally collected, I pretty much only collected US and only picked up 'rarities' (such as an 1851 3 cent) when they were really cheap (and usually faulty). I have since cleaned that up somewhat, buying good albums, filling holes and replacing the more egregious items with clean examples. I've focused on my worldwide collection though and I see nothing changing in the foreseeable future. I find that the world always gives me something new whenever I get to a slowing point with the current interest.

[jaywild]

David—

No, I don’t collect images of stamps—the images I have are of stamps I once owned. I keep these pages in the album that once housed the stamps. Since the stamps were valuable (total sales over 50k) I still like to have them around in a way.  So I have the cash and the stamps are still available to enjoy.

You’re right, simply collecting images would make for a pretty goofy collection.

[sheryll*net]

Hi All.

Jaywild, sorry that your 5 Oct cover didn't get a 5 Oct cancel. The line at the PO was so long I put it in the mailing chute. Glad it arrived OK and thank you for your sending.

I am in the same situation as Anne. Any New Hebrides that would enhance my exhibit would cost more than I currently can afford. I have accumulated a few nice covers through swapping with other NH collectors, and have received some more as reciprocal gifts.

I have thought to write up the rest of the stamps/postal history, especially as the postal rates have been published since my last write-up.

There is also the temptation to write up how I acquired each piece (estate planning with color added), as that might help me to let them go if I decide to sell them.

And I have ideas about showing the items on my website, which would give me the chance to tell the story in a different way.

I am open to other ideas.

Collecting scans is important as they make good reference pieces. Postings on my Facebook page today got me collecting scans of Austrian varieties not in my collection.

My latest collecting interests are driven by what comes up at stamp club meetings, Facebook stamp groups, ideas people mention and material that comes my way.

For example:
I had to hunt up WWI material for a group display recently.

I found some poster stamps in an old stock book - instant new collection and probable topic of my next one-page exhibit for PIPEX 2017

A lot of postcards at a mini-auction has me expanding my US states collection.

And, I have started looking for stamps that would illustrate the words of "The Owl and the Pussycat".

The Austria collection started as a write up of covers I found in a box.

Then I went on Delcampe and bought the stamps.

Which I matted and showed with the covers at the Portland central library as an Inflation exhibit as part of our club's centenary events.

And our club keeps getting new material in, so...   : )

[rfaux]

I'm not sure I can report that I'm doing much differently right now.  It is October, so I'm starting to see the possibility of some hobby time coming up... maybe.  But, since I started the farm, I don't do much ebay purchasing any more and I don't get to many shows. 

Other than the 24 cent exhibit material and the farming material, I do like to find things that don't break the bank but show something a little different.  I've always had some affinity for the Columbians - and since I'm more interested in postal history than individual stamps now...

[rfaux]

I've had this one for a while, but it sat in a box for a few years before I pulled it out again.  It's now on a page - which makes me happy.

[rfaux]

I also find things like this amusing/interesting.  Every once in a while, I get caught dabbling in an area I don't know as well as the 1861 era.  I don't know the rates, etc off the top of my head so if it is 'cheap enough' I might still buy it so it motivates me to figure it out.  Recently bought a prexie item that I liked the look of only to figure out later it was missing a 50 cent stamp.  guess that's a good cautionary tale for me.

[msgtdavid]

jaybird

I'm assuming you meant to reply to the attention of my reference:  1037, I find I have a common name, so never really know if replies are for me or another with the same name, confusing to say the least.

You collect images of stamps you no longer have, I do not see what the difference is that you now collect just images.

50K is a good deal of money, but for me REAL stamps that I can examine, view thru my miscrope, and employ the water mark procedure is way better than just a dead image of a stamp. 

You do not have these stamps to enjoy, you have a collection of images of stamps you NO longer own!

Do as you please, hope this way of yours is enjoyable. 

I've collected over 60 years now, and later after 20 years or so of collecting my grandfather's stamp collection was given to me, his collection was started in the 1890's.  I've never sold a stamp ever, knowledge of ones stamps is more important than (to me) having images of former stamps, that now belong to someone else and not you!

Again, this is just my thinking, and hope you enjoy your way of collecting former stamps.

If you desire to reply, please reply to my reference:  1038 in these regards thereto!

I can supply images for any stamps you never owned then maybe you'd have a more complete collection of images.  I'm very big into plate varieties if you are interested.

Cheers

[sheryll*net]

Hi David,

Regarding collecting scans, sometimes it is much more affordable to do that than own everything. Scans of my stuff are on a website that is more a collaboration. With all our collector colleagues' scans on the website, we can see trends, identify philatelic material, surmise more closely to the truth as we have more data to work with, expand on the story of a cover maker, letter sender, or the recipient of mail from more than just the country we collect. It has opened up our knowledge borders and also we have made some good friends in the process. Just by exchanging scans.

Also, if they are at a high enough resolution, they can show errors, dates etc.

As we have each specialised in a slightly different area, we get the benefits of others' scans to cover areas which we cannot afford to buy, or where no more material exists.

At present I still have my real stamps and covers. Chances are I should be selling them to pay for mundane things that get in the way of our hobby. Hats off to jaywild for being still able to enjoy his collection after having sold it off, for whatever reason.

Sheryll

[msgtdavid]

sheryll'net

Scanners are a new welcome addition to my right and proper examination of a new addition to my collection.

I do enjoy the scanned images in auctions that I can discover an unrecognized plate variety or interesting cancel that goes for next to nothing.

But for me, the hunt is sometimes more important and the capture.  But in all cases, I'd rather have the stamp in question at the ready to enjoy along with the story behind the stamp in question, along with my discovery adds to each capture.  I see no enjoyment of collecting images instead of stamps.  To each his own I guess.

If you desire to reply, please reference 1039.

Cheers