dani20

04 Feb 2016
05:19:08pm

re: i blame grandpa :)

Hey Shane,
Welcome aboard, and whenever you get the time,email me we'll chat about proofs and essays.
Best,
Dan C.
cohendaniel64@yahoo.com

Login to Like
this post

dani20

04 Feb 2016
07:09:34pm

re: i blame grandpa :)

Ted
You're absolutely right-I was wrong to assume that others might not be interested.We'll certainly continue on this board if it's O.K. with all concerned. My bad!
Best,
Dan

Login to Like
this post

dani20

05 Feb 2016
08:29:10am

re: i blame grandpa :)

AntoniusRa,
Clearly you are ahead of Ted & me on essays & proofs. I dabble a bit, you come from a more organized study approach. How about you taking the lead on this, and educate Ted and me as you do so? Perhaps we could expand the discussion to include Specimen's as well? (This would also have to include paper types as well, no?)

Just asking!
Dan

Login to Like
this post

TuskenRaider

05 Feb 2016
10:30:20am

re: i blame grandpa :)

Hi Shane;

Thanks for posting those covers. That first one brings back memories. In Catholic grade school (8th grade)
our class took an Evelyn Woods speed reading course. We were required to choose a book to read and
do a book report on. It had to be not on a reading list and something educational and really different.

I chose "The Autobiography of Booker T. Washington" a great educator and black leader. Molding the char-
acter of many a young black man. I read the 200 or so page book in one afternoon. A great read it was!

That cover is probably worth much more than the $10.00 that is marked on it. Probably worth as a non
philatelic item of history, especially to a black history display.

Sorry for going off topic again, but what kind of steel do you use to make your knives?

Thanks for sharing.

Just stampin'....
TuskenRaider

 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

re: i blame grandpa :)

and in case anyones wondering, why yes I WOULD trade my work for stamps! *grins*

Login to Like
this post

re: i blame grandpa :)

thanks Dan, guess you missed my question? here Ill reiterate

well hey fellas lets start right here then, im shiny new to the essay and proof arena and one of my first questions would be is there any reliable data available on how many essays were submitted for a given stamp? ie does the usps retain that information and make it available to the general public?

Login to Like
this post

AntoniusRa

The truth is within and only you can reveal it
05 Feb 2016
09:42:09pm

re: i blame grandpa :)

Are you interested in 19th century Essays and proofs or modern or both. Surely the USPS keeps track of new essays submitted but I do not know how you would go about getting that information. There are many book written on Proofs and essays, I suggest Googling them and see what you come up with. Scott U.S. specialized catalog gives info on proofs and essays up until the around the 1950's.

That's a Beautiful knife! I love folded steel blades they're mesmerizing. I have a Black folded Katana and a Red folded Wakizashi next on my list is a folded Tanto

Login to Like
this post

Jansimon

06 Feb 2016
05:06:42am

re: i blame grandpa :)

Beautiful piece of damast (is that the proper word in English?) Personally I would have omitted the copper guard but that is just a matter of taste. I applaud your craftmanship and know I would not be able to make anything like that. There were many blacksmiths in my family but I have learned that their skill was not passed on to me 😁

Login to Like
this post

re: i blame grandpa :)

jansimon the guard is not copper, its mokume- gane, a combination of copper and nickel, it just hasnt had time to patina and show its grain. heres an example of mokume that has had time to patina, although this billet was for a late Edo period Katana.

Login to Like
this post

AntoniusRa

The truth is within and only you can reveal it
07 Feb 2016
12:26:58am

re: i blame grandpa :)

That is a very beautiful tanto, the saya is truly gorgeous. I wish I had some proofs and essays to trade you for it. Out of all my world stamps my U.S. proofs are my favorites and they are the last things I would ever let go of. I do however have a good stock of 19th stamps. I don't have any proof or essay reference books other than Scotts and a couple old auction catalogs. If you are an APS member then checking their library might be the best way to go as any books on the subject will be quite expensive. If you can find them, auction catalogs devoted to selling off better collections are also a nice reference. The one pictured below is my favorite.
This fellow has the most incredible stock of proofs and essays for sale that I have ever seen and the prices seem pretty reasonable. I scrolled with 35 items to a screen for over an hour and never got to the end. Check his offerings here: http://picclick.com/US-Columbian-Plate-Proofs-1-Sc-241P4-200-151966924273.html. I wish I had an extra 50K or so to play with. If I were you I would think about clicking on the stamps you like and then saving the image into a folder of essay etc. You could make a very nice computer collection for viewing and reference, I might do it myself.
I like to buy proofs in sets as piecing sets together can be quite difficult. One thing to remember is that essay and proofs almost always sell for a higher percentage of catalog than the actual stamps. Where the actual stamps may run 30-60% for decent copies proofs and essays will go for close to full catalog or more.

Login to Like
this post

re: i blame grandpa :)

thank you and no I cant say that Ive met him, exceptional maker.

 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.