Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Everything referenced below is in terms of United States material and I like mint stuff when I can afford it.
I collected as a kid/teenager but have returned to the hobby after a 30+ year break after inheriting my Dads' collection. My Dad collected for many years but was all over the place as to what he bought. In addition to the regular issues and commemoratives he had 700-800 of the Commemorative panels put out the by the USPS, lots of first day covers, all sorts of special issue envelopes, postal stationary,coil line pairs, booklets, etc. My interest has always been pretty straightforward with the regular issues, commemoratives and BOB stuff.
So my goal is to combine my collection and his into one collection and then over time sell/trade the extras to pick up some of the older stuff neither of us had. To start down that path I used a spare change box I inherited to buy a set of the Scott National albums and have been working backwards from the late 70s picking the best example from the two collections and putting it in the Scott album.
In looking through the two accumulations I have a pretty complete set from around 1900 to 2000. From around 2000 until 2012 my Dad was buying a lot of stuff though the USPS catalogs but he was leaving it in piles in drawers, boxes, or occasionally slipping sheets into photo pages in no particular order. So, I really don't have much idea of what I have yet.
My plan is:
1. Continue filling up the album from the late 1800's to the late 1990's as that's pretty low hanging fruit - although I'm having to find lots of dealer specials on mounts!
2. Start going through the 2000's stuff and putting it in albums while also determining whats missing.
3. Start trying to understand how to identify all the versions of the pre-1900 stamps (I don't trust that what he or I have in albums or stock as identified correctly).
So, I've obviously got lots of work ahead of me much of which doesn't entail any expense except mounting supplies and time. But, I'm getting farther behind if I want to continue with a current US collection.
I've seen some of the threads that mention how many issues are being put out by the USPS and the problem that often to get one needed stamp you have to buy a whole booklet. So, I know there are probably as many answers as forum members:
How do you keep up with and purchase new issues?
Suggestions for the missing years? (I've seen some dealers selling whole 2014 sets for what seem to be reasonable prices).
Thanks!
George
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If you want to really catch up start looking for collections for sale are on ebay. There may been some for sale from albums (mystic, minuteman, liberty) still on pages. They are often at or near face value but just depends when it is just common stuff.
The USPS sells year sets about the book for less than what you see on ebay for the last few years. I have noticed many year sets by one dealer and not all commemoratives issued.
Al
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Welcome to SOR George and it does sound like you will be busy for quite a while with your endeavor, but at it's at least a happy job. As far as modern issues, I have given up on all countries "modern" stamp issues because they tend to be so numerous, it is your collection, so collect what you want to collect. You also said you need a cheap sources for mounts, so the best way to go is to buy the "seconds" that several dealers sell, plus occasionally they show up here on our auction. Below is a link to this same discussion we had here on SOR just a short time ago, which may help with your purchase of mounts. There are many discussions about stamp mounts available for view on the Discussion Board, maybe you will want to check them out also.
Good luck,
Mike
Cut and paste, it will work.
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14043#104825
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Mike,
That link just re-displays this particular thread, not the one you intended, methinks.
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Thanks for the responses.
I had forgotten about the USPS selling the year "kits" - when I was a kid one of those was always under the Christmas tree!
As for mounts - I found some odd lots from a dealer and due to an old thread I found on SOR I had already ordered from Global earlier this week. I've also been soaking some of the larger ones off old album pages and have a workable method for that now.
The catch up is going to be interesting - I was looking through some sheets last night and it appears that my Dad was buying whole sheets instead of singles in the late 90's and early 2000's. So, if I want to follow the album I'll either need to sell/trade sheets for singles or have even more postage than I could ever use!
Thanks,
George
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Clive,
Thanks for mentioning the link not working. It's utterly amazing, when I first wrote that message the link worked fine AND there was an error in the wording. Then I fixed it and it comes out wrong, go figure. Anyway if you just cut and paste the link will work.
Mike
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Geosafe,
If you are trying to reuse mounts from old pages, try this: use a blowdryer (think hair). Set it on a medium setting so it doesn't get too hot, aim it at the reverse side of the page, and gently heat up the area of the mount that is stuck down. If you are careful, you can gently work the mount free without damage.
I cannot remember where I read this but have tried it a few times with good success.
Sally
1 Member
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11:02:55am
Hello all,
Everything referenced below is in terms of United States material and I like mint stuff when I can afford it.
I collected as a kid/teenager but have returned to the hobby after a 30+ year break after inheriting my Dads' collection. My Dad collected for many years but was all over the place as to what he bought. In addition to the regular issues and commemoratives he had 700-800 of the Commemorative panels put out the by the USPS, lots of first day covers, all sorts of special issue envelopes, postal stationary,coil line pairs, booklets, etc. My interest has always been pretty straightforward with the regular issues, commemoratives and BOB stuff.
So my goal is to combine my collection and his into one collection and then over time sell/trade the extras to pick up some of the older stuff neither of us had. To start down that path I used a spare change box I inherited to buy a set of the Scott National albums and have been working backwards from the late 70s picking the best example from the two collections and putting it in the Scott album.
In looking through the two accumulations I have a pretty complete set from around 1900 to 2000. From around 2000 until 2012 my Dad was buying a lot of stuff though the USPS catalogs but he was leaving it in piles in drawers, boxes, or occasionally slipping sheets into photo pages in no particular order. So, I really don't have much idea of what I have yet.
My plan is:
1. Continue filling up the album from the late 1800's to the late 1990's as that's pretty low hanging fruit - although I'm having to find lots of dealer specials on mounts!
2. Start going through the 2000's stuff and putting it in albums while also determining whats missing.
3. Start trying to understand how to identify all the versions of the pre-1900 stamps (I don't trust that what he or I have in albums or stock as identified correctly).
So, I've obviously got lots of work ahead of me much of which doesn't entail any expense except mounting supplies and time. But, I'm getting farther behind if I want to continue with a current US collection.
I've seen some of the threads that mention how many issues are being put out by the USPS and the problem that often to get one needed stamp you have to buy a whole booklet. So, I know there are probably as many answers as forum members:
How do you keep up with and purchase new issues?
Suggestions for the missing years? (I've seen some dealers selling whole 2014 sets for what seem to be reasonable prices).
Thanks!
George
Login to Like
this post
re: Introduction, & USPS Catch Up/New Issue Strategy (Long)
If you want to really catch up start looking for collections for sale are on ebay. There may been some for sale from albums (mystic, minuteman, liberty) still on pages. They are often at or near face value but just depends when it is just common stuff.
The USPS sells year sets about the book for less than what you see on ebay for the last few years. I have noticed many year sets by one dealer and not all commemoratives issued.
Al
Login to Like
this post
re: Introduction, & USPS Catch Up/New Issue Strategy (Long)
Welcome to SOR George and it does sound like you will be busy for quite a while with your endeavor, but at it's at least a happy job. As far as modern issues, I have given up on all countries "modern" stamp issues because they tend to be so numerous, it is your collection, so collect what you want to collect. You also said you need a cheap sources for mounts, so the best way to go is to buy the "seconds" that several dealers sell, plus occasionally they show up here on our auction. Below is a link to this same discussion we had here on SOR just a short time ago, which may help with your purchase of mounts. There are many discussions about stamp mounts available for view on the Discussion Board, maybe you will want to check them out also.
Good luck,
Mike
Cut and paste, it will work.
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14043#104825
Login to Like
this post
re: Introduction, & USPS Catch Up/New Issue Strategy (Long)
Mike,
That link just re-displays this particular thread, not the one you intended, methinks.
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this post
10:51:24am
re: Introduction, & USPS Catch Up/New Issue Strategy (Long)
Thanks for the responses.
I had forgotten about the USPS selling the year "kits" - when I was a kid one of those was always under the Christmas tree!
As for mounts - I found some odd lots from a dealer and due to an old thread I found on SOR I had already ordered from Global earlier this week. I've also been soaking some of the larger ones off old album pages and have a workable method for that now.
The catch up is going to be interesting - I was looking through some sheets last night and it appears that my Dad was buying whole sheets instead of singles in the late 90's and early 2000's. So, if I want to follow the album I'll either need to sell/trade sheets for singles or have even more postage than I could ever use!
Thanks,
George
Login to Like
this post
re: Introduction, & USPS Catch Up/New Issue Strategy (Long)
Clive,
Thanks for mentioning the link not working. It's utterly amazing, when I first wrote that message the link worked fine AND there was an error in the wording. Then I fixed it and it comes out wrong, go figure. Anyway if you just cut and paste the link will work.
Mike
Login to Like
this post
re: Introduction, & USPS Catch Up/New Issue Strategy (Long)
Geosafe,
If you are trying to reuse mounts from old pages, try this: use a blowdryer (think hair). Set it on a medium setting so it doesn't get too hot, aim it at the reverse side of the page, and gently heat up the area of the mount that is stuck down. If you are careful, you can gently work the mount free without damage.
I cannot remember where I read this but have tried it a few times with good success.
Sally
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.