Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
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Your post didn't tick me off. There are probably many more generalist collectors whose only interest is filling album pages than there are "flyspeck" specialist collectors who who search for varieties in shades, watermarks, perforations, overprints, and design. The former are mainly interested in stamps whose design matches the illustrations in their albums.
I understand and even appreciate the specialists, because I am one, kind of, when it comes to collecting covers. But endlessly searching for stamp varieties just doesn't interest me. Once I got a wild hair and decided to collect Canada's Admiral stamps, which picture King George V in uniform. It wasn't long before I was completely flummoxed by shades, reentries, wet and dry printings, etc. I no longer collect Admirals! Well, I might, if they're on an interesting cover….
It's the generalists who can make philately interesting for the specialists, because the generalists usually fail to correctly identify stamps that specialists may later discover in an assortment of "common" stamps or in an album they buy at auction.
Bob
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Agree with your last commment, Bob. Even commmon stamps, with rare cancellations or usages, become rarities many-fold greater in value than catalog values indicate, particularly when on cover.
Collectors like me, who are more interested in the cancellations than they are the stamps themselves are the more aggressive buyers in this marketplace! Because, the cancellations tell a rich tale of where the stamp has been, and the voyages it has witnessed.
Speaking of covers, Cuba and Puerto Rico stamps on cover from the early period, say 1855-1877 (prior to UPU), are often, incredibly rare and desirable!
By the way, Puerto Rico and Cuba, along with St. Thomas, were the principal ports in the Caribbean, for various reasons, until steamships lessened the dependence on entrepot ports. To me, this is the dominant dimension of the interest in the stamps of these countries.
-Paul
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Here is, actually, the first lot of Cuba stamps I have purchased, just a few hours ago:
Cuba SC2, 3, and 4. "Pineapple" cancellations on two of them, 4-margins on all. Not a high catalog value, but purchased at 10% of catalog! I'm tickled!
Interesting that the denomination, Reales Plata Fuerte (hard silver) was customarily, valued at double that of the Spanish equivalent (Reales de Vellon).
-Paul
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I'm not sure if I think of myself as a specialist. Imagine we were using Scott's numbers. To me a specialist is someone who not only collects the Scott's number but also collects the a,b,c,etc. for each Scott's number. I collect the number, which can often depend on shade, watermark, perforations, etc. and occasionally might pick up an a,b,etc. but my main goal is to find as many of the stamps to match the Scott's numbers and not the sub-categories. I hope I stated this the way I meant to.
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I would consider a specialist as someone that goes deeper than a traditional catalog like Scott and this means beyond the a, b, c.
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I agree with Al, a valid, simple definition of a specialist is one who studies the area and collects varieties beyond the basics.
Re varieties and approvals - if I’m not sure, I price at the lowest value variety. Therefore, an eagle eyed expert has a chance of spotting a variant worth more than my priced approvals and if they do, I’m happy for them and that the stamp won’t get tossed out as a cheapie.
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Interesting cover, but without the watermark the stamp is hard to id. Could be any one of Scott #1(1855), 9(1856), or 12 (1857).
rrr...
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What would they do if this cover were sent off to be authenticated? Is there any way to see the watermark from the front? Do they take the stamp off and they reattach?
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01:58:54pm
Again I'm not trying to tick anyone off, but I probably will! For the early Puerto Rico and Cuba I can't imagine a collector buying individual stamps without a number, there are just too many varieties of the stamps. Unless you are hoping someone buys the whole page to check themselves. I realize it takes a long time to check the stamps, but maybe the seller would be better off doing the extra work and selling the better ones at auction. Don't yell at me, I'm only expressing an opinion that I'm sure some of you share. If I were selling, which I'm not, I might have a totally different opinion than the one I just expressed.
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re: Early Cuba and Puerto Rico
Your post didn't tick me off. There are probably many more generalist collectors whose only interest is filling album pages than there are "flyspeck" specialist collectors who who search for varieties in shades, watermarks, perforations, overprints, and design. The former are mainly interested in stamps whose design matches the illustrations in their albums.
I understand and even appreciate the specialists, because I am one, kind of, when it comes to collecting covers. But endlessly searching for stamp varieties just doesn't interest me. Once I got a wild hair and decided to collect Canada's Admiral stamps, which picture King George V in uniform. It wasn't long before I was completely flummoxed by shades, reentries, wet and dry printings, etc. I no longer collect Admirals! Well, I might, if they're on an interesting cover….
It's the generalists who can make philately interesting for the specialists, because the generalists usually fail to correctly identify stamps that specialists may later discover in an assortment of "common" stamps or in an album they buy at auction.
Bob
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06:16:14pm
re: Early Cuba and Puerto Rico
Agree with your last commment, Bob. Even commmon stamps, with rare cancellations or usages, become rarities many-fold greater in value than catalog values indicate, particularly when on cover.
Collectors like me, who are more interested in the cancellations than they are the stamps themselves are the more aggressive buyers in this marketplace! Because, the cancellations tell a rich tale of where the stamp has been, and the voyages it has witnessed.
Speaking of covers, Cuba and Puerto Rico stamps on cover from the early period, say 1855-1877 (prior to UPU), are often, incredibly rare and desirable!
By the way, Puerto Rico and Cuba, along with St. Thomas, were the principal ports in the Caribbean, for various reasons, until steamships lessened the dependence on entrepot ports. To me, this is the dominant dimension of the interest in the stamps of these countries.
-Paul
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06:32:22pm
re: Early Cuba and Puerto Rico
Here is, actually, the first lot of Cuba stamps I have purchased, just a few hours ago:
Cuba SC2, 3, and 4. "Pineapple" cancellations on two of them, 4-margins on all. Not a high catalog value, but purchased at 10% of catalog! I'm tickled!
Interesting that the denomination, Reales Plata Fuerte (hard silver) was customarily, valued at double that of the Spanish equivalent (Reales de Vellon).
-Paul
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07:21:55pm
re: Early Cuba and Puerto Rico
I'm not sure if I think of myself as a specialist. Imagine we were using Scott's numbers. To me a specialist is someone who not only collects the Scott's number but also collects the a,b,c,etc. for each Scott's number. I collect the number, which can often depend on shade, watermark, perforations, etc. and occasionally might pick up an a,b,etc. but my main goal is to find as many of the stamps to match the Scott's numbers and not the sub-categories. I hope I stated this the way I meant to.
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re: Early Cuba and Puerto Rico
I would consider a specialist as someone that goes deeper than a traditional catalog like Scott and this means beyond the a, b, c.
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this post
re: Early Cuba and Puerto Rico
I agree with Al, a valid, simple definition of a specialist is one who studies the area and collects varieties beyond the basics.
Re varieties and approvals - if I’m not sure, I price at the lowest value variety. Therefore, an eagle eyed expert has a chance of spotting a variant worth more than my priced approvals and if they do, I’m happy for them and that the stamp won’t get tossed out as a cheapie.
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Retired Ap. Book Mod, Pres Golden Gate Stamp Club, Hi Tech Consultant
24 Nov 2020
06:10:57pm
re: Early Cuba and Puerto Rico
Interesting cover, but without the watermark the stamp is hard to id. Could be any one of Scott #1(1855), 9(1856), or 12 (1857).
rrr...
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06:31:07pm
re: Early Cuba and Puerto Rico
What would they do if this cover were sent off to be authenticated? Is there any way to see the watermark from the front? Do they take the stamp off and they reattach?
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