Don't let it bug you, Doodles, as none of us is prefect.
John Derry
Doodles, I would be quite forgiving of the first person in your example, as that may be just a "scope of collecting" term; that is, they don't literally collect every stamp worldwide, but their scope of collecting is not region or country bound. Maybe I'm too forgiving.
The second person, however, is in for a rude surprise. If they are excited they have a $60 CV stamp, that means the CV has significance to them, and their rude awakening will come at appraisal time, when they find it is the $1 value. Or worse, they tell their family about their "rare and valuable" stamp collection, only to have them inherit and find out for themselves. How often have we read or know of inheritors who are ticked off when they're told that collection left to them had mostly emotional value.
I guess I don't have a pet peeve about most things collectors say, except for one: When I describe my collection of used and unused stamps to someone and they reply smugly "Well, I only collect Mint Never Hinged stamps!" Well, good for you, I think, and move on.
Cheers,
Peter
I was in a local stamp dealer's shop with whom I have had many pleasant dealings. A beginning collector asked the dealer, "What do I do with stamps with the extra paper on the side." The dealer says, "Oh, you can just throw that out."
I was shocked. There are five good reasons to keep selvage on your stamps:
1-It just looks good, and gives a nice contrast to the stamp
2-Stamps can have significantly increased value when they still have selvage connected (Plate blocks for one)
3-Selvage can show where in a sheet the stamp was (plating and varieties)
4-Selvage can have interesting markings such as letters, initials, plate numbers, inscriptions, lathework.
5-Tearing off selvage can damage the stamp it is attached to
Others exist no doubt.
Antonio
""Oh, I don't collect them." How can you collect worldwide, without difinitives? "
"Suzanne...there must be a lot of wholes in his album"
"I was shocked. There are five good reasons to keep selvage on your stamps:"
One of my favorites is "Used NH"
well, if I can choose between used stamps with hinge, or without one, I'd take the stamps without hinges. Stupid things.
i'll add one more about selvage: if it is a plate number, it can sometimes be used to determine what stamp it is, independent of WM, perfs, paper, etc. I ALWAYS choose a stamp with selvage over one without; and PNS especially. The PN ID trick was discussed in these pages recently by another member who used the same technique.
I, most of the time, will tear it off. (sorry ) I personally do not collect stamps as an investment. When I say my stamp buying depends on what mood I'm in, I really mean it. I would not call myself a WW collector, I am a Topical Collector. And I have no boundries as to what country the stamp is from. If the stamp will fit "properly" into my album, I don't mind keeping the selv attached. Another... Souv. Sheets. Although I do have a few, when I buy stamps, I don't (especially new ones) buy them for the sheet. I will take one or two for my collection and give the sheets with remaining stamps, to my wife to use. And there are some countries I have never collected for, what may be an extremely odd reason, but that's another topic, I will share elsewhere.
Clayton, Good Morning All
I have to admit I want to tear the selvedge off of singles because I disagree with point #1 - to me it doesn't look good. But I don't do it because the other 4 points are valid.
If the selvedge has a design that is pertinent to the stamp subject, I will keep it. Otherwise for blank white margin tabs or trivial inscriptions for XXX Printing House, or whatever, fuggetaboutit; I gladly remove it, content in the knowledge that my act of heresy is increasing the value (if oh so minutely) of your stamp with intact selvedge.
Tedski
I'm talking modern stamps, here.
I have a moderatrly large glassine full of selvege that is available to anyone who wants it.
"I have a moderatrly large glassine full of selvege that is available to anyone who wants it."
Be careful what you wish for! A certain bidStart member (who is here and shall remain unidentified) once posted on the forum that he collected selvage. A group of us then collected as much selvage as we could get and mailed it to him on his birthday. He got several stuffed envelopes full of mint and used plain white paper! One person actually made a "selvage ball" as I remember! I sent packets of selvage "catalogued" by the issuing country, including a couple with stamps attached, which he removed. Great fun.
Peter
What bugs me concerning selvage is when an online dealer offers a scan of a set that does not have selvage (which is what I prefer) and then sends me a set WITH selvage (most of the time, the selvage has no special markings or anything, to me, that would make me want to keep it on.)
If I see a set with selvage offered and I think it adds to the stamp(s) for some reason, then I will buy it. I have a nice Isle of Man Europa set with beautiful music-themed selvage.
Fredcdobbs:Re: Used NH. Yes, that drives me nuts! There is no way to prove, that either a used stamp or a stamp which is unused but issued withou gum, has never been hinged! All you have to do with one, that has evidence of of a hinge mark, is wash it off. Ted.
Did somebody type "selvedge"?
â—„--
Some of us (OK, maybe only one of us) have been known to tear the stamp off and keep the selvedge.
Thanks, Peter (yeah, and Coco, too). I had just come home from a long trip that year and was shocked to find several large envelopes full of selvedge and liners, including several mailed from overseas. Too bad I didn't have my scanner then. But I do still have all that selvedge.
Always grateful for the friendship, kindness, and humor of the forum members!
k
Now back to the regularly scheduled thread topic...
"Be careful what you wish for! Happy A certain bidStart member (who is here and shall remain unidentified) once posted on the forum that he collected selvage. A group of us then collected as much selvage as we could get and mailed it to him on his birthday. He got several stuffed envelopes full of mint and used plain white paper! One person actually made a "selvage ball" as I remember! I sent packets of selvage "catalogued" by the issuing country, including a couple with stamps attached, which he removed. Great fun."
"Things Stamp People Say That Bug You"
About the selvage: absolutely hilarious to send someone a package full of selvage. That was truly inspired!!!
Now for the question: the Made in America stamps will be issued with 5 different selvage designs. I refuse to collect them as I consider it a ploy by the post office. The stamps will all be the same.... What are others thinking? Sally
I saw some lots online that I liked and was getting ready to bid, and then I checked the shipping cost to find there was none. The winner would be required to pick them up personally from the seller. In the UK. That is a bit of a drive for me. Assuming the Atlantic ocean froze over.
I love to browse in a local stamp shop. They get a lot of big collections, so they offer box lots that are fun.
When I've bought a few through the years, sometimes the clerk calls them "kiddy junk" because they have so many common stamps in mixed conditions. As a fairly new collector with much to learn and look at and sort through, I bristle when I hear it, but say nothing. I've enjoyed sorting through boxes of his so called "kiddy junk." I've found many treasures, some common, some not so common. Some stuff I keep to fill holes in an album, some I use for trading, some I have donated.
Adults who haven't been collecting all their lives have a lot of catch up "kiddy junk" to sort through. The term bugs me but I love that shop and appreciate some of the tips they've shared as well as great stock.
The guy's a moron, Connie - ignore him. I have been collecting for 55 years, and still buy "kiddy junk" (usually in the form of box lots at local auctions). I get hours (and sometimes months) of pleasure from going through old accumulations.
" .... as I consider it a ploy by the post office. ...."
Do you really think they would do that ?
VVVVVVVLH
" .... The guy's a moron, Connie - ignore him. ...."
Yes, a moron, and would not last ten minutes working for me.I guess I might give one quiet warning to never belittle the customers choice regardless of how foolish it may appear to the moron.
I recall one guy who commented n a customer's new car about some minor faults. (Yes, they were obvious to me also) The customer had just made a choice and I bet we were his first stop to show off his new (lightly used ???) auto. He was happy and expansive. Fortunately his wife was not close enough to hear the comment.
The employees name was "Rick Something."
" ....Rick, if I ever hear you saw anything like that in my shop you are fired. ...." burst from the side of my mouth in what might have passed for a razor sharp whisper. " Now shut up and go inside. ...." (Profanity deleted)
Charlie,
I think at one point in time most of us have worked with "Rick". I know I have!
My favorite is not so much what they say as to what they type.
"RARE only $1.00"
I work as the store manager for one of Canada's largest stamp dealers.
I get people come in who are not stamp collectors. They walk up to the counter and ask "What your most expensive stamp?"
I reply "I have some worth over a dollar".
Gets them everytime.
David
My biggest pet peeve is on-line seller posting pictures of what is for sale and they ship something else. I want to get what I see, not something that looks like the one posted. If sellers are too lazy to scan the actual item for sale, they should not be selling.
My peeve is when you ask a seller/buyer/anybody a question and they never reply.
What's up with that?
Luree
who's been lost in the working world lately
My pet peeve is when sellers don't accept paypal.
Describing stamps as French (or British, Portuguese, etc.) colonies when, in fact, they were issued post independence.
Use of the words "rare" and "scarce" when they are not.
Use of the word "old" when describing stamps issued after I was born!
I got this at a stamp show in Georgia; when describing my collecting interests to a dealer at his table, he replied "why would you want to collect THAT?" And it was not a friendly inquiry. So, I guess, in general, snobbish collectors and dealers bug me.
Peter
"Use of the word "old" when describing stamps issued after I was born!"
"Over the last 35 plus years I've been a collector and a dealer. ...
What really bugs me though is when someone says they are a worldwide collector....... then you mention, or show them definitive stamps you get, "Oh, I don't collect them." How can you collect worldwide, without definitives? "
"Used, never hinged" takes the cake for me (as fredcdobbs noted). Talk about being overly literal!
Oh, and I hate the the flashy "L@@K!" and "MUST SEE!" descriptions in listings.
Doug,
Glad you chimed in. My pet peeve is:
Care to take my mousepad for a walkabout?
(Sorry - inside joke - please ignore).
Lars
Well, it is not so much what they say, but philatelists with no sense of humor are a pet peeve of mine (exhibit judges come to mind).
Another pet peeve is when people come up to me and try to sell me (the new kid) things and then expect me to pay 50% of catalog for average stuff, or face value for US plate blocks. It isn't happening. Last time I bought a plate block collection from my favorite dealer (which was quite some time ago) I paid 70% of face.
smauggie - I have you beat. I bought a $800 face accumulation for $200. I did not bargain for it, it is what they wanted, so I bought it. I was not sure how much was there, but knew it was more than $200.
Wow! 25 cents on the dollar is a great find!
nice, Dan, even a bottom feeder like me would have snatched that up
"I have been on the other side of this conversion a good number of times. Quite frequently, I answer "Worldwide used" when dealers at stamp shows ask me what I collect. Usually, the next thing that happens is that the dealer pulls out a pile of pages of dunes, Eastern European CTOs, a "pretty collection of covers with golden (!!) replicas of stamps," etc."
"I wouldn't dream of pushing junk onto another collector, or pushing anything onto them for that matter. Certainly not covers or CTO's. "
ouch. another beautitful cover ruined
Yes, David. To add to your pain as a seal collctor, here is the back of the above cover:
youch. you did string out the pain, Arno.
"Why are there offers of damaged stamps on the Auction?
-Mitoneu"
Miquel, would you send me links to the ones you see
"I love to browse in a local stamp shop. They get a lot of big collections, so they offer box lots that are fun.
When I've bought a few through the years, sometimes the clerk calls them "kiddy junk" because they have so many common stamps in mixed conditions. As a fairly new collector with much to learn and look at and sort through, I bristle when I hear it, but say nothing. I've enjoyed sorting through boxes of his so called "kiddy junk." I've found many treasures, some common, some not so common. Some stuff I keep to fill holes in an album, some I use for trading, some I have donated.
"
I'm not particularly a plate block collector but there are certainly quirks I have. If I have a plate block and there are others in the series, well, I have to have the others in the series - lol.
Anyway, a few years back, I was at a friend's stamp store looking through his common Canada. In there was used, mh, mnh, etc., etc. I found a block of one of the particular stamps I wanted. I asked if he had a plate block of that issue, mnh. He kind of looked at me oddly and said "no one collects plate blocks anymore!" I wanted to laugh but kept quiet. Off he went to one of his dozens of drawers and after rummaging through, he finally came back with a plate block. By that time I had contained my chuckles and asked him why he said no one collects plate blocks anymore. He told me that at one time he used to include them in the "no man's land box" (that I had recently rummaged through) and he had a fellow that proceeded to remove all the selvedge from every issue that he pulled out to purchase. Oy, my heart took a leap!
RE:: " .... Kiddy Junk ..."
During the late 1960s, through the '70s and possibly halfway through the 1980s postally used stamps of the Republic of China (1912-1949) were an apparent drug on the market. I often bought folders of them from the "Kiddy Junk" box or bin at quit a few stamp shops. Often as an afterthought as I was leaving with whatever else I had bought.
Sometime in the middle of the 1980s I read an article by Mike Rogers of Winter Park, Florida a well known shop operator and expert on Chinese Philately. By then I had a hardly used copy of Ma's China handbook and had sorted through and mounted pages and pages of Chinese stamps with secret marks and overprint variations, both intentional as well as accidental.
I am not sure what started me on that path, it may have been because I was still writing to a young lady I had met and entertained when I spent a month or so at Kaohsiung, a large port in southern Taiwan or perhaps my affection for Chinese take outs. I don't know.
Maybe it was just a serendipitous accident. I certainly had no real idea that Red China would develop its own unique amalgamation of centrally controlled free enterprise that has somehow created wealth for a lot of it's people, but it did and the prices paid for what were once considered little better than floor sweepings have blown out the roof of many stamp auctions
But I will bet you a crisp ten spot that many of those dealers who picked up five or ten dollars for a folder full of "kiddie junk", assuming they are still on the sunny side of the flowers and doing business would like to have them back to sell at auctions today.
So, while it true that much of the things in the "kiddy junk" boxes, probably almost all, will never be worth their weight in three dollar bills, if there is something there that attracts you, don't be dissuaded by popular opinion, just follow the only established rule of the hobby " It's your collection, collect what you want the way you enjoy collecting."
Not sure I can add much here...
The terms "NH" and "used" in the same sentence is definitely likely to get an eyeroll from me, especially when it comes from someone who has collected for 30 years and knows better.
The other I run into when perusing eBay, BidStart and other places... there's a whole bunch of "I've been a dealer for 347 years, blah, blah, blah..." and then there are a bunch of listings showing that this person doesn't (evidently?) have even a rudimentary grasp of how to look something up in a catalog... like it never even occurs to them that different perf/watermark versions of the same design might exist. And so you end up with the aforesaid "$60.00" stamp that's actually a $1.00 stamp.
I can always tell US sellers dealing on foreign stamps... they attribute "natural straight edges" to stamps from countries that NEVER had any stamps not perforated on all four sides. But I guess it sounds better than "perfs cut off on one side."
And then there's the gratuitous use of the words "rare old." As my dad used to say, "a common stamp, when 100 years old, becomes an OLD common stamp."
Peter
Amen Peter. As posted on another thread (Rarities), OLD and RARE mean nothing unless there is a following and desire for those stamps and the supply becomes limited. Then you can start to talk about the treasure you have and what you want for it. Sometimes there is a sucker born every day, but I would think we as a society of collectors would not encroach on "scammery" on SoR. Hey maybe a new word.....And possibly a new thread. "Who has been scammed and how?"
"Why are there offers of damaged stamps on the Auction?
Mitoneu"
Amen, Bobby!
If anyone has a damaged 356, O69, O70, or RJM anything, I'd be interested. Creases and pulled perfs welcome here!
Lars
Well my stamps I call "My Collection" consists of everything including singles. It is my hobby. I will never sell my collection So I only collect to please myself. I don't leave any selvage on singles. I tear it all off. Personally I think it looks like crap. It doesn't fit the mounts and serves no purpose. Since it is "My Collection" I don't collect to please anyone but myself. I am a stamp collector not a selvage collector. I mount only Mint and valuable old stamps with the black background because it makes the stamps pop. For Modern used stamps I use hinges. However I don't tear any selvage off stamps that have Numbers or any writing like what's found on plate blocks "Use Mr Zip" and other writing. My wife, Son and none of my Grand-kids right now have any interest in stamps. When I'm dead and gone they probably will sell the stamps for pennies on the dollar so I collect only to please myself. It is my hobby.
Sometimes its what they do not say that might bug me. I have gone to shows with people that will drop a thousand or $1500 at a favorite dealers table..i might dig all day and only end up spending 40 dollars for a few stamps and covers..they can not relate ,but i am also a stamp collector. I grew up in the 1950s and there were no frills..now in my 70's i finally have two extravagances..my stamps and a gas guzzling 4x4.let me not have guilt !!!
Just a continuation of my last post...i have a couple of friends who insist on getting at least 40 miles per gallon from their vehicles..i don't know why thsts the most important factor i like a lot of things about my truck..and they can afford gas. So if i take their 40 and 40 and my 17mpg and average them its not bad gas mileage !
No,No, Phil,
You need to average in the use of your bike as well.
Just trying to help!
Dan C.
My favorites? (All from ebay, I'm afraid)
"Lightly cancelled; never hinged."
"Mint First Day Cover"
"Rare First Day Cover from 1956"
"Unique First Day Cover from 1963"
"Collection" (describing a set of two stamps)
"Valuable set" (with c/v of $ .50
"Valuable space filler"
"Stamps worth many times the asking price just a few years ago."
"From the estate of....." (as if that increases it's value)
"Unlisted color variety" (on a faded stamp)
CaliforniaBob
Great list, Bob. When you see such language, you are truly confident you are dealing with a trusted and knowledgeable collector (NOT) !
What bugs me is the prevalence of mal described stamps sold on line. Perhaps I am too gullible but I expect a written description to be as accurate as possible.
"What bugs me is the prevalence of mal described stamps sold on line. Perhaps I am too gullible but I expect a written description to be as accurate as possible."
Oh! Long thread! Here’s my story, which I’m sure I’ve told you before:
Soon after I became a member of my stamp club, I became VP (it’s easy, you just have to raise your hand!). I was sitting at the head table with the president. We were just starting to pass stamps around on a “Show & Tell†night. The president had brought a used, overprinted Asian stamp (can’t remember the country). He had explained that it was very valuable. But when I had it in my hands, it just didn’t seem right. I pulled out my 8X loupe and took a close look. OK. A forgery.
I turned to the president, and said, “R..., I hate to tell you this, but this stamp is a forgery. The overprint is on top of the cancellation! Here, take a look.â€
“R...†said, “No, I don’t want to look,†and proceeded to ignore me!
I told my wife, Susan, on New Year’s Eve (we were discussing what a godawful year it had been for us) that one thing I had learned was that Belief — political Belief, religious Belief, Belief in quack medicine, etc. — was the most powerful motivating force on the planet, and we were at its mercy. You just can’t sway a True Believer. Evidence of any sort, even scientific, tested and re-tested evidence, just has no power over Belief. So it is with stamp collectors. If a collector truly Believes that he or she owns a valuable stamp, there is no power on earth that can change his or her mind.
Bob
"So I only collect to please myself. I don't leave any selvage on singles. I tear it all off. Personally I think it looks like crap."
One more case of selvage that should probably be kept:
Howdy! I know of a seller that uses the term 'used nh'. Perhaps it means used , no hinge?
Just a thought. Some people really get ticked if a used stamp has a hinge mark or worse yet part of a hinge attached.
Is there an abbreviation for used no hinge? If not it is high time we had one.
Cheers
Sorry for extending the digression but I cannot help myself.
" ... You just can’t sway a True Believer. Evidence of any sort, even scientific, tested and re-tested evidence, just has no power over Belief. ..."
That is because believers have faith, Bob. Faith is a belief held without evidence or despite contrary evidence.. If there were supporting evidence there would be no need for faith. (Small; "f" or capital "F." either way.)
Over the last 35 plus years I've been a collector and a dealer. I love talking to other stamp collectors, and finding out what they collect. Of course everyone has their own way, which is all part of the fun. But things still bug me at times.
What really bugs me though is when someone says they are a worldwide collector....... then you mention, or show them difinitive stamps you get, "Oh, I don't collect them." How can you collect worldwide, without difinitives?
My other bug is one that a friend of mine said. He found a stamp in his collection and was thrilled. It catalogued out at $60.00. Then he showed it to me just in the catalogue. There were several varieties of the same stamp. Different watermarks, different perfs. different shades, which ranged from $1.00 up to the $60.00. I asked him if he had compared his stamp to all the ones listed. All he said was, "No, I can't be bothered doing that. It's too much work."
Well that's just my 2cents worth. Anything to add?
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
Don't let it bug you, Doodles, as none of us is prefect.
John Derry
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
Doodles, I would be quite forgiving of the first person in your example, as that may be just a "scope of collecting" term; that is, they don't literally collect every stamp worldwide, but their scope of collecting is not region or country bound. Maybe I'm too forgiving.
The second person, however, is in for a rude surprise. If they are excited they have a $60 CV stamp, that means the CV has significance to them, and their rude awakening will come at appraisal time, when they find it is the $1 value. Or worse, they tell their family about their "rare and valuable" stamp collection, only to have them inherit and find out for themselves. How often have we read or know of inheritors who are ticked off when they're told that collection left to them had mostly emotional value.
I guess I don't have a pet peeve about most things collectors say, except for one: When I describe my collection of used and unused stamps to someone and they reply smugly "Well, I only collect Mint Never Hinged stamps!" Well, good for you, I think, and move on.
Cheers,
Peter
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
I was in a local stamp dealer's shop with whom I have had many pleasant dealings. A beginning collector asked the dealer, "What do I do with stamps with the extra paper on the side." The dealer says, "Oh, you can just throw that out."
I was shocked. There are five good reasons to keep selvage on your stamps:
1-It just looks good, and gives a nice contrast to the stamp
2-Stamps can have significantly increased value when they still have selvage connected (Plate blocks for one)
3-Selvage can show where in a sheet the stamp was (plating and varieties)
4-Selvage can have interesting markings such as letters, initials, plate numbers, inscriptions, lathework.
5-Tearing off selvage can damage the stamp it is attached to
Others exist no doubt.
Antonio
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
""Oh, I don't collect them." How can you collect worldwide, without difinitives? "
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
"Suzanne...there must be a lot of wholes in his album"
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
"I was shocked. There are five good reasons to keep selvage on your stamps:"
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
One of my favorites is "Used NH"
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
well, if I can choose between used stamps with hinge, or without one, I'd take the stamps without hinges. Stupid things.
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
i'll add one more about selvage: if it is a plate number, it can sometimes be used to determine what stamp it is, independent of WM, perfs, paper, etc. I ALWAYS choose a stamp with selvage over one without; and PNS especially. The PN ID trick was discussed in these pages recently by another member who used the same technique.
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
I, most of the time, will tear it off. (sorry ) I personally do not collect stamps as an investment. When I say my stamp buying depends on what mood I'm in, I really mean it. I would not call myself a WW collector, I am a Topical Collector. And I have no boundries as to what country the stamp is from. If the stamp will fit "properly" into my album, I don't mind keeping the selv attached. Another... Souv. Sheets. Although I do have a few, when I buy stamps, I don't (especially new ones) buy them for the sheet. I will take one or two for my collection and give the sheets with remaining stamps, to my wife to use. And there are some countries I have never collected for, what may be an extremely odd reason, but that's another topic, I will share elsewhere.
Clayton, Good Morning All
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
I have to admit I want to tear the selvedge off of singles because I disagree with point #1 - to me it doesn't look good. But I don't do it because the other 4 points are valid.
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
If the selvedge has a design that is pertinent to the stamp subject, I will keep it. Otherwise for blank white margin tabs or trivial inscriptions for XXX Printing House, or whatever, fuggetaboutit; I gladly remove it, content in the knowledge that my act of heresy is increasing the value (if oh so minutely) of your stamp with intact selvedge.
Tedski
I'm talking modern stamps, here.
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
I have a moderatrly large glassine full of selvege that is available to anyone who wants it.
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
"I have a moderatrly large glassine full of selvege that is available to anyone who wants it."
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
Be careful what you wish for! A certain bidStart member (who is here and shall remain unidentified) once posted on the forum that he collected selvage. A group of us then collected as much selvage as we could get and mailed it to him on his birthday. He got several stuffed envelopes full of mint and used plain white paper! One person actually made a "selvage ball" as I remember! I sent packets of selvage "catalogued" by the issuing country, including a couple with stamps attached, which he removed. Great fun.
Peter
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
What bugs me concerning selvage is when an online dealer offers a scan of a set that does not have selvage (which is what I prefer) and then sends me a set WITH selvage (most of the time, the selvage has no special markings or anything, to me, that would make me want to keep it on.)
If I see a set with selvage offered and I think it adds to the stamp(s) for some reason, then I will buy it. I have a nice Isle of Man Europa set with beautiful music-themed selvage.
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
Fredcdobbs:Re: Used NH. Yes, that drives me nuts! There is no way to prove, that either a used stamp or a stamp which is unused but issued withou gum, has never been hinged! All you have to do with one, that has evidence of of a hinge mark, is wash it off. Ted.
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
Did somebody type "selvedge"?
â—„--
Some of us (OK, maybe only one of us) have been known to tear the stamp off and keep the selvedge.
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
Thanks, Peter (yeah, and Coco, too). I had just come home from a long trip that year and was shocked to find several large envelopes full of selvedge and liners, including several mailed from overseas. Too bad I didn't have my scanner then. But I do still have all that selvedge.
Always grateful for the friendship, kindness, and humor of the forum members!
k
Now back to the regularly scheduled thread topic...
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
"Be careful what you wish for! Happy A certain bidStart member (who is here and shall remain unidentified) once posted on the forum that he collected selvage. A group of us then collected as much selvage as we could get and mailed it to him on his birthday. He got several stuffed envelopes full of mint and used plain white paper! One person actually made a "selvage ball" as I remember! I sent packets of selvage "catalogued" by the issuing country, including a couple with stamps attached, which he removed. Great fun."
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
"Things Stamp People Say That Bug You"
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
About the selvage: absolutely hilarious to send someone a package full of selvage. That was truly inspired!!!
Now for the question: the Made in America stamps will be issued with 5 different selvage designs. I refuse to collect them as I consider it a ploy by the post office. The stamps will all be the same.... What are others thinking? Sally
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
I saw some lots online that I liked and was getting ready to bid, and then I checked the shipping cost to find there was none. The winner would be required to pick them up personally from the seller. In the UK. That is a bit of a drive for me. Assuming the Atlantic ocean froze over.
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
I love to browse in a local stamp shop. They get a lot of big collections, so they offer box lots that are fun.
When I've bought a few through the years, sometimes the clerk calls them "kiddy junk" because they have so many common stamps in mixed conditions. As a fairly new collector with much to learn and look at and sort through, I bristle when I hear it, but say nothing. I've enjoyed sorting through boxes of his so called "kiddy junk." I've found many treasures, some common, some not so common. Some stuff I keep to fill holes in an album, some I use for trading, some I have donated.
Adults who haven't been collecting all their lives have a lot of catch up "kiddy junk" to sort through. The term bugs me but I love that shop and appreciate some of the tips they've shared as well as great stock.
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The guy's a moron, Connie - ignore him. I have been collecting for 55 years, and still buy "kiddy junk" (usually in the form of box lots at local auctions). I get hours (and sometimes months) of pleasure from going through old accumulations.
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" .... as I consider it a ploy by the post office. ...."
Do you really think they would do that ?
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VVVVVVVLH
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" .... The guy's a moron, Connie - ignore him. ...."
Yes, a moron, and would not last ten minutes working for me.I guess I might give one quiet warning to never belittle the customers choice regardless of how foolish it may appear to the moron.
I recall one guy who commented n a customer's new car about some minor faults. (Yes, they were obvious to me also) The customer had just made a choice and I bet we were his first stop to show off his new (lightly used ???) auto. He was happy and expansive. Fortunately his wife was not close enough to hear the comment.
The employees name was "Rick Something."
" ....Rick, if I ever hear you saw anything like that in my shop you are fired. ...." burst from the side of my mouth in what might have passed for a razor sharp whisper. " Now shut up and go inside. ...." (Profanity deleted)
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
Charlie,
I think at one point in time most of us have worked with "Rick". I know I have!
My favorite is not so much what they say as to what they type.
"RARE only $1.00"
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I work as the store manager for one of Canada's largest stamp dealers.
I get people come in who are not stamp collectors. They walk up to the counter and ask "What your most expensive stamp?"
I reply "I have some worth over a dollar".
Gets them everytime.
David
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
My biggest pet peeve is on-line seller posting pictures of what is for sale and they ship something else. I want to get what I see, not something that looks like the one posted. If sellers are too lazy to scan the actual item for sale, they should not be selling.
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My peeve is when you ask a seller/buyer/anybody a question and they never reply.
What's up with that?
Luree
who's been lost in the working world lately
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My pet peeve is when sellers don't accept paypal.
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Describing stamps as French (or British, Portuguese, etc.) colonies when, in fact, they were issued post independence.
Use of the words "rare" and "scarce" when they are not.
Use of the word "old" when describing stamps issued after I was born!
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
I got this at a stamp show in Georgia; when describing my collecting interests to a dealer at his table, he replied "why would you want to collect THAT?" And it was not a friendly inquiry. So, I guess, in general, snobbish collectors and dealers bug me.
Peter
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"Use of the word "old" when describing stamps issued after I was born!"
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"Over the last 35 plus years I've been a collector and a dealer. ...
What really bugs me though is when someone says they are a worldwide collector....... then you mention, or show them definitive stamps you get, "Oh, I don't collect them." How can you collect worldwide, without definitives? "
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"Used, never hinged" takes the cake for me (as fredcdobbs noted). Talk about being overly literal!
Oh, and I hate the the flashy "L@@K!" and "MUST SEE!" descriptions in listings.
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Doug,
Glad you chimed in. My pet peeve is:
Care to take my mousepad for a walkabout?
(Sorry - inside joke - please ignore).
Lars
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Well, it is not so much what they say, but philatelists with no sense of humor are a pet peeve of mine (exhibit judges come to mind).
Another pet peeve is when people come up to me and try to sell me (the new kid) things and then expect me to pay 50% of catalog for average stuff, or face value for US plate blocks. It isn't happening. Last time I bought a plate block collection from my favorite dealer (which was quite some time ago) I paid 70% of face.
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smauggie - I have you beat. I bought a $800 face accumulation for $200. I did not bargain for it, it is what they wanted, so I bought it. I was not sure how much was there, but knew it was more than $200.
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Wow! 25 cents on the dollar is a great find!
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nice, Dan, even a bottom feeder like me would have snatched that up
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"I have been on the other side of this conversion a good number of times. Quite frequently, I answer "Worldwide used" when dealers at stamp shows ask me what I collect. Usually, the next thing that happens is that the dealer pulls out a pile of pages of dunes, Eastern European CTOs, a "pretty collection of covers with golden (!!) replicas of stamps," etc."
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"I wouldn't dream of pushing junk onto another collector, or pushing anything onto them for that matter. Certainly not covers or CTO's. "
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ouch. another beautitful cover ruined
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Yes, David. To add to your pain as a seal collctor, here is the back of the above cover:
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youch. you did string out the pain, Arno.
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"Why are there offers of damaged stamps on the Auction?
-Mitoneu"
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Miquel, would you send me links to the ones you see
re: Things Stamp People Say That Bug You
"I love to browse in a local stamp shop. They get a lot of big collections, so they offer box lots that are fun.
When I've bought a few through the years, sometimes the clerk calls them "kiddy junk" because they have so many common stamps in mixed conditions. As a fairly new collector with much to learn and look at and sort through, I bristle when I hear it, but say nothing. I've enjoyed sorting through boxes of his so called "kiddy junk." I've found many treasures, some common, some not so common. Some stuff I keep to fill holes in an album, some I use for trading, some I have donated.
"
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I'm not particularly a plate block collector but there are certainly quirks I have. If I have a plate block and there are others in the series, well, I have to have the others in the series - lol.
Anyway, a few years back, I was at a friend's stamp store looking through his common Canada. In there was used, mh, mnh, etc., etc. I found a block of one of the particular stamps I wanted. I asked if he had a plate block of that issue, mnh. He kind of looked at me oddly and said "no one collects plate blocks anymore!" I wanted to laugh but kept quiet. Off he went to one of his dozens of drawers and after rummaging through, he finally came back with a plate block. By that time I had contained my chuckles and asked him why he said no one collects plate blocks anymore. He told me that at one time he used to include them in the "no man's land box" (that I had recently rummaged through) and he had a fellow that proceeded to remove all the selvedge from every issue that he pulled out to purchase. Oy, my heart took a leap!
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RE:: " .... Kiddy Junk ..."
During the late 1960s, through the '70s and possibly halfway through the 1980s postally used stamps of the Republic of China (1912-1949) were an apparent drug on the market. I often bought folders of them from the "Kiddy Junk" box or bin at quit a few stamp shops. Often as an afterthought as I was leaving with whatever else I had bought.
Sometime in the middle of the 1980s I read an article by Mike Rogers of Winter Park, Florida a well known shop operator and expert on Chinese Philately. By then I had a hardly used copy of Ma's China handbook and had sorted through and mounted pages and pages of Chinese stamps with secret marks and overprint variations, both intentional as well as accidental.
I am not sure what started me on that path, it may have been because I was still writing to a young lady I had met and entertained when I spent a month or so at Kaohsiung, a large port in southern Taiwan or perhaps my affection for Chinese take outs. I don't know.
Maybe it was just a serendipitous accident. I certainly had no real idea that Red China would develop its own unique amalgamation of centrally controlled free enterprise that has somehow created wealth for a lot of it's people, but it did and the prices paid for what were once considered little better than floor sweepings have blown out the roof of many stamp auctions
But I will bet you a crisp ten spot that many of those dealers who picked up five or ten dollars for a folder full of "kiddie junk", assuming they are still on the sunny side of the flowers and doing business would like to have them back to sell at auctions today.
So, while it true that much of the things in the "kiddy junk" boxes, probably almost all, will never be worth their weight in three dollar bills, if there is something there that attracts you, don't be dissuaded by popular opinion, just follow the only established rule of the hobby " It's your collection, collect what you want the way you enjoy collecting."
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Not sure I can add much here...
The terms "NH" and "used" in the same sentence is definitely likely to get an eyeroll from me, especially when it comes from someone who has collected for 30 years and knows better.
The other I run into when perusing eBay, BidStart and other places... there's a whole bunch of "I've been a dealer for 347 years, blah, blah, blah..." and then there are a bunch of listings showing that this person doesn't (evidently?) have even a rudimentary grasp of how to look something up in a catalog... like it never even occurs to them that different perf/watermark versions of the same design might exist. And so you end up with the aforesaid "$60.00" stamp that's actually a $1.00 stamp.
I can always tell US sellers dealing on foreign stamps... they attribute "natural straight edges" to stamps from countries that NEVER had any stamps not perforated on all four sides. But I guess it sounds better than "perfs cut off on one side."
And then there's the gratuitous use of the words "rare old." As my dad used to say, "a common stamp, when 100 years old, becomes an OLD common stamp."
Peter
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Amen Peter. As posted on another thread (Rarities), OLD and RARE mean nothing unless there is a following and desire for those stamps and the supply becomes limited. Then you can start to talk about the treasure you have and what you want for it. Sometimes there is a sucker born every day, but I would think we as a society of collectors would not encroach on "scammery" on SoR. Hey maybe a new word.....And possibly a new thread. "Who has been scammed and how?"
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"Why are there offers of damaged stamps on the Auction?
Mitoneu"
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Amen, Bobby!
If anyone has a damaged 356, O69, O70, or RJM anything, I'd be interested. Creases and pulled perfs welcome here!
Lars
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Well my stamps I call "My Collection" consists of everything including singles. It is my hobby. I will never sell my collection So I only collect to please myself. I don't leave any selvage on singles. I tear it all off. Personally I think it looks like crap. It doesn't fit the mounts and serves no purpose. Since it is "My Collection" I don't collect to please anyone but myself. I am a stamp collector not a selvage collector. I mount only Mint and valuable old stamps with the black background because it makes the stamps pop. For Modern used stamps I use hinges. However I don't tear any selvage off stamps that have Numbers or any writing like what's found on plate blocks "Use Mr Zip" and other writing. My wife, Son and none of my Grand-kids right now have any interest in stamps. When I'm dead and gone they probably will sell the stamps for pennies on the dollar so I collect only to please myself. It is my hobby.
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Sometimes its what they do not say that might bug me. I have gone to shows with people that will drop a thousand or $1500 at a favorite dealers table..i might dig all day and only end up spending 40 dollars for a few stamps and covers..they can not relate ,but i am also a stamp collector. I grew up in the 1950s and there were no frills..now in my 70's i finally have two extravagances..my stamps and a gas guzzling 4x4.let me not have guilt !!!
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Just a continuation of my last post...i have a couple of friends who insist on getting at least 40 miles per gallon from their vehicles..i don't know why thsts the most important factor i like a lot of things about my truck..and they can afford gas. So if i take their 40 and 40 and my 17mpg and average them its not bad gas mileage !
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No,No, Phil,
You need to average in the use of your bike as well.
Just trying to help!
Dan C.
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My favorites? (All from ebay, I'm afraid)
"Lightly cancelled; never hinged."
"Mint First Day Cover"
"Rare First Day Cover from 1956"
"Unique First Day Cover from 1963"
"Collection" (describing a set of two stamps)
"Valuable set" (with c/v of $ .50
"Valuable space filler"
"Stamps worth many times the asking price just a few years ago."
"From the estate of....." (as if that increases it's value)
"Unlisted color variety" (on a faded stamp)
CaliforniaBob
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Great list, Bob. When you see such language, you are truly confident you are dealing with a trusted and knowledgeable collector (NOT) !
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What bugs me is the prevalence of mal described stamps sold on line. Perhaps I am too gullible but I expect a written description to be as accurate as possible.
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"What bugs me is the prevalence of mal described stamps sold on line. Perhaps I am too gullible but I expect a written description to be as accurate as possible."
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Oh! Long thread! Here’s my story, which I’m sure I’ve told you before:
Soon after I became a member of my stamp club, I became VP (it’s easy, you just have to raise your hand!). I was sitting at the head table with the president. We were just starting to pass stamps around on a “Show & Tell†night. The president had brought a used, overprinted Asian stamp (can’t remember the country). He had explained that it was very valuable. But when I had it in my hands, it just didn’t seem right. I pulled out my 8X loupe and took a close look. OK. A forgery.
I turned to the president, and said, “R..., I hate to tell you this, but this stamp is a forgery. The overprint is on top of the cancellation! Here, take a look.â€
“R...†said, “No, I don’t want to look,†and proceeded to ignore me!
I told my wife, Susan, on New Year’s Eve (we were discussing what a godawful year it had been for us) that one thing I had learned was that Belief — political Belief, religious Belief, Belief in quack medicine, etc. — was the most powerful motivating force on the planet, and we were at its mercy. You just can’t sway a True Believer. Evidence of any sort, even scientific, tested and re-tested evidence, just has no power over Belief. So it is with stamp collectors. If a collector truly Believes that he or she owns a valuable stamp, there is no power on earth that can change his or her mind.
Bob
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"So I only collect to please myself. I don't leave any selvage on singles. I tear it all off. Personally I think it looks like crap."
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One more case of selvage that should probably be kept:
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Howdy! I know of a seller that uses the term 'used nh'. Perhaps it means used , no hinge?
Just a thought. Some people really get ticked if a used stamp has a hinge mark or worse yet part of a hinge attached.
Is there an abbreviation for used no hinge? If not it is high time we had one.
Cheers
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Sorry for extending the digression but I cannot help myself.
" ... You just can’t sway a True Believer. Evidence of any sort, even scientific, tested and re-tested evidence, just has no power over Belief. ..."
That is because believers have faith, Bob. Faith is a belief held without evidence or despite contrary evidence.. If there were supporting evidence there would be no need for faith. (Small; "f" or capital "F." either way.)