Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
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Or ... you start a mint collection. 
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Unfortunately, I like both mint and used stamps, and collect both whenever I can. I appreciate used stamps, at least ones with cancellations that convey a story. They are nothing less than artifacts. I often use them to illustrate my web pages and exhibits because of the additional information they provide. But I also appreciate mint stamps, especially when their designs are the story, and they too end up in my web pages and exhibits.
Bob
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Mint vs used generates some fascinating discussions!
I'm like Bob, all my collections are mint and used. But, I'm in the process of changing some of that starting with my USA. The mint is going bye-bye. Why? Several reasons. To me, used singles are unique (as misterstamper cleverly pointed out to me one day). Used singles can be found in a bag of kiloware - the philatelic equivalent of digging for buried treasure. Used singles actually performed the act of carrying the mail. Used are a wealth of historical information - all the when, where, etc is there. I don't have to worry about gum damage from Florida humidity if the air conditioner ever failed - used are tougher, but not impervious. Lastly, the cost of keeping up with all the new issues has gotten crazy expensive - used are often (not always!) much cheaper.
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Several years ago, I decided to collect stamps of the Irish Republic. I bought two sets of Lighthouse Ireland pages, one each for mint and and used stamps) and binders for them, and started filling them up. The end came when I realized that I would never be able to correctly identify, or afford, the early overprints and some of the varieties of the early Republic of Ireland stamps. For a few years, I bought double sets of pages for each new year, and strove to obtain stamps for them. I stopped writing cheques (no PayPal or internet then) when new issues started including "Love" stamps. I've nothing against love, and even practice it myself with a like-minded woman. After all,
…birds do it
Bees do it
Even educated fleas do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love.
However, I decided I would not spend my money on philatelic junk without meaning except to the Irish Treasury, nor search for Love stamps, which I basically loath for their saccharine ick factor.
There was a nice ending. I spent a lot of money on that collection, and got a surprisingly nice payment from the dealer I sold it to. Stamp collecting is certainly one hobby where your money doesn't go up in smoke.
Bob
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I guess its hard for the leopard to change spots...until now my collecting has been a mixture of used and unused stamps..always giving preference to the used. I thought i might try and go strictly used with the Netherlands Indies little collection..but !
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Bob, Its true..if you have decent material the more well known stamp houses will pay a fair price..i received a letter from Michael Rogers prior to the Hartford APS show saying he would be attending..so i said "OK i will look him up". It took a while to get to him as he always had a group of fellows sitting around his table chatting. Finally my chance came and i introduced myself and told him i had some Hong Kong year booklets if he would not mind taking a look...The man is really a Gentlemen..he told me he already was set with them but referred me to booth 6xx where a fellow would buy them. I showed the man my wares...i was pleasantly surprised at what he offered and accepted. What i sold covered my STAMP EXPENSES for the two days i was there...not my personal expenses,but thats ok...from what i have seen in the last couple of years when a friend of mine passed away and i witnessed a dealer appraise his stamps and from my dealings at the Hartford show..people should not think they are only going to get offered 10 or 15 percent of catalog for decent material !
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I purchased a partial collection of Netherlands Indies in used condition at one of our club meetings,,it was fully my intention to keep the collection postally used..until today ! I found i had quite a few Netherlands Indies stamps in my Scott International albums...too bad i did not look earlier as i purchased duplicates...So this rainny afternoon i was moving a few stamps into my new album pages when i saw Netherlands scott # 157 Queen Wilhemina 5 guilder orange brown 2012 scott catalog 135.00 unused and 125.00 used in the big blue international. I do not have a clue how or i came upon this stamp but here it was. After some struggle and with a heavy heart i decided to add her to my very recently all used collection. I know life is all about change...sometimes we just have to adapt ! UNLESS someone swaps me a used one for the unused...
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re: postally used verus unused..changed my collecting standards !
Or ... you start a mint collection.
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re: postally used verus unused..changed my collecting standards !
Unfortunately, I like both mint and used stamps, and collect both whenever I can. I appreciate used stamps, at least ones with cancellations that convey a story. They are nothing less than artifacts. I often use them to illustrate my web pages and exhibits because of the additional information they provide. But I also appreciate mint stamps, especially when their designs are the story, and they too end up in my web pages and exhibits.
Bob
Login to Like
this post
re: postally used verus unused..changed my collecting standards !
Mint vs used generates some fascinating discussions!
I'm like Bob, all my collections are mint and used. But, I'm in the process of changing some of that starting with my USA. The mint is going bye-bye. Why? Several reasons. To me, used singles are unique (as misterstamper cleverly pointed out to me one day). Used singles can be found in a bag of kiloware - the philatelic equivalent of digging for buried treasure. Used singles actually performed the act of carrying the mail. Used are a wealth of historical information - all the when, where, etc is there. I don't have to worry about gum damage from Florida humidity if the air conditioner ever failed - used are tougher, but not impervious. Lastly, the cost of keeping up with all the new issues has gotten crazy expensive - used are often (not always!) much cheaper.
Login to Like
this post
re: postally used verus unused..changed my collecting standards !
Several years ago, I decided to collect stamps of the Irish Republic. I bought two sets of Lighthouse Ireland pages, one each for mint and and used stamps) and binders for them, and started filling them up. The end came when I realized that I would never be able to correctly identify, or afford, the early overprints and some of the varieties of the early Republic of Ireland stamps. For a few years, I bought double sets of pages for each new year, and strove to obtain stamps for them. I stopped writing cheques (no PayPal or internet then) when new issues started including "Love" stamps. I've nothing against love, and even practice it myself with a like-minded woman. After all,
…birds do it
Bees do it
Even educated fleas do it
Let's do it, let's fall in love.
However, I decided I would not spend my money on philatelic junk without meaning except to the Irish Treasury, nor search for Love stamps, which I basically loath for their saccharine ick factor.
There was a nice ending. I spent a lot of money on that collection, and got a surprisingly nice payment from the dealer I sold it to. Stamp collecting is certainly one hobby where your money doesn't go up in smoke.
Bob
Login to Like
this post
Auctions
re: postally used verus unused..changed my collecting standards !
I guess its hard for the leopard to change spots...until now my collecting has been a mixture of used and unused stamps..always giving preference to the used. I thought i might try and go strictly used with the Netherlands Indies little collection..but !
Login to Like
this post
Auctions
re: postally used verus unused..changed my collecting standards !
Bob, Its true..if you have decent material the more well known stamp houses will pay a fair price..i received a letter from Michael Rogers prior to the Hartford APS show saying he would be attending..so i said "OK i will look him up". It took a while to get to him as he always had a group of fellows sitting around his table chatting. Finally my chance came and i introduced myself and told him i had some Hong Kong year booklets if he would not mind taking a look...The man is really a Gentlemen..he told me he already was set with them but referred me to booth 6xx where a fellow would buy them. I showed the man my wares...i was pleasantly surprised at what he offered and accepted. What i sold covered my STAMP EXPENSES for the two days i was there...not my personal expenses,but thats ok...from what i have seen in the last couple of years when a friend of mine passed away and i witnessed a dealer appraise his stamps and from my dealings at the Hartford show..people should not think they are only going to get offered 10 or 15 percent of catalog for decent material !
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