bwm
**Member** 
Posts: 2
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Post by bwm on Mar 22, 2023 6:10:01 GMT
Hi all,
I live in Oregon (USA) and work as a Mechanical Engineer.
I'm 24 (almost 25), so I suppose I'm younger than most in the hobby, but I enjoy history and geography, and the tangible connection that stamps provide to the past and far-off places.
I also enjoy genealogy.
I've probably been collecting stamps in earnest since about 2016, but probably got into it about 2013. Before that, I probably just had a passing interest, due to inheriting my aunt's childhood album. I also collect coins, and collected coins before stamps, but have found stamp collecting to be more fun and with more variety.
I also enjoy collecting postmarks (on stamps), and have slowly been adding to my postmark catalogues and other resources I've gathered. It's mesmerizing to hear about scarce postmarks on a 10c stamps selling for a huge markup, and that they can be found on general low-cost stamps, if you know what to look for.
I love searching through big masses/mixtures/box lots of stamps, and enjoy the treasure-hunting aspect of searching through it. May be more fun for me to "find" an uncommon stamp/postmark than to "have" it. I know I'll never be able to shell out big bucks to fill in some of the stamps I'm missing (can't bring myself to spend that much on a single stamp), but maybe I'll be able to trade for them with some of my "finds" and build my collection that way. It's no wonder I'm also interested in gold-panning.
I collect the entire world up to at least 1940 or so, British Commonwealth up to 1955ish/independence, USA up to present. As one would guess from my interest in postmarks, my focus is on Used stamps.
I also collect US revenues.
I am a member of Stamp Community Forum too, as well as being part of the APS.
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hdm1950
Member 
Posts: 1,887 
What I collect: I collect world wide up to 1965 with several specialty albums added due to volume of material I have acquired. At this point I am focused on Canada and British America. I am always on the lookout for stamps and covers with postmarks from communities in Queens County, Nova Scotia. I do list various goods including stamps occasionally on eBay as hdm50
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Post by hdm1950 on Mar 22, 2023 10:52:31 GMT
Welcome bwm! You are correct in the demographic of most in our hobby although the majority of us started out at the same age. A large number of us found that life got in the way with work and family in mid life and then came back to stamps. The direction you are taking with postmarks is great. For sure the hunt is a large part of the fun. Enjoy your times with our friendly group and we look forward to your sharing some of your finds. |
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zipper
Member
Posts: 2,649
What I collect: Classic GB, QV, France Ceres/Napoleon, Classic U.S., Cinderella & Poster Stamps
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Post by zipper on Mar 22, 2023 11:23:36 GMT
Hi
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bafletcher
Member
Posts: 148
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps and Covers (focus: British Africa, Caribbean, British Commonwealth, Croatia, Greece, Pakistan, Nepal)
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Post by bafletcher on Mar 22, 2023 12:51:56 GMT
Glad to have you here, bwm! I think you will find this a friendly and knowledgeable group to spend time with. Like you I started collecting when I was young (some coins at that time, too), then re-focused in my 20s by becoming an APS member. Now it's 30 years later ... yikes ... and I still find joy in my philatelic pursuits. As I grew older I broadened my horizons, so now I collect the world. Hope to hear more from you on TSF. Bart Central Virginia, USA |
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Post by carabop on Mar 22, 2023 13:05:57 GMT
Welcome. I also collect USA MNH is my main collection. I do keep used stamps for trade. I have a few classics that are used or holes to fill because of price.
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Mr. H
Member
Member - APS #129381
Posts: 952
What I collect: US, Netherlands, Whatever suits my fancy.
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Post by Mr. H on Mar 22, 2023 13:09:46 GMT
Welcome to the Forum!
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jpotx113
Member
Posts: 460
What I collect: USA, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Machins, misc. WW
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Post by jpotx113 on Mar 22, 2023 13:39:34 GMT
Welcome! I won't say that I collect postmarks as a general rule but I prefer used stamps and I always go for the most interesting postmark. Nice to see another genealogist here;that has been a passion of mine for over 25 years.
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,655
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Mar 22, 2023 13:43:13 GMT
Yay! Folks, we have just added a real gem to our group! bwm So happy to have you join us! This is the friendliest group - we concentrate on having FUN. There are philatelists here who will dazzle you with their knowledge WITHOUT any braggadocio, chest beating or bickering. Let the good times begin!  |
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anglobob
Member
Posts: 2,602
What I collect: France and French Colonies,French cinderellas British Commonwealth QE2
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Post by anglobob on Mar 22, 2023 14:02:49 GMT
Welcome from another postmark addict.....  |
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renden
Member
Posts: 9,162
What I collect: Canada-USA-France-Lithuania-Austria--Germany-Mauritius-French Colonies in Africa
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Post by renden on Mar 22, 2023 15:59:14 GMT
bwm - enjoy our Forum René Canada
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rex
Member
Posts: 1,216
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Post by rex on Mar 22, 2023 16:14:46 GMT
....to....TSF..... bwm .... Ludovico Italy
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dorincard
Member
Posts: 1,623
What I collect: My focus is on Wild Mammals on maximum cards. Occasionally, I get or create maximum cards with other animals, or any other topic.
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Post by dorincard on Mar 22, 2023 16:59:56 GMT
Welcome!
Consider creating your #maxicards!
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,699
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Mar 22, 2023 19:37:20 GMT
Welcome!!
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Post by dgdecker on Mar 22, 2023 20:24:50 GMT
Welcome to the Forum!
David
Ottawa, Canada
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sudbury12000
Member
Posts: 360
What I collect: Canada, Great Britain, Germany, World Pre 1925
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Post by sudbury12000 on Mar 22, 2023 21:23:37 GMT
Welcome to the forum! Lots of fun here!!
Roy
Scugog,Ontario, Canada
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hrdoktorx
Member
Posts: 7,214
What I collect: France (and French territories), Africa, Canada, USA, Germany, Guatemala, stamps about science, flags, maps, stamps on stamps...
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Post by hrdoktorx on Mar 23, 2023 6:20:19 GMT
to TSF! Thanks for the nice introduction. Glad you found us.
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FDI
Member
Member of RPSC & BNAPS
Posts: 386
What I collect: Modern Canada (misperf, varieties, tagging errors), Canadian Cinderellas, EXUP & CAPEX & Dead Countries
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Post by FDI on Mar 23, 2023 11:55:44 GMT
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Post by iswscwebmaster on Mar 24, 2023 1:31:08 GMT
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bwm
**Member**
Posts: 2
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Post by bwm on Mar 24, 2023 9:09:17 GMT
Thank you all for all for the kind welcome! hdm1950 Thanks for the encouragement about postmark collecting. I find it fun, as I never know what interesting postmark will show up next! It looks like you collect postmarks from Queens County, Nova Scotia? Postmarks of Canada are definitely an area I like. I have Robinson/Topping books for all the Western Provinces and Territories, and greatly enjoy their scarcity ratings. Eastern Canadian provinces are a weak area for me, as I don't have the literature. Do you know if some thing like Robinson's book exist for the eastern provinces? To determine scarcity for those, I've essentially been finding the town in census records and postal records to determine population and postal volume, but am interested in learning if there's actual books cataloging them. jpotx113 My grandfather was very interested in genealogy, and that one of the things we did together when he was alive (he died about a year and half ago). I'm the only descendant that is that interested in genealogy, so he gave me books and records he had worked on. He was so serious about that he even visited Mormon family history libraries to access records (he's not Mormon) in the pre-Internet age, when researching was a lot more labor-intensive. Now, a lot of that has been digitized, and the Internet makes it a quite a bit easier! anglobob I've definitely seem some of your impressive collections of French colonial postmarks, and I like collecting them too (as well as other areas). |
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hdm1950
Member
Posts: 1,887
What I collect: I collect world wide up to 1965 with several specialty albums added due to volume of material I have acquired. At this point I am focused on Canada and British America. I am always on the lookout for stamps and covers with postmarks from communities in Queens County, Nova Scotia. I do list various goods including stamps occasionally on eBay as hdm50
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Post by hdm1950 on Mar 24, 2023 10:38:14 GMT
Thank you all for all for the kind welcome! hdm1950 Thanks for the encouragement about postmark collecting. I find it fun, as I never know what interesting postmark will show up next! It looks like you collect postmarks from Queens County, Nova Scotia? Postmarks of Canada are definitely an area I like. I have Robinson/Topping books for all the Western Provinces and Territories, and greatly enjoy their scarcity ratings. Eastern Canadian provinces are a weak area for me, as I don't have the literature. Do you know if some thing like Robinson's book exist for the eastern provinces? To determine scarcity for those, I've essentially been finding the town in census records and postal records to determine population and postal volume, but am interested in learning if there's actual books cataloging them. In my search my primary concern was to confirm where there were actual post offices in Queens County along with name changes over the years. Luckily there was the book in the photo below that I found first in the Toronto resource library and now have my own copy. It deals with names and dates of operation without actually showing postmarks but that works for what I want. There were about 60 over the years so my want list is fairly short. I have examples now of most but I am always looking for older and better examples.  |
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