stanley64
Member
Posts: 1,826
What I collect: Canada, USA, Netherlands, Portugal & Colonies, Antarctic Territories and anything that catches my eye...
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Post by stanley64 on Aug 21, 2023 7:29:14 GMT
With so many stamps to collect, what goals or plans have individuals set for their own collecting interests? Inspired in part my madbaker ’s recent posting here and the term “minimalist worldwide collection’; it has been a lingering question in my mind as to the goal of world-wide collectors. What is the plan or goal and how will you know your own collection is "complete"? - every first stamp issued? - a year set from each country, e.g. birth year or some other special event? - a set from each based on some interest or defined criteria? For more specialised collections, it is likely a specific country, time period, theme or even event. In which case, there is a start and defined focus, e.g. Antarctic Byrd's Second Byrd Antarctic Expedition (1933-35). Given that it is unlikely that one can have them all, so whether an experienced collector or someone new to the hobby, do you have a goal or plan? Whilst you have the freedom to set your own collecting path, it is good to have a plan…. Have fun and happy collecting!!
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cjoprey
Member
Scanning stamps for my website...
Posts: 1,443
What I collect: Belgium (predominantly), British Commonwealth (older ones), WW (whatever comes my way...)
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Post by cjoprey on Aug 21, 2023 8:00:05 GMT
Great question Vince stanley64! For me it is a hybrid of the goals you mentioned... For Belgium my aim is to try and complete the "main" stamps listed in COB (the official Belgian catalogue for those who haven't seen that acronym before). I will NOT be aiming to get those stamps listed as variations or curiosities in the catalogue - like the inverted Dendermonde!!! I will however aim to get the standard variants identified with lower case letters, and this includes most of the back-of-book stamps - although I have no interest in collecting sheets or ATM stamps, so those will probably be skipped. For the worldwide stamps I have no real goal... If I like them, I keep them. I do have a predilection towards older stamps and am not really interested in more modern stamps from the 2000's onwards. I find I'm more interested in older African stamps for their interesting histories, especially East and South African areas.
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cjoprey
Member
Scanning stamps for my website...
Posts: 1,443
What I collect: Belgium (predominantly), British Commonwealth (older ones), WW (whatever comes my way...)
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Post by cjoprey on Aug 21, 2023 8:03:06 GMT
I should add I also have a goal of aiming for MNH stamps, although I will take any stamps that fills a gap... And my personal preference is in this order: MNH, MH, MNG, U, CTO, FDC...
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Post by paul1 on Aug 21, 2023 8:03:48 GMT
Hello stanley64 - wish I could say that I had plans - well, suppose I do in some ways, but don't think they're particularly in tune with your ideas of stamp 'plans', and I tend to ramble through life alternating between several hobbies, and not becoming clever about any of them. I do envy those who, probably like yourself, have a sizeable chunk of methodology in your sights and know how to plan a collection. Distraction is the little gremlin that's responsible for this situation I'm sure - but oddly I love an unpredictable day ......... I have mountains of France plus Colonies - Portugal plus Colonies - what seems like mountains of Africa, oodles of Eastern Europe, ditto of South and Central America, and the little envelopes you see in the box of attached picture? - probably all different countries too !!!!! In fact if you're doing nothing yourself today do pop round and help - can offer coffee and biscuits. But, trying to be serious for a second or two ............... there is sneaky little plan formulating - which is to trim down the WW and reduce to - France plus Colonies, Portugal plus Colonies, mountains of Africa and Eastern Europe, South and Central America and to promise myself to sort through those little envelopes . Must admit I feel very guilty for too often writing MISC. on an envelope, filling it with stamps, then putting away where it can't be seen. In truth Stan I wouldn't want to remove the unplanned and randomness from life - for me, plans can mean you know what will happen tomorrow, and possible the days after too. Hope you'll forgive my flippant reply - but whatever people have - plans or no - it must be fun and enjoyable - my best wishes to you.
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hdm1950
Member
Posts: 1,604
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 Aug 21, 2023 11:15:31 GMT
Interesting and perplexing question Vince ( stanley64 ). Over the years I ended up perceiving myself as a specialist in too many countries or regions. In my mind a specialist was someone that had so many stamps of a country that you outgrew the generic world wide album pages. In response I then got specialized albums or created my own in old spring back albums or binders using recirculated pages I had on hand. Sites like The Stamp Forum has made me realise that I am a collector/accumulator rather than a philatelist. I must say now that over the last 5 years I do have more direction and I guess I could say I have goals. 90 % of my additions now are British America including Canada and Provinces. I especially chase postmarks from my home county of Queens in Nova Scotia. Because there are limited stamps from Nova Scotia I have expanded into proofs and trial colours from there. The number of covers has grown to the point that I now need to place them in some sort of order. I did create a spread sheet so I know which postmarks of Queens County I have and which binder they are in. I have not reached the point that I feel I should downsize by selling off my world wide or specialty albums outside of British America. I still love the therapy of going through old albums and boxes of junk to add to my world wide. Buying just hole fillers for my targeted areas is fun but requires little time once they are in my hand. A minute to mount them and the thrill is gone.
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stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,643
What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
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Post by stainlessb on Aug 21, 2023 14:55:46 GMT
I wish I knew Seriously, though, I started out as aWW collector and then focused mainly on US an UN. After the most recent hiatus my goal was to sort out all the WW and liquidate and then focus again on US and UN.... however, US and UN have fallen by the wayside and I became interested in Europe (mainly western/south/central) . I am mainly a ;classical"era collector with some countries up to the late 1950's. Most who know me I have become a specialized collector of France. I have also come to realize i cannot possible collect to any great degree many of the other countries I have been saving and will at some point have to decide "who stays and who goes" At this point France, Austria, Belgium and Great Britain Queen Victoria are safe... and they may end up being all i focus on (but that is always subject to change as I do like Hungary*, Czechoslovakia* and Poland* (*pre iron curtain), and then theres the German States and Germany ending a Deutsche Post. Italy, Spain, Portugal are nice...and ... well as you can see I have no real plan
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,405
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Aug 21, 2023 15:27:58 GMT
Thanks for posting this question, stanley64 . These are always fun posts to read and give a nice snapshot of our fellow members philatelic “hopes and dreams”. Me? My primary goal is to keep giving away/selling duplicates until the walls stop bulging! Then - work on each collection in turn, flyspecking and organizing. I’ve narrowed my interests down to this list; Used only USA singles, focusing on booklet pane varieties. And I still have a ginormous pile of Washington/Franklins. Yikes! I’ll continue to offer those 1:100 trades for recent commemoratives until I run out of duplicates Canada and provinces - mostly used - I’ll be delving into studying the small queens thanks to winning that incredibly generous giveaway from fellow Michigander, REL1948 . Ireland - continue culling excess duplicates - ship bulk to Stamps for the Wounded, eventually assemble the collection down the road, flyspecking! Vatican - hunt for the last elusive issues needed, then study and arrange the Papal States issues Bermuda - sadly neglected recently - keep hunting for cancels from the smaller post offices Venezuela - completely rework and organize and research the forgeries Scandinavia - tidy and organize, cull duplicates. Study the Helsinki lion series and look for all of the varieties. Austria - Still missing many - watch for accumulations of early material to hunt for all of the perforation varieties, and try to become more skilled at identifying the coarse/fine 1867/1880 issues. Japan - used singles - mostly need to find what I’m missing, and hunt for used prefecture booklet singles. Videotape/film all the albums for insurance Continue to drum up stamps and support for Stamps for the Wounded., watch for bargain box lots, I set aside a portion of sales proceeds to pay for box lots Volunteered to enter the Hibernian catalog on Colnect ( djcmh - thanks for inviting me) Gosh that’s a HUGE list of interests, but much less than before - Most of my old collections of - Germany, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand and UN are now traded or sold or for sale. A benefit of cutting back was generating a large pile of empty Hagnar and Vario sheets, saving me oodles of moola in supplies. Looking forward to reading more of your plans.
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Londonbus1
Moderator
Cinderella Stamp Club Member 3059
Posts: 4,883
What I collect: Cinderellas and some Ephemera from Great Britain, France and Israel plus a few beautiful bits from elsewhere !! Topical interests include Flags & Judaica, the latter with an emphasis on the Jewish National Fund.
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Post by Londonbus1 on Aug 21, 2023 18:14:26 GMT
My goal is to sell off most of my stamps and cinderellas to leave me just a few interests. It's taking time but is a lot of fun. The main goal though is looking for the time to do it !! Whoever said that retirement means more time for things like hobbies was telling a porky. Londonbus1
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gbcc
Member
Posts: 850
What I collect: GB First day covers, event covers and postmarks, GB Slogans
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Post by gbcc on Aug 21, 2023 19:02:08 GMT
My plan / ethos for the setting up my website and collecting of GB Covers was as follows 'The questions I had, How many, if any different illustrated event covers were produced for a specific Special Handstamp Postmark? Is there an illustrated cover for every postmark? Does every illustrated cover have a Special Handstamp Postmark? The above quote taken from my 'About Page on the site. There will never be an end but that's my plan, and it keeps me occupied and gives me something to do when the weather is too bad to be out in the garden or on the allotment. and Oh yes something todo as well when I get in from work. And then just to ensure the scanner works overtime I decided that collecting GB local and General slogans with different Town dies would also be a good idea. Geoff (GBCC) www.gbcovercollector.co.uk
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madbaker
Member
Posts: 693
What I collect: (Mark) General worldwide collector (to 1975 or so) with a soft spot for Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia.
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Post by madbaker on Aug 22, 2023 4:03:25 GMT
Great question stanley64 . I read your post this morning and mulled it over all day while at work. I think I have an answer. As of today, at least.
- I want a collection that is pleasing to look at and shares some information along with the stamps. Sometimes it's the engravers or designers, sometimes it's some detail about the design or topic. Who is that old guy in a wig? Why is he worth showing on a stamp? Where is that castle? What is this school being celebrated in Sweden, or this event in Ghana?
- I want a collecting process where I can add new stamps to my collection relatively quickly, without requiring 20 linear feet of mostly blank album pages. I dislike that I currently have 300 stamps from Germany but they take up 150 Steiner album pages. A 1.5" binder full of pages but not a single page looks good.
- I want to have a decent want list when I go to stamp shows, so I can make some purchases and know exactly what I will do with them.
My new, improved, as of August 21, 2023 goal is to have two parts to my worldwide collection.
Part 1 is my 'minimalist worldwide collection'. Three or four nice, complete pages per country. Maybe a classic pictorial set from the 1920's, another from the 1950's, and two pages of definitive sets. Well written up as described above. My want list will be geared towards buying sets for this collection.
That's still a substantial collection. I would feel extremely happy to have 400 well designed album pages full of stamps from over 100 countries. That would take 3-5 albums to store and would be hefty indeed.
Part 2 is my "stick 'em in there" collection where whatever crosses my transom (that I like) goes into an album. Maybe on Steiner pages, maybe super-quick AlbumEasy pages, maybe quadrille pages with hand written notes. There will be lots of gaps, short sets, etc. but this will be my outlet for my first love, and biggest weakness, the Random Worldwide Box Lot.
Both parts of the collection would contain 'nice' stamps. Fine used with clean cancels. F/VF Mint stamps (mint hinged is fine with me). Four sound corners. No creases. I'd accept all that came my way, but would lean towards stamps from ~1880 - 1980.
Then there is my Sweden collection. Filling in gaps from 1855 up to ~2000. Continue to build custom pages with AlbumEasy.
And my Canada collection. Deciding whether or not to continue with it. I never look at my Canada collection; it's relatively easy to see and appreciate nicer stamps in other people's Canada collections. (Maybe I reserve 10 pages in Part 1 above for the best of my Canada collection and dump the rest?)
And what about the Machins? My Postmark Calendar? The stockbooks full of Norway and Denmark? Those two pages of football topicals???
It's hopeless, I tell you. Hopeless.
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stanley64
Member
Posts: 1,826
What I collect: Canada, USA, Netherlands, Portugal & Colonies, Antarctic Territories and anything that catches my eye...
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Post by stanley64 on Aug 22, 2023 11:59:38 GMT
Thanks to all that replied and to those that gave it some thought :-)
Not only do we glean glimpses into the TSF community's collecting interests, but hopefully even for those lurking, they have pondered what it means to form their own collections. Worthwhile time spent, I think, even if it is at work.
It would appear to be that collecting goals or even plans is a fluid proposition, things come in and out of vogue whilst something new sparks an new interest. I think of my own collecting interest in terms of a tree: the trunk - the collector's bug in general (strong and ever present), the branches include Canada, Portugal, Netherlands, and Antarctic material, smaller limbs include offshoots from these and form smaller sub-collections, e.g. Polish Krill Expeditions. When studying and collecting, I think a minimum of 16 DIY album pages of material is more than sufficient and gives me more than just 'tourist' knowledge of the subject matter being studied. Then there are some shoots that do not amount to much, but I think we all have aborted efforts and/or interests and the glassine envelopes would attest. The latest, having spent some time organising some postage dues and a recent cover from Israel has me wanting to explore these 'back-of-the-book issues' more. Let us see where that take me... What ever the goal / plan is, have fun and happy collecting!!
P.S. Besides the TSF stalwarts, any newcomers have a plan to share?
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cjoprey
Member
Scanning stamps for my website...
Posts: 1,443
What I collect: Belgium (predominantly), British Commonwealth (older ones), WW (whatever comes my way...)
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Post by cjoprey on Aug 22, 2023 12:37:19 GMT
I think we need to know more here Vince stanley64!!!
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madbaker
Member
Posts: 693
What I collect: (Mark) General worldwide collector (to 1975 or so) with a soft spot for Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia.
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Post by madbaker on Aug 22, 2023 14:29:02 GMT
When studying and collecting, I think a minimum of 16 DIY album pages of material is more than sufficient and gives me more than just 'tourist' knowledge of the subject matter being studied. Then there are some shoots that do not amount to much, but I think we all have aborted efforts and/or interests and the glassine envelopes would attest.
Thanks for sharing this. I like how you suggest a scope to a collection that counteracts the age old 'completeness' problem.
P.S. Besides the TSF stalwarts, any newcomers have a plan to share?
Yes, yes, yes! Jump on in, folks. All goals welcome, from the most precisely defined and scoped to 'whatever I find in the recycle bin at work'. Let's here 'em!
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REL1948
Member
Posts: 583
What I collect: 1840-Pre-Decimal, GB and Colonies, 1840 1 penny reds, Postal Histories
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Post by REL1948 on Aug 22, 2023 18:48:24 GMT
I've been doing more philatelic reading and acquiring books than stamps this year and lately focusing on reducing the accumulation to the least common “Can’t let it Go Yet” denominator. As I’ve said before, “I’d rather find homes for these historical artifacts NOW than have my disinterested heirs sell the collections at the end of the driveway for ten cents a pound”…
What I 'can't let go of yet' are my Great Britain Line Engraved Issues and Commonwealth collections (and) whatever else pleases my philatelic fantasies, perhaps simply any stamps that by the sheer beauty of their ‘engravedness’ (or cancellation) stops me in my tracks, forcing me to add them to the horde I’m trying to shrink.
I've really become interested in British Commonwealth Postal History and Stationery and have no idea where that will go, it depends a lot on what I'm exposed to. Who knows? It changes weekly sometimes?
For the forseeable future, I hope to continue working behind the British Empire Study Group promoting philatelic education. Rob
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dorincard
Member
Posts: 1,453
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 Aug 22, 2023 20:36:57 GMT
REL1948 “I’d rather find homes for these historical artifacts NOW than have my disinterested heirs sell the collections at the end of the driveway for ten cents a pound". Excellent point! Find people (not institutions) who are passionate and appreciative of your specific and special offerings. Do it while you are still alive. Keep electronic copies.
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Post by classicalstamps on Aug 22, 2023 21:32:14 GMT
Having been through decades of different "plans", worldwide 1840-1950 being the focus, last year I got an epiphany... Just collect what fascinates me. Nothing else. It seems like a similar approach to madbaker 's minimalist worldwide collection (which I would love to hear more about, by the way). Being in my early 40s, reaching anything remotely like "completeness" is my worst enemy. I want to have fun for decades to come. When I came up with my ambitious plan, I realised I broke most of the common collecting dogma, so I thought - why not break all the rules? Having the whole world as a playground, things are super interesting. I typically go through one of these processes: 1: - Say I like a country's stamps. I then think about what issues I especially like, and contemplate just collecting those. Example, I really like the "Bull-eyes" from Brazil. But the rest, not so much. So, I will eventually make pages for a specialised collection of just those. I realised I tended to have "favourites" when I collected everything from 1840-1950, so this is just taking this selectiveness to the next level. 2: Some historical melting pot, like Eastern Europe. What historical events can I match up with interesting postal history? Do some research, gather books and articles, then I make "story telling" album pages. Philately, I typically go far beyond the catalog, looking to add plating, different postmarks or varieties to my pages. Again, I'm looking to never complete them. Each small "section" of pages are independent of each other, so they can be moved around. Each one typically has a "front-page" with maps that tells the story. I've posted several examples of my "Polish pages" in the DIY thread. The one I'm currently working on is "Jasina Local Issues". Here's the historical context setting the scene on my front-page: The philatelic story will be told on the next page.. ----- In the end, I will probably end up with 5-10 large albums, each with 100 duplex-printed pages. If I find something I like, I just add it No rules. No dogma. Just pure having fun.
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madbaker
Member
Posts: 693
What I collect: (Mark) General worldwide collector (to 1975 or so) with a soft spot for Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia.
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Post by madbaker on Aug 23, 2023 1:19:10 GMT
haha, I just sent you a PM, classicalstamps, then read your post and our strategies line up very closely indeed. I'll summarize what I sent you and repost it here for the others.
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dorincard
Member
Posts: 1,453
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 Aug 23, 2023 4:26:30 GMT
classicalstamps "If I find something I like, I just add it No rules. No dogma. Just pure having fun." THAT'S the spirit! Or, "THAT'S the way/ Aha, aha, I like it!".
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wakeybluenose
Member
Mostly harmless!
Posts: 279
What I collect: GB to 2000 (but definitives to date) / Ireland to 2000 / General WW classics & definitives / ASFEC / SciFi & Fantasy Literature / Local History
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Post by wakeybluenose on Aug 23, 2023 9:16:20 GMT
With all my collections, I pick and choose which issues to collect, I make custom pages using AlbumEasy (Thanks clivel ), I deliberately leave out any stamp with a prohibitively high price tag, opting instead for a note at the bottom of a page stating “there are X more issues in this series/set that are not included here due to cost” this way I make completion much more achievable. Great Britain (UK) – My main collection, collecting from 1847 to 2000 (with some obvious exceptions as above), a simplified collection ignoring varieties / shades etc, but including a plate number and wing margin collection of Victorian issues. Machins to the most basic format possible, but no cut-off date. Similar MO for a couple of other main countries to different cut-off dates: 1990 for USA & Canada, 2000 for Ireland. Worldwide – as previously stated by madbaker , I’d also like a few custom pages per country, to include at least one or two extensive / longer running definitive series, plus choice commemorative sets based on landmark celebrations for that country (independence, important event anniversaries etc). Plus anything else that takes my fancy! These will be presented in binders geographically in continents & sub-continents (to match my coin collection). ASFEC (a stamp for every country) – Custom made pages, with flag & coat of arms, a country map & globe showing their position, with a big grid box so I can mount some stamps not included in the remit above, perhaps showing their postal journey or stamp innovations, but also with some stamp boxes for specific important stamps. Postmark Calendar – I have two calendars currently (one page for each month, with one space for each day), one for just Machins, one for any other worldwide definitive in the 21x24 size. Thematic/Topicals – one for science fiction and fantasy literature, and one for local history. I’m still at the accumulation stage for both. All this should last me a lifetime at least.
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,405
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Aug 23, 2023 9:17:43 GMT
classicalstamps "If I find something I like, I just add it No rules. No dogma. Just pure having fun." THAT'S the spirit! Or, "THAT'S the way/ Aha, aha, I like it!". OMG dorincard - here here! I second your Great comment - classicalstamps that’s such a fabulous attitude! I feel like framing those words and putting them where I can see them. I love this thread! All of the other answers are awesome, too!
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TimG
Member
Posts: 163
What I collect: Worldwide
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Post by TimG on Aug 23, 2023 11:01:02 GMT
This is a great question that I've been wanting to ask too but thought it must have been asked at some point in the past - maybe not???
I was so intrigued by the question I bookmarked this post so that I can gradually read through the responses.
As for myself, my goals have changed over time, especially now that I am older and less idealistic. In fact, I continue to modify my goals as I move along.
Goal 1: To catalogue and organize the worldwide stamps I already have. That may be an undertaking in itself (several thousand). I am just diving into my Australia collection of about 750 stamps and have completed all the postal entities I have up to Australia. I catalogue my stamps using an Excel spreadsheet and Colnect.
Goal 2: To build my collection by adding to postal entities I have and filling those I don't have to at least the average percentage. I currently have about 4% of catalogued stamps in my collection (that rises and lowers as I continue to catalogue). My collection is built on "cheap" stamps, most often used, trying to fill sets.
Goal 3: To perhaps set up some birth year albums for my daughters or grand children...maybe...
That's what I have in store right now and reading through the replies may help me modify these goals. Thanks again for the post.
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anglobob
Member
Posts: 2,425
What I collect: France and French Colonies,French cinderellas British Commonwealth QE2
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Post by anglobob on Aug 23, 2023 13:06:08 GMT
Very interesting thread.I am extremely disorganised so have no real plan.I started with France and French Colonies and while looking for these,got interested in Cinderellas.Now I am mostly interested in postmarks.However,I often see stuff I like so another collection is started... Examples are long definitive series from Belgium,Austria,Norway,Holland,Estonia,Finland and Latvia.I also just acquired some German semi-postals. So,no real plan as such.If I like them ,they are added to my collections. My wife is constantly telling me to organise my assorted boxes and stockbooks,so that will be my goal......
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Post by nick2302 on Aug 23, 2023 22:09:46 GMT
For most of the years I worked I bought stamps and put them in boxes when I got too far behind. I told myself when I retire, I will work on these stamps. Well, I have been retired for going on 4 years now and that is exactly what I have done. I have mounted and arranged 6 moving cartons stuffed full of envelopes of stamps into a WW collection. I now am focusing on Italy and Vatican. If I stumble on stamps that show trains, I usually cannot pass them up unless they are from Dune countries or tiny islands that don't have a rail system.
During my adventure of making a collection of boxes into an organized stamp collection I also discovered a love of stamps that feature Artic topics. So BAT, FSAT, AAT, Ross Island, Chile, some Greenland and etc. I will snap up when I run across them. I also organized all my duplicates and posted them for sale. I also have given envelopes full of stamps to Disabled Veterans organizations.
In my opinion stamp collecting is a wonderful way to keep my mind alert and never have a boring time. I always have something to do with my collection. What a great way to spend the golden years.
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madbaker
Member
Posts: 693
What I collect: (Mark) General worldwide collector (to 1975 or so) with a soft spot for Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia.
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Post by madbaker on Aug 23, 2023 23:15:41 GMT
That sounds amazing nick2302. I'd love to see some of your WW collection if you decide to scan and post some of it here. 💖
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madbaker
Member
Posts: 693
What I collect: (Mark) General worldwide collector (to 1975 or so) with a soft spot for Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia.
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Post by madbaker on Aug 23, 2023 23:21:17 GMT
I was asked by @ classicalstamps to share a bit more about this "minimalist Worldwide collection" idea... In my case, it's a work in progress, for sure. But the line that inspired me is from the August 2023 edition of Stamp Collector magazine (my daughter brought me a paper copy when she was visiting from the UK) There's an article called "Paraguay for philatelists" where the author gives a brief overview of the history and stamps of Paraguay. The article is here but you have to sign up to scribd to read it and I don't blame you if you pass on that part! www.scribd.com/article/659419011/Paraguay-For-PhilatelistsI'll retype the core bit here: [he's talking about how Paraguay issued many irrelevant pictorial issues over the years, but at irregular intervals there were several sets with strong local connection.] He then goes on to describe some of these locally influenced sets and key stamps. This article grabbed me in a big way. I already set off on this 'round the world' idea, where I'd organize my collection like I was on a round the world trip, and started re-sorting my stockbooks by region and country. But many of the stamps I have are of this 'irrelevant' nature. Ice skating stamps from Burundi. US Bicentennial stamps from Liberia. I still have the Americas to sort, but I've been culling some of the most egregious wallpaper as I go. Once that's done, I see myself selecting a few sets and key stamps from each country to go into my 'minimalist' collection. I'll shoot for a loose goal of 5-15 pages per country and add only 'the best' according to local interest, social history, design, beauty, etc. Probably 75% regular issues and 25% commemoratives because that's what I like. This opens up new doors for me. My GB and Australia collections, for example, have many hundreds of stamps each, but I don't like many of the issues. Or more accurately, I only truly love a few issues. I just put them all in a stockbook in catalogue order because that's what you do. Then I mounted them on Steiner pages and didn't like it any better - they were more spread out than ever. This new way, I can take a critical, historical and artistic eye to those stamps and select 5-15 pages worth of issues to go in to my main collection. Build want lists to fill in the gaps of those 5-15 pages and go on the hunt for them specifically. And build interesting, informative pages on the stamps I keep. My pages won't be as detailed as what classicalstamps has done for Poland (which are AMAZING) but in my imagination, they'll give the reader a good feel for the country / area and tell a bit of a story. Another advantage, in theory at least, is that I can show the progression in printing and style but in a shorter distance. Take Canada for example. Every decade had a different style to the stamps, and I love them all in a way. But I don't need 20 pages of each style. A couple examples of each is enough. I even think this will help me collect a few USA stamps. I have been rejecting them outright and giving them away as I find them. There are so many of them, and they're all over the place. But some of the longer sets and series might be fun to collect, especially when I can allow myself to restrict the scope. It's all theory now, to be honest. I still have to try. But I haven't got this excited about a collection in years. I have this mental picture of a 2" binder, with 150 pages in it, that covers a major region of the world somewhat consistently. Substantial but not bulky. And the region's story is told in terms of the people who live there. Here's Western Africa, not British Africa or French Africa. And each country will have a mix of colonial issues and post-independence issues that reflect local interests. So that amazing KGVI pictorial set from the Falkland Islands can still find an honoured place, but I can have a nice set from the 1980's too if I want. That's got me very excited.
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stanley64
Member
Posts: 1,826
What I collect: Canada, USA, Netherlands, Portugal & Colonies, Antarctic Territories and anything that catches my eye...
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Post by stanley64 on Aug 24, 2023 10:00:29 GMT
I think we need to know more here Vince stanley64 !!!
To keep the posting on topic, for yourself and anyone else that is interested, there were 4 Maritime Scientific Krill Expeditions conducted in the Antarctic by the Polish from 1975-1979. Each season had different vessels engaged and and whilst I have material from all 4 expeditions, there are some ship covers and associated cachets that remain elusive. With different ships, various ports from which mail was dispatched and a plethora of cachets available, it has been an interesting area to explore. The goal or plan would be to find the necessary material such that one could exhibit at a Polar Salon; the next one being in Boston 2026.
Time is ticking and the hunt continues...
Have fun and happy collecting!
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drblade
Member
Posts: 726
What I collect: GB Unmounted mint & Machin definitives Q.E.II Used commemoratives
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Post by drblade on Aug 28, 2023 8:27:16 GMT
Since I began collecting stamps (seriously), don't ask me from when, my memory is not that long, I have stuck with (excuse the phrase) unmounted mint GB stamps. My GB collections have just about run there course (except for specialist Machins) so I have been thinking (that's hard work), of starting over again with 1 different country/region stamps but cannot think (that's easier), which country/region stamps to choose. My criteria would be, 1. Mainly definitive issues, 2. A country or region that does not issue lots of "money making" tourist attracting bits of paper, 3. Cost of various stamps on a budget, 4. Mint or used, 5. Possibly not a highly populated country that prints mega-amounts of different stamps per year, 6. A country/region that has issued stamps from early last century to date. Or alternatively stamps of a specific type, for example overprints, cinderellas, perfins, forgeries/fakes etc. Any suggestion from members would be very much appreciated.
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stanley64
Member
Posts: 1,826
What I collect: Canada, USA, Netherlands, Portugal & Colonies, Antarctic Territories and anything that catches my eye...
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Post by stanley64 on Aug 28, 2023 9:59:50 GMT
Sounds like a "Collecting Goal / Plan" to me and might I suggest moving your post to this thread - Collecting Goals / Plan. I think it would be a welcome addition to the discussion drblade :-)
What ever the plan, I wish you success...
Have fun and happy collecting!
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,268
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Aug 28, 2023 11:01:55 GMT
.I was faced with a similar budgetary dilemma with my GB collection, I was chasing good to fine used early GB and getting stuck. Looking for a new direction I found Denmark fitted my needs for an area to hunt , nice issues , interesting variety in the definitives both of the 19th century and the 1940s….engraved designs and nice but not too numerous modern issues.
Switzerland also might be a country worth looking at .
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philatelia
Member
Captain Jack - my best kiloware find ever!
Posts: 3,405
What I collect: Ireland, Japan, Scandy, USA, Venezuela, Vatican, Bermuda, Austria
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Post by philatelia on Aug 28, 2023 11:20:47 GMT
You could convert your GB collection to a “dual” collection and try to find postally used copies for each issue. OR - if you’re interested in a country with a reasonable number of issues, Bermuda is very doable and has an interesting, varied history with ship’s mail, censored, etc not to mention being part of the omnibus issues. The key plate issues are rich with varieties. I’m fond of hunting for cancels from the different small post offices as much of the issues are actually postally used. There is one big stumbling block to completion;
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