Are any members intimidated by the number of postal issues?

The question of course is how one defines unique. Do shade differences on asame face design create different stamps. Changes of perforation? Existence or absence of UV reaction? Plate faws?

From my work at Colnect I would say 500K is way too low, and suggest 1.5-2 million would be more realistic, and the number could be even higher depending on how deep down the variant rabbit hole you want to dig.

Not intimidated at all. After the turn of the century, I simply quit actively collecting every single new issue. I only keep those that fall into my lap, or might buy some that are thematically attractive, have innovative design/features, or mark an interesting change in printing/production methods. Beyond that, I focus on pre-2001 stamps.

As far as I'm concerned, the postal services/agencies dug their own grave trying to bleed collectors dry. We aren't a forever money tree.

JMHO

Seriously, I think 'intimidated' is a good word for it. It took real effort for me to focus on forming a personal collection that is not bound by a time period or a catalogue, and is not defined by a type of completion.

I have a Stamps I Like collection, and stamps from any country or time period are allowed in. It is only complete if I run out of stamps that I like, which today at least, is unlikely to happen.

However, there are thousands upon thousands of real stamps, listed in all reputable catalogues, from almost every era of philately, which I do not like and will never grace my albums.

Once you say No thank you to a stamp that is in your possession, you're able to say no to more stamps, and it becomes a lot easier.

PS:

There are still so many stamps that I would like to include in my collection that the process between acquisition and final placement is concerning.

I currently have a truly intimidating number of stamps in that in-between zone. I own them, intend to keep them, but they are (to my mind) a jumbled mess.

Yes, good organization is important.

I "pick up everything", worldwide.

If there is enough material on a topic, it becomes a “collection”.



I'm actually 80% a "picker" and only 20% a "collector".


rod222  - Two boxes are enough?




I used to think that too.

Wowser you are all so organised.  Since I am a newbie and inherited the collection I am just going through each album and putting a required if one is missing. Unfortunately they are usually the higher ones. I have also been buying the lower end ones if the foxing on the stamp is not good and changing from paper that is foxed to those black things to make them presentable. I can’t believe how much the higher values cost.  

Disappointing not intimidating since not trying to keep up with issues. 

I cut off around 1980 (Disney, Princess Di eras) for most countries The downside is that it is cause printed catalogs to swell with mostly endless pop culture material. Much is issued as souvenir sheets. The small, often islands with almost no postal system, countries produce so much but wonder who is buying them?

scub

I note you are using "Lever Arch Files"?  How do you manage?  Don't you find album pages "sagging"?

I use 4-ring binders, and even then, if I overload any pages, they begin to do likewise.

Amazing !   That mirrors exactly how I collect.
We must be the only two collectors, I am aware of that use sleeves.

Don, a respected colleague on another forum, was circumspect on that route,
being wary of plastic.
I have seen the damage with PVC, but I use polypropylene sleeves,  circa 10 years so far, and no observable problems.


My binders (std office supply $6 each)  take approx  10 years of stamp issues up to say 1960's
after that it decreases with issuers output, larger sheets and souvenir sheets

I also use the sleeves to  1. collect my ephemera in the album, and 2. hold stamps by years prior to mounting.

My Romania, and Turkey, my main focus,  (also Czech and Poland)  are reaching 5-6 albums each  to cover up to year 2000 or close




 

I am concerned by the increased amount of « collectable » offerings. I would like to support my own country’s offerings.who does not want to support their own country?  I find that as basic postage prices are increasing, I tend to want to spend my money on older, more collectible offerings that I need to fill holes in my overall collection. So now I stop at year  2000 for most countries.  For My Canada collection I only by what interests me and not the entires year issues.

David