huckles888
Departed
Rest in Peace
Mudgee NSW Australia
Posts: 145 
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Post by huckles888 on Jan 9, 2014 22:29:25 GMT
The time has come when I have to start sorting out and cataloging my collection  I thought this will be relatively easy as I only have half a dozen large storage boxes etc But nope - when I started to open up and go through my various boxes I found that a lot of purchases were still in their original envelopes etc and I basically have no idea (when I thought I did) of what I have Its a bit like the Mad Hatter's Tea Party - there appears to be no rhyme or reason for some of my purchases but I am sure there is - I just need to work out what it is  One of the little surprises is that my collection of postally used Equatorial Guinea covers is larger then I though it was - It is a bit north of 50 (who would have thought that there would be that many) Anyways it looks like I have some fun times ahead as I start the formal documentation process - I just might have to put my purchasing activities on hold whilst I get the ball rolling I think (but then again......)  |
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Philatarium
Member 
Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,032
What I collect: Primarily focused on Japan, but lots of other material catches my eye as well ...
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Post by Philatarium on Jan 10, 2014 1:53:48 GMT
What a great treasure trove it sounds like you have! (And what a great problem to have!)
May you enjoy the journey as much as the destination!
-- Dave
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tomiseksj
Moderator 
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,265
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Jan 10, 2014 13:26:44 GMT
The greatest benefit of arriving at your destination, to use Dave's analogy, is that you'll be able to effectively (and efficiently) plan all of your future journeys.
My only advice is to invest some time before you begin in determining what information you're going to record and how it will be maintained (e.g., database, spreadsheet, etc.).
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firstfrog2013
Member
Posts: 3,276
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on Jan 10, 2014 15:42:18 GMT
While not helping with the project at hand my advise is to NEVER let things get to that point again after completing this task.I use a cigar box to put new arrivals in and it limits the amount of new material that has a place to be neglected.My use of page protectors has helped immensely as even if there is no time or proper size mount at hand the item at hand at least makes it close to where it will be just slip in the glassine and all. At future date while flipping through I take the time to mount or re-do that page thereby making small projects that can easily be done as time permits.May not work for all but it's working for me.
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huckles888
Departed
Rest in Peace
Mudgee NSW Australia
Posts: 145
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Post by huckles888 on Jan 11, 2014 15:28:37 GMT
The sorting process is now well under way and as a starting point I rationalised my 'dormant' banknote collection down into 5 little areas:
* Amoy Industrial Bank (WWII Japanese Puppet Bank in China) New Addition to List
* Biafra
* Equatorial Guinea (only those notes issued by themselves - 22 note types)
* Gambia (1 Dalasi notes only)
* Hong Kong (Government issued notes only) New Addition to List
* Liechtenstein
* Zuelenroda Notgeld
Due to the volume and the value of the rest of my banknotes the only practical option is to send them off to a Dealer for auctioning etc
This has freed up several '4 ring' Vario Binders for use for my stamps, cinderellas and covers. The only thing I need to do is purchase more Vario pages for the Binders
As a starting point for the sorting etc of my stamp collection I have set up Excel Spreadsheets (similar to what I used for my Banknotes) to document what I have and give me at a glance details of the number of stamps, associated catalogue values etc for each collecting area
I then started to go through all of the purchases that I had not yet opened and placed them in a bin for processing etc. This process is probably 80% complete now Still have a little bit to go but should be finished this part of the "project" within the next couple of days
Once I have finished this I then intend to set up 2 bins and go through my purchases and current binders and sort them into "keepers" and disposers". Like my Banknotes I intend to rationalise my Stamps into a smaller number of "areas of interest" so that I am more "focused" going forward (I have way too many at the moment and want to get more bang for the bucks and start some proper gap filling)
The process so far has been great and renewed my passion (which had waned a little bit over the last few months) for my Stamps
Stay tuned for more updates and as I start rationalising my Stamps I will be doing some giveaways, sales and donation auctions on TSF as my way of saying thanks
Hang loose and keep on stamping |
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Ryan
Member
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 2,720
What I collect: If I have a catalogue for it, I collect it. And I have many catalogues ....
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Post by Ryan on Jan 11, 2014 22:00:50 GMT
Stay tuned for more updates and as I start rationalising my Stamps I will be doing some giveaways, sales and donation auctions on TSF as my way of saying thanks
Yay, I declare! Ryan |
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huckles888
Departed
Rest in Peace
Mudgee NSW Australia
Posts: 145
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Post by huckles888 on Jan 12, 2014 23:51:25 GMT
Well the first step has now been completed and the fun begins Now for the hard part I have a bin with all the items I need to sort through and decide whether to keep them or dispose of them Before starting I have decided though to take a step back and go through through my current binders as well and draft up a list of potential collecting areas to move forward with At the same I will set up the binders that I freed up from rationalizing my banknote collection for use for my stamp collecting One interesting thing out of this so far is what to do with all the envelopes (from quite a few countries) from my purchases? I believe this very dilemma has been raised by a member in another thread just recently Some of the envelopes are quite attractive and have very interesting markings For example one is from Argentine that was opened by Customs and taped back up again by them with a brochure inside saying that it had been opened by them but nothing was taken Your suggestions and comments re the mailing envelopes are very much appreciated as I now move forward to the next stage of my Project Hang loose good people and keep on stamping Huckles888 from "downunder" |
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,905
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Jan 13, 2014 1:26:11 GMT
"Your suggestions and comments re the mailing envelopes are very much appreciated as I now move forward to the next stage of my Project"
Kudos to you, for even considering.
Perhaps consider we are all just caretakers of the material,
what now seems mundane, boring, and sometimes downright yuckie, will in years to come be treasured by someone.
Like a fine wine (I am told) improves with age.
I scan mine, and dump them in a box called "scanned covers" each in a protective sheet ($7 per 1000)
Let the future look after itself.
Remember when Perfins, Cinderellas, Revenues were so uncool?
Remember when few collected China?
The wheel always turns.
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,905
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Jan 13, 2014 1:31:06 GMT
A couple of years ago, I used to commit acts of "random kindness" I'd whack my duplicates in an envelope, and leave them tucked in the stamp catalogues at the Library. with "Free for you" on the cover. No catalogues in the country Library  |
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I.L.S.
Departed
Rest in Peace
I am in Clearfield, Pa. I love US Classic covers!
Posts: 2,113
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Post by I.L.S. on Jan 13, 2014 16:31:49 GMT
How you coming along with this Huckles? Find anything interesting yet?
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Zuzu
Member
Inactive
Self-Proclaimed Black Belt in Google Fu
Posts: 768 
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Post by Zuzu on Jan 14, 2014 1:51:05 GMT
A couple of years ago, I used to commit acts of "random kindness" I'd whack my duplicates in an envelope, and leave them tucked in the stamp catalogues at the Library. with "Free for you" on the cover. What a great idea! I may have to do that! |
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,905
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Jan 14, 2014 2:31:14 GMT
"What a great idea! I may have to do that!" Have you informed your children, what a great Mum they have? |
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huckles888
Departed
Rest in Peace
Mudgee NSW Australia
Posts: 145
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Post by huckles888 on Jan 14, 2014 13:40:27 GMT
Progress on the sorting/cataloging has slowed some what ovre the last few days due to some "out of my control" issues
Having said that though I have drafted up a WIP list of what my "focused" collecting interests going forward may well be And to support each of these areas I have (am setting up) spreadsheets detailing what I have for each of them
Whole Country Collections
Biafra
Katanga
Polish Government in Exile - WWII
South Kasai
Limited Country Collections
Aden
Australia
Belgian Congo
British Forces in Egypt
Canada
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Hungary
Portugal
USA
Cinderellas
British Stamp Exhibitions
Eaton Fine Papers Poster Stamps
USA Olympic Committee Poster Stamps – 1940 & 1948
Cover Collections
Equatorial Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Meter Covers
New Caledonia
South Africa Homelands
Worldwide Covers (1 or 2 from a Country)
Omnibus Collections
150th Anniversary of the USA Constitution
Vatican – Sede Vacante
“One” Stamp Collections
Ecuador
Guatemala
Hong Kong - 1946 Victory Issue
Postage Dues
Bechuanaland
Egypt
Isle of Man
Northern Rhodesia
Swaziland
Thematic Collections
Banknotes on Stamps
Stamps on Stamps
As you can see it is definitely a "work in progress" but allows me to easily monitor what I am and am not collecting and keeps me on track so to speak
To celebrate the start of the project and my progress so far I am going to have a little giveaway so watch out for details on the "Giveaway" section shortly
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I.L.S.
Departed
Rest in Peace
I am in Clearfield, Pa. I love US Classic covers!
Posts: 2,113
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Post by I.L.S. on Jan 14, 2014 14:07:17 GMT
Wow now that's impressive! I wouldn't be too hard on yourself as that's a monumental undertaking!
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Zuzu
Member
Inactive
Self-Proclaimed Black Belt in Google Fu
Posts: 768
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Post by Zuzu on Jan 14, 2014 18:47:28 GMT
I am really enjoying your updates, huckles. It's nice to get some insight into how others handle the administrative upkeep (for lack of a better phrase) of their collections.
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huckles888
Departed
Rest in Peace
Mudgee NSW Australia
Posts: 145
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Post by huckles888 on Jan 15, 2014 16:38:40 GMT
Onwards I press - Ever onwards - Is there any end in sight? - Yeah though I walk through the valley of stamps I see a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel (my apologies for that phrase on so many levels  Yes there is real progress being made - I can actually see the bottom of my rather large sorting bin where all my unsorted material was shoveled into in am manner of speaking I now have 3 "piles" (well actually storage containers) - stamps for review - covers for review - material for disposal With any sort of luck the initial sweep through/sort will be completed within the next day or so and then I will move on to the next stage which is the in depth review of each "pile" to ensure that the material in each is where is it should Have I found any gems yet? Maybe maybe not It looks like I may have a complete set of stamps for Indian UN Forces that served in Korea Laos Cambodia Vietnam Congo and Gaza and some duplicates I also found a few "interesting" covers Anyways its the end of another day down under so hang loose and keep on stamping good people PS if you havent already done so have a look at my Biafra and Katanga giveaway and if you qualify I would be more than happy for you to throw your name into the bucket |
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firstfrog2013
Member
Posts: 3,276
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on Jan 15, 2014 18:07:59 GMT
Ian you are very generous and a man of honor.I am very glad your here with us.Keep us posted of your progress and exciting finds.
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