firstfrog2013
Member 
Posts: 3,276 
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
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Post by firstfrog2013 on Aug 7, 2014 13:15:24 GMT
I'd like to hear what it took you a long time to realize about your collecting that would have made it easier from the start,For me I believe it would have been good advice on album/stock page selection.I spent a lot of needless dollars on original album and the supplements that followed, only to trash them all.I think a stamp club or a few more collecting friends would have helped as well. Some things can only come from years of collecting, knowledge is one of them.
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Post by classicalstamps on Aug 7, 2014 14:49:56 GMT
A few things comes to mind:
1. Only accept top quality material in my collection. There is always enough mediocre quality material to be found.
2. Don't bother with kilo ware. It has already been sorted. No need to accumulate 100's of the lower value modern stuff that everyone has stock books filled up with.
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Admin
Administrator 
Posts: 2,676
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Post by Admin on Aug 7, 2014 15:52:43 GMT
My advice would be buy a few stockbooks, this way you can house your stamps any which way you want. I have the lighthouse stockbooks with clear strips. Another good choice is to use vario/hangar stock sheets. When you decide to house your stamps in a traditional album instead of buying yearly supplements invest $30 for Steiner pages Invest in a set of catalogues be it Scott or Stanley Gibbons. But remember each catalogue uses a different set of numbers. You can purchases catalogue pages for certain country's on ebay quite reasonable. This is perfect if you just collect a couple of country's. But before you decide to invest a large chuck of money on a full set of catalogues take a visit to your local library many will have a set that you can use for reference. Its been known that some collectors will often leave a enlavope of stamps in a catalogue with the words FREE STAMPS so you might be in luck. Also these catalogues often are sold at the library when new ones come in. Over time your collecting interests will change so will the way you collect and house your stamps. You may read that hinges are a NO NO and spend a considerable amount of money on stamp mounts. Some people enjoy the look of a album page with stamps hinged on the page. I myself have to say that its hard to beat the look of a classic album page with the stamps mounted with hinges. Everybody collects differently, its a individual hobby you collect for yourself not others. Only word of advice is to use stamp tongs and not to handle the stamps with your naked fingers, house them in a dry area. |
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khj
Member
Posts: 1,524
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Post by khj on Aug 7, 2014 17:34:55 GMT
I can only give you one bit of advice -- just enjoy your stamps the way you want to enjoy them. It's your collection, not somebody else's. Irishjack pretty much stated that already, and good practical advice has already been given above. Some people like to have the best stamps in the best possible album; some people like to piles of stamps everywhere. Some people like one of each stamp; some people like hundreds of a couple of stamps. Find what you enjoy and collect that way. That's the true value of stamp collecting.
I started off collecting worldwide as a kid. After about 5 years, I was incessantly told by many well-meaning collectors to specialize, to use this type of album, to organize in this way... I got my first catalog and that opened up my eyes to a wealth of information that later expanded to many other catalogs/books. After doing as suggested for the next 25 years, it occurred to me that I gave up my collection and was simply manufacturing somebody else's collection. While I still enjoy my specialty areas and had learned/experience a lot, around the turn of the century I went back to my childhood joy of simple worldwide collecting.
I have to say, I haven't enjoyed collection so much since... well since my childhood. For me, nothing beats going through piles of cheap stamps with my bare hands [gasp] (no tongs, no catalogs) and simply having them laying around any bare spots on my desktop and thinking about the designs, the country, the topic... A damaged stamp is like a wounded soldier -- no less appreciation on my part, and a story to tell. Because once they go into an album, I probably won't see them for another 10 years... Of course, all the information I learned over the years has helped to increase my enjoyment of just "fingering" through piles of stamps. It's all part of "my collecting experience".
People will have different experiences & interests. My advice is to make sure you find your own and enjoy it that way.
Enjoy your stamps!
k
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Post by stoltzpup on Aug 7, 2014 22:45:26 GMT
Buy stamps, especially classical era stamps, from the previous collector, or as near as possible to that collector, thereby avoiding having the stamps go through several mark-ups before their coming into your collection. Sell stamps at auction or to a wholesale/bulk dealer. Don't keep a hoard of duplicates in a closet (actually, this is my wife's advice).
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khj
Member
Posts: 1,524
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Post by khj on Aug 8, 2014 0:58:22 GMT
Don't keep a hoard of duplicates in a closet (actually, this is my wife's advice).  |
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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 Aug 8, 2014 3:30:02 GMT
When I started there was no internet and Bill Steiner was probably still playing little league.I still have my original Minkus album it is essentially a 1 1/2 inch binder that now houses just Newfoundland and Provinces I can't believe it once housed entire Canada as well.I am OLD !!!!
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Post by classicalstamps on Aug 8, 2014 7:20:40 GMT
When I started out, it was 'best practice' to subscribe to new issues for the countries you collected. So I did. Today you can buy complete year sets for a fraction of what I paid. Lesson learned  |
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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 Aug 9, 2014 9:05:31 GMT
Stuff I wish someone would have told me before I started collecting that would have saved me a lot of time and money -
Start out with a nice and easy to use stock binder (I prefer the Lighthouse binders/Vario stock pages) I personally would stay far away from kiloware as it's normally just a giant box of hassle! Now, I'm not saying that you might not find anything (but you probably won't)
My next suggestion is collect classic era stamps- simply because I think that there is just much more to learn in this area (instead of the modern "stuff") and besides they're beautiful to look at and almost speaks to the level of care that will be given to the collection and can be a VERY nice "inheritance" or maybe "hand-me-down" for your children someday- as they get older and can appreciate it more. They will automatically appreciate the thought of receiving them from you as they are so beautiful -unlike a book full of those modern stickers (My personal opinion about modern U.S. stamps) AND I would advise no post-1950 singles (or covers) and perhaps definitely specialize in an area that excites you! this will just beg anyone who sees your collection to ask a million questions! I know first hand! I know I certainly would!!
Lastly: SPECIALIZE in an area that's of great interest to you! -For example; I really just buy stuff from my hometown and surrounding areas anymore and any history related material like documents, checks and deeds...etc...etc.. (specifically covers). Because they mean a lot to me and everyone I know always asks me about them! I was just asked to speak a a Rotary club & Jersey Shore, Pa. Historical Society program so that was a true honor! I think you get the jist of it by now!
These are all just merely suggestions so just collect whatever you want and how you want! just use you good old fashioned "common sense" about it! (And maybe a good catalog wouldn't hurt either.....lol) and you'll be fine -Jeff
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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 Aug 9, 2014 11:47:02 GMT
Specialize! Trying to collect everything leaves you with a bunch of mediocre collections and makes it impossible to afford to buy the better material. Specializing also allows you to really LEARN and STUDY an area in depth.
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Post by stoltzpup on Aug 9, 2014 14:07:12 GMT
Here's a "trick" I've managed to pull off several times: Buy a good specialized collection in its entirety, one, if at all possible, that has been carefully assembled by someone who knew what they were doing. Often the heirs of such collections don't want to keep them and dealers, when the get them, are open to selling them fast at an attractive price. Then, with the money you've saved, buy the few remaining examples you need to complete the collection -- and enjoy your new-found "specialization." You'll find the learning curve is steep. My latest such is a League of Nations collection. I'm about a quarter of the way through posting it on a Stamp Forum thread: thestampforum.boards.net/thread/2022/league-nations. Before that, I bought an extensive collection of Christmas seals (I think the price was $10). I gave some of those way to Forum members and posted some on the Forum's "latest acquisition" thread. Sometimes such collections include enough duplicates to sell to finance the purchases of desired missing stamps. To "specialize" in this way, you must be willing to let the topic of the specialization select you rather than you selecting it in advance. I never started out to collect League of Nations stamps, and certainly not Christmas seals. But I've enjoyed both. They were low hanging fruit, and I picked. And I like to think that the original collectors would appreciate that I have kept their collections intact, admired their philatelic skills, and added to the work they started. |
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Jen B
Member
Inactive
Posts: 367 
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Post by Jen B on Aug 10, 2014 2:34:22 GMT
Learn how to decipher auction lot euphemisms. I'm still learning this one. Wonder if there is a guide book or website out there somewhere that translates these.
For example, a lot described as "interesting accumulation" probably means a massive amount of duplication of a few common issues.
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Post by jkjblue on Aug 10, 2014 3:15:52 GMT
Both are correct.  I love WW collecting, but within a framework- for me 1840-1940. And then diving into (specializing) issues and countries that suit my fancy.  |
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rod222
Member
Posts: 11,047
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Aug 10, 2014 5:02:16 GMT
Learn how to decipher auction lot euphemisms. I'm still learning this one. Wonder if there is a guide book or website out there somewhere that translates these. For example, a lot described as "interesting accumulation" probably means a massive amount of duplication of a few common issues. Borrowed from the internet . Author : Greg. "Owner's older catalogue well over $6000." -- Owner is an insane optimist; real catalogue is about $60. |
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Post by TinMan on Aug 10, 2014 13:37:01 GMT
Don't hinge mint stamps but put them into mounts. When I started collecting Mint stamps I couldn't afford the mounts. I should have just left them in Glassine envelopes until I could afford to buy the mounts.
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Ryan
Moderator 
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 2,749
What I collect: If I have a catalogue for it, I collect it. And I have many catalogues ....
Member is Online
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Post by Ryan on Sept 4, 2014 6:03:23 GMT
I can only give you one bit of advice -- just enjoy your stamps the way you want to enjoy them. It's your collection, not somebody else's. Irishjack pretty much stated that already, and good practical advice has already been given above. Some people like to have the best stamps in the best possible album; some people like to piles of stamps everywhere. Some people like one of each stamp; some people like hundreds of a couple of stamps. Find what you enjoy and collect that way. That's the true value of stamp collecting. Resuscitating an old topic here, as I've been busy with work and only spontaneously reading topics instead of looking at every post like I usually do (I'll catch up sometime in the next couple of months). Kim's advice is pretty much exactly the same as mine (and we also share an affinity for Dr. Pepper to boot). I have mountains of common stamps and I have a decent collection of mint Canada with a high catalogue value, and when push comes to shove, I'll undoubtedly unload the fancy-pants collection before I get rid of the common stuff. Especially since the advent of the internet, I have endless fun simply looking up stuff about the designs seen on the stamp, information that was much harder to dig up in the old days. If you like building an investment portfolio, then go ahead and do that. If you like collecting purple stamps because you want to glue them to the wall in your bedroom, then get out the glue and find the stamps. If you want to build a collection that appeals to other people, then take the advice of other people about what they like in a collection (I'm not belittling that, there's a useful social value in stamp collecting and collaboration has benefits to even the confirmed loners among us). And if you're like me and you want to build a collection that appeals to yourself, then do that. It might be an investment or it might be a purple wall in your bedroom, as long as you like it then the collection is achieving a purpose. Ryan |
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rod222
Member
Posts: 11,047
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Sept 4, 2014 16:31:14 GMT
If you want to build a collection that appeals to other people, then take the advice of other people about what they like in a collection (I'm not belittling that, there's a useful social value in stamp collecting and collaboration has benefits to even the confirmed loners among us). And if you're like me and you want to build a collection that appeals to yourself, then do that. It might be an investment or it might be a purple wall in your bedroom, as long as you like it then the collection is achieving a purpose. Ryan Bravo! this is one of the tenets under which, "The Stamp Forum" was formed. Jack was on of the first gentlemen to embrace The Trucial States and any other discipline that may have once been frowned upon. Freedom and courtesy makes for a warm fuzzy place to reside. |
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Post by Perfs14 on Sept 4, 2014 23:11:34 GMT
Specialize! Trying to collect everything leaves you with a bunch of mediocre collections and makes it impossible to afford to buy the better material. Specializing also allows you to really LEARN and STUDY an area in depth. YES! I really agree, now, with this philosophy...I wish that I had done that from the start. But, it was probably not possible then as I knew even less than now and i would not have been able to pick a specialty. Maybe, the collecting of everything and the trying of every method of storage is a necessary thing...then through a system akin to natural selection one can come up with the ideal for her/his environment. |
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Admin
Administrator
Posts: 2,676
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Post by Admin on Sept 4, 2014 23:27:04 GMT
Stamp collecting is a never ending journey that you have no idea of where you will end. For storage this is what you need, I plan on doing this one day.  |
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Post by TinMan on Sept 5, 2014 22:23:12 GMT
Jack what a clever use of space. I assume you built this. Anyway someone did a great job making use of that area. I'll bet you had to fight your wife to get to use that spot for your stamps.
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Admin
Administrator
Posts: 2,676
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Post by Admin on Sept 5, 2014 22:37:59 GMT
Jack what a clever use of space. I assume you built this. Anyway someone did a great job making use of that area. I'll bet you had to fight your wife to get to use that spot for your stamps. Not mine Tinman  But when I build I will be doing both the upstairs and basement stairs like this |
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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 Sept 6, 2014 0:44:06 GMT
I can't figure out how the large piece is constructed.Seems like the stringer would be in the way of those drawers that face you.May be false fronts?
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Admin
Administrator
Posts: 2,676
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Post by Admin on Sept 6, 2014 1:15:36 GMT
I came across this a few years ago and save the picture, I must show it to a carpenter friend to see how it would be built. I think some of the drawers would be false fronts. But if the stringers and surports are say done in steel it might be possible to have all drawers functionable.
It's my dream stairs, I might go one step further and have a roll out desk. That way I can just open the doors roll out my desk and stamp away. Roll it back close doors and have a tidy room.
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Post by stoltzpup on Sept 6, 2014 2:52:26 GMT
The design of the staircase looks Scandinavian to me. I'd want a better banister railing.
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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 Sept 6, 2014 13:56:34 GMT
So cool! I, too, would love to see the supports - steel would solve many of the problems. I know what you mean about storage space. Since we moved to Florida, I had to completely change gears and focus on selling. I just don't have the room I had up north! I also want to sell most of my mint - we do have great air conditioning, but I cringe at the thought or mint stamps mixed with humidity. Best to find the bulk of them a nice new home in a temperate climate. LOL When I talk about my stamps, I sound like I'm trying to find a good home for a beloved pet! In a way I suppose that is what I am doing.  |
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,385
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 Sept 6, 2014 14:48:04 GMT
I can't figure out how the large piece is constructed.Seems like the stringer would be in the way of those drawers that face you.May be false fronts? I think the framing of the cabinetry, which is anchored on the floor, eliminates the need for some or all of the stringers. That said, it really is an efficient use of space. |
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Post by TinMan on Sept 6, 2014 14:55:19 GMT
Steve Stringers would be an absolute necessity. I have built many stairways. The Styles don't line up, which if they did, could possibly allow the stringers to be notched out for the drawers.
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Post by jamesw on Sept 6, 2014 14:57:08 GMT
I could stair at those all day!
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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 Sept 7, 2014 13:28:00 GMT
I've gone back to look at construction over and over and YES!! I figured it out.Very doable.Think of stacked boxes and thats the secret.Depending on how deep the drawers are a stringer is probably present in the middle and the stacked boxes only need to support the outer edge.If anyone cares to hire me to build one for you I eat regularly and get up early.
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Post by TinMan on Sept 7, 2014 14:04:52 GMT
If the stairway isn't more than 36inces wide the center stringer isn't necessary and if the drawers aren't all the way to the back The back stringer wouldn't have to be notched. 2x12 is a normal stringer.
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