Bombadil
Member 
Inactive
Posts: 465 
What I collect: Worldwide stamps 1840-1960
|
Post by Bombadil on Dec 5, 2017 1:34:25 GMT
Dear All,
Last year i inherited a massive amount of stamps containing about 24 big albums/Mint Bk Sheets/First day envelopes
stamps quantity is almost 70,000 worldwide (50% Africa and Arab world) most of it was Mint sets. The previous owner was a professional philatelist,he passed away in 1980 and unfortunately the collection was lost in an inhabited house .
I was an amateur coin collector so i was excited to enter the world of stamps, for the past year i have been sorting all of the collection thoroughly and obsessively learning about the world of stamps and working on saving Uninfected and Mint Stamps.
Sadly 70% of the collection is infected with fox/fungus and i even found 4 albums with mildew stains and i immediately isolated them in ziplock bags away from the collection,even knowing that they are worth nothing now i did not have the heart to throw them away.
Now i am almost done sorting all of the 100% mint stamps collections in Newly purchased albums, my focus is on Africa,Arab World,Western Europe and worldwide varieties .
I am excited to use this forum to ask questions and find out information about my collection .
|
|
Mick
Member
Posts: 992
What I collect: Mostly covers and postmarks. Also miscellaneous paper ephemera.
|
Post by Mick on Dec 5, 2017 1:52:38 GMT
Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow;
Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow.
Welcome, Bombadil. Darn shame that so much of that collection was ruined.
|
|
Bombadil
Member
Inactive
Posts: 465
What I collect: Worldwide stamps 1840-1960
|
Post by Bombadil on Dec 5, 2017 2:18:32 GMT
Dear Mick,
Nicely quoted, thanks for the welcome .
it is a darn shame indeed, everyday my heart gets broken going through the infected collections and realizing its true value.
At least i managed to save a large amount and delighted to acquire this new hobby .
Hey do!merry do!ring a dong dillo!
|
|
|
|
Post by dgdecker on Dec 5, 2017 3:42:02 GMT
A word of welcome to you.
I had been away from stamp collecting for a very long time. I found that this forum helped in getting updated on what collectors do these days. Sorry to hear about the collection . I lost a bit of my childhood collection by not having it properly stored over the last twenty five years. A whole lot wiser now.
members here have given great help or directed me to online sites for more info. One of my go to place for info.
Happy Collecting.
David
|
|
Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
|
Post by Jerry B on Dec 5, 2017 7:07:28 GMT
Hi Bombadil  to a great forum. It is sad to lose albums that way. A non-stamp collector friend had his father's collection stored in his damp basement. He was lucky that about 90% was salvageable. Jerry B |
|
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
|
Post by tomiseksj on Dec 5, 2017 12:35:31 GMT
Welcome to our Forum!
I've adjusted your membership status so you are now able to participate in other areas of the forum.
|
|
Beryllium Guy
Moderator
Posts: 5,912
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
|
Post by Beryllium Guy on Dec 5, 2017 13:48:15 GMT
Welcome to TSF, Bombadil! I am also a Tolkien fan, and I like your site name very much. I should welcome you to the world of stamp collecting, as well. Glad to hear that you are embracing it despite a difficult start. Please know that you are certainly getting off on the right foot, as you do honor to the memory of the departed philatelist by salvaging what you can of his collection. I have had a small taste of your experience myself, as parts of my now-passed-away father's collection were damaged due to poor storage conditions while he was still alive. As in the case that Jerry B mentioned, I have been able to salvage 80-90%, but each item lost leaves me with some regret at what might have been. Anyway, I have been with TSF for just over a year now, and I have made new friends and learned a lot during that time. I hope that you will do the same. I look forward to seeing examples of some of your favorite material from the collection. Best Wishes, Chris (aka Beryllium Guy) |
|
firstfrog2013
Member
Posts: 3,276
What I collect: BNA Liberia St Pierre U.S. Bolivia Turkey
|
Post by firstfrog2013 on Dec 5, 2017 14:02:15 GMT
welcome bombaldi !! I look forward to seeing some of your treasures.I dabble in Liberia a bit, a collection I started when my BNA became over 97% complete.Winter is a time we welcome our hobby it gives us an excuse to remain warm inside.The Arab world holds many pit falls,cataloging difficulties are often encountered with the Shiekdoms.
|
|
Bombadil
Member
Inactive
Posts: 465
What I collect: Worldwide stamps 1840-1960
|
Post by Bombadil on Dec 5, 2017 14:23:41 GMT
Dear Chris (Beryllium guy)
Well said about honoring the memory of the departed
Thank you for the warm welcome
I shall start posting my interesting findings soon.
Thanks again
|
|
Bombadil
Member
Inactive
Posts: 465
What I collect: Worldwide stamps 1840-1960
|
Post by Bombadil on Dec 5, 2017 14:32:22 GMT
Hello Firstfrog2013
Thank you also for the encouragement
My African collection main focus is On SierraLeone( especially self adhesive stamps), Guinee Republic, Ghana, Senegal , Nigeria .. also almost all of the African stamps are in high denominations .
I am excited to start sharing my findings on the forum soon .
|
|
zipper
Member
Posts: 2,649
What I collect: Classic GB, QV, France Ceres/Napoleon, Classic U.S., Cinderella & Poster Stamps
|
Post by zipper on Dec 5, 2017 17:47:32 GMT
Welcome to the World's Greatest stamp forum.
|
|
bobby1948
Departed
Rest in Peace
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Sir Edmund Burke
Posts: 690
What I collect: WW to 1945; US mnh 1922-1990; US used and unused to 1922
|
Post by bobby1948 on Dec 6, 2017 17:32:41 GMT
Welcome, Bombadil. I can appreciate your situation. Over the course of the past 50 years, I have acquired many collections and albums, a few of which arrive in the condition you described. I did everything I could to "rescue" the unfortunate victims of mildew, acetate staining, and humidity damage with little success. I have found that hydrogen peroxide works occasionally on some foxing and toning issues. I once received a collection which was so imbued with cigarette smoke, I couldn't bear to keep the stamps in my hobby room; surprisingly, Febreze worked very well on the stamps I wanted to keep, but I eventually donated most of the collection to Goodwill (maybe some collector not as sensitive to cigarette smoke can enjoy them). Anyway, have fun here, I do!
|
|
Bombadil
Member
Inactive
Posts: 465
What I collect: Worldwide stamps 1840-1960
|
Post by Bombadil on Dec 6, 2017 21:47:18 GMT
bobby1948Dear Bobby, thank you for the encouragement I still lack a lot of knowledge on cleaning methods and chemicals used. But i will for sure as i really want to try and salavage some of the infected collection and add it back to my clean one.
|
|
Bombadil
Member
Inactive
Posts: 465
What I collect: Worldwide stamps 1840-1960
|
Post by Bombadil on Dec 19, 2017 0:09:29 GMT
Hello Everyone , Yesterday i finally received by mail my first Stanley Gibbons Stamps of the world Catalogue 6 volumes 2014 (second handed )  , i am extremely excited to start using it since i am getting tired from always having to use the Internet to ID or value a stamp . I have my eyes on Scott 2013 - PDF on Ebay (trusted dealer) .  |
|
|
|
Post by jimwentzell on Jan 5, 2019 23:08:48 GMT
Hi Bombadil,
Happy New Year, and a year-late welcome to our philatelic circle of friends! I've only now noticed you joined just over a year ago, but because I haven't read nearly half of what has been posted I am sure I will see more of your informative posts. Thank you for sharing some of the labels you have in sheets; I also have never seen them. In regards to your damaged stamps, I sometimes put undesirable but otherwise uncommon (dirty/slightly stained/etc.) stamps in mounts and put them in a clear envelope taped shut (so nomother stamps get dirty) these I put in empty cigar boxes which I sell very cheaply or trade/give away to collectors at our stamp club.
Also I have future projects for which I save damaged stamps. Usually torn stamps or stamps with parts missing. I overlap the stamps so the damage doesn't show and for one project I use clear wide packing tape to cover a brochure holder or other display rack that has our stamp club flyers in it. These we put in local businesses or meeting places. It makes a very attractive display--sometimes I even use auction catalogue cut-outs! It doesn't happen very often, but sometimes months later, someone will tell me they saw the stamps in the display rack at a business and picked up information on our stamp club and that rekindled an interest in stamps!
I'll post a picture soon of the latest one I make.
Regarding older Scott catalogues--I have one or two older catalogues (NOT a full set) from about 2012 or 2014, and often find more from around that period at our local stamp meetings. Sometimes they sell at auction for only $1! Please PM (private message) me and we can discuss the best way to get them to you (my belated welcome "gift" to you). It's always nice to see enthusiastic newer collectors "carry on the torch" of our great hobby!
--Jim
|
|
Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
|
Post by Jerry B on Jan 5, 2019 23:32:18 GMT
Hi
When I worked part time for a dealer, damaged stamps went into a box. There was a customer who bought the damaged stamps. The customer used the stamps for some type of jewelry.
Jerry B
|
|
stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,906
What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
Member is Online
|
Post by stainlessb on Jan 17, 2019 1:49:12 GMT
Welcome Bombaldil
from one newcomer to the forum to another!
|
|
Beryllium Guy
Moderator
Posts: 5,912
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
|
Post by Beryllium Guy on Jan 17, 2019 12:31:31 GMT
Hi Bombadil, Happy New Year, and a year-late welcome to our philatelic circle of friends! I've only now noticed you joined just over a year ago, but because I haven't read nearly half of what has been posted I am sure I will see more of your informative posts. Thank you for sharing some of the labels you have in sheets; I also have never seen them. In regards to your damaged stamps, I sometimes put undesirable but otherwise uncommon (dirty/slightly stained/etc.) stamps in mounts and put them in a clear envelope taped shut (so no other stamps get dirty) these I put in empty cigar boxes which I sell very cheaply or trade/give away to collectors at our stamp club. Jim, I missed this revival of Jad's ( Bombadil) old intro thread, but very nice of you to do that, even after a year. Welcomes are, well.... always welcome!  Hey, Jad, how's life in Africa going? Why not take this opportunity to give us all an update? In addition, if someone were to want to send stamps to you, should that person just send them to your home address in Lebanon, or is there a way to get them to you where you are now? |
|
janetc
Member
Inactive
Posts: 320 
What I collect: US and WW. Lighthouses, Dragons and Christmas
|
Post by janetc on Jan 17, 2019 12:48:01 GMT
Welcome to The Stamp Forum  |
|
Bombadil
Member
Inactive
Posts: 465
What I collect: Worldwide stamps 1840-1960
|
Post by Bombadil on Jan 17, 2019 17:32:31 GMT
Hi Bombadil, Happy New Year, and a year-late welcome to our philatelic circle of friends! I've only now noticed you joined just over a year ago, but because I haven't read nearly half of what has been posted I am sure I will see more of your informative posts. Thank you for sharing some of the labels you have in sheets; I also have never seen them. In regards to your damaged stamps, I sometimes put undesirable but otherwise uncommon (dirty/slightly stained/etc.) stamps in mounts and put them in a clear envelope taped shut (so nomother stamps get dirty) these I put in empty cigar boxes which I sell very cheaply or trade/give away to collectors at our stamp club. Also I have future projects for which I save damaged stamps. Usually torn stamps or stamps with parts missing. I overlap the stamps so the damage doesn't show and for one project I use clear wide packing tape to cover a brochure holder or other display rack that has our stamp club flyers in it. These we put in local businesses or meeting places. It makes a very attractive display--sometimes I even use auction catalogue cut-outs! It doesn't happen very often, but sometimes months later, someone will tell me they saw the stamps in the display rack at a business and picked up information on our stamp club and that rekindled an interest in stamps! I'll post a picture soon of the latest one I make.Regarding older Scott catalogues--I have one or two older catalogues (NOT a full set) from about 2012 or 2014, and often find more from around that period at our local stamp meetings. Sometimes they sell at auction for only $1! Please PM (private message) me and we can discuss the best way to get them to you (my belated welcome "gift" to you). It's always nice to see enthusiastic newer collectors "carry on the torch" of our great hobby! --Jim
Apologies for the delayed response, i don't know how i missed your post over two weeks .. thank you Chris Beryllium Guy for tagging me !!
Jim, thanks for a great welcoming,even after a year .. your post was very informative and heartwarming, gave me some nice flashbacks to where i started! Thank you !!
The inherited collection was sorted and placed into new albums long time ago, damaged stamps and albums went into sealed hard plastic containers .. my future plan for the really damaged stamps is a “Table Top” and a “Canvas” full of Stamps collage then covered with an Epoxy resin Layer 
I have come a long way since i made that post , thanks to the guidance and help of many TSF members .. if it wasn't for this “specific” forum, i doubt that i would have continued with this hobby. I made a large number of acquisitions over the past year and also received many Impressive gifts..my Interest areas changed and they keep on growing every day also my philatelic knowledge has immensely improved over the past year 🤓.
Current pdf catalogue in use is Scott 2017.. but am also always on the hunt for Michel and Yvert&Tellier in PDF format.. any other pdf specialized catalogue is always welcome in my tiny philatelic library .
Looking forward to seeing those pictures. i always admire your posts and interests.
Cheers,
Jad
|
|
Bombadil
Member
Inactive
Posts: 465
What I collect: Worldwide stamps 1840-1960
|
Post by Bombadil on Jan 17, 2019 20:29:29 GMT
Jim, I missed this revival of Jad's ( Bombadil ) old intro thread, but very nice of you to do that, even after a year. Welcomes are, well.... always welcome! Hey, Jad, how's life in Africa going? Why not take this opportunity to give us all an update? In addition, if someone were to want to send stamps to you, should that person just send them to your home address in Lebanon, or is there a way to get them to you where you are now? Well my friend, life in Zambia is as pleasant as you can imagine !! Such a peaceful and beautiful country.. Work never stops, am working against the clock to complete my project by end of February (fingers crossed) ..soon i will have those before and after pics ready 😎 Unfortunately i still lack trust in Zambia’s postal service, therefore am still ordering mail to my Lebanese address (packages pilling up yeyyy).. i will be traveling to Beirut for 10 days beginning of February,so i will have the chance to bring those packages back with me !!
|
|
beaverstamps
**Member** 
Inactive
Retired
Posts: 21
What I collect: Hunting & Fishing, US 19th Century
|
Post by beaverstamps on Jan 18, 2019 4:26:00 GMT
Welcome...Hopefully your collection will provide many hours of enjoyment! RB
 |
|
|
|
Post by billfromlachine on Jan 25, 2019 1:52:31 GMT
Bombadil,
That was quite the challenge going through all those albums and salvaging what you could, well done.
|
|
to a great forum.
, i am extremely excited to start using it since i am getting tired from always having to use the Internet to ID or value a stamp . I have my eyes on Scott 2013 - PDF on Ebay (trusted dealer) . 
