jpotx113
Member 
Posts: 460
What I collect: USA, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Machins, misc. WW
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Post by jpotx113 on Aug 7, 2019 14:47:51 GMT
My name's Tom. I began collecting stamps when my parents gave me a Harris Traveler album back around 1978. After that initial package of stamps that came with the album was put into the album my collection pretty much stalled. Around 1999 I decided to take up stamp collecting again when I found a Harris Freedom album at Hobby Lobby. I paid my $10 for the book and bought a bag or two of US stamps; that fueled my addiction, which led to the purchase of kiloware on eBay. I realized how much fun I was having so I went back and bought the Liberty album. I transferred those stamps and bought more. That album is probably about 85-90% complete. I ended up filling up that Freedon album again with all the extras I had and sold it on eBay
I soon began mounting stamps into my old Traveler album that I began when I was 8. I had begun trading my extra US for stamps from people all over the world. I had to eventually create my own homemade albums to have somewhere to mount all those stamps. I eventually began to specialize in US, Germany, Mexico, Slovenia, Croatia and Machins.
I also founded a network for traders (The Stamp Exchange List). This was back before the majority of the stamp forums (such as this one) were created. Access to trader information was pretty limited at the time.
Unfortunately, in 2009 I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The constant sorting and handling of stamps was too much for me. My fingers and wrists would ache painfully, so I had to give it up. I would still tear off the corners of envelopes and save any stamp that came my way.
Recently I've decided to get back into collecting. I'm in the process of sorting out all the foreign stamps in order to get those placed into albums. I'm also researching to see what album for US stamps I should buy. I'm considering the Liberty three volume set or the Heritage American Heirloom set ( I like the idea of the three ring binder rather than the 2 posts;however, I've read where some people have not been happy with the quality of the binder).
Anyway, I look forward to catching up in what I've been missing the past 20 years.
Tom Crockett, TX
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renden
Member
Posts: 9,162 
What I collect: Canada-USA-France-Lithuania-Austria--Germany-Mauritius-French Colonies in Africa
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Post by renden on Aug 7, 2019 14:56:49 GMT
 to TSF and be well !! jpotx113René Canada
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brightonpete
Departed
Rest in Peace
On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110
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Post by brightonpete on Aug 7, 2019 14:57:59 GMT
back to collecting, Tom! This is a great forum to be a member!
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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
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Post by stainlessb on Aug 7, 2019 15:04:50 GMT
Tom ( jpotx113) welcome to TSF and welcome back to stamping! |
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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 Aug 7, 2019 15:14:34 GMT
Welcome, Tom!
Your membership status has been adjusted so that you can post elsewhere on the Forum. Please let me know if you run into any difficulty or have questions.
I think you'll find a wide array of member views regarding albums v. stock books/sheets and brand names v. self-prepared pages. Given the costs involved and the amount of time spent switching from one mode to another, you should probably reflect long and hard before making a decision.
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nikhil
Member
Working on Australia, GDR, Japan
Posts: 552
What I collect: I collect WW. Looking for early issues.
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Post by nikhil on Aug 7, 2019 15:16:47 GMT
Hello and welcome to this forum!!
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,699
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Aug 7, 2019 15:17:20 GMT
Welcome!!
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tobben63
Member
Stamp eat sleep repeat
Posts: 1,874
What I collect: I collect to much, world wide!
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Post by tobben63 on Aug 7, 2019 15:26:48 GMT
Welcome Tom
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Aug 7, 2019 15:34:07 GMT
Hi Tom to the Forum. Jerry B |
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Post by dgdecker on Aug 7, 2019 16:20:46 GMT
Welcome to the Forum, Tom
david
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blaamand
Member
Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Aug 7, 2019 17:40:03 GMT
Welcome Tom. Thanks for sharing your special story. That's must have been a very dramatic experience stamp-wise, not being able to handle stamps! What dreadful it must have been, I can feel the frustration across time and all across the Atlantic! Glad you're now coming back to the fun, hope you'll be able to handle the tweezers for the rest of your days   Stay stampy  |
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jpotx113
Member
Posts: 460
What I collect: USA, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Machins, misc. WW
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Post by jpotx113 on Aug 7, 2019 20:25:28 GMT
Welcome Tom. Thanks for sharing your special story. That's must have been a very dramatic experience stamp-wise, not being able to handle stamps! What dreadful it must have been, I can feel the frustration across time and all across the Atlantic! Glad you're now coming back to the fun, hope you'll be able to handle the tweezers for the rest of your days Stay stampy
Thanks...but that was not the worst of it. I could not even write; my knuckles were swollen which prevented me from closing my hands. I lot of the simple things that I took for granted was beyond what I could do. I'm not at 100% but I can manage to do a lot of what I used to do.
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jpotx113
Member
Posts: 460
What I collect: USA, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Machins, misc. WW
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Post by jpotx113 on Aug 7, 2019 20:28:39 GMT
Welcome, Tom! Your membership status has been adjusted so that you can post elsewhere on the Forum. Please let me know if you run into any difficulty or have questions. I think you'll find a wide array of member views regarding albums v. stock books/sheets and brand names v. self-prepared pages. Given the costs involved and the amount of time spent switching from one mode to another, you should probably reflect long and hard before making a decision.
Good point! The monetary costs that are involved doesn't matter much; some of the other hobbies I have have turned into more of a business venture. Each month I get about $200-300 that I use to fund my hobbies and recreation. The time needed might be an issue, though with this 100F heat we currently have I'll have plenty of time to spend inside!
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zipper
Member
Posts: 2,649
What I collect: Classic GB, QV, France Ceres/Napoleon, Classic U.S., Cinderella & Poster Stamps
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Post by zipper on Aug 7, 2019 22:33:39 GMT
Hi.
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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 8, 2019 0:29:10 GMT
Welcome, Tom!
Do you collect mint or used USA or both?
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jpotx113
Member
Posts: 460
What I collect: USA, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Machins, misc. WW
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Post by jpotx113 on Aug 8, 2019 3:31:08 GMT
Welcome, Tom! Do you collect mint or used USA or both? Mostly used. |
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dorincard
Member
Posts: 1,623
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 8, 2019 3:37:42 GMT
Welcome!
How did you improve your health?
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hrdoktorx
Member
Posts: 7,214
What I collect: France (and French territories), Africa, Canada, USA, Germany, Guatemala, stamps about science, flags, maps, stamps on stamps...
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Post by hrdoktorx on Aug 8, 2019 5:03:06 GMT
to TSF! Thank you for sharing your story. We wish you a lot of stamping enjoyment with us.
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mikeclevenger
Member
Inactive
Posts: 887
What I collect: Ohio Tax Stamps, Ohio & Georgia Revenues, US Revenues, US FDC's, & Germany Classics
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Post by mikeclevenger on Aug 8, 2019 9:17:19 GMT
Unfortunately, in 2009 I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The constant sorting and handling of stamps was too much for me. My fingers and wrists would ache painfully, so I had to give it up. I would still tear off the corners of envelopes and save any stamp that came my way.
Welcome to the Forum Tom. Welcome to my world of rheumatoid arthritis. I have had it since 1998. I have found that it really my your hands to move them more, so I think the stamping is actually helping me, it may be painful at times, but the more your move your fingers, the better off you are. Of course, the IV and medicine helps too. LOL. |
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darkormex
Member
Swinging through Switzerland and getting tied up in Thailand
Posts: 2,197
What I collect: The World...just printing and mounting as I go...call me crazy!
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Post by darkormex on Aug 8, 2019 11:10:42 GMT
Welcome.
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Will
Member
Inactive
Posts: 84
What I collect: Venezuela: ESCUELAS 1871-1880, Locals up to 1903. Cinderellas and BOB | Colombia: Up to 1940. States!
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Post by Will on Aug 8, 2019 13:05:11 GMT
I'm very happy you are claiming back territory from the RA! My wife's going through it and, as you said, exercise seems to be a great counter. She started doing crossfit after she was diagnosed and it has helped her big time. Many people, including me, thought that she was crazy. She, one more time, proved me wrong.
Welcome back and happy stamping!
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jpotx113
Member
Posts: 460
What I collect: USA, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Machins, misc. WW
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Post by jpotx113 on Aug 8, 2019 14:10:27 GMT
Welcome! How did you improve your health?
Medication. I currently take methotrexate which puts the RA into remission. Now I have more good days than bad.
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jpotx113
Member
Posts: 460
What I collect: USA, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Machins, misc. WW
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Post by jpotx113 on Aug 8, 2019 14:16:21 GMT
Unfortunately, in 2009 I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The constant sorting and handling of stamps was too much for me. My fingers and wrists would ache painfully, so I had to give it up. I would still tear off the corners of envelopes and save any stamp that came my way.
Welcome to the Forum Tom. Welcome to my world of rheumatoid arthritis. I have had it since 1998. I have found that it really my your hands to move them more, so I think the stamping is actually helping me, it may be painful at times, but the more your move your fingers, the better off you are. Of course, the IV and medicine helps too. LOL. Thanks! Yes, being active does seem to help. There was a time that I had to use a cane, but now I walk pretty good. I can't walk long distances (no more than two miles at once); then again, at first I could not walk at all. I bought a Garmin fitness tracker and that motivates me to do more and more. I've also done a lot of kayaking the last ten years; it can be painful some times but it's not something I'd consider giving up just yet. |
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jpotx113
Member
Posts: 460
What I collect: USA, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia, Machins, misc. WW
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Post by jpotx113 on Aug 8, 2019 14:19:21 GMT
I'm very happy you are claiming back territory from the RA! My wife's going through it and, as you said, exercise seems to be a great counter. She started doing crossfit after she was diagnosed and it has helped her big time. Many people, including me, thought that she was crazy. She, one more time, proved me wrong. Welcome back and happy stamping! Good for her! It wasn't but a few decades ago that RA would have left a person an invalid, confined to a wheelchair. I can't see myself doing crossfit (too lazy), but I do try to walk everyday and am currently up to about 4 miles (not altogether, but broken up during the day). |
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Beryllium Guy
Moderator
Posts: 5,912
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Aug 8, 2019 19:56:38 GMT
Hi, Tom ( jpotx113 ), and welcome to TSF! Thanks for sharing your story both about stamps and your physical challenges. I am so happy to hear that you have been able to recover enough to do the things you love. I can relate, as chronic disease has been dogging me for more than 13 years now. But we just have to do the best that we can with it, don't we? Anyway, enjoy your time with us, and see you around the boards! Kind Regards, Chris (aka Beryllium Guy ) |
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janetc
Member
Inactive
Posts: 320 
What I collect: US and WW. Lighthouses, Dragons and Christmas
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Post by janetc on Aug 17, 2019 20:46:31 GMT
Welcome to The Stamp Forum |
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Londonbus1
Moderator
Cinderella Stamp Club Member 3059
Posts: 5,064
What I collect: Wonderland; 1912 Jubilee International Stamp Exhibition, London ('Ideal' Stamp, ephemera); French Cinderellas with an emphasis on Poster Stamps; Israel and Palestine Cinderellas ; Jewish National Fund Stamps, Labels and Tags; London 2010, A Festival of Stamps (anything); South Africa 1937 Coronation issue of KGVI, singles or bi-lingual pairs.
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Post by Londonbus1 on Aug 17, 2019 20:59:41 GMT
A belated welcome from me.........hope you enjoy our forum and your comeback to stamps !  Have fun ! Londonbus1 |
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mikeclevenger
Member
Inactive
Posts: 887
What I collect: Ohio Tax Stamps, Ohio & Georgia Revenues, US Revenues, US FDC's, & Germany Classics
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Post by mikeclevenger on Aug 18, 2019 16:51:23 GMT
Welcome to the Forum Tom. Welcome to my world of rheumatoid arthritis. I have had it since 1998. I have found that it really my your hands to move them more, so I think the stamping is actually helping me, it may be painful at times, but the more your move your fingers, the better off you are. Of course, the IV and medicine helps too. LOL. Thanks! Yes, being active does seem to help. There was a time that I had to use a cane, but now I walk pretty good. I can't walk long distances (no more than two miles at once); then again, at first I could not walk at all. I bought a Garmin fitness tracker and that motivates me to do more and more. I've also done a lot of kayaking the last ten years; it can be painful some times but it's not something I'd consider giving up just yet. I still work every day. The good thing is that I am the lead, so I only do what I want to. The part I hate is that no matter what we do, it will never get better, just trying to keep it slowed down. |
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to TSF and be well !! 
