zeebanker
**Member** 
Inactive
Posts: 26
What I collect: Pretty much everything now, but may focus on Japan and pre-WW2 British colonies
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Post by zeebanker on Sept 23, 2019 16:35:36 GMT
Hi all,
I'm a "born again" stamp collector. My story is that I left my collection at my parents' house when I went to college some 25 years ago. They've moved since and several years ago I searched for my collection and my mom basically said "its there somewhere.... look harder". It must've gotten lost in the move. Anyhoo, I mourned for a few minutes and moved on.
A couple of weeks ago while on vacation in England, we saw a stamp shop in Brighton (the lanes). I told my wife that that was queer, I've never seen one in my life and I wanted to show our 5 year old daughter what stamps were. So in we went, and 45 minutes later, out we came with a bunch of cartoon stamps, a child's album and a bunch of old stamps. I was smitten again! Lots of fond memories washed over me as I gazed at El Franco staring at me in pink, blue and green and the queen sideways in multiple colors.
Back home in MN, out of curiosity I typed "postage stamps" in Craigslist (a local online marketplace for those unfamiliar). Lo and behold, there was a person selling his grandfather's collection. I went over and learned that he found a couple of boxes of stamps in a drawer that he inherited from his grandfather. They were labeled "new" and "canceled". His grandfather had collected them when he was stationed in Europe during and after serving in WW2. Apparently he stopped collecting in the 70s and they had lain there since. So I paid him what he was asking and brought them home.
There must be around 3,000 stamps in the "canceled" box. I found several Queen Victorias from the UK and its former colonies. I think I even found an 1854 QV from India. Some from countries that don't exist (Heligoland?) anymore. Have been hitting Google several times a day since then. Definitely exciting.
I'm not sure which direction I'll go from here. I intend to sort them by country and get some catalogs and order them by year of publication. Then maybe I'll decide to focus on one or two subjects and add to the collection. Japan is a country I've visited several times and am interested in, so I'm thinking Japan might be a focus area. Given the number of QV and subsequent monarch stamps I've seen, maybe pre-WW2 monarchs? Who know.....
I'm glad to have found this forum and look forward to learning a lot from other seasoned collectors here. I've spent a few hours reading various forums and I think this would be a great place for me to spend time, ask questions, learn, share...
Have a great day!
PS: Oh, I also collect (and shave with) straight razors, (occasionally smoke) tobacco pipes and (listen to) records. And gaze at stars, planets and the moon with a telescope I own and several that are part of the Minnesota Astronomical Society.
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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 Sept 23, 2019 16:42:48 GMT
 to TSF !! Very interesting story ! So you live in the UK ? I am from across the pond in Eastern Canada  Pleas share your nice stamps with us René
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zeebanker
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 26
What I collect: Pretty much everything now, but may focus on Japan and pre-WW2 British colonies
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Post by zeebanker on Sept 23, 2019 16:45:29 GMT
to TSF !! Very interesting story ! So you live in the UK ? I am from across the pond in Eastern Canada Pleas share your nice stamps with us René In Minnesota. Just south of you. |
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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 Sept 23, 2019 16:51:26 GMT
welcome to TSF zeebanker from Northern California!
and welcome back to stamps!
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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 Sept 23, 2019 17:00:25 GMT
Welcome to the forum! I collect double edge and single edge razors, myself. I normally use a Gillette DE but for the last 18 months have let my beard grow out. I actually do enjoy shaving, but it looks better when I go to Ren Fest. I enjoy records, too (and CDs). I currently have over 1,500 of each. Storage becomes a major problem (much like accumulating stamp albums). I saved up and recently bought a used VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine; I had saved up for a new VPI Cyclone but decided $1,500 was too much and bought a used VPI for a significant savings (and used a lot of that cash to buy stamps, stamp albums, supplies, etc).
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zeebanker
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 26
What I collect: Pretty much everything now, but may focus on Japan and pre-WW2 British colonies
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Post by zeebanker on Sept 23, 2019 17:06:47 GMT
to TSF !! Very interesting story ! So you live in the UK ? I am from across the pond in Eastern Canada Pleas share your nice stamps with us René In Minnesota. Just south of you. And thank you for the welcome! |
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zeebanker
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 26
What I collect: Pretty much everything now, but may focus on Japan and pre-WW2 British colonies
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Post by zeebanker on Sept 23, 2019 17:07:07 GMT
welcome to TSF zeebanker from Northern California!
and welcome back to stamps!
TY! |
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zeebanker
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 26
What I collect: Pretty much everything now, but may focus on Japan and pre-WW2 British colonies
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Post by zeebanker on Sept 23, 2019 17:09:02 GMT
Welcome to the forum! I collect double edge and single edge razors, myself. I normally use a Gillette DE but for the last 18 months have let my beard grow out. I actually do enjoy shaving, but it looks better when I go to Ren Fest. I enjoy records, too (and CDs). I currently have over 1,500 of each. Storage becomes a major problem (much like accumulating stamp albums). I saved up and recently bought a used VPI 16.5 record cleaning machine; I had saved up for a new VPI Cyclone but decided $1,500 was too much and bought a used VPI for a significant savings (and used a lot of that cash to buy stamps, stamp albums, supplies, etc). Oh wow! My collection is much smaller, a couple of hundred records and 500 or so CDs. I guess this collection bug goes wide and deep. Glad to know I'm not the only one around. Now I can say to my wife "see, I'm not a nut case...." |
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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 Sept 23, 2019 17:19:11 GMT
Hi.
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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 Sept 23, 2019 17:22:41 GMT
In Minnesota. Just south of you. And thank you for the welcome! Sorry for the mistake zeebanker - I read your text (intro) too fast as it was interesting  Minnesota is West of the Marititime Provinces (I am from New Brunswick with Maine right on the border) Enjoy the Forum - great members ! René |
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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 Sept 23, 2019 19:48:58 GMT
Welcome zeebanker ! Glad you have taken up the hobby again. You will have loads of fun. So stick around, it's a great forum with lots of nice peeps. Happy Collecting, Londonbus1 |
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cjoprey
Member
Scanning stamps for my website...
Posts: 1,504
What I collect: Belgium (predominantly), British Commonwealth (older ones), WW (whatever comes my way...)
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Post by cjoprey on Sept 23, 2019 20:20:55 GMT
Welcome to our little forum zeebanker! Great story on your return to stamps - now I feel the need to head down to the lanes next time I'm on the south coast to find that stamp shop! |
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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 Sept 23, 2019 20:34:03 GMT
There's a couple of stamp shops in Brighton.
One is called 'Gustamps' which was on Prince Albert street back in the day. They are still going so I heard from a friend in Hove.
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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 23, 2019 21:58:54 GMT
Welcome to our Forum! Your membership status has been adjusted so you are no longer restricted to posting solely on this board. Perhaps you can share some ideas with hrdoktorx about maintaining your daughter's interest in the hobby. He seems to have, at least for now, captured the attention of his 6 year old son. It would be nice to have a "youth area" here. Please let me know if you have questions or encounter problems. |
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zeebanker
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 26
What I collect: Pretty much everything now, but may focus on Japan and pre-WW2 British colonies
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Post by zeebanker on Sept 23, 2019 22:31:54 GMT
There's a couple of stamp shops in Brighton. One is called 'Gustamps' which was on Prince Albert street back in the day. They are still going so I heard from a friend in Hove. It was Gustamps! The owner (I'm guessing Gus) was very friendly and gave me and my daughter a bunch of stamps and said "you should start collecting again". Very nice gentleman. I bought a few other stamps from him, but he basically gave my daughter a bunch of cartoon stamps (she said she wanted Disney princesses), a kids album, a coloring kit, all for free just to get her interested. |
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zeebanker
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 26
What I collect: Pretty much everything now, but may focus on Japan and pre-WW2 British colonies
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Post by zeebanker on Sept 23, 2019 22:34:34 GMT
Welcome to our Forum! Your membership status has been adjusted so you are no longer restricted to posting solely on this board. Perhaps you can share some ideas with hrdoktorx about maintaining your daughter's interest in the hobby. He seems to have, at least for now, captured the attention of his 6 year old son. It would be nice to have a "youth area" here. Please let me know if you have questions or encounter problems. Thank you! I will contact hrdoktorx. My strategy for now is to get her stamps she likes. She was picking out flowers, animals and Christmas stamps from the lot I got recently. Whatever keeps her interested. We talked about different countries (a new concept to her) and how people used to mail letters. She knows Amazon delivers packages, but doesn't really know much about the mail system, although she did visit the post office once with me. Maybe if we revisit now, she'll make the connection... |
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zeebanker
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 26
What I collect: Pretty much everything now, but may focus on Japan and pre-WW2 British colonies
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Post by zeebanker on Sept 23, 2019 22:35:04 GMT
Welcome zeebanker ! Glad you have taken up the hobby again. You will have loads of fun. So stick around, it's a great forum with lots of nice peeps. Happy Collecting, Londonbus1 TY! |
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zeebanker
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 26
What I collect: Pretty much everything now, but may focus on Japan and pre-WW2 British colonies
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Post by zeebanker on Sept 23, 2019 22:35:25 GMT
Welcome to our little forum zeebanker ! Great story on your return to stamps - now I feel the need to head down to the lanes next time I'm on the south coast to find that stamp shop! TY! |
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zeebanker
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 26
What I collect: Pretty much everything now, but may focus on Japan and pre-WW2 British colonies
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Post by zeebanker on Sept 23, 2019 22:39:35 GMT
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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 Sept 24, 2019 1:18:25 GMT
Welcome to the forum, zeebanker! Lots of knowledge floating around here on just about every subject you can think of! Glad to have you aboard! |
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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 24, 2019 2:55:06 GMT
Hey welcome to the group! Folks here jump at the chance to answer questions and help newer collectors, so don’t hesitate to ask.
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stanley64
Member
Posts: 1,985
What I collect: Canada, USA, Netherlands, Portugal & Colonies, Antarctic Territories and anything that catches my eye...
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Post by stanley64 on Sept 24, 2019 7:57:21 GMT
Welcome zeebanker! Glad to hear of another person picking up the tongs after an extended absence; I think you will find you choose the right forum ;-) |
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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 Sept 24, 2019 9:11:55 GMT
Welcome to the forum
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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 Sept 24, 2019 10:42:10 GMT
Hello and welcome to this forum.
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hrdoktorx
Member
Posts: 7,215
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 Sept 24, 2019 11:20:05 GMT
to TSF! Thanks for sharing your story. I haven't gone as far as buying stamps and albums for my kids (I have three sons, currently aged 11, 9 and 6), but rather showing them some stamps related to topics that interest them (this has varied widely, including snails, penguins, rainbows, etc...) and, when they feel inclined, introducing the mechanics of the hobby (soaking, sorting, manipulating with tweezers, putting in and out of stockbooks). Yet at the same time, they say they'd prefer if I spent the money on a pool instead of those "little pieces of paper". Priorities...
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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 Sept 24, 2019 11:24:15 GMT
Hi zeebanker to the Forum. Jerry B |
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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 Sept 24, 2019 11:40:11 GMT
Welcome.
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zeebanker
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 26
What I collect: Pretty much everything now, but may focus on Japan and pre-WW2 British colonies
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Post by zeebanker on Sept 24, 2019 13:45:13 GMT
Thank you everyone for the warm welcome!
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zeebanker
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 26
What I collect: Pretty much everything now, but may focus on Japan and pre-WW2 British colonies
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Post by zeebanker on Sept 24, 2019 13:47:35 GMT
to TSF! Thanks for sharing your story. I haven't gone as far as buying stamps and albums for my kids (I have three sons, currently aged 11, 9 and 6), but rather showing them some stamps related to topics that interest them (this has varied widely, including snails, penguins, rainbows, etc...) and, when they feel inclined, introducing the mechanics of the hobby (soaking, sorting, manipulating with tweezers, putting in and out of stockbooks). Yet at the same time, they say they'd prefer if I spent the money on a pool instead of those "little pieces of paper". Priorities... Agree with your approach. I haven't bought anything either, they were given to her by the owner of a stamp store in Brighton when I told him I wanted to show her what a real stamp looks like. She's 5, so her attention span is 5 maybe 10 minutes, so we talk about stamps and she watches me sort them. So I hope her interest will grow, especially once she is older. |
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coastwatcher
Departed
Rest in Peace
Kentucky, USA
Posts: 506
What I collect: Currently focusing on US and possessions
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Post by coastwatcher on Sept 25, 2019 11:37:08 GMT
zeebanker...Welcome! I’m sure that you will like it here.
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to TSF !! Very interesting story ! So you live in the UK ? I am from across the pond in Eastern Canada 
Pleas share your nice stamps with us
