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 Nov 16, 2019 18:00:11 GMT
Just for fun, something I wrote in my blog ...
I think there are several types of collectors:
- the organizer (that is definitely OCD me!)
- the wheeler dealer investor - it’s all about the value
- the academic historian - the grognard of collectors, research is their mantra - they know it all! Just ask them! Better yet, read their thesis on the die varieties of 1899 Upper Lower Slobovia! (just teasing! respect y'all oodles!)
- the magpies - it’s pretty and I like it!,
- The competitors - check out that Large Gold winning exhibit!
- the topicalist who like themes - the picture subject is the point,
- the completionist - gotta get one of every variety! An empty space is anathema!,
- the hoarder - gotta save every stamp ever made!
- the treasure hunter - the next big “find” is just around the corner! (I think we all have a touch of that)
- the evangelist - spreading the word about the hobby through organizations, books, articles, forums
Any others you can think of? Which one are you?
a few suggestions from others:
The nit picker flyspecker
The swapper / trader
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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 Nov 16, 2019 18:09:24 GMT
Theresa !! philatelia Where did you take all these categories ? I do not think I fit exactly in one....an organizer most of the time, a researcher some other time (of history related to stamps, geography etc), a facilitator/cheerleader as I like to encourage my stamp friends and love to participate in giveaways, those I cherish. Stamping is a form of social life which brings me pleasure. I will stop at this  René |
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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 Nov 16, 2019 18:22:42 GMT
I just made this up - nothing researched or anything - just musings and ponderings on what makes a stamp collector!
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,698
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Nov 16, 2019 20:49:56 GMT
I am more the organizer type but do dabble in some varieties.
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Post by stamphinger on Nov 16, 2019 20:52:08 GMT
Put me down as a Magpie, especially for covers and cinderellas!
Don StampHinger
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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 Nov 16, 2019 21:46:06 GMT
I guess if I had to pick one, it would be "the completionist". But to a point. No old expensive catalog values or no expensive face values. So not much before 1900 or so or not much after after 1999-2000!
But there's a lot of holes here & there with that! Eventually...
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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 Nov 16, 2019 22:12:31 GMT
I am a combination of the hoarder and the completionist. It will be my downfall.
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,551
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Nov 16, 2019 22:37:28 GMT
I dabble in trading, I exhibit, I promote collecting, i magpie but do not hoard, I have no desire to complete but extend my themes.
I do not fit one category.
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Post by Statesman Stamper on Nov 16, 2019 23:19:22 GMT
A hoarder, with a growing organizer streak.
Dale
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madbaker
Member
Posts: 802
What I collect: (Mark) General worldwide collector (to 1975 or so) with a soft spot for Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia.
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Post by madbaker on Nov 17, 2019 1:06:37 GMT
I don’t know what I am anymore.  I’m a frustrated organizer; must’ve spent 20 years figuring out how to organize things and I’m still not there. I’d call myself a picker and sorter; there’s nothing better than going through an envelope or box of ‘miscellaneous’ and seeing what’s in there. This summer a friend gave me a massive envelope of Germany on pages. I sorted it all and filled up one of his stock books with this duplicated ‘collection’. Best fun ever, because I didn’t have to decide what to do with duplicates, missing spaces, etc. Just gave it all back in better shape than I received it. For me the fun is getting the box and sorting through it. I don’t think I have to keep it after that. Binders full of sorted / mounted stamps on my shelf don’t thrill me much anymore. |
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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 Nov 17, 2019 1:11:23 GMT
organizer, academic, completionist
yeah, that pretty much nails it
it is all about the quest of the Holy Grail, in search of the lost chord, the answer to the meaning of life.... and what's on the menu at the restaurant at the end of the universe
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gmot
Member
Posts: 205
What I collect: Canada & French Morocco
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Post by gmot on Nov 17, 2019 2:55:11 GMT
I would say organizer, perfectionist, admirer of good design (like those awesome Canadian stamps from the 1920s-1930s) and sort of completionist. Really more of a generalist, as opposed to a specialist.
Would like to have one of every stamp up to a certain year, not very interested in all the varieties. So perhaps a generalist completionist!
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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 Nov 17, 2019 3:33:15 GMT
I am a combination of the hoarder and the completionist. It will be my downfall. Pretty much says it all for me.I've even taken the baby steps to include revenues to the completion state of my BNA.Now if I see a cinderilla that fits into it all I become part magpie as well. |
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hrdoktorx
Member
Posts: 7,213
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 Nov 17, 2019 7:21:28 GMT
Well, for the countries I collect, I'm definitely a completionist. But I'm also a topicalist collector, and a treasure hunter when the opportunity arises. The pleasure's in the chase! And I prefer to keep my collection in stockbooks so i can always re-organize the stamps within countries and move them around when the fancy strikes, so definitely an organizer streak in there.
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stanley64
Member
Posts: 1,979
What I collect: Canada, USA, Netherlands, Portugal & Colonies, Antarctic Territories and anything that catches my eye...
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Post by stanley64 on Nov 17, 2019 9:30:10 GMT
For myself, I am a bit of all of them except maybe the wheeler dealer investor, never thought of my collection as an investment (there are better ones for monetary return). The thrill of the treasure hunt, completing a set, organizing the hoard onto a page and creating a worthwhile presentation for at least one is what the hobby is all about for me.
Looking at my collection of Canada's Imperial Penny Postage, aka the map stamp, and the effort I put into plating this issue, collecting the cancels and doing the research, I would add one my category to your list - "the specialist" - one issue is enough.
Thanks for sharing...
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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 Nov 17, 2019 11:02:49 GMT
Thanks, stanley64, Just some silly fun I dreamed up while sorting and sorting and sorting USA stamps. Ahhhh the mind wanders! Haha |
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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 Nov 17, 2019 13:33:43 GMT
I would be the "EXTREME Wheeler Dealer Treasure Competitor Completionist Hoarder".
Explanation: When I do things, it is to an extreme, as some of you may have noticed. I have bought and sold stuff since I was 8 years old, always making money on some collectibles, just so I can buy more of what I want. Who isn't looking to get lucky, and find that $500 stamp in a $10 lot?? I am competitive in everything I do, so stamps are no different. I have become a completionist of late, It isn't that I want to complete everything, but it makes it more fun to try at least. I have to admit I am a hoarder, but I am trying to break that cycle right now. I guarantee that I could almost fill about 10 German stamp albums up to 1945 right now, but I just haven't had time to sell off the extras yet. I could probably fill several books up to 1990 also. I buy a collection to get what I want out of it, and usually can sell off the remainders, and get my money back for the entire thing, this way I don't spend too much money on my stamps. Unfortunately, this year, I have way too much money tied up, since I don't have time to sell them. Am I an EXTREME HOARDER?: Considering that I started collecting Germany about a year or so ago, I now have 3 full Germany albums up to 1945, and a few partial albums, a few of the German States albums, about 15 different albums from 1945-1990, probably 6-8 boxes of glassines, and at least 40 stockbooks full of German stamps. Is this too extreme?? Maybe?? Thanks for therapy this morning philatelia, just send me the bill! |
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,698
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Nov 24, 2019 13:46:46 GMT
I realized I do have hoarder tendencies. I will save glassines if still usable, some stiffeners inside received mailings, cut down manila or plastic stock pages, and even old album pages. I recently realized (doh!) I could cut of old album pages (cream ones) to make nicer stamp tags. I can cut them down to run through a printer. I also save spoiled album pages to run through printer as proof pages.
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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 Nov 24, 2019 18:07:06 GMT
Considering that I started collecting Germany about a year or so ago, I now have 3 full Germany albums up to 1945, and a few partial albums, a few of the German States albums, about 15 different albums from 1945-1990, probably 6-8 boxes of glassines, and at least 40 stockbooks full of German stamps. Is this too extreme?? Maybe??
At least you know you have a member friend here who would grab a few of those early German "dups" (up to 1945) and I know what inventory I presently have René |
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daveg28
Member
Posts: 1,062
What I collect: U.S., Canada, Great Britain & Commonwealth, France (esp. 1950-80), DDR, USSR
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Post by daveg28 on Nov 26, 2019 3:40:03 GMT
I think I'm a hoarder and a topicalist, with a bit of completionist and organizer in there for good measure.
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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 Nov 26, 2019 8:45:13 GMT
I think I'm a magpie, hoarder and organizer - not a good combination... |
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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 Nov 26, 2019 10:15:27 GMT
Considering that I started collecting Germany about a year or so ago, I now have 3 full Germany albums up to 1945, and a few partial albums, a few of the German States albums, about 15 different albums from 1945-1990, probably 6-8 boxes of glassines, and at least 40 stockbooks full of German stamps. Is this too extreme?? Maybe??
At least you know you have a member friend here who would grab a few of those early German "dups" (up to 1945) and I know what inventory I presently have René I know several people need my dupes, but I got busy at work, I have to deliver my jet by mid December and we are not going to make it. I ahve been working weekends for the first time this year. I have 2 weeks off for Christmas, so I figure I will catch up then. |
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,698
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Nov 26, 2019 11:35:57 GMT
The term magpie is new to me. I know it is a bird but never heard it used as a collecting habits -liking pretty things. It can also be someone who chatters incessantly.
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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 Nov 26, 2019 14:41:18 GMT
The term magpie in regards to stamp collecting was, I believe, created by Alan Hauck. (Or was it David Groves?) They were columnists from the old Global Stamp News back in the 1990s. One of them authored a column called “The Magpie Collector.” He described the term as gathering items he liked just because they were “shiny”, they simply appealed to him in some way.
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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 Nov 26, 2019 17:41:24 GMT
Interesting self-psychology...hmmm, do I really want to face the answer ? I will fit into general categories as organizer (check!) and treasure hunter (check!). But its a bit more complex...probably easier to exclude what I am not: - not wheeler dealer (do not buy or sell for profit, just for making free room for more stuff...) - not magpie (Don't need to be pretty - I fancy old messed up stamps as long as it something I don't yet have or it simply has good postal history. Do not like the pretty-looking CTO stamps) - not completionist (don't mind to include spaces on my pages for varieties I know I will most likely never find anyway ) - not competitor (I don't do exhibits. Only visited a minor show once - with my 4 kids all young at the time, so didn't really see much anyway!) - not hoarder (Normally don't hang on to dups) - Then there's the "academic historian". I'm not in that category either, but I am very fascinated by how political history and postal history goes hand in hand. Common stamps (worthless stamps) with usage/postmarks that is an evidence of such postal history is probably what I have become most interested in the last few years. Can a new category be introduced for such obsessions - 'Postal historian'? Check! - Many collectors are also deeply into different varieties, perforations, watermarks, printings, overprint-varieties etc etc - I'm partially in that category to... 'Variety-nerd'? Check! - Another category for 'Postmark-addict' - I will fit there to, check! Would it be another category for just being plain mad ? Check!  |
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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 Nov 26, 2019 17:51:18 GMT
I am definitely the Organized Hoarder. Got to have it but need to keep it organized. |
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kasvik
Member
Posts: 607
What I collect: Cancels mostly, especially Sweden Gävle and Lidingö, Switzerland Geneva, Germany Pforzheim
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Post by kasvik on Nov 26, 2019 19:18:19 GMT
There can be no doubt.  |
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Post by dgdecker on Nov 27, 2019 3:53:09 GMT
I am glad to see I am not the only magpie, hoarder and organizer in the group.
david
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,698
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Nov 27, 2019 11:03:00 GMT
I have been know to change "types" after a glass of wine.
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