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Post by ckildegaard on May 3, 2020 4:58:14 GMT
Hello Everyone,
I recently received an order of mint-condition U.S. stamps, mostly from 1996 (my birth year) onward -- although I made some exceptions for ones that were really cool -- to start my collection. A photo of my first stock book page is below. I'm looking forward to doing one of these purchases every month or so, finances permitting.
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stanley64
Member 
Posts: 1,818
What I collect: Canada, USA, Netherlands, Portugal & Colonies, Antarctic Territories and anything that catches my eye...
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Post by stanley64 on May 3, 2020 7:24:54 GMT
Great beginnings ckildegaard! I think your idea or goal of a monthly purchase is a good one :-)
I also like the layout in the stock book; that is quite the selection you have there to begin with. Myself, I am especially found of the train images and the transportation coil pair well, they are at the top of the list!
Until that next purchase, enjoy the stamps you do have and take the opportunity to read or learn all that you can about them, e.g. printing methods, perforations and of the course, the imagery...
Happy collecting!
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cjoprey
Member
Scanning stamps for my website...
Posts: 1,443
What I collect: Belgium (predominantly), British Commonwealth (older ones), WW (whatever comes my way...)
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Post by cjoprey on May 3, 2020 8:44:30 GMT
Liking the old postcard at the top as well - is it used with a stamp on the back?
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,331 
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on May 3, 2020 10:38:43 GMT
It is a nice start! While we all share our collecting methods, each is a personal journey.
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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 May 3, 2020 12:52:51 GMT
That's a sweet start! Looking forward to see your collection grow month by month,
enjoy the journey.
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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 May 3, 2020 15:05:24 GMT
I have tried to buy each month as well. But have stopped since this virus has taken over & slowed everything to a crawl. Well, except for a dealer or two in Canada. The mail isn't too bad here.
I bought a watch from a company in the US, it took over a week to reach JFK in NYC, then stalled for 9 days. On sending them an email, they say it was stolen there. Try again, maybe it'll get here. At least it wasn't a bunch of stamps!
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Post by ckildegaard on May 3, 2020 15:36:50 GMT
Thanks for the encouragement, everyone.
One thing I noticed was the pockets felt very stiff and it was at times difficult to get stamps in using the tongs. Is there a trick to this?
I ask because I'm hoping to keep like things together as much as possible (e.g., eventually I may have a whole page of space stamps). However, with the difficulty I had putting them in to begin with, I'm afraid that by moving the stamps around I might damage them.
And yes, the postcard is used. I believe it was mailed in 1943. Incidentally, I thought it was blank until after I bought it, but it's still pretty cool.
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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 May 3, 2020 15:52:10 GMT
Yup, stiff holders in some stock books can be a pain. Some go in nicely, others I have to scrape it open with the tongs so the stamps can go in. After you have put in a stamp, just slide the next one behind the other stamp, then slide the stamp to where you want it. But then once a stamp or two is in place, it's usually (but not always!) easier to get the stamps in place.
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Ryan
Member
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 2,720
What I collect: If I have a catalogue for it, I collect it. And I have many catalogues ....
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Post by Ryan on May 4, 2020 2:35:40 GMT
One thing I noticed was the pockets felt very stiff and it was at times difficult to get stamps in using the tongs. Is there a trick to this? Tongs come in a few different styles and I choose bent spade tongs just for this reason - I have much more luck getting the stamps in and out of stock books when using them. I used to crimp the occasional stamp (or rip the occasional stock book strip) when using normal tongs but have had no problems with damaging anything since switching to bent spades.  Ryan |
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Post by ckildegaard on May 4, 2020 3:20:16 GMT
I may have to give those a try, Ryan. Thanks.
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Ryan
Member
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 2,720
What I collect: If I have a catalogue for it, I collect it. And I have many catalogues ....
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Post by Ryan on May 4, 2020 4:11:22 GMT
You'll also notice while working with your stockbooks that you can bend (or rather, flex) the cardboard page a slight amount with very little force required, so if I have a strip which is snug and it's difficult to insert the stamps, I just flex the page a little bit in order to gain some clearance under the strip. For example, if your thumb is close to the middle of the page, you can use your fingertips at the edge of the page to pull up a bit on the outside of the page, and that will give you some clearance under the strips as the page flexes.
Ryan
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