brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on May 29, 2021 12:28:00 GMT
Talking of old school... over on the Fiji: Stamps thread, JeffS liked the old school way of mounting stamps. I have just recently started an aircraft collection, and was wondering how to mount these. So many stamps, so many countries. I thought of border, title, alphabet letter on each page, but why bother. The entire album will be just aircraft, no need for a title, no need for black boxes around each stamp either. I have since decided to print out pages with just a border and grid.
I wish my writing (printing) was as nice as hdm1950 's father though! I'll just add pertinent notes to some of the stamps, or nothing all. Perhaps a label printed out, or one of those plastic letter guides to get perfect lettering, just as long as I can keep the lettering aligned!
How does everyone else mount their topical collections?
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stanley64
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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 31, 2021 9:01:26 GMT
Welcome to the wonderful world of Topical Collecting Pete ( brightonpete )! To help with the layout of the pages, you might want to start with considering organising the collection based on a outline such as what could be found in texts similar to this one - The Big Book of Airplanes
Happy collecting!
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Jerry B
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Post by Jerry B on May 31, 2021 9:54:06 GMT
Hi brightonpete
I knew someone who lettered his exhibits using a K&E Leroy Lettering Stencil. If you ever find one available you should buy it. It's ancient but useful (takes a little practice to use). However, for a more modern approach, craft stores should have some type of lettering stencil. Then again, if you are using the computer this suggestion is probably useless.
Jerry B
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on May 31, 2021 12:07:19 GMT
Hi brightonpete I knew someone who lettered his exhibits using a K&E Leroy Lettering Stencil. If you ever find one available you should buy it. It's ancient but useful (takes a little practice to use). However, for a more modern approach, craft stores should have some type of lettering stencil. Then again, if you are using the computer this suggestion is probably useless. Jerry B Not useless in what my mind is thinking. With so many stamps from practically every country, do I really want to lay it out on the computer? I want to mount the stamps in some format on the page, then letter in any pertinent info. I'll check Michael's to see what they have. |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on May 31, 2021 12:54:39 GMT
Of course Michael's has nothing, unless you want 1" high (or larger) letters. For some unknown reason, every time I search for stencil sets on Etsy, it takes me to the British site! I'm not paying £10 to mail some cheap plastic stencils over, or fancy metal ones. But then most are too large, as I want 5mm letters. Maybe I'll just print it in myself with my poor penmanship.
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vikingeck
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Posts: 3,266
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on May 31, 2021 13:01:31 GMT
One way of arranging a topical collection is to think of it as a story, rather than arranging hundreds of stamps by country perhaps treat it in chapters.
For example
History of flight
Balloons,
Early pioneers ,early aircraft ,early flights
Types of aircraft
Biplane, monoplane helicopter
Prop driven , multi engine, Jet
Private ,
Commercial airlines
Freight eg mail
Military Etc etc
The range of chapters is only limited by your imagination, it is your topical ..........this side of the pond we call it “Thematic collecting” and having the concept of a theme running through the collection is a useful way to organise it.
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Jerry B
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Post by Jerry B on May 31, 2021 14:19:10 GMT
Hi brightonpete Michaels used to have decent "small" stencils. I guess they have changed. Instead of craft stores try an art supply store. For the little lettering I do on a blank page I use Chartpak dry transfer letter sheets (Helvetica 10 point - still have some sheets). The other popular transfer letters are by LetraSet. I happen to like Chartpak's heavy plastic sheet. There is a lot of transfer lettering on the web but finding 10 point seems to be difficult. There seems to be a bunch on Etsy.
I have been using Chartpak since the 1960's when I was in electronics (schematics). At first it seems hard to use, but after a few tries you can write quite a bit in a short time. Also if you have done any drafting it helps. If you do go the Chartpak route, or any other dry transfer, I suggest going to a cosmetic store and buy an "orange stick". It is the perfect t tool for "rubbing" the transfer letters. BTW: I didn't mean the thread was useless I meant using lettering templates. Jerry B |
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stanley64
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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 31, 2021 14:33:00 GMT
Indeed Alex ( vikingeck ), topical or thematic collections can tell a story and their structure is often not unlike that of an textbook outline; good analogy. At the same time though and notwithstanding the subtle intricacies of the English language as spoken in Scotland, I would suggest that the two terms 'topical' vs. 'thematic' are unique and distinct.
It my understanding that a topical collection is focused solely on the topic - e.g. airplanes, penguins, or even tobacco. Whereas a thematic collection will have material depicting both the topic and/or knowledge about the topic and its various aspects. In the case of penguins, a topical collection consists of postage stamps with the image of a penguin and there are many. The collection could be expanded to a thematic one by including items that show knowledge of the topic, e.g. include stamps that feature their habitat, food sources, predators, etc.
So from where I sit, it is not an either or, but instead separate with the thematic collection being much broader. Whatever the plan or type of collection pursued, enjoy...
Happy collecting! |
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JeffS
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What I collect: Oranges Philately, US Slogan Cancels, Cape of Good Hope Triangulars, and Texas poster stamps and cinderellas
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Post by JeffS on May 31, 2021 15:49:05 GMT
Back in the 1970s, Leroy was king. I had a set of 5 templates, and several different pens, and case. When we moved in 1996 the whole mess went into the dumpster. This was also the time of the Elbe line of post albums with their hinged quadrille pages. Their "Roosevelt" album and pages was $50 or so at the time. I think I had 5 of them. However the Leroy was tedious and unforgiving. I ended up doing my Canadian Small Queen collection in pencil  |
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JeffS
Member
Posts: 2,604
What I collect: Oranges Philately, US Slogan Cancels, Cape of Good Hope Triangulars, and Texas poster stamps and cinderellas
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Post by JeffS on May 31, 2021 15:50:11 GMT
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Jerry B
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Post by Jerry B on May 31, 2021 16:06:20 GMT
Hi JeffS
Today that Leroy set would cost a small bundle. The only people who really know how to use is probably us old geezers.
Jerry B
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JeffS
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Posts: 2,604
What I collect: Oranges Philately, US Slogan Cancels, Cape of Good Hope Triangulars, and Texas poster stamps and cinderellas
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Post by JeffS on May 31, 2021 16:15:22 GMT
Jerry B - yep, geezers with tweezers
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pattib
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What I collect: Anything France but especially semi-postal. Worldwide to 1920.
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Post by pattib on May 31, 2021 16:21:47 GMT
Have you tried doing a Google search for bullet journal stencils? They come in plastic an metal small size font. Good luck!
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vikingeck
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Posts: 3,266
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on May 31, 2021 18:17:26 GMT
I would suggest that the two terms 'topical' vs. 'thematic' are unique and distinct.
Your distinction is perfectly apt and correct Vince, when used in the way you describe! I take the point indeed. However from a purely UK perspective I have seldom found the term "Topical" used here . It is perceived I believe as an "Americanism" and the even a bog standard collection of Animals on stamps, or Birds on stamps, is talked of as "thematic" rather than " Topical". The monthly UK Journal "Stamp Collector" has a regular column A-Z Thematics suggesting possible avenues to explore . I have just checked back the last 4 months and the words topic or topical do not appear . I guess that the same articles written for a US Journal would probably have quite a different usage. Interesting No ? Can I ask you and JeffS how you describe your Penguins and Citrus collections , are they Topical or thematic ? and how would most of your compatriots describe your collection when viewing it ? Topical or Thematic ? |
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Beryllium Guy
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What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on May 31, 2021 21:17:36 GMT
This has turned out to be quite an interesting thread, Peter ( brightonpete), thanks for starting it.... and thanks to the others such as Alex ( vikingeck), Vince ( stanley64), and JeffS who have made some interesting contributions. I must confess that as an American living in the UK, I thought that the term "thematic" was simply the British term for what we in the US would have called "topical".... end of story. Then enter Vince, with a rather persuasive argument that the two terms can have different meanings, with a clear example to illustrate the description. Very well elaborated, Vince, I really appreciate your explanation. Personally, I like what Vince has put forward, because I have a special affinity for terms that are precise and have more specific meanings. I think that those kinds of words enrich all fields, not just philately. But of course, it has particular meaning to me in this case, because it does deal with philately. I do love this hobby! Peter ( brightonpete), coming back to your original question (can you guess what I will say next? I think you probably can, if you consider recent posts from my collection).... For your topical or thematic collection, why not just use black stock pages like I do? If you want to insert some text, you can just do that by printing out on standard paper and then cutting out pieces to add in wherever you want. If you liked how my Germany collection looked, why not consider it for your topicals? Another advantage to the stock sheets is that you can play around with the arrangement, and switch it around easily if you do it one way and then change your mind. It's just a thought, but I imagine that a topical collection offers more flexibility in arrangement than a country collection in the first place, so using a kind of free-form medium would make some sense. I think if you go with pages, you will end up spending most of your time designing and making the custom pages. And then if for any reason you are not satisfied, or you want to insert material into a particular place in the collection, you will need to re-do the layout and make new pages, as opposed to simply re-arranging them in stock sheets. |
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on May 31, 2021 21:30:43 GMT
Beryllium Guy : I was thinking of printing a page with a border and a grid. But that black page would be good too. Printing out labels and sticking them to the page would be fine. I'd do the vario pages, but there are too many sizes of the stamps, not to mention souvenir sheets too.
Sorting them a la vikingeck 's idea looks interesting as well. Not having to print anything from the computer would be appealing too, as it takes me so long to get things sorted chronologically, print the pages, then print again, hopefully without errors!
There are a plethora of ways to mount. I just have to pick one way and go with it. Another trip to the office supply store is in order!
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tomiseksj
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Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,265
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 May 31, 2021 22:08:33 GMT
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on May 31, 2021 22:56:41 GMT
I can see this blowing up beyond my means now!
I'll have to re-think how this is going to be done!
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stanley64
Member
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What I collect: Canada, USA, Netherlands, Portugal & Colonies, Antarctic Territories and anything that catches my eye...
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Post by stanley64 on Jun 1, 2021 9:00:47 GMT
Mounting a topical or thematic collection is a question that comes up frequently and is often a subject found in the Penguin on Stamp Study Unit (POSSU) newsletter. With no commercially available album pages, at least to my knowledge, the collector must fend for themselves.
In addition to Chris's( Beryllium Guy) suggestion of Vario pages, the basic quadrille paper and a hand-written, typed or even stenciled header at the top is simple enough and should be more than sufficient. In my fledgling thematic-exhibition pages, Penguins & Their Environs: A Philatelic Rookery I have done just that on some of them; Heading - Penguins, Sub-heading - Specific Penguin Species.
Perhaps your layout, whatever the page or paper choice is, could be done similarly: Heading - Airplanes, Sub-heading - Specific Types e.g. jets, bi-planes. At the same time, pages without frames will allow for more stamps, souvenir sheets, etc.
In the case of topicals, the stamps and their imagery can can 'speak' for themselves...
Happy collecting!
P.S. In game-show vernacular, Jim Bowen of Bullseye fame always asked the knower to "choose a topic" for the thrower, not "choose a theme" ;-)
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JeffS
Member
Posts: 2,604
What I collect: Oranges Philately, US Slogan Cancels, Cape of Good Hope Triangulars, and Texas poster stamps and cinderellas
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Post by JeffS on Jun 1, 2021 17:34:53 GMT
In response to the question from vikingeck, I describe my collection as a modified thematic display class (in exhibit terms). I say that because at times I get carried away on postal history or collateral material beyond what a display class EXHIBIT would tolerate. Keep in mind, my Oranges are simply a collection and not an exhibit. My exhibiting days are over, along with my judging. However I do refer to online presentations of better thematic exhibits and see what works to my eye and what doesn't. All my pages reflect my thinking and whims at the time of creating. No rules, just enjoyment. My suggestion to anyone desiring to go beyond black box collecting, don't worry about "how to do it. Instead, give consideration to "what you want to do." Then start, and be flexible to change as you grow. Regarding "topical" vs. "thematic," and lets take a subject such as "cats". I think a "topical" collector would strive to acquire a comprehensive collection of "cats" on stamp with little consideration given to stamp production, and cat evolution. On the other hand, a "thematic" collector dealing with the subject of "cats" might be interested in the breeds, evolution of the species, domestication, cats' place in religion, postal use of the cat stamp, EfOs, etc., etc.. With a "thematic" exhibit, heavy emphasis is placed on the story line which weaves the stamp subjects together. That's not to say that a topical collector wouldn't or couldn't have an interest in subjects beyond mint (or used) stamps. I am speaking here in generalities which are always subject to interpretation. One might take a look at my friend Phil Stager's exhibit of Coconut Palms: aape.org/exhibit_view_frame.asp?intExhibitNumber=61&intCurrentFrameNumber=1or peruse the AAPE online showings of all types of exhibits: aape.org/exhibits.aspI have never seen a "topical" exhibit as mentioned by Steve. This must have appeared after I retired from judging. JeffS |
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angore
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What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Jun 2, 2021 10:24:28 GMT
I have been interested in certain topics but how to organize has been a challenge especially when I have a general collection with the same issues. I sure would like to see topical collections. The term exhibit can add many constraints.
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brightonpete
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Post by brightonpete on Jun 2, 2021 11:44:53 GMT
I have been interested in certain topics but how to organize has been a challenge especially when I have a general collection with the same issues. I sure would like to see topical collections. The term exhibit can add many constraints. |
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polarbear
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Posts: 585 
What I collect: Canada Used to 2015, revenues, perfins. Newfoundland, St. Pierre & Miquelon, Worldwide textiles/handwork and Christmas.
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Post by polarbear on Jun 2, 2021 15:16:48 GMT
Hi JeffS Today that Leroy set would cost a small bundle. The only people who really know how to use is probably us old geezers. Jerry B 😂. I never considered myself an old geezer before, but there’s always a first time! I used the Leroy templates and pens when I first started as a draughtsperson in the early 1980s. Computers were just taking over then. Thank-you for this timely discussion. I have two topical collections to deal with. But my textile one is the one of most interest and concern to me. |
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angore
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What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Jun 2, 2021 19:16:40 GMT
I was a young engineer with a draft board all done with pencil but we had a separate team that converted the drawings to vellum with ink using Leroy lettering.
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Jerry B
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Post by Jerry B on Jun 2, 2021 19:51:44 GMT
Hi
I did not mean to insult anyone by the term "old geezer".
I also used the Leroy set of templates in the 1960's, but not a whole lot. We did some schematic drafting, but the draftsmen had to re-do the drawings because NASA was picky about drawing formats. In engineering school we had to hand letter everything, sometimes in ink.
Jerry B
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polarbear
Member
Posts: 585
What I collect: Canada Used to 2015, revenues, perfins. Newfoundland, St. Pierre & Miquelon, Worldwide textiles/handwork and Christmas.
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Post by polarbear on Jun 3, 2021 0:57:42 GMT
Jerry B No insult taken!  I was just surprised and laughed because, well, I am over 60 and I guess I’m well on my way to being an “old geezer“ now! angore , I was one of the people who turned engineer’s notes into plans on vellum for constructing highways. 🙂 To stick with the topic though, I did use Leroy pens and templates to create pages for my first inscription blocks. It gave a nice crisp look. But even as experienced as I was, it was slow going.
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hdm1950
Member
Posts: 1,604
What I collect: I collect world wide up to 1965 with several specialty albums added due to volume of material I have acquired. At this point I am focused on Canada and British America. I am always on the lookout for stamps and covers with postmarks from communities in Queens County, Nova Scotia. I do list various goods including stamps occasionally on eBay as hdm50
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Post by hdm1950 on Jun 3, 2021 1:35:27 GMT
Jerry B - yep, geezers with tweezers Tweezer geezers has a nice ring to it and maybe could replace old male philatelist. |
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angore
Member
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What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Jun 3, 2021 10:00:48 GMT
There is a dealer that makes the APS show circuit with the Geezer with Tweezers name.
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stanley64
Member
Posts: 1,825
What I collect: Canada, USA, Netherlands, Portugal & Colonies, Antarctic Territories and anything that catches my eye...
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Post by stanley64 on Jun 7, 2021 7:44:47 GMT
I have been interested in certain topics but how to organize has been a challenge especially when I have a general collection with the same issues. I sure would like to see topical collections. The term exhibit can add many constraints.
I am going to turn this upside down and suggest that we all exhibit our collections. The display or 'exhibit' may be for one or may be for many, but the thought process behind creating a pleasant arrangement that one can be personally proud of and want to revisit, is the same. Having said that, it is a matter of personal appeal and the story you want to tell yourself or others.
With so many options, I suggest one just tries 'stuff' until you find the solution that works for you. There are plenty of examples both here on TSF and elsewhere to get the creative juices flowing. Myself, I start by arranging the stamps in the stock book to get an idea of layout. After settling on the layout, next comes the addition of the text and I include as much as I need to remind myself of the story. With stamps, layout, text and a final page display in mind, the final stage is the jiggling / proofing. Pareto's law would suggest that the last stage, although only 20% of the final work required, will consume 80% of the effort ;-)
And the end of the day and with effort exerted, you have created something pleasing for your own eyes that as you page through the album with a glass of your favourite beverage, can be enjoyed for sometime to come...
Happy collecting!
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I was just surprised and laughed because, well, I am over 60 and I guess I’m well on my way to being an “old geezer“ now! 