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Post by RickBarrett on Nov 14, 2022 19:55:29 GMT
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JeffS
Member
Posts: 2,104
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 Nov 14, 2022 20:23:00 GMT
RickBarrett As Archie and Edith would sing, "...those were the days."
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zipper
Member
Posts: 2,525
What I collect: Classic GB, QV, France Ceres/Napoleon, Classic U.S., Cinderella & Poster Stamps
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Post by zipper on Nov 14, 2022 20:57:51 GMT
RickBarrett Thanks for taking us to Gimbel's. It reminds me of Marshall Field's stamp department in Chicago when I was a kid. Field's is now Macy's, no stamps.
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greaden
Member
Posts: 289
Member is Online
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Post by greaden on Nov 15, 2022 1:17:22 GMT
I got my set of Afars and Issas birds there.
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Jerry B
Member
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,448
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Post by Jerry B on Nov 15, 2022 7:50:35 GMT
Hi Rick
As the song says: Thanks for the memories. My aunt started me collecting and took me to the Minkus counter at Gimbels. Later I found Nassau Street.
Again, thanks.
Jerry B
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Post by stamphinger on Nov 15, 2022 18:09:07 GMT
Great photos, RickBarrett!
Gimbles apparently also sold by mail as evidenced by this pre-WW II cover with a Jacques Minkus cachet posted at the Marine Detachment in St. Lucia, Windward Islands. Don StampHinger

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eggdog
Member
Did I tell you about our new dog?
Posts: 421
What I collect: Mostly eastern and southeastern Europe, some Central America, postally used Africa - and Norway because everybody should collect someplace that doesn't have civil wars.
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Post by eggdog on Nov 15, 2022 18:19:22 GMT
I remember a stamp counter at Woolworth's in Springfield, Massachusetts. I don't have a picture, which is a shame, because it probably would have fit nicely onto a Brownie photograph. Mostly I remember displays of 25¢ or 50-75¢ sets, probably incomplete ones. It was interesting enough, but it didn't exactly thrill me even at that impressionable age. I got most of my stamps from the "100 stamps for 50¢ plus approvals" ads in Linn's or, occasionally, the New York Times. Woolworth's might have had some more interesting items that weren't out were small fry like me could see them and which you had to know about and ask for.
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Beryllium Guy
Moderator
Posts: 5,164
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps 1840-1930
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Post by Beryllium Guy on Nov 15, 2022 19:04:34 GMT
Thanks for starting this thread, Rick ( RickBarrett). It does indeed bring back old memories for me, too. I never went to the NYC department stores back when they still carried stamps and coins, but I did visit Higbee's in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, and they had a stamp department into the 1980s, I think. For me, it was great, because while my Mom was shopping for shoes or a dress, I could hang out at the stamp counter looking at what they had on offer. Thanks again for helping me to recall a fond memory!
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Cephus
Member
Posts: 113
What I collect: U.S. 1847-1993, Australia, China, New Zealand
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Post by Cephus on Nov 15, 2022 20:50:11 GMT
I remember those counters. Some of my earliest mint sets were bought at similar places. I'd say it's too bad that those don't exist anymore, but for the most part, there aren't a lot of department stores anymore, are there?
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renden
Member
Posts: 7,833
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Nov 15, 2022 22:43:05 GMT
Here (Canada), Canada Post has always kept the privilege (I think) - never seen this (typical of our neighbours to the South !!  ) $$$
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Jerry B
Member
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,448
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Post by Jerry B on Nov 16, 2022 9:28:33 GMT
Hi eggdog
I also remember Woolworth stamp counters in Maine. It did not last very long. Who rememberts stamp ads on the back of comic books.
Jerry B
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angore
Member
Posts: 4,503
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Nov 16, 2022 11:25:13 GMT
I never recall visiting a department store that had a stamp department but then I spent many years on military bases. The PX never stocked stamps or other collectibles.
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stanley64
Member
Posts: 1,587
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 16, 2022 11:42:20 GMT
Alas renden , you are mistaken ;-) From the blogger website, Department Store Museum, the Hudson's Bay store of Winnipeg maintained a coin and stamps shop on the 5th floor, 
It is unlikely that the Winnipeg or Montreal Hudson's Bay Co. stores themselves bought and sold coins or stamps, but instead leased the space to a local dealer with the 5th floor appearing to be the location of choice.
Perhaps other Hudson's Bay Co. stores in different Canadian cities have, or had, similar arrangements...
Have fun and happy collecting!
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renden
Member
Posts: 7,833
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Nov 16, 2022 13:26:11 GMT
stanley64My mistake - Canada is a BIG Country and I have never been in Winnipeg or done any visit to huge Dept. Stores  !! Happy stamping ! René
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hdm1950
Member
Posts: 1,121
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 Nov 16, 2022 13:52:20 GMT
I mentioned in an earlier post about the Lawrence Block book series about the hit man Keller and his stamp collection. I am reading the fourth in the series ‘Hit and Run’ and there is a chapter I read this morning where he talks about how he got into stamp collecting. Being from New York he mentions early visits to Gimbel’s to buy packets from their stamp department.
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Post by uppercanadian on Nov 16, 2022 15:05:10 GMT
In the 1970's, there was a stamp counter in The Bay at Cloverdale Mall in Etobicoke (now part of Toronto). There was also one in the Simpson's Department Store at Sherway Gardens (also in Etobicoke). Those are the two places I first bought stamps - well, my mom and dad bought them for me. This would have been in the early 70's. I recall convincing my mother to buy me a small collection of British Occupation stamps from the Ottoman Vilayets of Basra and Baghdad (Scott Catalogue lists under "Mesopotamia".
I believe that these were not dealers leasing space but were employees of the department store. They did not know a whole lot, and I know that one of them worked in a different department before moving to Stamps and Coins.
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stanley64
Member
Posts: 1,587
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 16, 2022 16:06:18 GMT
One step up from the shoe department; thanks for sharing Brad( uppercanadian ). I also recall reading a similar anecdote from a fellow member of the British North American Philatelic Society who too had been taken by the offerings of the 'Coins and Stamp' department of the store. Appreciate the memory lane jog, Rene( renden )... Have fun and happy collecting!
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anglobob
Member
Posts: 2,160
What I collect: France and French Colonies,French cinderellas British Commonwealth QE2
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Post by anglobob on Nov 16, 2022 17:12:20 GMT
eggdogGrowing up in England,I also purchased cheap packets of stamps from Woolworths. I can also remember seeing a stamp and coin counter in the Neiman Marcus store in downtown Dallas which I visited on my first trip to USA,back in 1975. Anglob
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