tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Dec 19, 2023 0:49:43 GMT
From our friends at the American Philatelic Center:
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Dec 17, 2023 0:10:43 GMT
My process is rather simiple. I scan all of my stamps at 600dpi. Next, using the free IrfanView software, I straighten the image if needed, closely crop the image, resize it to 1080p width, and save it at a file size of 99kb. If scanning a block or page, I follow the same process but save at a file size of up to 1MB to avoid pixelation when the image is enlarged. Below is a single stamp processed as I described above.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Dec 13, 2023 18:45:52 GMT
December 13Postmarked on this date in 2017 by our friends at the American Philatelic Center's Contract Postal Unit in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. The two 10 cent stamps from the Mineral Heritage issue (Jun13, 1974) are Scott 1540 (Amethyst) and 1541 (Rhodochrosite). The 29 cent Kit Carson stamp is from the Legends of the West issue (Scott 2869n; Oct 18, 1994).
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Dec 12, 2023 23:32:44 GMT
Yet another let down. I thought I had acquired a coil strip that I needed for my Test (dummy) stamp collection but, sadly, it was not to be.
Does anyone else get depressed when they discover that the stamp(s) that they thought they had purchased turn out to have been misidentified?
I just notified the seller of his/her error, including the criteria that differentiated the stamps, and advised that I wanted to return the lot.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Dec 12, 2023 22:09:52 GMT
Save the Date: 2024 Great American Stamp Show12/11/2023 There are just eight months until the 2024 Great American Stamp Show in Hartford, Connecticut. RegistrationAdmission to GASS 2024 is FREE, but registration is required. Pre-registration for the show is now open; get ahead of the crowd and get registered today! Show Location & Host HotelGASS 2024 will take place at the Connecticut Convention Center, Hall AB (100 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT 06103). Overlooking the Connecticut River, the Center is situated in the heart of downtown Hartford’s Front Street District – a rapidly expanding entertainment hub teeming with new restaurants, bistros, and entertainment venues (check out this link for more things to do in Hartford). The Center is located just 15 miles from Bradley International Airport and is connected to the host hotel, the Hartford Marriott Downtown (200 Columbus Blvd., Hartford, CT 06103). You can find information about room rates, how to reserve your room, and how to get to and from the hotel here. Be sure to book soon — rooms will go fast! More information and a listing of important dates may be found here.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Dec 11, 2023 22:04:10 GMT
Added 2 missing cachets to my 1935 China Clipper First Day Cover collection and 3 needed U.S. stamps from iHobb's RedBox offerings. Have far too much to do collection-wise yet far too little time in which to do it.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Dec 5, 2023 14:08:50 GMT
TONIGHT! Launching StampEd Join APS tonight, December 5 at 7 p.m. Eastern for the last Stamp Chat of 2023! Join Editor-in-Chief Susanna Mills for a Stamp Chat all about the APS's newest publication, StampEd! Susanna will be talking all things StampEd, from how the idea for the magazine came about, to outreach and marketing, to what you can expect from the first issue.
To submit a question click here.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Dec 1, 2023 23:31:34 GMT
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Dec 1, 2023 23:26:24 GMT
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Nov 27, 2023 1:18:49 GMT
I have a question I can not figure out the buttom line where it is a Number is there an explanation? If similar to U.S. RPO's, it could be the train number.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Nov 24, 2023 16:27:47 GMT
November 24This 2 cent yellow brown, perf. 13½x14, Trinidad & Tobago common design type stamp from the Coronation Issue (Scott 48; May 12, 1937) was postmarked on this date in 1937 in what appears to be San Fernando, Trinidad.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Nov 24, 2023 16:09:38 GMT
Another set of the 2023 Christmas seals has arrived, this a pane of 56 stamps of 8 designs in 7 rows and 8 columns. The American Lung Association is clearly identified on these seals. Shown are the front and back of the pane. Also received in a separate appeal was another of the 2023 small pane of 18 seals (3 x 6) previously shown in this thread. Below is the back of that pane.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Nov 23, 2023 2:06:28 GMT
I ran the Windows 10 update as well and had no problem with the Forum.
I see you are using the "add image to post" option -- can you access imgbb.com directly from your browser?
Are all images replaced by the small boxes or only some images? If the latter they are likely those hosted on imgbb.com. When I encounter that situation a browser refresh will generally restore the images.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Nov 23, 2023 1:44:43 GMT
Nick ( nick2302 ), I believe that StampLift is intended to remove stamps with water activated gum from backing paper, not the self-adhesives. Here is a description of the product (the highlighting is mine). Pure Citrus can be found in many of the U.S. big box retailers (e.g., Walmart, Target, Home Depot, etc.). You can also find it on Amazon.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Nov 22, 2023 21:58:44 GMT
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Nov 22, 2023 14:58:49 GMT
To each his or her own -- the beauty of stamp collecting.
I don't care for the look of various colors of closely cropped envelope paper framing the stamps and regularly use Pure Citrus to both remove self-adhesives from paper and the adhesive from the stamps that I desire to keep.
I have not found a need to apply talc or corn starch as I'm able to remove all of the adhesive.
I figure if I can eat an orange, its fragrance can't be too bad for me.
As to any long term effects, only time will tell (we also don't know the long term effects of the adhesive and/or envelope paper on which the stamp has been affixed).
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Nov 22, 2023 14:47:08 GMT
And welcome to the Forum from a former Ciceronian.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Nov 22, 2023 14:36:16 GMT
l8u7se , If you aren't able to find an answer after searching the Forum, post your question(s) in the Have a Question category. Including images of the item(s) in question is the preferred method of eliciting a useful response.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Oct 28, 2023 13:32:01 GMT
crescenthillstamps , Whenever I think I've struck gold, I turn to the Philatelic Foundation's database to take the wind out of my sail. Below is your stamp (upper left) and both a single and pair that have been certified as genuine (certificates 579653 (single) and 586688 (pair)). Note the difference in color and the toga button/braid. Your Shermack Type III perforations seem off to me and may not be genuine -- you can check them with a Precision U.S. Specialty Multi-Gauge by Sonic Imagery Labs. The multi-gauge is also useful for checking grills, perfs, etc.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Oct 27, 2023 12:54:39 GMT
This meter frank (QB8-B) is from the Pitney Bowes "Connect +" series (digital) that was introduced in 2021. The imprint is similar to type QB5 but with the bottom feather of the eagle consisting of a single segment and the chevrons between "Postage" and "Pitney Bowes" having been replaced by 3 small letters "IMI." Three identification numbers are identified in the U.S. Postage Meter Stamp Catalog: this one (B) shows 02 4W over a 10-digit number starting with 00003.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Oct 26, 2023 20:15:47 GMT
October 26This 150 reis Mozambique Company stamp (Scott 32; 1895) was postmarked on this date at Beira, Mozambique. My Scott catalog tells me this stamp is orange brown on pink paper but my colorblind eyes just aren't seeing it!
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Oct 26, 2023 19:31:35 GMT
APS Member #: 130102 | Join Date: 10/31/1983
I just paid my dues for 2024 -- have you?
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Oct 26, 2023 19:28:29 GMT
On Saturday November 4 from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM the Collectors Club will be offering public viewing of a 45 Exhibit Single Frame Competition of members’ philatelic exhibits at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum at 2 Massachusetts Avenue NE in Washington D.C. Admission is free. Visitors are encouraged to complete a ballot voting for their favorite exhibit. The most popular exhibit will be recognized with the Alan Holyoake Friendship Cup Award.
Of course, besides the Collectors Club exhibits, visitors will have free access to all of the regular exhibits of the Museum including great philatelic rarities, historic postal vehicles and equipment, and the current special exhibition, Baseball: America’s Home Run.
The museum is very convenient to MARC and AMTRAK and D.C. Metro users as it is immediately across the street from D.C.’s Union Station. Paid public parking is available at Union Station or at metered street parking nearby.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Oct 25, 2023 22:11:43 GMT
nick2302 Click on the link that scottenglish provided ( stamps.org/donate/mighty-buck-club ) When the Mighty Buck Club page opens, click on the "Join" button. When the Donate Now page opens, insert the amount of your donation, select Mighty Buck from the Gift Designation pull-down menu, then click on the "Submit" button. You'll be taken to your Shopping Cart page where you can verify your donation -- if correct, click on the "Check out" button.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Oct 24, 2023 16:41:30 GMT
All of the 2024 issues announced thus far may be viewed here. Something else that may be happening in 2024 is implementation of the USPS' proposed rate changes. Below is a portion of the announcement.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Oct 24, 2023 14:30:23 GMT
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Oct 23, 2023 22:02:19 GMT
I recently wrote about the APS' discounted book sale here and of my purchase of Theron J. Wierenga's work United States Incoming Steamship Mail: 1847-1875 (second Edition) for $12 postpaid. The publication was sent via Media Mail on October 18th and arrived in today's mail. The book is still in its original shrinkwrap and may remain that way for awhile as I'm finding it increasingly difficult to make time for stamp-related activitiy.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Oct 21, 2023 11:27:57 GMT
Anil, I agree with your thought about returning them and recommend that you stick with the well-established brands (e.g., Vario, Hagner, etc.). If you're just storing inexpensive duplicates you might consider manila stock sheets as a less costly alternative.
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Oct 21, 2023 11:21:08 GMT
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tomiseksj
Moderator
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,276
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 Oct 20, 2023 0:32:59 GMT
The 2023 Christmas Seals arrived today.
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