@originalisbest said:
APS is OK but aficionados of rare stamps will generally lean towards PF in NYC for USA issues, the RPSL for anything related to United Kingdom etc, and so on.
I didn't understand one word of this.
bob
LOL:
APS = American Philatelic Society
PF = Philatelic Foundation
RPSL = Royal Philatelic Society London
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
@ms71 said:
Almost nobody communicates via "snail mail" any more, so how would young people be exposed to stamps? As others have mentioned, you have to wonder what the effect of eventual deep decline in the use of physical "cash" will have on coin collecting. I haven't spent a coin in a very long time.
The easy answer for me has always been, as long as there is interest in precious metals, at the very least, gold and silver coins will maintain a level of interest in at least that sense. Paper items can't match that appeal (though I do love old currency!)
@originalisbest said:
APS is OK but aficionados of rare stamps will generally lean towards PF in NYC for USA issues, the RPSL for anything related to United Kingdom etc, and so on.
I didn't understand one word of this.
bob
LOL:
APS = American Philatelic Society
PF = Philatelic Foundation
RPSL = Royal Philatelic Society London
The world used to be a lot bigger than now, and the only way to communicate across it (without breaking the bank) was with a letter. Now you can instantly talk to someone for pennies half-way around the world. People don't have the patience now that was once the norm. Coins will always be necessary - they work when the power is out, and they last a lot longer than paper. Imagine using a debit card to buy a gumball.
@Paradisefound said:
I just realized there are so many many things I may not have time in my life to be good at simply because I don't have long enough time at this end
That is actually good news. Imagine getting to an age where you have done everything you ever wanted to do and had no goals left, and no longer had any interest in doing or learning anything. Now THAT would be hell on earth,
...I believe the collecting of stamps may still be significant within the state & federal prison systems here in the US...super glad I don't know for sure though...also, most all things that are supposed to be licked by humans are good and fun
I bought a book of Japanese's stamps some time ago like 5 years ago for $1500 sold the book for $18K there are some good stamps and there are a lot of not so good ones. Look them up, the red Chinese monkey stamp is worth $400 or $500 and it's a newer stamp. Always look them up it may take some time but you never know.
@Paradisefound said:
I don't believe you @Insider2 know so much about stamps too. and I just realized there are so many many things I may not have time in my life to be good at simply because I don't have long enough time at this end No upside down planes so far....just these old commies
Several have commented on the fact that you can buy unc.? sheets of stamps for less than face value. What is the equivalent in coins? Buying Mint and Proof sets from the 30's thru 50's for under face value? That would be scary.
Successful BST deals with mustangt and jesbroken. Now EVERYTHING is for sale.
Years ago I had purchased a collection for 20$...... some of the stamp artwork is gorgeous. The old Ben Franklins.....battleships and presidents and so on. I’m appreciative of the art. Well done in the day. I also have some world stamp collections passed down. For some reason I can’t part with them.
@291fifth said:
... it has now gone for nearly eleven days without a post of any kind. (The autographs forum isn't much better.)
I hate to say it, but things aren’t much better ATS. If you haven’t been there for a while, they have condensed they categories down to a minimum. For example U.S., foreign and ancient coins are now all in one category. Perhaps it’s a way to make look more active.
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
@291fifth said:
... it has now gone for nearly eleven days without a post of any kind. (The autographs forum isn't much better.)
I hate to say it, but things aren’t much better ATS. If you haven’t been there for a while, they have condensed they categories down to a minimum. For example U.S., foreign and ancient coins are now all in one category. Perhaps it’s a way to make look more active.
For those that are new here, ATS is across the street which is what we call the NGC coin forums.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
@JBK said:
I count on the decline of stamp collecting to keep me stocked with discount postage. I am about to tear into some 8 cent Christmas stamps that I got for 50% of face. Six of those and a 2 cent stamp and my letters are good to go.
I've received packages that have nearly the whole front occupied by various stamps. Fun to look at the differing designs.
Comments
LOL:
APS = American Philatelic Society
PF = Philatelic Foundation
RPSL = Royal Philatelic Society London
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
The easy answer for me has always been, as long as there is interest in precious metals, at the very least, gold and silver coins will maintain a level of interest in at least that sense. Paper items can't match that appeal (though I do love old currency!)
Thanks!
The world used to be a lot bigger than now, and the only way to communicate across it (without breaking the bank) was with a letter. Now you can instantly talk to someone for pennies half-way around the world. People don't have the patience now that was once the norm. Coins will always be necessary - they work when the power is out, and they last a lot longer than paper. Imagine using a debit card to buy a gumball.
Some of that China may be good. Chinese stamps have run up quite a bit in the last 10 years.
Price guides are useless for prices, but tremendously helpful for identification and a ballpark idea if an item has even a chance to be scarce.
You can buy old (pre-2010) Scott catalogs on Amazon for a few bucks each. That's all you need to identify.
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
That is actually good news. Imagine getting to an age where you have done everything you ever wanted to do and had no goals left, and no longer had any interest in doing or learning anything.
Now THAT would be hell on earth, 
...I believe the collecting of stamps may still be significant within the state & federal prison systems here in the US...super glad I don't know for sure though...also, most all things that are supposed to be licked by humans are good and fun
That's us in 10-15 years.
Two years ago, a friend with a cousin in a Texas prison told me that unused postage stamps are used as a form of "currency exchange."
I bought a book of Japanese's stamps some time ago like 5 years ago for $1500 sold the book for $18K there are some good stamps and there are a lot of not so good ones. Look them up, the red Chinese monkey stamp is worth $400 or $500 and it's a newer stamp. Always look them up it may take some time but you never know.
Hoard the keys.
Several have commented on the fact that you can buy unc.? sheets of stamps for less than face value. What is the equivalent in coins? Buying Mint and Proof sets from the 30's thru 50's for under face value? That would be scary.
Successful BST deals with mustangt and jesbroken. Now EVERYTHING is for sale.
oh well i don't mind slabbing stamps.. they always leave me feeling slab-happy
OP mentioned the autograph forum. I posted something there awhile back but got no responses.
Nice Hagler story, but you just posted a pic and didn't ask any questions or for any comments.
It is life in the slow lane or maybe the breakdown lane over there.
OMG !!!
Years ago I had purchased a collection for 20$...... some of the stamp artwork is gorgeous. The old Ben Franklins.....battleships and presidents and so on. I’m appreciative of the art. Well done in the day. I also have some world stamp collections passed down. For some reason I can’t part with them.
I hate to say it, but things aren’t much better ATS. If you haven’t been there for a while, they have condensed they categories down to a minimum. For example U.S., foreign and ancient coins are now all in one category. Perhaps it’s a way to make look more active.
For those that are new here, ATS is across the street which is what we call the NGC coin forums.
Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
"Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
"Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire
Thank you for reminding me about that forum, I actually had something I could post there!
I've received packages that have nearly the whole front occupied by various stamps. Fun to look at the differing designs.