@Nysoto said:
I collect stamps created by US Mint Chief Engraver Robert Scot, which are the first federal revenue stamps, to raise money for navy ships to fight the Quasi War and First Barbary War. Adam Eckfeldt had a large role in these, contracting to fabricate 18 screw presses.
What are these called? Embossed revenue stamps? I want to keep my eyes open for one.
@dcarr said:
I keep hearing about how the stamp market is dead, etc.
So I try to pick off some auction bargains, but I rarely win.
I bid $600 on this one: ebay.com/itm/382214468843
Nice stamp with a classic style and theme. Hope you can pick up one soon.
I don't know what this means, but it's listed with a MNH of $1,800 CV (2017). Does that mean $712.00 is a steal?
I remember a friend showing me his stamp collection about 38 years ago. I told him "these are interesting, but I prefer my coins." I'm glad I made that call.
Fresh, well centered, fault free classic US stamps still do well. The problem is that virtually none of the classics actually meet those exacting standards. There is also the issue of Mint, Never Hinged ...
A friend of the hobby , who's passed away now (Bob Osterholm, the Tidy House Soap guy) had a very extensive stamp collection and quite valuable. He showed me a few one day and I was kind of 'blasé'.... He asked me several times before he died, if I would study and learn stamps . I told him I was too busy , still learning numismatics and retail in a slow market. He would still persist.
After his death (a couple years ago) his son, who owned the jewelry store with his dad, called me. He said, "Dad told me not to take his stamp collection to anyone but you ". I told him what I told his dad. I had no education or interest in them. So, I directed him to the only stamp guy I knew of , in town.
Upon that visit, his son called me back and said, " Now I know why my dad recommended you."
It was the best compliment from the grave, I ever got.
I think you need to separate "collecting" vs. "investing".
You can collect stamps, even if the market is crappy. In fact, it's EASIER! You can buy premium material for lower and lower prices. Now, when you go to sell your collection, you may get even lower prices, but where you "collecting" or "investing".
Fact is, there is no guarantee for any collectible that there is a market years later. So, buy it because you like it and if it is ever worth anything, consider it a bonus.
I still a member of APS, but haven't bought any stamps in about 15 yrs. I still get auction catalogs from time to time. Postal History (old envelopes with the stamps still on) appears to be doing well, even though the rest of the market is dead.
I'm a huge fan of stamp collecting -- off and on most of my life, and got the bug again about a year ago. I've been watching the market of better U.S. stamps ($50-$50k+) pretty carefully in this time and I think the market for good material is actually rather solid and perhaps underrated. Many stamps that sold for $2000 in 2005 are worth considerably more today.
The key factor in stamps is condition with the vast majority of stamps are sub-par in quality from centering to damage (thins, tears, etc) and the fact that Scott catalog values are virtually worthless. EBay is a great place to see what stuff is selling for, and to fill in the holes on cheaper material. When it comes to $250+ your best bet are the few well-regarded auction coins. The premiere house is Siegel and they are having a nice sale next week, so it's worth having a look for the curious. link
The sale in question is single consignor of "gem" material but nothing astronomical. In coin terms, you'd be talking about MS65-67+ quality. Siegel has some great tools to see past results for similar items, so there's a lot to see there.
Here's a personal favorite in my collection (inverted center):
John Feigenbaum Whitman Brands: President/CEO (www.greysheet.com; www.whitman.com) PNG: Executive Director (www.pngdealers.org)
@JohnF said:
I'm a huge fan of stamp collecting -- off and on most of my life, and got the bug again about a year ago. I've been watching the market of better U.S. stamps ($50-$50k+) pretty carefully in this time and I think the market for good material is actually rather solid and perhaps underrated. Many stamps that sold for $2000 in 2005 are worth considerably more today.
The key factor in stamps is condition with the vast majority of stamps are sub-par in quality from centering to damage (thins, tears, etc) and the fact that Scott catalog values are virtually worthless. EBay is a great place to see what stuff is selling for, and to fill in the holes on cheaper material. When it comes to $250+ your best bet are the few well-regarded auction coins. The premiere house is Siegel and they are having a nice sale next week, so it's worth having a look for the curious. link
The sale in question is single consignor of "gem" material but nothing astronomical. In coin terms, you'd be talking about MS65-67+ quality. Siegel has some great tools to see past results for similar items, so there's a lot to see there.
Here's a personal favorite in my collection (inverted center):
@dcarr said:
I keep hearing about how the stamp market is dead, etc.
So I try to pick off some auction bargains, but I rarely win.
I bid $600 on this one: ebay.com/itm/382214468843
Nice stamp with a classic style and theme. Hope you can pick up one soon.
I don't know what this means, but it's listed with a MNH of $1,800 CV (2017). Does that mean $712.00 is a steal?
Can't afford that one, so I picked up this one for 50 cents.
@dcarr said:
I keep hearing about how the stamp market is dead, etc.
So I try to pick off some auction bargains, but I rarely win.
I bid $600 on this one: ebay.com/itm/382214468843
Nice stamp with a classic style and theme. Hope you can pick up one soon.
I don't know what this means, but it's listed with a MNH of $1,800 CV (2017). Does that mean $712.00 is a steal?
For this example, I'd say $712 is a good price but not a "steal".
There is a slight crease in the middle at the left edge.
Without that, I might have bid $850.
But still, that example is far above average. The crease is pretty minor and didn't really show on the back of the stamp.
Most of this issue is badly centered and most examples have faults.
The large die proof I acquired some months ago is the equivalent of a coinage die trial.
Die proofs in stamps are sometimes worth more than the normal issue and sometimes less.
For the stamp in question, the large die proof is worth a little bit less than a normal issue in excellent condition.
This is because most of the large die proofs that were produced tend to have remained in nice condition, while most of the normal issue are off-center and/or low grade and/or cancelled.
When I was a kid, for some reason, this was one of my favorites.
(photo stolen from ebay where this is listed for 8 or 9 bucks. It can't possible be worth that.)
I buy stamps off ebay for my business mail. Clients often note that their mail will arrive with Air Mail stamps from the 1940's. Its fun to mix what were once First Class stamps from 3 cents to 37 cents to post business mail.
More pragmatically I save about 30% on postage charges by purchasing vintage stamps below face value.
I am working on a modest US Air Mail collection purchased mostly below face value.
I started my career in stamps before moving exclusively to coins in 2000 - still have an interest, reading auction catalogs (still on mailing lists from 20+ years ago), etc. Might collect again one day.
In visiting a coin client yesterday, he also had an interest in stamps before coins - talking about the Falkland centenary sets we both owned, Australian postage dues etc. - it probably renewed both of our interests in stamps.
I collect Proofs (cannot afford the actual stamps) and Washington-Franklins especially. Also counterfeit stamps. Some of our modern issues have been counterfeited and sold as postage on Ebay but I have not been able to snag any of these yet!. As I wrote above, the stamp hobby has segments (just as coins) and some (Revenue issues) are doing extremely well.
@JohnFWOW! Most of the "coinheads" around here cannot appreciate that one. Show them an Ike dollar struck on a 50c planchet and they would go "Wow" too.
When I was younger ('90's) I was pretty big into stamps and just a little bit into coins. I found the designs, history, and sheer number of different ones more interesting than coins. It was also cheaper to get a big bundle of stamps and have fun going through them. I still have my old albums but assume they are only worth something only as mementos.
Many years ago, I was at a stamp show and I was 52 years old at the time.
The very first stamp dealer I visited, looked at me and said "what are you interested in today sonny?!!!!"
I thought to myself, it's been half a lifetime since I've been called 'sonny' but then I realized, relatively speaking with the average age group in the room, that I was a 'sonny'!!
"Gold is money, and nothing else" (JP Morgan, 1912)
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
@bronco2078 said:
...I can't think of anything more wretched than cards ...
How about "Collectible" plates?
I tried for months to liquidate my Mom's collection of over 100 plates. Zero interest... couldn't even give 'em away for free-with-purchase at my garage sale. They have lead-based paints, so can't use 'em with food.
Target practice? Yup, thought of that.
Finally donated to Goodwill.
Successful BST transactions with forum members thebigeng, SPalladino, Zoidmeister, coin22lover, coinsarefun, jwitten, CommemKing.
@ianrussell said:
I started my career in stamps before moving exclusively to coins in 2000 - still have an interest, reading auction catalogs (still on mailing lists from 20+ years ago), etc. Might collect again one day.
In visiting a coin client yesterday, he also had an interest in stamps before coins - talking about the Falkland centenary sets we both owned, Australian postage dues etc. - it probably renewed both of our interests in stamps.
Ian
Maybe you could use your auction house and stellar reputation in collectibles to draw more interest to stamps. With your presence in the coin market, you may have a lot of crossover appeal for coin collectors. We already have the collecting/hoarding mentality.
I like "postal history" as someone mentioned. Envelopes with stamps, postmark, etc.
In early years of aviation crash covers were encountered, mail that had survived a crash of the airmail plane. I got a modern one 20 years or do ago. It was caked in mud and arrivwd in a pladtic sleeve with details if the crash and delay.
I also have letters sent (by me) to war zones that were returned as undeliverable due to postal service suspension.
What are these called? Embossed revenue stamps? I want to keep my eyes open for one.
JBK - yes, these are known as embossed revenue stamped paper. There are three excellent reference books by W.V. Combs including First Federal Issue 1798-1801: U.S. Embossed Revenue Stamped Paper. The best dealer for these is Eric Jackson, here is his current auction, he also has some at fixed prices ericjackson.com/auctions/XcAPViewInCat.asp?ID=11719
I got into collecting these for research on my biography of Robert Scot, and found them extremely interesting. They can vary widely in price from a few dollars to over $10K. I believe that Scot's 1798 three dollar design was the basis for the 1807 reverse motto over eagle design.
This star constellation is the same hexagram pattern as on the original Great Seal with six-point stars in a vertical orientation, also found on back of the dollar bill with five-point stars
Robert Scot engraved 240 stamp dies in the first issue of 1798, and more in 1800. The revenue stamps successfully raised about $20,000 per month, most of it to build ships and finance the Quasi and Barbary Wars. The US had no federal income tax, and raising money was difficult, these stamps were the answer.
Robert Scot: Engraving Liberty - biography of US Mint's first chief engraver
@ianrussell said:
I started my career in stamps before moving exclusively to coins in 2000 - still have an interest, reading auction catalogs (still on mailing lists from 20+ years ago), etc. Might collect again one day.
In visiting a coin client yesterday, he also had an interest in stamps before coins - talking about the Falkland centenary sets we both owned, Australian postage dues etc. - it probably renewed both of our interests in stamps.
Ian
Maybe you could use your auction house and stellar reputation in collectibles to draw more interest to stamps. With your presence in the coin market, you may have a lot of crossover appeal for coin collectors. We already have the collecting/hoarding mentality.
We will likely expand into other collectibles one day - although we are still 100% focused on coins/currency for now.
I troll eBay for old sheets of stamps to use for postage. Most from the 50s and even 40s ate not worth t hst much over face, if at all. There is one sheey from the 1940s showing Abraham Lincoln and Sun Yar Sen honoring 10 years of Chinese resistance to Japanese imperialism. That sheet goes for upwards of 200 or 300 $.
@thebeav said:
When I was a kid, for some reason, this was one of my favorites.
(photo stolen from ebay where this is listed for 8 or 9 bucks. It can't possible be worth that.)
I like the upside-down train variety, released as part of a souvenir sheet in 2001.
In addition to collecting error coins I developed a small taste for error stamps, specifically misperforated errors. Here is my collection. They were quite inexpensive to obtain.
Bought a few obsolete bills, stamps, trading cards, comics, posters, engravings and etchings, books and documents, signatures and autographs, postcards and covers, etc, but .never formed any cohesive or meaningful assemblages.
I like metal and rocky stuff like coins, guns, knives and swords, tools, minerals and meteorites, shells and pottery, gems and crystals, glassware, things like that. Tangible, durable.
I started with stamps as a kid, in the early 1970s. Before i collected coins, actually. Didn't go too far with 'em, because I discovered coins in '76 and that was that. I liked that coins bore the actual date of issue on them, which is obviously not always the case with stamps. And furthermore, those dates went back further in time. And coins are money. And not as fragile as stamps.
To give you an idea of the level of sophistication I achieved as a stamp collector, I will mention that a friend implied I was a dummy because I affixed my stamps to the album pages with Scotch tape, right over the stamps. He said I had to use "stamp hinges". Having no clue what stamp hinges were or where I could get any, I set my tape-covered collection aside in discouragement ... and then I discovered coins.
One semi-stamp-related thing I have casually collected is antique postcards from places I've lived. I prefer the postally used postcards. They're much more interesting.
I've always looked at many stamp issues as works of mini-art with much artistic merit. Especially the 30's-60's era's. Sometimes rivaling and even surpassing designs depicted on our coinage. Especially modern coinage issues.
Successful transactions:Tookybandit. "Everyone is equal, some are more equal than others".
I did that when I 1st started also(but only taped them in from the back). Arrgghhh! after I found out about my sin. Took me about a month and a couple cans of lighter fluid but I managed to salvage my collection! Luckily I was not collecting mint quality stamps!
@lordmarcovan said:
I started with stamps as a kid, in the early 1970s. Before i collected coins, actually. Didn't go too far with 'em, because I discovered coins in '76 and that was that. I liked that coins bore the actual date of issue on them, which is obviously not always the case with stamps. And furthermore, those dates went back further in time. And coins are money. And not as fragile as stamps.
To give you an idea of the level of sophistication I achieved as a stamp collector, I will mention that a friend implied I was a dummy because I affixed my stamps to the album pages with Scotch tape, right over the stamps. He said I had to use "stamp hinges". Having no clue what stamp hinges were or where I could get any, I set my tape-covered collection aside in discouragement ... and then I discovered coins.
One semi-stamp-related thing I have casually collected is antique postcards from places I've lived. I prefer the postally used postcards. They're much more interesting.
Wow. this thread is taking me back to the '70's and early '80's when I was into stamps and coins. Belonged to the Community Stamp Club, exhibited at the shows, (Presidents on Stamps) helped my Dad when he decided to become a dealer. It was fun at the time but things change.
In the early '90's, I would buy unused U.S. postage by the box at 75-80% of face and trade it for gems and minerals.
United States stamp 3¢ 1948 Fort Bliss Centennial, Texas
There are stamp collectors who like rockets. @Zoins said:
I bet KIm Jong Un would have payed up for those!
Good call Zoins! President Trump tweeted today,
"I spoke with President Moon of South Korea last night. Asked him how Rocket Man is doing. Long gas lines forming in North Korea. Too bad!'
edit - Sorry guys! @Zoins said "Very fitting stamp for our times but I cannot take credit for it. The stamp was posted by @WillieBoyd2 and the comment added by @Kaz!"
Robert Scot: Engraving Liberty - biography of US Mint's first chief engraver
United States stamp 3¢ 1948 Fort Bliss Centennial, Texas
There are stamp collectors who like rockets. @Zoins said:
I bet KIm Jong Un would have payed up for those!
Good call Zoins! President Trump tweeted today,
"I spoke with President Moon of South Korea last night. Asked him how Rocket Man is doing. Long gas lines forming in North Korea. Too bad!'
Very fitting stamp for our times but I cannot take credit for it. The stamp was posted by @WillieBoyd2 and the comment added by @Kaz!
@dcarr said:
I keep hearing about how the stamp market is dead, etc.
So I try to pick off some auction bargains, but I rarely win.
I bid $600 on this one: ebay.com/itm/382214468843
Not all all dead. The Columbia's and Trans Mississippi high denominations are very expensive. I think the high end C1-6 and 13-15 are always going to be in demand but I don't go below ognh 90. Dollar denominated Colombia's in 90 are high five figure stamps in ognh 90 but oglh is much more affordable.
@dcarr said:
I keep hearing about how the stamp market is dead, etc.
So I try to pick off some auction bargains, but I rarely win.
I bid $600 on this one: ebay.com/itm/382214468843
Not all all dead. The Columbia's and Trans Mississippi high denominations are very expensive. I think the high end C1-6 and 13-15 are always going to be in demand but I don't go below ognh 90. Dollar denominated Colombia's in 90 are high five figure stamps in ognh 90 but oglh is much more affordable.
The Columbians in today's Siegel sale (link) are superb and "relatively" affordable. Great entry point for someone thinking of dabbling. Be careful with so-called "catalog value" here. It's irrelevant. Siegel has links you can click to see what similar items have realized in the the past. Luckily for me I have essentially completed my set of Columbians, but the $2 is a beauty. I need it, but this copy is out of my price range. I think it will sell for ~$6000. Just to give you an idea of the disparity of values in stamps, you can buy a no gum, or lightly thinned $2 mint Columbian with half-decent centering for around $500. But this one is a gem. Have fun.
John Feigenbaum Whitman Brands: President/CEO (www.greysheet.com; www.whitman.com) PNG: Executive Director (www.pngdealers.org)
Comments
What are these called? Embossed revenue stamps? I want to keep my eyes open for one.
Nice stamp with a classic style and theme. Hope you can pick up one soon.
I don't know what this means, but it's listed with a MNH of $1,800 CV (2017). Does that mean $712.00 is a steal?
very very rare stamps still bring full money.
Thats why I feel better with the best coins too, instead of just good coins or medium coins.
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"In the year 2525, if man is still alive..."
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"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
I remember a friend showing me his stamp collection about 38 years ago. I told him "these are interesting, but I prefer my coins." I'm glad I made that call.
My grandmother saved sheets of US 3¢ stamps from the 1940's and 1950's.
Several years ago I sold most of them through Ebay and usually got face value for them.
However, one sheet of 70 3¢ stamps (face $2.10) got $12.00.
United States stamp 3¢ 1948 Fort Bliss Centennial, Texas
There are stamp collectors who like rockets.
The Mysterious Egyptian Magic Coin
Coins in Movies
Coins on Television
Fresh, well centered, fault free classic US stamps still do well. The problem is that virtually none of the classics actually meet those exacting standards. There is also the issue of Mint, Never Hinged ...
A friend of the hobby , who's passed away now (Bob Osterholm, the Tidy House Soap guy) had a very extensive stamp collection and quite valuable. He showed me a few one day and I was kind of 'blasé'.... He asked me several times before he died, if I would study and learn stamps . I told him I was too busy , still learning numismatics and retail in a slow market. He would still persist.
After his death (a couple years ago) his son, who owned the jewelry store with his dad, called me. He said, "Dad told me not to take his stamp collection to anyone but you ". I told him what I told his dad. I had no education or interest in them. So, I directed him to the only stamp guy I knew of , in town.
Upon that visit, his son called me back and said, " Now I know why my dad recommended you."
It was the best compliment from the grave, I ever got.
I think you need to separate "collecting" vs. "investing".
You can collect stamps, even if the market is crappy. In fact, it's EASIER! You can buy premium material for lower and lower prices. Now, when you go to sell your collection, you may get even lower prices, but where you "collecting" or "investing".
Fact is, there is no guarantee for any collectible that there is a market years later. So, buy it because you like it and if it is ever worth anything, consider it a bonus.
I still a member of APS, but haven't bought any stamps in about 15 yrs. I still get auction catalogs from time to time. Postal History (old envelopes with the stamps still on) appears to be doing well, even though the rest of the market is dead.
I'm a huge fan of stamp collecting -- off and on most of my life, and got the bug again about a year ago. I've been watching the market of better U.S. stamps ($50-$50k+) pretty carefully in this time and I think the market for good material is actually rather solid and perhaps underrated. Many stamps that sold for $2000 in 2005 are worth considerably more today.
The key factor in stamps is condition with the vast majority of stamps are sub-par in quality from centering to damage (thins, tears, etc) and the fact that Scott catalog values are virtually worthless. EBay is a great place to see what stuff is selling for, and to fill in the holes on cheaper material. When it comes to $250+ your best bet are the few well-regarded auction coins. The premiere house is Siegel and they are having a nice sale next week, so it's worth having a look for the curious. link
The sale in question is single consignor of "gem" material but nothing astronomical. In coin terms, you'd be talking about MS65-67+ quality. Siegel has some great tools to see past results for similar items, so there's a lot to see there.
Here's a personal favorite in my collection (inverted center):
Whitman Brands: President/CEO (www.greysheet.com; www.whitman.com)
PNG: Executive Director (www.pngdealers.org)
Agreed with everything John has to say above.
Can't afford that one, so I picked up this one for 50 cents.
My Adolph A. Weinman signature
For this example, I'd say $712 is a good price but not a "steal".
There is a slight crease in the middle at the left edge.
Without that, I might have bid $850.
But still, that example is far above average. The crease is pretty minor and didn't really show on the back of the stamp.
Most of this issue is badly centered and most examples have faults.
The large die proof I acquired some months ago is the equivalent of a coinage die trial.
Die proofs in stamps are sometimes worth more than the normal issue and sometimes less.
For the stamp in question, the large die proof is worth a little bit less than a normal issue in excellent condition.
This is because most of the large die proofs that were produced tend to have remained in nice condition, while most of the normal issue are off-center and/or low grade and/or cancelled.
something i never had any interest in
Coins for sale at link below
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipOVMv7FZDb2BvqQnSIUKnelz2nhX9TVEMcKHgHm
Foreign stamps...from Grenada.
I have some stamps I like quite a bit and they didn't come cheap either. I like em
Not to rain on any parades, but be aware that there are stamp doctors that make some of the coin docs look like saints.
When I was a kid, for some reason, this was one of my favorites.
(photo stolen from ebay where this is listed for 8 or 9 bucks. It can't possible be worth that.)
I buy stamps off ebay for my business mail. Clients often note that their mail will arrive with Air Mail stamps from the 1940's. Its fun to mix what were once First Class stamps from 3 cents to 37 cents to post business mail.
More pragmatically I save about 30% on postage charges by purchasing vintage stamps below face value.
I am working on a modest US Air Mail collection purchased mostly below face value.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/gold/liberty-head-2-1-gold-major-sets/liberty-head-2-1-gold-basic-set-circulation-strikes-1840-1907-cac/alltimeset/268163
I started my career in stamps before moving exclusively to coins in 2000 - still have an interest, reading auction catalogs (still on mailing lists from 20+ years ago), etc. Might collect again one day.
In visiting a coin client yesterday, he also had an interest in stamps before coins - talking about the Falkland centenary sets we both owned, Australian postage dues etc. - it probably renewed both of our interests in stamps.
Owner/Founder GreatCollections
GreatCollections Coin Auctions - Certified Coin Auctions Every Week - Rare Coins & Coin Values
I collect Proofs (cannot afford the actual stamps) and Washington-Franklins especially. Also counterfeit stamps. Some of our modern issues have been counterfeited and sold as postage on Ebay but I have not been able to snag any of these yet!. As I wrote above, the stamp hobby has segments (just as coins) and some (Revenue issues) are doing extremely well.
@JohnF WOW! Most of the "coinheads" around here cannot appreciate that one. Show them an Ike dollar struck on a 50c planchet and they would go "Wow" too.
Isn't that the stamp commemorating Columbus when he discovered China? You know, the other side of the world that is supposedly upside down?
Proof stamps were mentioned earlier...are those reprints or facsimiles of some sort?
BST transactions: dbldie55, jayPem, 78saen, UltraHighRelief, nibanny, liefgold, FallGuy, lkeigwin, mbogoman, Sandman70gt, keets, joeykoins, ianrussell (@GC), EagleEye, ThePennyLady, GRANDAM, Ilikecolor, Gluggo, okiedude, Voyageur, LJenkins11, fastfreddie, ms70, pursuitofliberty, ZoidMeister,Coin Finder, GotTheBug, edwardjulio, Coinnmore, Nickpatton, Namvet69,...
When I was younger ('90's) I was pretty big into stamps and just a little bit into coins. I found the designs, history, and sheer number of different ones more interesting than coins. It was also cheaper to get a big bundle of stamps and have fun going through them. I still have my old albums but assume they are only worth something only as mementos.
Quick story #2...........
Many years ago, I was at a stamp show and I was 52 years old at the time.
The very first stamp dealer I visited, looked at me and said "what are you interested in today sonny?!!!!"
I thought to myself, it's been half a lifetime since I've been called 'sonny' but then I realized, relatively speaking with the average age group in the room, that I was a 'sonny'!!
"“Those who sacrifice liberty for security/safety deserve neither.“(Benjamin Franklin)
"I only golf on days that end in 'Y'" (DE59)
How about "Collectible" plates?
I tried for months to liquidate my Mom's collection of over 100 plates. Zero interest... couldn't even give 'em away for free-with-purchase at my garage sale. They have lead-based paints, so can't use 'em with food.
Target practice? Yup, thought of that.
Finally donated to Goodwill.
Successful BST transactions with forum members thebigeng, SPalladino, Zoidmeister, coin22lover, coinsarefun, jwitten, CommemKing.
Maybe you could use your auction house and stellar reputation in collectibles to draw more interest to stamps. With your presence in the coin market, you may have a lot of crossover appeal for coin collectors. We already have the collecting/hoarding mentality.
I like "postal history" as someone mentioned. Envelopes with stamps, postmark, etc.
In early years of aviation crash covers were encountered, mail that had survived a crash of the airmail plane. I got a modern one 20 years or do ago. It was caked in mud and arrivwd in a pladtic sleeve with details if the crash and delay.
I also have letters sent (by me) to war zones that were returned as undeliverable due to postal service suspension.
JBK - yes, these are known as embossed revenue stamped paper. There are three excellent reference books by W.V. Combs including First Federal Issue 1798-1801: U.S. Embossed Revenue Stamped Paper. The best dealer for these is Eric Jackson, here is his current auction, he also has some at fixed prices ericjackson.com/auctions/XcAPViewInCat.asp?ID=11719
I got into collecting these for research on my biography of Robert Scot, and found them extremely interesting. They can vary widely in price from a few dollars to over $10K. I believe that Scot's 1798 three dollar design was the basis for the 1807 reverse motto over eagle design.
This star constellation is the same hexagram pattern as on the original Great Seal with six-point stars in a vertical orientation, also found on back of the dollar bill with five-point stars
Robert Scot engraved 240 stamp dies in the first issue of 1798, and more in 1800. The revenue stamps successfully raised about $20,000 per month, most of it to build ships and finance the Quasi and Barbary Wars. The US had no federal income tax, and raising money was difficult, these stamps were the answer.
Thx for those details. I will have to look them up. I have some early documents but none with these on them.
I bet KIm Jong Un would have payed up for those!
I stay away from stamp collectors. A lot of them have sticky fingers.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
We will likely expand into other collectibles one day - although we are still 100% focused on coins/currency for now.
Owner/Founder GreatCollections
GreatCollections Coin Auctions - Certified Coin Auctions Every Week - Rare Coins & Coin Values
I troll eBay for old sheets of stamps to use for postage. Most from the 50s and even 40s ate not worth t hst much over face, if at all. There is one sheey from the 1940s showing Abraham Lincoln and Sun Yar Sen honoring 10 years of Chinese resistance to Japanese imperialism. That sheet goes for upwards of 200 or 300 $.
I like the upside-down train variety, released as part of a souvenir sheet in 2001.
My Adolph A. Weinman signature
In addition to collecting error coins I developed a small taste for error stamps, specifically misperforated errors. Here is my collection. They were quite inexpensive to obtain.
Tried, but just can't get into paper.
Bought a few obsolete bills, stamps, trading cards, comics, posters, engravings and etchings, books and documents, signatures and autographs, postcards and covers, etc, but .never formed any cohesive or meaningful assemblages.
I like metal and rocky stuff like coins, guns, knives and swords, tools, minerals and meteorites, shells and pottery, gems and crystals, glassware, things like that. Tangible, durable.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
A coin collector and a stamp collector got in a fight. Who won?
The stamp collector.
He got his licks in.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Pacific Northwest Numismatic Association
I started with stamps as a kid, in the early 1970s. Before i collected coins, actually. Didn't go too far with 'em, because I discovered coins in '76 and that was that. I liked that coins bore the actual date of issue on them, which is obviously not always the case with stamps. And furthermore, those dates went back further in time. And coins are money. And not as fragile as stamps.
To give you an idea of the level of sophistication I achieved as a stamp collector, I will mention that a friend implied I was a dummy because I affixed my stamps to the album pages with Scotch tape, right over the stamps. He said I had to use "stamp hinges". Having no clue what stamp hinges were or where I could get any, I set my tape-covered collection aside in discouragement ... and then I discovered coins.
One semi-stamp-related thing I have casually collected is antique postcards from places I've lived. I prefer the postally used postcards. They're much more interesting.
Please stop this thread! It just got me to buy my first cancelled letter and signature in years!
I've always looked at many stamp issues as works of mini-art with much artistic merit. Especially the 30's-60's era's. Sometimes rivaling and even surpassing designs depicted on our coinage. Especially modern coinage issues.
I did that when I 1st started also(but only taped them in from the back). Arrgghhh! after I found out about my sin. Took me about a month and a couple cans of lighter fluid but I managed to salvage my collection! Luckily I was not collecting mint quality stamps!
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
Wow. this thread is taking me back to the '70's and early '80's when I was into stamps and coins. Belonged to the Community Stamp Club, exhibited at the shows, (Presidents on Stamps) helped my Dad when he decided to become a dealer. It was fun at the time but things change.
In the early '90's, I would buy unused U.S. postage by the box at 75-80% of face and trade it for gems and minerals.
United States stamp 3¢ 1948 Fort Bliss Centennial, Texas
There are stamp collectors who like rockets.
@Zoins said:
I bet KIm Jong Un would have payed up for those!
Good call Zoins! President Trump tweeted today,
"I spoke with President Moon of South Korea last night. Asked him how Rocket Man is doing. Long gas lines forming in North Korea. Too bad!'
edit - Sorry guys! @Zoins said "Very fitting stamp for our times but I cannot take credit for it. The stamp was posted by @WillieBoyd2 and the comment added by @Kaz!"
Very fitting stamp for our times but I cannot take credit for it. The stamp was posted by @WillieBoyd2 and the comment added by @Kaz!
Not all all dead. The Columbia's and Trans Mississippi high denominations are very expensive. I think the high end C1-6 and 13-15 are always going to be in demand but I don't go below ognh 90. Dollar denominated Colombia's in 90 are high five figure stamps in ognh 90 but oglh is much more affordable.
The Columbians in today's Siegel sale (link) are superb and "relatively" affordable. Great entry point for someone thinking of dabbling. Be careful with so-called "catalog value" here. It's irrelevant. Siegel has links you can click to see what similar items have realized in the the past. Luckily for me I have essentially completed my set of Columbians, but the $2 is a beauty. I need it, but this copy is out of my price range. I think it will sell for ~$6000. Just to give you an idea of the disparity of values in stamps, you can buy a no gum, or lightly thinned $2 mint Columbian with half-decent centering for around $500. But this one is a gem. Have fun.
Whitman Brands: President/CEO (www.greysheet.com; www.whitman.com)
PNG: Executive Director (www.pngdealers.org)
Is there anything like a TrueView for stamps?
I have to say I'm fairly happy with scans of currency, where I do have a collection.