If they were as popular as coins, would you collect stamps?
topstuf
Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭
Well, would you?
If they were as popular as coins, would you collect stamps?
This is a private poll: no-one will see what you voted for.
0
Comments
Coins got stamps licked.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
I had a collection of stamps as a kid. I don't have any now...
I started collecting stamps and coins in unison, when I was a kid.
I gravitated more towards coins, even when stamps were still popular.
Sometimes, it’s better to be LUCKY than good. 🍀 🍺👍
My Full Walker Registry Set (1916-1947):
https://www.ngccoin.com/registry/competitive-sets/16292/
There was a time when stamps were "Americana" at it's finest showing all types of American history and American accomplishments to be sent all around the world. We all love our toned coins but if not for toning all coins would be plain silver, gold or copper. Toned coins are the only difference we can find for a 100 year plus series other than date or mint mark. Stamps came in a variety of colors. Please note that I am talking about classic U.S. stamps...not modern day "dreck" (where have I heard that word?) O.K....That's it...my Four Cents for a Friday Night...Take care...(I love my coins too).
"the rare stamp pic on the coin forum"
CC
Yes.
I would also collect them if they were not as popular.
In other words, I collect stamps already.
Typically those that are related to currency, banking, mining, and/or Colorado.
Here is an excerpt from a previous post I made that wasn't in a thread about stamps specifically:
Some say that stamp collecting is "dead". But there are collectors for this type of thing because it is still significantly valued and because it is genuinely rare. Cancelled stamps that have been removed from an envelope can (rarely) have value. Rare stamps that are still "on cover" (entire envelope, or in this case a shipping tag, with stamp, addresses, postmarks, etc) are always worth more. Sometimes a lot more. This particular tag is interesting because it has a block of four of the $1 violet-black Franklin "perf 10" (10 perforations per two centimeters) issue of 1916, (Scott Catalog #478). One of these used on-cover is rare. A block of four on cover is extremely rare. The tag also has a 20-cent light-ultramarine Franklin "perf 11" issue of 1917 (Scott Catalog #515), a 50-cent red-violet Franklin "perf 11" issue of 1917 (Scott Catalog #517), and a pair of 2-cent carmine Washington offset printing plate type VI (Scott catalog #528A). At the time (1921) the first class letter rate was 2-cents. So most 2-cent stamps of the era are quite common (although the 528A version is a little bit scarcer). Higher-denomination stamps are generally rarer, especially on cover.
I have always thought currency collectors were smarter than coin collectors... and stamp collectors were of higher intelligence of all.
I had good currency collection, but was always nervous handling them raw... one spilled soda and you were toast at least with coins you can dip them... haha.
I fell like stamps would be the same.
I like stamps also.
I have a friend who had been buying (bulk, at auction and selling on E-Bay) stamps for at least the past 10 years. As a seller you work yourself sick taking and posting pictures to sell a stamp for $1.99. The flip side is that stamps, while not popular in America are very popular elsewhere in the world.
The difficult thing with stamps is that every country comes out with multiple new issues every year. There are probably 100 times more stamps to learn then coins to learn worldwide.
In answer to the question, no. Stamps (while popular) are too much work.
I collected both stamps and coins roughly from age 8 to 12, then focused on coins after that. Now, almost 40 years later, I recently inherited my great uncle and dad’s collections. Tons of covers. Singles and plate blocks more or less complete from the teens to late 70s with sporadic earlier stuff. I spent some time combining them (in the Harris single and plate block albums), but just can’t bring myself to fill holes or spend serious money on it, because I want to keep my powder dry for coin purchases.
I've always admired the artistic merit of the pre-1975 stamps. The coin related,space exploration, types in particular. Many issues with their vibrant color are quite striking. Throw in their historical references and it adds up to a nice collectible. Granted, the values may not be there as much as they once were, but in many examples they reflect our history in picture form.
I DO collect stamps, albeit on a much smaller scale than coins.
Nope. No appeal to me at all.
Stamp collectors easily become unhinged.
I bought a collection of stamps at a thrift awhile back and was completely hooked. I spent hours sorting them and identifying them. It was great fun however when it came time to finding watermarks I became disinterested it was so much work to identify a stamp worth no more than 10 cents if even that much. I still love the look of them though, a neatly organized stamp stock book looks amazing with all the different colors and artwork of each.
Is there anything like exophilately? Are there pattern stamps, territorial stamps, private stamps, so-called stamps or others?
They are and I do!
No. Stamp pricing guides have allowed themselves to be a joke and in the world of most stamps, that means the prices quoted are far, far too high.
Anyone remember Afinsa / Escala? They were formerly the world's 3rd largest collectibles company, behind Sotheby's and Christie's.
I collect stamps but can only work on them in the summer, when the air conditioner is on. Otherwise my fan blows them all around. I would probably put them as my #4 hobby right now but beyond #1 the other hobbies are fluid in that they can swing from taking up every waking moment to not thinking about them at all, for months at a time. For example right now numismatics is #2. But two months ago and for the last 4 years give or take they would have been no higher than #5, behind stamps. I have so many things I'm interested in and not enough time in the day to enjoy them all. Or money to keep them all you guys, lol. My active hobby list is 8 long, but one is mostly retired for health reasons that prevent me from taking part.
Nope !!!
Colllected them many years ago...all were stolen and never recovered!
I do not collect stamps, though I have some. I have a sheet of the bi-centennial stamps, and a couple of other unique one's that caught my attention over the years....I prefer coins though.. Preferably gold and silver... and large...
Though early copper certainly gets my attention.... 
Yeah, just a coin nut. Well, I also collect firearms, marbles, old decks of playing cards and silver tankards. Stamps never 'hooked' me... Cheers, RickO
Been there done that.
Bob
Lordmarcovan, WTCG, YogiBerraFan, Phoenin21, LindeDad, Coll3ctor, blue594, robkoll, Mike Dixon, BloodMan, Flakthat and others.
Yes, but very selectively. I have a nice Lincoln-related philately collection assembled over many years that I'm hoping my great great grandchildren may get something out of. If stamps were at all viable, I would add to that collection.
I really like this stamp. A blown up version would make a nice picture in a den.
Great transactions with oih82w8, JasonGaming, Moose1913.
I collected some stamps as a kid, but coins won me over 'cause that's where the money is.
I knew it would happen.
No.
Short answer: yes.
stamps? no thanks its not for me. just saying
Your premise may be flawed. There are probably as many stamp collectors as coin collectors. ANA membership is about 25,000 and APS membership is about 27,000.
The problem with stamps is a glut of supply. Stamp runs, even going back a century, could be in the billions.
A genuine rider carried pony express cover would interest me.
Always has.
Doubt I'd pay the price though.
I tried stamp collecting when I was kid, and I just could never get into it. The only stamps I have now are one 3 cent stamp from the Civil War era because they were used in place of coins and a couple of pieces of encased postage.
You can do both at the same time:
During the Civil War, and the subsequent hoarding of all federal coinage and precious metal, many business went to alternate forms of payment in commerce. Tokens and encased postal stamps were away to make change when even copper cents were "put away."
Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."
These are cool. I've seen them around and I'm interested in them but haven't picked one up. Does PCGS slab them?
I did collect stamps in the early 1970's. I used to collect plate blocks, and first day covers.
It was easy for me to get my plate blocks.........I worked for the Post Office.
The practice faded with time. I started taking more of an interest in Girls.
Pete
Anyone collect Postage Currency tokens? I've always thought these were neat. Here's a Civil War era piece from Heritage.
When the different types of stamps became too numerous to keep up with, I lost interest.
Several years back I posted a diatribe about how much I hate stamps. Couldn't find it on a search just now. The long and short:
Stamps barely predate the California gold rush. Compare them to coins, which have witnessed the greatest events in human history going back thousands of years. Coins drove exploration to new worlds, fought battles and bought peace. Coins were a store of absolute wealth: used, melted, forged, remade, reused. All the while treasured and lusted after--while stamps are fragile, fiat little nothings, at best made to be used exactly once, in an ancillary role for the most mundane of tasks, after which they literally become garbage. Coins have been dug from the ground, pulled from the depths of the oceans, punched, quartered, and these scars just add to their romance and value. But stamps? Too warm? Ruined. Wet? Ruined. Sun? Ruined. A little humidity? Ruined. Think about it: Stamps' highest, best use, their raison d'etre, is literally for you to spit on them.
I'm actually offended that the term "Coins & Stamps" or, shudder, vice-versa, is so widely used when they have zero in common.
--Severian the Lame
No, I keep using them to send my coins to PCGS.
about 80 years ago, the were more popular than coins ... what happened?
I think that the Post Office Department killed the goose that was laying the golden eggs for them by issuing way too many stamp varieties, many of which had really poor designs. In the old days you could buy plate blocks for 4 times the current postage rate. Then the Post Office made so you had to buy a whole darn sheet. Collectors just got tired of it.
I have expressed the same concerns about what the U.S. is doing with commemorative coins and everything else they issue every year. It now costs over $30,000 per year to keep up with it.
It also didn't help when the stamp price catalog got so far out of whack. When the retail prices got to be 20 or 25 percent of the catalog listings, you knew the “Red Book” of stamps was not worth the paper it was printed upon.
Historical documents with stamps can tell quite a story, and the stories are what can make items valuable.
Also, a lot of paper documents have survived in better condition than coins of the era. So while paper is fragile, coins can also suffer other forms of degradation. For example, there are a lot of Revolutionary War era documents that have survived in pretty nice condition, while a lot of the Colonial copper coins are corroded or otherwise poor condition.
The field of "stamps" is a lot more than just "postage stamps". Prior to about 1901, when there was no federal income tax, the US Government raised revenues by taxing various transactions and documents, such as stock certificates, bonds, insurance policies, etc. The party responsible for paying the tax would purchase the appropriate revenue stamp, affix it to the item or document, and cancel it. Commercial products were required to have revenue stamps attached. The denomination of the stamp dependent upon the sales price of the item.
Here are some examples:
1864 2-cent "Bank Check" revenue with cancellation by E.H. Gruber (of Clark Gruber fame):
Another E.H. Gruber, this time a 5-cent Inland Exchange:
Too bad neither of the above are still attached to the original document.
Here is an example of a taxed product. It is an 1866 Carte de vistie (CDV) which is an early version of a photographic "collector" or souvenir card. These were the first form of collectible cards. This particular one shows the US Denver Mint building during the mysterious interim period after Clark Gruber but before the construction of the current 1905-vintage building. The 3-cent revenue stamp indicates that this product would have originally been priced at 25-cents to 50-cents. I was never actually sure that the various photographs of this building were that of the US Denver Mint until I found this card. The hand-writing on the back states: "U.S. Mint / Denver CT" (Colorado Territory). The pen cancellation on the stamp is "WGC [William Gunnison Chamberlain (photographer)] April 1866".
Here is yet another type of revenue document. Most people are aware of Roosevelt's 1933 gold confiscation. But most people aren't aware that the administration was concerned that if gold ownership was outlawed, people would just switch to silver. So a "Silver Tax" was initiated. If a large silver bullion transaction was undertaken, the seller would have to file a document such as this and affix tax stamps to the tune of a full 50% of the profit ! Even if there was no profit, the form still had to be filed with, at least, a once-cent Silver Tax stamp affixed. The Silver Tax was enforced from 1934 to 1963. Silver Tax stamps are generally scarce, and the full documents are rare. This particular document has some high-value stamps on it, including a $500 and a $100.
No. I played around with stamps when I was a little kid. There was a stationary store in town that sold BIG bags of stamps really cheap. They had to be cheap because I bought them and my family was dirt poor. They were BORING. Then, when I was around 9 years old or so, I spotted a Barber dime for sale in the same store. It was for sale for 12¢-15¢. I bought it with my "milking money." That's what the old folks called the allowance I got for getting up at 5 in the morning to help with the milking. After buying that dime, it was off to the races. I still have that dime. It's the most important thing I ever bought in My life. It's the reason that I'm fabulously wealthy today. No joke. STAMPS SUCK!
5000 "All Different" ...packets.... only took about 6 weeks to "process."
Stamps have been dead .. are dead ..will not rise ....no kids collect stamps next to no adults collect them.. can still buy mint stamps from the 1940s, at face
Actually, this is something of a misunderstanding of philately which predates "stamps" by centuries.
It also makes little difference if coins are 2500 years old if I collect Morgan $s (younger than stamps) or virtually any U.S. material which is younger than postal service.
Excellent and well stated.
I assume all of those who are peeing on philately drive their coins directly to and from PCGS?
Weird thing about stamps is that small kids LOVE stickers far more than they like coins.
As many adults collect stamps as collect coins.
If you are buying mint stamps from the 1940s at face, you are overpaying.