Starting to renew my stamp interests….
ambro51
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As a kid I had the standard stamp upbringing….world album, red album, stuffed orange bags, flat theme packs….and Geez the Approvals! Just about drove my mom crazy! I’d sit by the window just waiting for the mailman…..one day she seen him first and ran out screaming “No More Approvals!!!!!”. Anyway, a half century later I’m picking up a few bits and pieces. I had a bit of stamp collector left and over the years picked up the old stamp reprints, the Columbians, the 1901 inverts, the interesting things like the Jenny invert, a block of the diagonal $5 . So…….im picking up a few souvenir sheets featuring 19th century reissues. It’s mind blowingly cheap how these items are now. Basically all are plentiful for a few percent over postage values. ……looking forward to it 
Comments
Be selective and collect only what really interests you.
I might go for building up a postally used CSA set. •••• I do like the idea of using these higher denomination reprints as postage though (of course, I can write with a dip pen)
Ok. so.. I sent for the free Mystic stamp company catalog and it’s really informative and lots to offer. Of course, the ugly specter of the dreaded Approvals rears its ugly head. An assortment of stamps I have no need for. And a bill for $30. So, Mom, I’m sending these back :-). The catalog is awesome and a real must have for someone like me who’s out of touch with the current stamp market.
Wow. I didn't know they still were in business. Those catalogs bring back fond memories of my beginning collector days in the early 80's.
Will the supplies of three and four cent commemoratives ever run out?
I learned something from that catalog……that when the civil war started all previous US postage stamps were declared invalid for postage. Never knew that….
These arrived today, a few more incredibly cheap reprints. I love these, the artwork is stunning. All the beauty of these classics, so nice to study
There was honestly “hope” for them until first class postage crossed the 15--20 cent area. My Grandmother collected commemoratives from that era by the sheet. I wish she had splurged and got a sheet or two of $5 Hamiltons!
Mystic catalog stamp prices are way too high. The stamps that you received on approvals for $30 can be bought for below face value. Catalog is nice though.
The retail price of cheap stamps is almost entirely made up of charges for handling such material. When it comes time for the collector to sell they have almost no value.