Where To Start

I'm finding this community pretty user friendly so, I have some questions from an old, but returning to the hobby, but not sure where to go to get, person.

I live in northern Baltimore county, in Maryland. My grandmother and I use to go to two places to buy our stamps. Livingstons Stamps and Coins and believe it or not, Sears use to have a stamp collectors dept, but they are both gone.

If anyone from Maryland knows where the best places are to go in the northern section of Baltimore county to pick up supplies and to see whats out on the market, I'd appreciate it.

I know that with the use of the internet there must be some dealers that are out there, but as in all cases, I would want advise on the more reputable, online dealers. Who have you used and found to be pretty good?

Donna

Donna,

Basic supplies ie. hinges, mounts, tongs, stockbooks can sometimes be found at hobby stores such as Hobby Lobby. Also, try the APS's website and do a search for dealers, clubs, and societies in your area. Just click on the logo in the upper left hand corner of the screen. Subway stamp and coin supplies is a pretty good online company.

Donna, I live in the Hudson Valley of New York..we used to go down to Dutch Country Auctions in Wilmington Delaware..about 230 miles down the Jersey Turnpike...don't know if its ever worth a trip to you but they have a pretty well stocked shop for collectors..although there main money maker is the auctions every 6 or 7 weeks..we used to go down the day before and sort through boxes of stamps and covers...i have been there 5 or 6 times and the dealers from Baltimore and Philadelphia would come to bid there...they have a web site that should be easy to locate..try to root out a stamp club in your area....

Donna, heres a free plug for id Dougrugman on Bidstart.com my wife buys a lot from him..he starts items very low..sometimes one cent and lets the market determine the value..he charges 1.75 for shipping whatever you buy one item or many..but he lets her take her time and bid until she has enough to make shipping worthwhile..he has over 80 thousand positive feedbacks !

Hello Donna.....

Welcome to the club.........


Here's a couple of links you may find useful.....

http://subwaystamp.com/searchprods.asp
http://whitmanbooks.com/

ebay stamp categories....
http://stamps.listings.ebay.com/_W0...goryOverview

Publications & Supplies....
http://stamps.shop.ebay.com/Publica...=&_pcats=260

If there is something specific you need let us know.....we can usually find a decent deal on just about anything stamp related.

Donna,

So you live near Baltimore? Too far to go to DC? FYI, on June 4/5/6 there is a major stamp show in your vicinity the Napex: http://www.napex.org/

As someone who returned to stamps after a long sojourn, I think I can sympathize and would suggest you pay the show a visit. An excellent time to see stamp and stamp supply dealers. Most of all, to see materials and ask questions and get advise.

The days of the neighborhood stamp store are, for the most part, behind us, so the web suffices. But without hands on, you'll experiment and make mistakes. Go down to DC and spend some time, I don't think you'll regret it.

Best of luck,

Larry

I can 2nd phil's comments about DougRugMan. I've recently done a couple deals with him and have been quite impressed.

Thanks all for your responses. I know I can get a good basic point in the right direction from all here.

Stampude, Thanks. I did take a look at the APS site and I did see somethings that will be of use.

Philb, That would be a nice trip, but I am disabled and the last time I took a long distance trip gas was still under $2...lol I did sign up at Bidstart and checked out dugrugman. He does have a nice selection and he will probably be the first online dealer that I will try being I got another vote of confidence from cgrotha.

nr-notrare, I checked out all the sites that you listed and have saved them to my favorites. They all seemed very worth using and I do love ebay.

Larry, Believe me if I could travel I would, but unless my scooter can have booster rockets attached, I don't think that I will be able to make the show. I do know that when there is a stamp and coin exhibit, one of the places that they will hold it for my neck of the woods is in Timonium,Md. So, I'm hoping that there'll be a show scheduled sometime this summer. That I could get to.

cgrotha, being I did get that second "aye" from you dugrugman will probably be the one that I make my forst purchase of stamps from.

Donna, I am a little up the road from you in Cecil County, and there are events in Delaware that are worth attending, though not again until next April. Certainly worth a day trip.

Dave