Where Does Kiloware Come From

It Pays to be Patient

Some 25 years ago a German philatelist bought a packet of postal
kiloware weighing 1 kilogramme (2.2 Ib), sealed by the West
German Post Office. He paid for the bag about 20.Deutsche Mark.
Today this would represent about Aus. $10 but 25 years ago the rate
of exchange of the Deutsche Mark was much lower and, in 1955, this
would have been only about £1.78.

There was nothing unusual about this man buying a kilogram of
postal sealed kiloware. This was and still is quite common. Many
other philatelists bought such bags of postal snippings. They then
went home, cut the seal and emptied the contents of the bag on the
table. Then they started sorting the material, soaking the stamps off
the paper, and so on and so forth. Everybody did it, kept the stamps
that were of interest for the collection, and sold or swapped the rest.
There was one exception, though, the man I am telling you about. He
never broke the seal, he never touched his bag, but let it rest and
mature like good brandy. Well, that untouched bag weighing 2.2 Ib,
was put up for sale last year in a German auction. It fetched the
incredible price of DM 3,700, representing then almost £1,000!

I am sure you would like to know what was in the bag, whether the
price paid for it was justified, whether it was a winner or a loser. I
admit, I would like to know as well, but we shall have to wait. The
new owner decided to do exactly the same thing. He will keep his
bag of kiloware unopened, and after a number of years he will put it
up for sale as it is, hoping for a handsome profit.

This little true story was published in Michel-Rundschau, the
monthly magazine of Schwaneberger Verlag GmbH, the publishers
of the Michel catalogue. If nothing else, this episode proves how
much stamps have gone up in price, what a good safeguard they are
against inflation.

Great story Rod, thanks for sharing.

I would think it's a case of perceived value versus true value, but then, are not most stamps that way? I know I would pay more for a stamp I really wanted.

I wonder if a 'sealed' (in plastic? will be worth more too? I think I'd rather be able to touch it if I paid a lot for it.

Doug

I agree Doug, I have always thought a stamp's worth is a
perceived value, I guess it has to be with any item that one exchanges with coin, catalogues will only ever be a guide,
the rest is up to the knowledge and depth of wallet.

I found the commentary to be a spotlight on my personality,
I wasn't sure it highlighted my cynicism, or my incurable
and insatiable curiosity.
I cannot believe the owner would leave it unopened,
for either of the above reasons.

I cannot believe he even paid that much for it, then leave it unopen.

yes I do it all the time all my year packs from usa and india are unopened they ight have rarities in there but who cares. you cant be sad or unhappy about an unopened bag it is full of possibilities.

yes I do it all the time all my year packs from usa and india are unopened they ight have rarities in there but who cares. you cant be sad or unhappy about an unopened bag it is full of possibilities.

"Kilo is a village in the Ciego de Ávila Province of Cuba. It is located in the northwest plain of Chambas Municipality and the nearest neighbor is Moron. Unfortunately, Kilo was destroyed by hurricane in 1985."

I'm sorry but, I had to do this. So, Kilo be no ware?

Nice to have a chuckle over Sunday brekky Donna,
Thanks

. . . good one.

And . . . the kilo ware in Kilo would be every where in the hurricane, ci?

Where oh where is the kilo ware?

The very first stamping experience at 4-5 years was an onion bag of Australian KGV reds, that would be about 5kgs of them or 20,ooo stamps on paper. I fell head over heels in love with my first payed job, which gave me the money to start my stamp collection.

This has affected the way I collect stamps. I always buy bulk, it is always totally interesting. I find it very hard to buy just a couple of stamps. When I found out that most people collect just one stamp of everything I went into shock and I still can not collect with this mind set. Kiloware to me has come from a dealer but now it must come from a charity. KGV bulk buying is a true art form for me. Auction people I use get a lot of questions from me no matter what I buy in bulk. If they tell me the wrong information and I buy it I just send it straight back. Some auctions will no longer except bids from me because I will not accept their over described rubbish. In recent times I found a dealer who liked my approach and is very kind to me. I get a phone call when something special comes in and he beats auction prices by a long way, to the point that auctions are nearly a thing of the past to me.I am just a bulk stamp collector. In Aussie a stamp collection is not an asset, it is a very nice law
as I can sell my collection and not my stock. One of the best parts of being a bulk stamp collector. My 2 cents worth on Kiloware. Happy stamping KGV

What treasures might await you if you were to get your hands on an unopened kiloware packet that was put together in about 1890... who knows, there might even be a 1c Z grill or some other such rarity in that pile! There had to be more than 2 of those at some point in the distant past...

-Allen

"I think we must be losing our touch here... how has this thread gone so long without a joke. Son, kiloware comes from when the mother stamp collection gets too close to the father stamp collection and they both become unhinged... ok, I know it's corny, but it was just too much to let it pass...

-Allen"

But Allen, didn't those stamps have to be mounted?

...and one more and then I will go stand in corner.

I wonder if Kilo is any relation to Dela, Dela Ware?