Collecting And Duplicates

I'm still in the process of sorting a large number of British stamps (mostly King Edward onwards) and have an incredible number of duplicates of certain issues.

I'm just a little stuck in the aim of the collection - do you aim to have duplicates (of varying quality, trying for the best) or just aim to collect one of each and be happy with that? I don't think it's something that is ever emphasised in the entries I've read in books, online about collecting in general.

Duplicates are inevitable in collections and yes, do keep some in a stockbook and aim to collect the best for your personal collection, with the remainders being available for trade to fellow stamp collectors in order to enhance your own collection.

That being said, there are always those very common stamps that can easily multiply into the tens or hundreds or even thousands of copies that you will have to decide later on as to how you want to manage. Of course, there are always young people starting out on a collection that you can help by providing them your duplicates and there are often donation sites and/or charitable causes that will take duplicates off of your hands (i.e. Boy Scouts, for one example.)

In my opinion (and as I have said on many other threads), collect what you like and how you like, that's what is most important!

You will find your collecting will change if you persevere,
it's an ongoing journey.
I consider a duplicate only when the basic stamp has nothing to
offer over that of a similar piece.
You can sell, auction or whatever those duplicates.

Other duplicates may offer perf changes, part postmarks
auxilliary marks or whatever, this is interesting information
if you get deeper than just a "the best stamp quality possible" collection
in that particular issue.
But most collections start that way.

Don't be afraid to have duplicates, they don't cost much
and are easily stored.

I am a newbie collector who has inherited some stamps I want to sort and add to. This is my advice based on what I have discovered so far in this process.

Duplicates can be interesting if they have different cancellations, overprints or perfins. I always keep these.

Often stamps which look to be identical at first have subtle differences, this can be an area of interest. Some people collect hundreds/thousands of a single type of stamp, as they like to do the research and have copies of every conceivable paper type/colour variation/error etc.

If you are still unsure of the direction your collection will take you, Don't be in a rush to get rid of anything. Interests change and develop as knowledge grows. There are no rules to what and how you collect. You have to work out your own aims, and this can take time.

Hi! and Welcome ackeiyword!

Most of my duplicate sets of Aust KGVs will never end.

That is why they are so special for me to collect.

They can take all my stamps, except for my Aust KGV penny reds!

KGV

I'll be calling tomorrow then John,
please have them packaged and on the front porch.

Rod you are starting to sound like..well nevermind...when I got back into collecting I used to think it was smart to purchase file drawers full of duplicates..oh I would be a part time dealer one day..it finally dawned on me that I was purchasing the same duplicates as everyone else...one of a type of stamp is good..having 99 of them left over is not..but heres one stamp I buy over and over again Guatemala Scott #118 or its overprinted versions #133 and #145 !

That's a great stamp, phil.

Ack', your final decision on how you want to proceed will be the only right answer. Plenty of collectors are happy with one of each example. As an example, with King George V, many collectors ignore watermarks and shades and stick with going for each stamp that looks different.

When you have many duplicate GB stamps, you can spread them out and really start to see the different shades. Then, some will also have interesting cancels. You might decide that it is perfectly reasonable to have forty or fifty KGV 1d stamps in your album. Or not.

Hi

As stated earlier, duplicates are inevitable.

As for collecting them or not is the right way to go, that is entirely up to you. If you feel you want duplication, then that's fine. We have a member in our local club who feels that one stamp is enough and he is entitled to that train of thought. There are others who want duplicates. For me, I want duplicated because it gives me trading poterntial for other items I neecd in my collection.

Again, we should go back to basics and remind ourselves that collecting stamps is a hobby and we collect therm in the manner we individually see fit.

Chimo

Bujutsu

I love the openness of this group - yeah, just collect how and what you like. I've got some pages of almost identical early USA, with subtly different tones and cancellations, that tI think look great on black stock leaves. But that's my taste, you just do exactly what you want, Ack....!