Philatelic Book Recommendation

I just re-re-read a small book called Top Dollar Paid by S. Datz.

I highly recommend this $10 book for every collector - but especially new collectors who may have a misconception about the future worth of the collections they are putting together.

The author is a lifelong dealer and tells the unvarnished truth about the sell-ability of our collections/accumulations.

For example, he describes the process they use to value a MNH US collection from 1940 to date. Flip through quickly to make sure there are no big holes, and - Total = $80 to $100. Period. Used Total - $0 to $20. Period. Done.

I agree Swaubbie, it is a great book.

I have 2 books authored by Steven Datz and got them some years ago. If you ordered the book directly from him, you were able to get your name on the binding printed in gold.

He would look on the darker side of philately and had some interesting stories. If I remember correctly, he did a book or two on EFOs.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Stamps are a hobby ... not necessarily a means for a quick profit. If profit is the goal, most of us know there are much better investments available than common MNH US stamps.

While I don't doubt that the book may be a reality check to those who are thinking of US stamps as an investment, by the same token, I wouldn't want to discourage new collectors from the hobby just because of its monetary value. Stamp collecting is so much more, learning about history and great people of past generations, the detail in design and printing techniques used in the various printings of stamps, the relaxation provided to a collector in the time taken to sort and mount an attractive collection, the pleasure a collector has in showing off the material to friends and relatives, etc., etc., etc.

Without having read the book, I'm not sure how current it is, but would venture to guess that the statement about a U.S. MNH collection post-1940 being worth up to $100 catalog and $20 as an offer that a dealer may make is probably true through the 1970's or 1980's. However, with all of the high value stamps issued over the last 20+ years, the numbers should be higher, although I realize a dealer may not want the recent common stamps, even the ones of higher values.

I've seen a lot of posts lately about collectors altogether stopping their accumulation of new issues, or collecting only up to the end of the 20th century, or using low-value plate blocks for postage because of their being virtually valueless for sale to a dealer. I'd like to think that this trend will reverse itself at some point in the future, especially because such material will be harder to acquire in years to come and will ultimately drive prices up, though still not up to the level of investment status.

Thanks for reminding me, Swab - I just snagged one of his other books, The Wild Side, from my bookshelf, I am going to re-read it. I think first I got it about 20 years ago.

I think a lot of us (if not most )on this forum will be long gone before this happens.
Instead of selling my stuff to a dealer for such a measly amount I would rather give it away or burn it in the fireplace to keep me warm on a cold Canadian winter night.

...or give them to a kid or even an adult newbie stamp collector as a means to get others interested in the hobby (not for the value, but for the enjoyment)!

Everybody likes money. If I could enjoy my hobby and make my living by it, I think I would be very happy. As it is I make my living doing something less fun, and make up for that with stamp collecting. :o)

Datz meant the book, and I meant this post, to be a reality check. He encourages new collectors a great deal in the book - as he does in his others - and he recognizes the place low-cost material has in our hobby. I think very few of us collect for 'investment' purposes and he even discourages that.

He does suggest that those with the means buy the absolutely best material they can because the 'good stuff' is what will carry the best resale value.

Part of what he preaches is for us to be honest with ourselves and our families. He relates a story about a collection left to a spouse that had a totally unrealistic total value in the paperwork. The spouse was devastated when she found out what the collection would actually sell for. Those of us that are getting along in years need to take heed of that lesson.

His "On the Road" and "On the Wild Side" are fun reads also.