Perhaps this is useful info - I had written an article for the Precancel Forum Dec'2010 and received an email response asking for more info specifically about VT precancels. Here is my answer.
Hello D. – I am happy you found my article useful. Collecting by state-general is a lot of fun for the reasons mentioned. It is a hobby you can work on for years and make steady progress.
I collect Vermont myself, so I know more about it than most other states. VT has 244 towns and 491 types. It is one of the few states that has no scarce towns. It has a nice mix of older
pre-1908 issues, Washington/Franklins, middle period, modern, and even a DLE. There is some wallpaper from VT, but not as much as some states. As far as I know, there has not been much printed up from VT in the last 20 years [which many would consider a good situation]. There are many scarce types – including 2 "AA" meaning only one copy known. If you find another one of these you get your picture in the PSS Forum. I need 32 types from VT in my collection.
There is a general VT catalog [76 pages], by Crandall Wallenstein (deceased) 1982. It is very useful, but does not include a number of modern issues precancelled in the 1980's. Unfortunately, if it had been produced 10 years later it might have included nearly everything from VT. I use it as a checklist, and if I find modern issues not listed I just make a note "modern exist" and do not worry about them. Mike Hynes [
http://precanceled.com/?page_id=24] is the best source for old catalogs. Ask him to find you one and he should be able.
My friend in NJ Jack F. specializes in VT and we compare notes. I have been after him to create an up-to-date VT catalog – but we haven't started. Jack has a bigger collection than me, I forget how many, but its pretty big! By comparison, I think VT is smaller than AL (about 30,000 general) – but VT is over 20,000 for sure. My VT collection is fairly dormant without the expectation of big changes, so I have it hinged on looseleaf pages. It is in 6 binders of the 1.5 inch size. I haven't counted how many denominations.
As you might expect – I have some duplicate VT's available – Most are at 20%-less-than-PSS – odd denominations higher. If you are independently wealthy and hungry for VT – you could make an offer for my whole collection [I have learned in 50+ years of stamp collecting to not assume anything about the financial resources of collectors!] . It is usually best to start a state from an existing collection.
Hope this helps.
CharlieA
Posted 11/16/2010 4:27 pm
