The Thrill Of The Early Days Of Collecting

Every month the APS sends me a box of 17 or 18 circuit books with a net value of 3 to 4 thousand dollars which I bring to the two meetings per month for our members to go over...we are so jaded that out of all those stamps some months we do not buy the 20 dollar minimum...what also I can not buy back is the thrill of early collecting..seeing a beautiful stamp just out of my price range..perhaps costing two or three dollars and wanting it so badly..did the stamps seem more beautiful then in early collecting..perhaps its true what they say about familiarity !

That's probably just about true of any type of collecting or hobby, don't you think? I am a quilter, and I remember in the early days being so excited about designing and piecing a quilt that I would sew for hours without meals, etc. Now I have to be in the mood to sew! But, I read the posts and drool over the stamps that I see you guys and gals showing and get excited about STAMPS. Maybe, I could bottle up some of this and sell it

Thanks for all you do!
Gussyboy1

PhilB.. The circuit books, really go over very well at my stamp club.
However, the reason it does, is because the members, all 15, are allowed to take the circuits home, and look thru them for two days.

These are not APS circuits, but circuits made up by other stamp clubs.

There is a listing, taped to the box, with the members names, and when you are finished, with the circuit, you call the next person, on the list, and you drop it off to their home.

The stamp club purchases so much from these circuits, we get the return postage, refunded with the next order.

I guess a lot depends on the type of members that belong to each stamp club.

My club, is made up of mostly senior citizens, on a fixed incomes, who rarely make stamp shows, or purchase stamps off of the Internet.

So this is their only means of acquiring new material, for their collections.

Bobgggg the APS books are only insured in transit..i sign for them when the postman delivers them and I deliver them to the post office to be mailed signature confirmation..if one the members took an 800 dollar book home and it got lost...you know who would be on the hook with the APS !!

Phil..We have strict rules, if a member does not abide by them, they lose their privilege's [ re; circuit books ] for one year, and they can only look at a circuit at a club meeting.

Lets also keep in mind, that the total value, of the entire circuit is about 250-300 dollars.

In the two years, that I have belonged to my club, we have never had a problem.

Sounds like a great way to fill the holes in stamping.
There is no stamp club within two hours of where I live,
I go to two stamp shows are year, but it is not enough.

I understand what you're saying Phil. I guess that's why I've had several "vacations" from stamp collecting. When I come back it's like I've started all over again.

I still get a thrill out of looking for material I need, but I don't think I'll every have the childlike enthusiasm I did when I was a kid.

I've been collecting since about 1967. I have also taken a few vacations from my collection and returned to it with new excitement. But now that I'm much older, I have decided not to take those vacations any longer.....I have found a new drive and seriousness that keeps me at it weekly.