Hello From Alabama

just wanted to say hi and i'm glad I found this site.

i hope to start collecting first day covers and stamps (just not shure what I want to start with)

after reading a little on here I know I have alot to learn.so any advice y'all have for a total newbie would be welcome.

thanks,
T.J.

T.J., Welcome to the forum. There are a lot of very knowledgable people here that will do whatever they can to help you.

Russ,

thanks for the welcome. I appreciate it.

my Grandfather used to collect stamps and I guess that is what got me thinking about taking up the hobby.i remember looking at them with him.he had a bunch of yearly sets - i'm not shure what they are called- the stamps where in a folder that told about the stamp and the folder was in an envelope with the years date it came out in.

i know he used to buy them at the post office each year.if they still put out those sets I would like to start there.i'm just not shure what to ask for.

well I guess i've rambled on enough.
thanks again.
T.J.

Welcome T.J.

Several of us have been discussing how we first came to SCF; some of us remember specifics and others just remember we stumbled or googled across the site.

However we got here, we're all glad to be here and think SCF is the best forum around. I'm sure you'll feel the same way too.


KirkS

Welcome TJ

As to what to collect, just go with what you like. I like everything so I collect every stamp I can get my hands on. You'll find this a very fun and informative group.

Dianne

Welcome TJ. You've come to the right place! Don't be shy in asking any questions you might have. Its a wide ranging hobby and sometimes narrowing things down can be tough - it is for me! But all sides of the hobby are reflected here. Have a browse around the threads and get a feel for what interests and excites you.

Welcome to the forum.




Butch

thanks for the warm welcome.i appreciate it.

i have got a small start on First Day Covers but with stamps I am thinking of starting a topical collection with farming as the topic - I hope I can find some stamps with chickens on them.didn't they put out a Rhode Island state stamp with the Rhode Island Red on it?

again thanks for the welcome,
T.J.

Welcome T.J.

There are quite a few U.S. stamps with subjects related to farming so you shouldn't have any trouble getting started.

Send me your mailing address once you get 50 posts and I'll send you this Scott 968 for your topical collection!

Steve

tomiseksj,
that is extremely generous of you.thanks.i'll take you up on that offer.i saw that stamp in the postal service guide to U.S. stamps 1990 edition (i found that book in a box of my Grandfathers things) and that stamp made me think of doing farming/agriculture as a topic.

now I just need to get to 50 posts

thanks again,
T.J.

T.J.

My pleasure. You'll be at 50 posts in no time so start thinking about whether you'd like it mint or used.

Out of curiosity, I used the search function on the 2009 Scott's digital catalog and came up with 48 U.S. stamps that were directly linked to farming (search terms used were farm, poultry, corn, cattle, wheat, and crop).

You might think about starting a thread in the topical section to get a sense of what might be available worldwide.

Steve

Steve,

thanks again.i'll be thinking about that.

i'll also take your advice and start a thread in the topical section.

thanks again,
T.J.

TJ,
To help expand your topical collection you could search for covers with pictorial event postmarks. Everyother week on Thursdays at usps.com you can view the postal bulletin which lists the current postmarks available throughout the US. You have 30 days to send a stamped cover to the address and the postmaster will mail it back to you.

Also, take a look at the back of the book stamps for more issues related to farming and agriculture. You will be pleasantly surprised.

stamperdude,

will do.thanks for the help.iappreciate it.

T.J.

Welcome T.J. ! Glad to have you here.

Lots of chickens and farming worldwide also if you want to branch out into the whole world on that topic.

Some First Day Covers probably have pictures that include chickens also. Or you could make your own even.

Or make your own personalized stamps at Zazzle or many Post Offices worldwide.

Puzzler,
thanks for the welcome.i appreciate it.yes I am planning on branching out on the farm topic.chickens/poultry is at the top of my priority list but,i plan to collect all aspects of farming.

i really want the stamp (Scott 968) posted by tomiseksj as my avatar but I have not figured out how to do it yet.

thanks again,
T.J.