Topicals As A Discussion.

Topicals seem to be the creative area of stamp collecting. There is an endless variation to collect. There have been a lot of creative streaks coming out of making your own album pages & trying to start young ones in stamping. But topical collectors have to be the best when it comes to creativity in stamping. It would be nice to hear from some collectors & it would be nice to know more about this topic. Happy stamping. KGV

John,
this is the place to go, to see guys and gals
at the top of their game.

It doesn't get much better than this.

One of my favourites, Daniel Olsen's VW (beetle) topical.

http://www.japhila.cz/hof/0155/index0155a.htm

Now that is the sort of a collection that makes you think.
That is one amazing collection. Thanks Rod.

After 20 years as a general USA collector I was just becoming a robotic space filler. I found that topical collecting brought new life into my hobby and expanded my knowledge to other areas of philatetic pursuits. I started looking at pictorial postmarks, event covers, precancels, cachets, cinderella's, foreign stamps, post cards, and postal history. Now I've found that my general collection has suffered and been pushed to the side. The thrill of the hunt is still going strong in regards to my Abraham Lincoln topical collection and Route 66 thematic collection.

Hi All

My wife and I both collect a topic. Hers is dogs and sealife. My wife started those topics because she used to have aquariums around the house when I met her and when she saw my generall collection asked me if there is fish and sealife on stamps amd we all know the answer to that question <G>. We are also registered breeders for Tibetan Spaniels and that got her started with the dogs.

While I collect only 10 countries, I do also collect Martial Arts on stamps and that stemmed from the fact that I have been into karate for a number of years and I still instruct(This is why I chose the nick "Bujutsu in here, Bu = Martial, Jutsu = Arts). Canada issued a martial arts stamp in 1975 and that was Unitrade / Scott #B9 and others have been issued in Canada since. I had the stamp in my collection for years and later on I started to think that it would be great to get stamps that covered all aspects of the sport. So, now I get WW stamps with that topic whenever I can.

On top of the above, I also have my postal history interests as well. They all keep me happy and broke at the same time - well almost broke lol.

Chimo

Bujutsu

KGV - I started as a country collector, but ultimately found it getting boring (I like Stamperdude's description of "just becoming a robotic space filler"!). It also has the risk of getting obsessive and focussing on getting completion.

So when I took up collecting again I chose to have mainly topical collections, but just following my inclinations - going for stamps and themes that I liked, finding interesting groups of stamps, and just letting the collection grow. It's creative, fun, draws in family and friends (much more fun to look at an album of birds or paintings than a collection of stamps of one country by date).

And I can pick up a new collection, or abandon an old one I am no longer interested in, just as I want. So it's relaxing too. And by having a lot of topical collections on the go, and new lot of stamps will mostly end up somewhere rather than being reluctantly abandoned.

But the great thing about stamps is that it is so individual. So just do what you like!

I always wondered about that,
I thought perhaps you were part Japanese

I agree with you David,
let it all go, as soon as one over fixates on quality,
rare items, price et al, it creates a load for the shoulders,
we don't need that.
I still have to pull myself up on occaisions.

If you would abolish avarice, you must abolish its mother, luxury.

I have 4 topical collections. My Europa collection is very interesting with a different theme every year. I spend allot of time working on it and it is now a very big collection. I make my page putting a description for every stamp. It's allot of research some time and also I translate all in french. I do the same for my 3 others topical collections (Tall ships, painting and Expo 67). About the Tall ships, I visit "Tall Ships on the Quays" here in Montreal last September. After seeing tall ships on stamps and on cover I got to visit some real one and even talk with crew members. I really like that. Daniel

LOL

Close, but no cigar Rod

Chimo

Bujutsu

Sorry for jumping into this thread off-topic...but I just wanted Rod to know that I have not yet rec'd an email from him so I can send some mgware.

Oops thanks Pete!
It's Christmas, I don't know if I am coming or going.

Spent today delivering some hampers and pressies
to the poor.
Some of the looks you see, make it so worthwhile.

My collecting topics are:
"Penny black" replica's .
As boy growing up in England, I would take the bus into town and visit a stamp shop,I remember a display of real stamps on his wall.
A vivid memory still, after over sixty years.
My second collection:
"Stamps on stamps" sometimes I call it my"Poor" mans collection, All those #1s that are beyond my purse.
Thirdly:
My wife,Pat,Collects Dogs due to our love of them.
we have been Married for 47 years and have dogs throughout this time.
as far as displaying,I use "Rapkin" loose leaf pages with Showgard Mounts in The "Rapkin" album.
David-DJD

..and which Rapkin may that be ?

That would be this one.

David-DJD

I collect U.S. only but still consider myself a topical collector with these albums; bureau precancels, letter and number cancels, RPO and HPO items, electric eye and marginal markings (used) and railroad perfins (all U.S. of course).

I like the tactile feel of the loose leaf,
and the smell and the look of the pages,
but always feel the stamps are at risk
when turning over the pages.