The Plan

lol in time we just got a massive amount from another source and we need to figure out those first lol.. gonna be searching for a catalog soon I think .... as for sorting I have a few methods I use and its probably more from a what I want to keep, then a set perspective and from there by what I intend to trade out right with little review lol.... some (those I recently received) will be sorted into more of a who they are from and simply kept... to honor those who have helped me and remind me how good people can be....

hmmmm I have an idea check your email in a bit

You seem pretty keen to sell so early into the hobby, I still haven't sold very much yet (only tried it once, did not seem to worth the effort with what I had to offer lol)...so I have just kept everything since then for swapping or just sending to people (what comes around goes around)

I do have a great item on delcampe at the moment though, which I will list here soon as I qualify.

Extras from kiloware lots I just send to charities, in Aus many raise a lil money re-selling them.

:)

Sorry, I forgot one of the points I was going to make: each issue usually has some more valuable varieties associated with it. There is a good book for Australian varieties but I cannot afford to get one yet, so I keep everything in case I have valuable stamp in there somewhere (yeah, I know...I live on hope! lol)

:)

i guess the intent came accross a bit off.... my intention to sell (more likely trade) is simply as a means to continue to move forward with the specific goals I have set in place... and I could not agree more with what goes around comes around and in fact many here have helped get me started and in turn I have gotten a few others started and continue to look for things for certain people with no intention of ever asking for anything in return.... please dont think of me as a greedy person (i dont think that is what you are saying) I am just becoming very focused and using the tools of the hobby to further the pursuit of it... lol ....

i apologize if I mis understood but I wanted to be out front about it.

as for living on hope I think we all do to some extent...

OH MY GOODNESS!i just got done (between work) creating the list for my flag book!! now I need to get home and check off those I have already..... also need to gain access to a catalog from 2001 to now to complete the list but this is one good start!! I included all stamps issued by the USPS with flags on them.... I have a few on the list I need to look up to identify the flag to be sure it belongs but wow approx 175 items and I want to get one example of each version (coil, sheet etc) so this is gonna take quite awhile lol ...

Edit: disregard this list I dont like the format and have an updated list getting posted soon..

Scott # Scott # Scott # Scott #

121 1348 2606 3403A
121A 1350 2607 3403B
131 1383 2608 3403C
288 1406 2609 3403D
301 1440 2616 3403E
319 1441 2714 3403F
372 1442 2841 3403G
537A 1509 2842 3403H
537B 1597 2881 3403I
537C 1598 2885 3403J
621 1618C 2886 3403K
628 1622 2879 3403L
628 1622C 2880 3403M
629 1623 2882 3403N
690 1623B 2883 3403O
727 1625 2884 3403P
775 1631 2885 3403Q
782 1686A-E 2886 3403R
903 1688A-E 2887 3403S
922 1704 2888 3403T
923 1890 2889 3417
929 1891 2890
938 1893 2891
944 1894 2892
951 1895 2913
962 1896 2914
976 2103 2915
990 2114 2915A
991 2115 2915B
992 2116 2915C
1004 2276 2915D
1010 2278 2916
1031 2280 2919
1094 2282 2920
1031A 2285A 2920D
1054A 2345 2921
1115 2346 2921B
1132 2406 2966
1153 2409 3091-3095
1197 2419 3130
1208 2475 3133
1249 2522 3277
1253 2523 3278
1320 2523A 3278F
1338 2528 3279
1338A 2531 3280
1338D 2593 3281
1338F 2593B 3282
1338G 2594 3283
1346 2605 3376


here is the list as of this moment lol .. will check them off when I have time tonight to go through the stock book...

Just to finish your list for calendar year 2000, add:

3448, 3449, 3450, 3451, 3452, 3453

Those 6 numbers listed above are for all one design of a non-denominated regular issue flag over farm stamp. All different in that they consist of different perfs, booklet, coil, etc. ... and that doesn't even get into the 2001 issues where the same stamp was reprinted with a denomination (3469 and 3470). In any event, you sure have your work cut out for you.

If I could make one suggestion, you need to be careful to list the Scott stamp numbers containing a suffix in the proper "case" (i.e. "UPPER CASE" versus "lower case" letters). There are exceptions, but generally an "UPPER CASE" suffix denotes an entirely new issue; a "lower case" suffix identifies just a variety of the same issue without the suffix.

Although that rule isn't always followed by Scott, it is good to start getting in the habit of recording those suffixes in the proper "case" or you'll wind up doing what I did (having to go back and change it all later on.)

thank you so much will put them in now!

It never even entered my mind!

I was just saying that I was afraid of accidentally getting rid of something of value...if anything I was being greedy!

Bearwithfish...I don't understand your list, My copy of Scott says #121 is a 30c stamp with CV $8,000 ?? and 121a has a CV of $12,000 ???? ....and what are the numbers that follow these?

they were in columns in my spread sheet and I copy and pasted it in while working I was not aware that they did not come out right.. I will fix it tomorrow.... lol.. and yes those are the right values.. I never said I would get the whole collection just wanted to include them all... as it turns out (been very busy tonight) some of those numbers are not correct at all... and I need to remove them when time permits...

fast update.. got in my wifes stock book and a new one for me as well!! started putting flag markers in the book and some of the ones I have on hand.. looking good so far... night all

To soak:

Research which stamps have fugitive inks (i.e. those that will be ruined by the water. 1883 Great Britain issues green and lilac with be significantly devalued by exposure to water). Post pictures here if you are not sure or perhaps someone could post details of US stamps that shouldn't be soaked.

Get some worthless and damaged stamps to practice, practice, practice.

Don't soak stamps with gum until you have checked the value of the gum. Many items are cancelled per favour in my area of interest, the gum 'proves' the use.

Separate stamps on coloured paper from those on white or buff
Test one stamp on coloured paper to see if the colour in the attached paper runs. Soak in matching colour lots. On coloured paper use very small batches.
Boil a kettle and pour into a bowl with a dot of detergent. Add cold water so the water in the bowl is just tolerable to touch.
Put in 15 stamps at a time (no more, be patient)
The heat of the water will separate the stamp from the paper quickly. Ensure all hinges etc are removed. Do not force the removal of anything from the stamp, let the heat of the water do the job.
Rinse the stamp in plain water
Place on drying paper to remove surface moisture
Place on another piece of drying paper and wait a couple of hours. You can put the stamps between two sheets of paper and put a weight on top, if you like.

no disrespect intended...

but I want to comment on a few points.. one I researched soaking a bit and tried a few ways and warm water (off the tap close to room temp) seems to be the standard and works quite well for me (i dont mind waiting. from all I have read boiling water will in fact create more issues than help with any. I agree with not forcing anything off a stamp (i learned the hard way) in fact it is often best to just wait until everything falls off on its own. I have set up sponges for drying and use one paper (stamp face down on it) and a piece of a gallon freezer bag on the backs (to protect any gum and keep it from sticking) and press for 24-72 hours
now I have heard about using soap and have not as yet for a few reasons.... 1) not many dirty stamps have found there way to me yet 2) the story behind how the dirt got there is an intrigue in its self.... was it children learning history? was it a person with limited abilities attempting to comunicate in there own way? one may never know but why wipe out the potential for a good run of imagination?

You seem to have a very good way with words bearwithfish. I feel like that with my coin collection as I don't want a pristine coin that I can't touch through the slab and wonder what story it could tell about its journey through time and geography to reach my humble little collection. just saying =]

thank you ILS.... I try to convey as much as possible