Why Topicals?

just wondering what brought people to decide on topicals? I am still learning but as I look around I find it harder and harder to limit myself to one country much less one topic parse.... LOL just wondering tell it like it is was or will be...

Hi bearwithfish,

Some people are interested in a particular subject,i.e.; cats, dogs, trains,etc. and are also interested in stamp collecting. That way they can 'have their cake and eat it too'. Topical collecting is very popular. Look at the ATA
http://www.americantopicalassn.org

list of handbooks (catalogs)
http://www.americantopicalassn.org/...okprices.pdf

to get an idea. Unfortunately you have to be ATA member to look at the check lists which out number the handbooks.

A lot of traditional stamp collectors also collect one or more topics according to their interests.

Jerry B

very interesting concept .. to some degree I am starting out the same way .. but wondered what got folks really centered on topical.... I am reading your links now... they look great so far

I think, in my opinion of course, that topicals became so popular simply because most collectors are finding it impossible to collect WW, let alone keep up with all the new issues that are coming out.

Therefore, having said this, I think that a lot of collectors decided to go for a topic because, by doing so, they could still have a good representation of the world and do not have to be complete. By being topical, you can also specialize more precisely too and go for better items etc.

My wife collects dogs and fish on stamps (plus the Vatican only) and has a good WW representtation in both topics.

The same can be said for those of us who choose to collect one or more 'specific' countries. Again, by doing so, we can specialize more and concentrate on better issues according to our pocket books.

Chimo

Bujutsu

hmm had not really thought of it from that view... I can now see the appeal of having a number of stamps from all over the world in such a context... thank you for the perspective.

I've been going topical more and more lately. At my local club over 50% do topicals exclusively. I was sorting my German stamps chronologically, then got to the modern section and had a change of heart -- Castles and building in one section -- People in another, wildlife and nature, transportation, art, etc. The great variety of subjects and abundant quantities of modern stamps makes sorting by topic, even for a single country, an interesting way to go.

Some also find topical collecting helped energize their collecting habits after focusing on WW or a single country for so long. Basically, they have collected all they could within their budget for said country. I collected US stamps for 25 years and was getting bored with just filling in the blanks so I turned to covers and pictorial postmarks. Then I began topically collecting Abraham Lincoln.

it would seem that a person such as me who needs things to be constantly evolving would benefit from doing this along with my US collection... that way as I build that one (slowly I am sure) I can set up a topical more in a free form style and continue the journey in ever growing spirals.... you guys realize the more I ask the more intrigued I become?