The State Of My Collection

I'm getting introspective about my collection. When I returned to stamp collecting a year ago, after being away from it for over 30 years, I decided to focus and collect US and Canadian stamps up to 1960 - an arbitrary date.
In a very short time my sphere of collecting, as I've called it has expanded - Confederate States, US in Hawaii and Philippines, Canadian provinces, and a burgeoning UN collection. Oh, and covers too. Also been trying to start a little autograph collection, but it's still in the glassine.
I've been selling off a lot of other accumulated pieces to finance the rest of the collection. Selling here and on ebay, it's good to see them go to homes where they will be appreciated.
And admittedly it's sometimes hard to let some items go. They are just really beautiful or interesting, but off they go. I posted a couple of interesting revenues yesterday, to find out about them, and as usual, the SCF community has been knowledgeable and forthcoming with information. But it's got me thinking again.
Maybe I should hang on to some of the interesting bits, just because they're interesting. Maybe some vario pages chocked full of odds and ends, just because. I've got some old stamps inherited from my Dad that don't fit anywhere. This could be their new home.
Anyway, just some thoughts for a rainy Saturday morning. If you've made it to the end of this post, thanks for being patient. Now I've got to break it to the wife that the collection is expanding again.
Have a nice weekend.
James

james, be careful of the "I just don't understand" stare. My wife gives them to me all the time. I have a whole collection. WOW another collection hobby! Must get pictures!

I think it is a good idea, jamesw. Myself I put aside those stamps, covers etc. that gets my interest, and don't fit into any of my collections. I think its add to the enjoyment to have a bits and odd pieces from here and there. Of course, I can't keep everything, but some I can keep.

James, I keep all the odd bits with an interesting story regardless of whether I collect that area or not. I am so haphazard with my buying that sometimes I get accused of buying "noddy" stamps. I like to think I have a few unique items and makes for interesting conversation with non-philatelic friends.

Keep 'em all !

Drew

James,

I'll just tell you a short story happened to me ...

I used to be a philatelist & was specializing in Egyptian Philately. Anyway, once, I purchased some rare items from a dealer I knew.

He gave me a full Cinderella set of WIPA 1933 M/S as a gift (I've scanned one), you know?! I didn't know at the beginning what to do with them & was about to give them away.

Although, I was hooked the first time I saw them but unfortunately, they didn't fit my collection. Eventually, I decided to keep them a side.

After years & after I gave up my Egypt collection, I became something like Philatelic Cinderellas & Labels addicted! At the time being, I'm trying to expand my collection extensively by such stunning items!

If you asked me years ago, would I be interested in such a topic, my answer would be "NO way in hell"!




Cheers

I think there may be at least one other person who meets that description

Where's he? I miss him!

Can't wait to see his "new" acquisitions just to tease me!

Hi! James
My whole family have recently put all of my stamp collection together in the one spot, that being the best part of the lounge room. Then the torture started; there were 6 people and just me, what hope did I have? An official family meeting was in progress about my stamp collection. After much talk the whole family(including me) decided that the many needs of our family would hopefully be met by selling the best part of the collection.
I still get that sinking feeling when I let go something I really like.
The stamp selling has already helped a great deal. I can still buy at auction and have a little collection to enjoy. And my wife is happy as she gets to say where and who the proceeds go to.

Well, KGV, my wife is always threatening to sell my stuff, but it hasn't come to that yet. Luckily, the stamp collection doesn't take up a lot of room.
I've set aside some of the interesting pieces that don't fit, and I'll make them fit elsewhere. A home of their own, I think. And I'll keep selling the stuff I don't want, because, wouldn't you know, there's always something else popping up that is just that much more interesting.
Cheers.

Good one jamesw!

To my wife I say that this would be good bunch
of stamps to keep if the worst was to happen.

My wife's reply is that if the worst happened
I will burn all the stamps to keep warm. I will, I will, I will.

The last lot of stamps she sorted took many
months and it still has an effect on her.

I remember when I came back to collecting. It was not long after I decide to stop playing PC games, many many PC games. One night I look in my old UN and Canada Albums I on the same shelf for more than 25 years without touching them. Didn't seem appealing to me then. It took about 2 weeks before I decide to go buy some UN stamps. But still I was not addicted to stamps.

I heard about ebay but never visit the website. So as a newbie I participate to my first stamp auction, Olympic stamps. I discover AlbumEasy, the freeware to make your own album pages. And I start collecting only that.

I don't think anyone can become a collector. I think it's in your genes. One of my best friend has been a stamps collector when he was a teenager/young adult. When he visit me he's always willing to look at my new acquisitions and never criticize me about the money I spend on stamps. I may be poorer when I get old spending so much on stamps in the present but at least I don't spend all my evenings like a lazy cow in front of the tv screen.

Hi James:

When in doubt, DON'T. Just put them in a stock book, album, etc.. and, as they say in RI, "Forgetaboutit". Down the road you'll be glad you saved them.

I have a few oddities that I've picked up over the years. They may not fit into my over all collection but they are certainly interesting! For example, I read a very cool book on the philatelic history of Sanitary Fairs (Civil War). Sometime later I had the opportunity to buy some of the Cinderella stamps produced specifically for these events. It's pretty scarce material but not especially expensive so I bought it. Point being, accumulation is ok if you enjoy it!

I have been trying for 15 minutes to attach photos but all I get is this message:

Error: Filenames must not be blank, contain spaces, or contain any special characters. Letters and numbers only please.

Any help would be appreciated!

Wow, that was a chore but now I get it. Bit of a learning curve on uploading images

Here are my Sanitary Fair stamps. Not part of any of my "collections", but way interesting!

Grayslate
Beautiful stamps. Never seen those but not sure about the design. What do you see with your magnifier?
Oh now I see! It's a bird.

Hi timbres667

U.S. Civil War period (1861-1865) so the design is typical Union theme. American Eagle, starts and strips, flags, shield, etc.

These Cinderellas were receipts for charity but also used on cover, along with legal postage, and mailed from various Sanitary Fairs around the country. There are some very nice frankings available with cool conner cards. When you can find these covers be prepared to open your wallet, wide!