What Do You Do With Pairs, Strips, Odd Numbered Blocks?

Perhaps this was covered before, but I've been encountering this issue more and more as I accumulate/sort. Pairs, strips of 3 or 4 etc. What do you do with them? We'll assume used here, since it is usually preferrable to mount anything Mint. Do you seperate them for trade/duplicates, hinge them as is? etc. Just curious what your opinions might be. Any input appreciated, as always ~Ash

Well, I will most likely break down odd blocks into blocks of 4 or 6 as well as pairs and singles. That is, unless the odd stamp preserves a nice cancel, in which case, it stays as it is.

Similar to Smauggie, I would do it on a case-by-case basis. I like to keep postmarks intact on multiples. I also recently came across a block of 4 Welsh regional Machins (like a normal Machin but with a Welsh dragon symbol in the corner). Its unusual enough for me to keep it and add it to my Machin collection as it is. (This is where pre-printed albums get tricky..!)
But two or more stamps that don't appeal to me so much, perhaps, I would split them for trades without too much thought.

Hi lux1228,

In general I will split up a common block or strip, unless a large multiple is hard to find. If a plate block I will also leave it as is.

In instances where a watermark may cover multiple stamps, US and Mexico and Brazil come to mind, I would leave the strip or block as is. I assume keeping for watermark would be appropriate for other countries.

Jerry B

I never break apart any multiple. You can never put it back together and there will be one less multiple of your size. I treat each one as unique and necessary to be its own multiple. You can never make two blocks of four into a block of eight again! Just my humble opinion. - jeff

For me, the newer issues I do, and anything from the 70's on back I'll leave intact. I currently have an incomplete #750 A.P.S. Farley Issue imperforate souvenir sheet that should have 6 and mine has 4. I'm still debating on weather to separate the rest or just leave them intact. For 15 [+/-] years it's been as it is and I'll probably just err on the side of caution and let it be. Maybe a good trade article? We'll see.

Point taken Jeff.

When it comes to stamps issued before 1940 I am much less likely to break up the block.

For example, this is a block I would never have the heart to break up, even though it is covered with smudged rubber parcel cancels.

Generally speaking, in MOST cases, BLKs are more valuable & expensive than singles from the same issue ...


Cheers

Thanks for your input guys! ...now maybe some opinons for displaying/keeping them if they're kept intact?

I agree with Jeff Lovell,
I asked a similar question some years ago and Tony Mac
suggested to leave any multiples alone, why break it down
when singletons survive everywhere?
The multiple may be exactly what someone else desires.

I am a hinger, I hinge any multiples I particularly like
in my album at the appropriate postion, and pass on others that are duplicates.

I think ideal stamp husbandy would have you retain
stamps as found.