Stamp Enthusiasts Preserve Old Hobby In Digital Age

Here's an article on stamp collecting that appeared in a Massachusetts newspaper on October 27, 2011:

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps...03/110270362

The article started out well enough with an engaging title, but as I read it, the tone of the article seemed to have digressed noting that:






Maybe I'm being overly sensitive, but these sort of comments are exactly what discouraged and intimidated me when I was a young stamp collector.

Fortunately, the digital age has opened up access to websites such as SCF where both the advanced veteran collectors as well as beginners (so-called "neophytes" as mentioned in this article) can share their stamp collecting pursuits whether it be on a beginner or an advanced level.

I have to agree with WT. I always feel discouraged and annoyed by stamp dealers and fellow collectors who try to "school" me with their
knowledge and intimidate me. I try to be the same as the old Turkish stamp dealer I used to frequent. Unfortunately, he passed on but there was
never a stupid question and he was always willing to help me or give me advice or point me in the direction of those who could. I wish there were
more collectors and dealers like him. :)

Luckily there are - on SCF

Surprised they didn't mention Phil's Stamp Den in the city that paper is in. It's the stamp shop I've been to a couple times in the last month.

The problem is, that veteran collector was absolutely correct, most stamps, especially modern stamps, will never be worth much, sticking them on a letter is probably the best thing you can do if your only interest is making money collecting stamps. I see far too many people pop onto SCF with common stamps hoping for big bucks and then vanishing immediately when told their "amazing find" is worth a few cents at best.

The first thing we have to dissuade new collectors from is the idea that collecting stamps is going to make them rich, in fact they're certain to spend far, far more on their collection than they ever have a chance to make off of it. If they don't go into it with their eyes open and their focus on the enjoyment, not the enrichment, then we're really doing them a disservice.

I don't know where the myth came from that the age of a stamp determines its value. In my opinion, a catalog value is just what a person or group or people think a particular stamp is worth. If people think they can collect stamps "for money", they're going to be sadly mistaken. I suppose that goes with most collectables. The few "valuable" stamps I have, I've gotten on accident. I don't really look at catalog values all that much. For me, catalogs only serve to help me organize and identify stamps in my collection.

The article didn't follow along with the title (same as your title) but sounded a bit disgruntled. As if the author had tried to sell some stamps and had had the mistaken apprehension that he would receive catalogue value or 'what they are worth' which was naturally more in his eyes than in another's.

Or perhaps he is floundering about in the digital age as are a lot of us, missing the whole point of collecting stamps, that is the enjoying of what you have while you have it, and instead trying to chase the will o' the wisp of some imagined fantasy of what life should be and could be.

Life is life. Stamps are stamps. I like to collect them and enjoy them.

It is a shame in my thinking that this electronic age does not seem to produce things that last beyond four or so years. Art, paintings,stamps yes, but digital media decays and comes apart at the electronic seams in about four years.

Some try to collect it, no doubt, but you also have to collect the machines that play the media as those change every so many years also. Or is it months now?

Kind of different than stamps and letters and calligraphy and hand-written missives and notes and correspondence. Oh and scrolls and stone tablets too. Did I mention them?

Electronic devices can last. I still have my Dual 1228 player, my Roberts reel to reel and several tube radios from the 30's and my PC XT with dual floppies, all in good working condition. Though the reel to reel needs a new set of heads. I digress, age does not mean value, all the time. Rarity does mean value, all the time. Usually.

Stamps are no exception to this. A stamp collection needs new material if you want a "completed" album. There are many post 1940 stamps that fall into the rare category that I will never have. Specifically, the errors, the inverts, etc. It has been said that a collection is nothing but a toy to enjoy and sometimes to share. For some, its their collection of antique cars. Others, their stamps, radios, records, music, DVDs, etc.

Art

I believe that stamp collecting now is a much different thing than it was pre-Internet. I know that for my collection it wouldn't be as populated as it is had it not been for ebay. It seems that you can speed up the chase for stamps now that may have taken a lot longer in days gone by. We can search for practically any stamp that strikes our fancy and, more times than not, find it within a few minutes. Then the choice has to be made if one will pay that price. The journey is what I like about stamp collecting. Maybe I need to slow it down and savor the journey. Maybe back to approvals...
Anyway, just something that has crossed my mind more than once.

Ron, I agree with you. I am of two minds about internet and stamp collecting. One side of me says that it's an invaluable tool for research, acquiring supplies and filling up gaps in my collection etc. The other side says that it
has made it too easy and has semi converted collecting into an industry as opposed to a hobby. Approvals aren't an option for me because of my location, however I would love to find more trading partners. I still enjoy the nice 100 for 100 trade. I've got one partner in Egypt who I exchange scans of duplicates with and she crosses the oned she wants. In that aspect internet has been a positive thing. Still, I do miss the exotic "50 of mine for 50 of yours" site unseen days. :)

LOL




Exactly! I really don't give much of a hoot what any particular stamps worth is but I do care about what I'll need to part with in order to get the ones I need! ha-ha I must admit that I was all starry eyed when I first got my little collection in my lap but then I got a catalog- I started sorting them and then it happened..I noticed that "I only needed that one to finish this set" and "two of those to put here"...and it was ON.. I love to browse the internet auctions and spend hours looking for the one that will fit my budget and criteria for purchase. I make no bones about it I love the internet for stamping!
By the way, thanks to S.C.F. I have become much more confident and a lot more knowledgeable in what to look for and look out for when buying any stamps now. Thank you.

I don't think so. Methinks the writer is a we bit pompous.

well, speaking as one of the neophytes......being able to educate myself and network with veteran collectors has been priceless.

With my schedule constraints, I doubt I'd be able to pursue it otherwise.

Knowing next to nothing, I felt a bit intimidated coming on and asking what an expert would surely view as a stupid question. But everyone has been very helpful and patient.

Puts one at ease and encourages the novice to dig deeper...brings out the Sherlock Holmes in me!

I remember my first weeks when I was back in this hobby after several years. I was participating to some club meetings and it was just like that: they cared of me as a beginner just enough to try and sell me anything at the Michel price or beyond, without carrying much in rest.
Then I discovered some nice pages over the Internet, forums like this one, found many other places to buy my things. I should say that without Internet I will have maybe 1/10 of the stamps I have. Just because without it I can't spend more money to buy the stamps from local dealers on such premium prices. So, for me, Internet is a big plus: was the chance for me to buy from other collectors like me, at the collector prices. I was also enable to sell some of my extras to other collectors.
Still, at this club I was participated I found a nice dealer and he helped me on the beginning with many info about stamps, told me nice stories from the past regarding stamps.
Therefore both have something in plus or in minus. Internet destroyed this interpersonal exchange but offered the possibility of buying for real prices, market prices.
But what will be great? A club like this forum. What a nice thing should be...

lorrlis, IAWYC. I like that I can go online and find the nice people who will be patient enough to answer my "stupid" questions without giving me tassel and I can do it whenever I have time.

Wot!? Did someone ask a stupid question?? Wot!?

Just the kind we like here!