Building The Early Years

I have ordered all of the commemoratives up to 1970. I search pretty hard to find what I thought were good prices on MNH stamps. Once I found the right supplier I was set. The difference in supplier prices can be a lot for normal MNH stamps.

This is my base for my advancement of my collection from used to MNH, it really isn't a large investment of money when just replacing the commemoratives. Look at it as a few tanks of gas if you own a pickup truck like me.

Now here is the tricky part filling the real early years mid 1800 to around 1930. I have accepted that some stamps will be out of my reach and that others I may have to buy used stamps.

I looking for good sources to try and obtain these stamps. I found stampwants that looks like it might be a good start.

I'm looking for good grading of stamps but not the extreme best grading. I know this will take more than a few years to build this part since just few of even the lower ones will be more than the cost of the stamps I bought between 1933 and 1970.

For now I'm looking at individual stamps no higher than $40. I thought it would be a little fun to start searching and shopping for the best value since I will be working in the higher value area.

So any good resources would be helpful along with any tips since I am now out of a strong knowledge with these stamps. Just remember I'm a commemorative stamp guy and that is where my full knowledge is.

I do know how to tell the different in types and style of these stamps though. I'm just way off when it comes to market value and places to look for them. This will not be the part of the collection I can just write one check and get it all.

I forgot to add which ones would be the easiest to obtain first.

Mkfarm my wife buys quite a bit on Stampwants..there are some dealers she likes..but when it comes to grading..that could be in the eye of the beholder..i have a pickup truck also...but I dont fill up the gas tank !!

Sounds like quite an undertaking

Good luck in your searches.

Dianne

For mid range to higher end stamps, browse through the auctions at Stamp Auction Network. I especially like the Nutmeg and Cherrystone auctions.

Thanks this gives me a few more good places to search. The pick up is easy try filling a few tractors in addition.

I figured this was a different stamp world than the one I am use to.

T360

Thanks I have added Stamp Auction Networks to my list of favorites

I've been watching the Stamp Auction Network myself. It would appear that Siegel, McCusker, Apfelbaum, and Regency appear at first sight to be more prominent. Does anyone have any experience/preferences and could you tell me why?

If it's in a Siegel auction, it's going to be very expensive for the most part. I won't or can't comment on the others but remember when you buy from auction houses there is a buyers premium that you must pay on top of the wining bid.

The best advice I can give you would be this; Snipe the early issues in auctions that are hinged. Hinged stamps are not as heavily watched or bidded on. It has worked for me in adding the more expensive early issues, and really helps to limit how much money you dish out filling your wish list.
When I mean by snipping is this, Locate a stamp you would like to add to your collection, Watch the bidding until the last 60 seconds, enter a dollar amount just a few dollars over the current high bid, as soon as the clock hits 3 seconds until over, click and submit your bid. More of the same will continue to come around so don't get disappointed if you don't win right away. I don't use any snipping software for this, it takes the fun out of it for me. I only use the quickness of my finger and the money I can live without; I should say my wife can stand to live without I have grabbed a lot of really nice stamps with this model.

I've done that... And sometimes you figure out alot of other people are doing the same thing when the price jumps 75%...

lol, I know, Still seems to be the best way without losing your wallet. Enough attempts and you eventually get it for a fraction of the cost. Persistence does payoff.