Looking For New Challenge

Hey everyone. Like the subject line says, I'm looking for a new challenge with regards to collecting. Over the last two decades I've concentrated on collecting Germany (mostly Reich and Bund), but I feel it's time I branch out to a new country. Just not sure which one, and that's where you hopefully come in.

It would make sense to start collecting my home country, but Dutch stamps just don't have the right appeal to me. Thought about something exotic as well; but only a country that I've been to. So Tuvalu, Australia (that one may not that exotic), or one of the Baltic countries maybe. But lately I'm leaning towards a country with a lot of classics (in my view at least) like the USA. Thing with that is that it appears to me that the older stamps might be too hard to come by. Or am I mistaken in that?

Please help me, I can't seem to make up my mind...

Martin.

With a few exceptions there's a lot of classic U.S. stamps availible so supply shouldn't be any issue. The learning curve on some issues can be tricky, but no trickier than early German stamps. There's plenty of references - online and published and you always have us on the forum. Australia works extremely well too, especially if you add in the Australian states which are really nice. We have plenty of Australians here that can help too!

Will

South or Central America is an option if you don't want to spend a lot for classical stamps. I start collecting Brazil last year and I think now i'm going to collect only the pre-1950 stamps. I think of collecting another Central or South American country with my Brazil collection. I print my pages from the stamp Albums Web. Have a good time, it's always a pleasure for me when I decide to look for another country to collect. Daniel

Hi Tinus_NL

As timbres667 said South or Central America is an option.

For Central America Mexico is a good option and there is a lot of information.

For South America I would push my specialty, Colombia. The classics are relatively inexpensive (a few are not). It gets interesting with all the varieties and colored papers.

Jerry B

Consider broadening the interest and collect World Wide classical era.



You would never run out of stamps or interest. And yes it can be done- there are a lot of inexpensive stamps that will take you to locations near and far.

Hey Tinus have you thought about German overseas colonies as an extension of your exsiting Germany collection

You will find some very interesting "classical" issues

I would agree on Central America or South such as Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua.
The early classics are very easy to obtain and the engravings are beautiful.

Another interest may be themes, like Olympics (Summer, Winter or both)
Of cousre this requires more work then does selecting a country< but can be rewarding as well as you are not limited to one coutry and you see how each country portrays the theme selected.
Good luck

For a super duper challenge try the Indian states! I know of some collectors (me) that won't touch them with a ten foot pole because of all the varieties and different states and ever changing boarders and such. Having said that I'll say that I'll say that I know nothing about it and further inquiry on the topic should be investigated to get a proper synopsis.Good luck friend and Happy Stamp-ing!

I like to collect the King George and Queen Elizabeth pictorials from the various territories from the Britsh Empire from the 1930's-1960's. Beautiful engravings and great views of the world you don't otherwise see.

Thanks everyone, you've given me a lot to think about. It's only made it more difficult for me to choose...

World-wide 1840-1870. The classic era. The age of "innocence". Limited scope and yet very challenging/rewarding.

Good luck Tinus, I guess Netherlands stamps are too close to you to be exotic as U.S. stamps are to me...You did not mention Canada..as with most countries the classic stamps are great !!

Martin,
I would jump in on the Central America bandwagon as well; great stamps.

Regards
Ram

Hoi Martin,




Countries that go back to the 1800's are quite a few. For my collection 1-stamp-per-country I just made a list (Word-file) of all countries, based on the Michel catalogue, with the indication of the year they started issuing stamps. If you think that the list can be of some help, drop me a mail.


Groeten vanuit s'Gravenhage.

Klaus

Martin, you might like to collect Newfoundland stamps. Newfoundland issued approximately 130 stamps from 1857 to 1949 when it joined Canada. I also like collecting British Commonwealth stamps of King George's reign.