Hello Everyone! And I Need Some Help

Hello everyone,

I used to collect stamps as a kid and had a fairly decent collection (for a kid). I still have it but it's in India and I now live in Canada.

I really don't know what prompted me to start again but I have already bought some lots off of ebay to get started (lol).

As a kid I used to only collect old stamps (pre-1940 / 1950)and even with the limited resources of a 8 - 15 year old I was able to muster a decent quantity of old stamps (note the word quantity and not quality).

I discovered I still am a complete novice upon reading the threads in this forum and so I had a few questions.

Can anyone in Toronto recommend a good stamp shop where I can buy my basic needs? I have seen some online but I wanted to check with the pros first.

I still have not decided my theme but I think I am just going to stick to my old theme which was anything old (pre-1960 even).

Lastly, should I use an album which needs hinges or the regular albums where you slide the stamps into the pockets?

I would also appreciate if anyone can point me in the direction of some websites which would add to my current (basic) knowledge.

Thanks very much for your help.

Mindpsyche

Hi Mindpsyche,

I'm new here too so nice to see somebody newer than me.

I can only help you with parts of your questions. I use stockbooks and Hagners to store my stamps so no need for hinges but some do like hinges, up to personal tastes.

I hope you are using stamp tweezer?

Hope you get more help from our Canadian collectors re the Toronto questions.

Thanks for the reply Stepahead.

Yeah I found a store online so i'm going to go there tomorrow and pick up a book. Concerning,the books you suggested are those brands or are they a type of book? For sure I will buy stamp tweezers.

Good day mate :)

to SCF! Check out lighthouse for supplies. That's what a lot of us use. The Vario sheets and a good 3 ring binder. Also a good place to pick up stamp tongs (don't use tweezers they will damage your stamps!)
http://www.lighthouse.us/epages/lig...s/US/US_2232

In this part of the world we call them stamp tweezers, in other parts of the world they are called tongs but they are the same I_Love_Stamps.

I use Lighthouse and have never had any problems with them.

Mindpsyche, the Hagner is a brand name.

Thanks a lot both of you. Can't wait to get the album and the lots now to get started :)

I remember as a kid I actually made my own album from scratch. I bought huge pieces of cardboard, went to a binding store to have it cut up. Then put the cut pages into a box file. For hinges I bought some butter paper (the really thin transparent paper) and cut those into small pieces...

This is a long way from there.

Thanks again guys.

Welcome Mindpsyche
I don't live in Toronto but think that most of the stamp shops have disappeared. I have been in John Talman's place a couple of times on Yonge Street. I think he does most of his business through auctions or private sales but, if you visit him with some specific interest areas, he will let you browse through what he has. The "store" is a bit chaotic; have no idea how he finds anything but somehow it seems to work. There is another place that I have heard about but can't remember the name of it right now; I'll post later if I think of it. If you can get to Ottawa once in a while, Ian Kimmerley's street front store on Sparks Street is great.

Hi Nb,

Thanks for the advice. I have been to one store called Arcade stamps on Yonge and King. I picked up a small stock book to get started but it seems like a pretty fancy place in terms of pricing and he has a ton of canadian and US stuff but not what I was looking for (Indian States). Anyway, I will check out John Talmon's.

Thanks again.