Obsessed?

I bet this is the norm for most of us, but I usually obsess over one particular stamp that I need for my collection. Daily checks of ebay. Sometimes it might take a year or so for the stamp to show up. Invariably, once I obtain the stamp and that day of days arrives where it comes in the mail, I lovingly place it in the empty spot, admire it for about 15 seconds, and then I forget about it and never look twice at it almost (unless it's a notable stamp like a $5 Columbian, or Trans-Mississippi, Zeppelins etc. Right now I'm fixated on a US Scott #477. Need about 3 more issues to complete my Washington-Franklins. Of course the 3 remaining are 3 of the most costly.

The norm for me also. I am down to the last few stamps I need to complete my Canadian collection and they are all getting way too expensive. I spent this morning looking at obscure auction sites in the hope that one might slip through at a low price. I spent last night justifying to myself how much money I should spend at yet another auction. My stamp album is in storage in Canada and I only see it once a year, to put my new purchases in it. I then delete their number from a spreadsheet and they are forgotten. Sigh.

What is it that you need?

Down to the last valuable stuff. Scott 14, 15, 21, 29, 45 and 59 and F3 are the only ones left I need that are not in the thousands. I only do mint, with VF centering (will settle for F-VF if it looks nice). I don't care at all about gum. Surprising how hard this stuff can be to find sometimes. I spent months looking for MR3d, which I thought would not be too difficult, for example.

What is this thing called other than stamps?

I like to hunt. That is the main journey for me.

This is the nature inside of each of us. We want, want, want and when we get we usually do not invest the time to really appreciate what we have; off to the next desire.

Hi Puzzler,

According to the list of compulsions I have just looked at, the compulsion to collect stamps is.....wait for it.......Stampomania!
I had thought it might have been Philatomania. Sounds altogether more academic.

Terry

But, but, I don't like to collect academia or stampomaniacs. Oh no. A new album is needed.