Joy Of Collecting

I maintain two U.S. collections. My main collection is in a Scott National album and a second collection mainly comprised of cheaper used stamps in an old Harris album. I just received a packet of 1100 used U.S. stamps mainly from the 1940's to 2000's and am having much enjoyment filling holes with these cheaper (virtually worthless monetarily) stamps. It just goes to show that one does not need expensive or rare stamps to enjoy the hobby.

Just so. As long as what you collect pleases you then it has an unquantifiable value.

Terry

I love filling a hole in my album, especially when it is the final stamp I need to complete a set or album page.

Same here. It doesn't matter what the value is, especially since I'll never sell my stamps, so long as you have a good time doing it.

Amen to the above posts!

Finding a nicely canceled stamp needed to complete a set or fill a long-standing vacant spot is a joy, indeed! For me, a mixture of used stamps is always a pleasure to go through.

Don

The acquiring and collection of stamps on paper or envelopes (covers) with nice cancels or postmarks does have it's own appeal also. Rare or common are quite nice to hunt for and find.

It's been a pleasure reading all your posts! I am glad that I am not alone.

I've been filling holes, too. After being away from the hobby for over thirty years, I've got a lot of catching up to do. Plus filling all those pesky holes from before!

Jack Kelley

I envy so the collectors who can collect inexpensive stamps in any way and be satisfied. I wonder what little thing inside drives one to be interested in collecting what they collect.


-IBFS

I still like sorting and accumulating myself. It must be a learned habit.

The fun of collecting can be added to by recognizing the value of stamps that are well liked. Then, when you buy some for yourself, the remainder of the stamps can be sold off, sometimes for a return that will help the previous buys.

It's fun to hunt whichever way you can. Watch your stamps!

Most have seen my poor stamp collection and most of it would be passed over by and true purist but In just love to that they have been there and done that and recently I only really collect covers because I got addicted to cancellations and advertising covers so as long as I'm happy with it and the cover (or stamp) has it's back-story then it brings that ratty old cover or sotn stamp back to life!

So, there's stamps there that I would be interested in, hey? Hmmmm. Goood, goood.

George Lucas: "... (you have to tell a story) ... a special effect by itself is a pretty dull thing ..."

The nice version of my Geriatric Theory of Postal History Collecting is that we get more interested in the back-story as we get one of our own.

The rude version borrows from Mr Lucas: a postage stamp by itself is a pretty dull thing.

Of course, by the time we are Twelve Years A Slave To Scott, we have gone out from the stamp, into its design history, or printing history, or perforation history or, G-d Forbid, its gumming history ... not to ignore the narrowly-drawn applications histories, such as perfins & precancels.

It would not be unfair to look at all of these things as adding a story. I once heard it said that the unique human activity is teaching and that teaching, after all, is mostly story-telling.

We can start with just the stamp but, at some point in our collecting, The George Lucas Insight takes effect, and we need more of a story.

Most human, Earthling.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey