The One That Got Me Hooked

Several years ago Tom & I were at a stamp show in Lincoln or maybe it was Omaha, anyway, I wasn't especially into collecting back then. I went along because Tom loved it so much and there were certainly worse ways to spend a Saturday! We were prowling around from dealer to dealer (got to try to see what everyone has before you commit those limited funds) and at our favorite dealer's table was this INCREDIBLE stamp. Now it was obvious to me that this was the hidden treasure of the show, but Tom just said, "Yeah, it's nice" and walked away. What's up with that?!

We went around and around. Made a purchase here and there. Every time we got near that booth I made Tom look at that stamp again. Surely he should have been able to see that it was special...but no and he'd be off looking at something else again.

Finally we're about ready to leave and I'm really upset that Tom hasn't bought that stamp. I inconspicuously meandered over to the table one more time and in frustration said something like "What's wrong with you????? Why aren't you buying this stamp?" He smiled sooooo innocently and said, "Well if you like it so much why don't YOU buy it and start your own collection?"..... For those of you who don't know Tom (nr-notrare) that well yet, he can be very sneaky!

Anyway here is the beauty that got me hooked. It's a Carrier, LO3, from 1875, on the most gorgeous rose paper. It has a tiny pin hole under the neck....but I don't care!

That is a fantastic stamp! What a way to get started!

Wow what a wonderful start to a collection

Dianne

Super stamp two thumbs up

Very nice. Thanks for sharing. The first stamp I collected was completely ordinary -- 3c Iwo Jima from 1945. But I was a kid and it was tall and green and unused, so I kept it. And I still have it in my album.

Very Impressive! We all would be fortunate enough to have a nice stamp like that for our BOB collection.

Kirk, I remember paying 6 cents for the 3 cent Iwo Jima stamp at a hobby shop..was probably my second stamp purchase ..can probably get it all these years later for about the same price !

Thanks for all your kind words. I should have specified that that was the one that got me hooked as an alledged "grown-up".

I collected UN for awhile when I was in college. Back then I was of the mindset that if you couldn't get all of them, why bother....and UN was something I had a fair shot of completing. Also I liked the variety of subject matter they covered. A few years after they came out with all those flag sheets I became disenchanted and just quit collecting.

Now, many years later, I've finally figured out that the only limits or conditions on my collecting are the ones that I choose! And of course, the cursed budget.... Anyway the UN collection is long gone, but I did keep the Chagall Window which was always my favorite piece in the collection.







I went to the Scott catalog to see your 3cent Iwo Jima and I totally understand it's appeal to you both then, as a kid, and now. It's a great stamp!

That's as good a way to start collecting as any I've ever heard of. Its better than the dime packet of junk stamps I bought to start my collecting career!

e7sara,

I keep coming back to look at this as you did at the show.
Maybe it's the color combo. Maybe it's the serene smile on
Franklin's face. Nevertheless, it is an attractive stamp.
And you didn't get to see it this big. Though you did get to
see it "in person."