Our Trip To The Local Stamp/Coin Store.

On Saturday morning, James and I went to a stamp/coin store in Perth.
(my first visit to a coin store)
We managed to fill a few holes in our Aussie collections, then we got talking to the owner about world stamps. He dragged an album out from the back room, it was the fattest stamp catalog I have ever seen. A good 6 inches thick and covered in red material that had gone all tattered. It looked as if it had been around for a long time.
I'm getting into Guatemala and Ceylon stamps at the moment, so I checked those countries out, it had all the early stamps and I nearly drooled on the album. LOL
James looked in the U.S. section and once again it was full of all the early stamps (he wanted AUD$40 for a reasonable looking Black Jack. Is that a good price?).
The owner told us that this is his favourite album and that he has sold about AUD$40,000 out of it. I wondered what he paid for it, but I didn't ask. Anyway it was a good trip and I picked up a few coins for myself and Nuggethill too.

Steve

Sounds like fun! I like going through old worldwide collections. You never know what you will find.

Be careful with pre-1900 U.S. The price in the catalogue is for a properly centred stamp. Many are way off-centre and have been reperfed, regummed, repaired, etc.

David

I'll second David Giles caution in buying pre-1900 US stamps. Plus, I've seen "reasonable looking" Black Jacks go for as little as US $15.00 on ebay. Black Jacks with a straight edge or described fault have occasionally sold for less. Sound ones that are F-VF have easily sold for US $40.00 and higher. Without having seen the stamp myself, this is all really relative, but I hope it helps you decide if you want to go buy it or not. Can you bargain with the dealer?

i am amazed at the prices asked in the APS circuit books for 19th century U.S. stamps..most have some kind of flaws and they still ask half catalog or better....i am glad I am not in that game !!

wow...thats a very thrilling experience

I agree, Phil. I'm on that circuit, but have only received it twice. Both times, I found a few stamps that I purchased, but overall I was disappointed with many of seller's prices based on condition of the stamps.

Oh well, maybe I'll have better luck with the next circuit

KirkS

I'm glad you had a good time Trigger. It's always a pleasure when I get to go to one with time to spare. I live so far away from civilization that it doesn't happen often.