Space Filler

How bad does a stamp have to be where it will not even qualify for a space filler in your collection?

I would think it depends on what you think is OK personally as stamp collecting is such a personalized hobby.

If it is really bad you might hide it from general view but know it is there and bring it out at times to enjoy it.

The expense of the idividual item would affect me in this area also. Sometimes I would be happy just to have a copy of the darn thing in any shape. Stamps / items in bad shape can still be used as coloyur guide or have great cancels or paper or perf guides to help you or others judge what a real one of those would be like. I have seen damaged sets of stamps sold on ebay for just such a reason. Study items. Items had just for study purposes. But not everyone is into studying everything too.

Cancels are another reason to keep a nad condition stamp. Might be a rare cancel, a good example of a cancel, a real cancel as apposed to a possible fake or vise versa.

I will never forget the half stamp that sold for $1000s at an Aussie auction some time ago and there were plenty of bidders but I can not remember the name of the stamp. In my perf OS collection of KGVs some of the $300 plus stamps have no corners and I still think they are beautiful.

ironhelm.......


Every collector bases this type of decision based on the cost of a better one and what they have to spend on the hobby. Some folks just want a lot of stamps, others want nice looking items. There's nothing wrong with either type of collection.....and it's the best thing about the hobby.......everything is based on personal choice.

IMHO, a space filler looks better than a space. Keep em.

I do not put space fillers into my collection... it downgrades the look and quality of the rest of the collection.

David

I am a quality control nightmare.
I stoop to the lowest level imagineable, I will actually
put a scan of a stamp in it's designated place.

Before you send me to the tower, try it, you can put
"facsimile" underneath if you must.
The page looks cool, no empty Texas spaces.

Are you gonna leave that glaring gap where the inverted Curtiss
Jenny belongs?
Or are you gonna place a nice crsip scan with "facsimile"
there to illustrate and educate?