Popular Ways To Collect Moderns For A Newcomer?

[quote]A couple of examples from todays auction:


Quote:
ACCUMULATION, 1935-94 Period, Couple Thousand Mint Stamps & P# Blks. (in Mounts on Pages), Mostly 3 c. to 29 c. Values, Sound Cond., OG, MNH, F-VF, Face Value is $256.00


SOLD FOR $160


Quote:
COLLECTION, 1954-86 Period, About 550 Total Items, Mtd. in 2 "Lindner" Hingeless Albums (18-Ring), With Slip Cases, Includes Many Bklt. Panes, Coil Line Pairs & Coil Strips, Mostly 13 c. to 20 c. Commemoratives, Includes 2 Sheets of "Birds & Flowers", OG, MNH, F-VF, Face Value is About $219.00


SOLD FOR $140 (The albums are worth more than that!)/quote]


That's pretty amazing, but at the same time very telling about the long term values of common stamps I guess. As they always say, the average person should collect for the fun of it, not to make money.

You got it! You might be interested in crypto currency---Not now!

However, a learned collector can spot that special something that others miss and end up with a good investment---that is not beyond the grasp of the average collector, if they delve into one area deeply.

[quote]However, a learned collector can spot that special something that others miss and end up with a good investment---that is not beyond the grasp of the average collector, if they delve into one area deeply./quote]

Yes of course, we all would like to see our collections appreciate in value if possible, lol!

It really is the discretion of the collector to declare what he or she shall collect. Personally, I collect used stamps.

The long-time philatelist's tradition was to remove stamps from envelopes by soaking them. However, soaking fails to remove most modern stamps from envelopes. I have seen determined collectors continue soaking/removal practices, including chemical treatments that simultaneously remove some of the ink.

My thought: If stamps are not designed to be soaked, then leave the stamps on the paper. I trim the stamps out the envelope, leaving a four millimeter perimeter. (You may ask, "Who declared 4mm to be the desired measurement?" My answer, "Me, it's my collection so I made the rules.")

Simply start collecting. If you do not like what you choose to collect, change it so that it is fun for you.

[quote]It really is the discretion of the collector to declare what he or she shall collect. Personally, I collect used stamps./quote]

New or used stamps, they are all interesting in their own way. I collect coins also, and I much prefer circulated coins to uncirculated. The history of where they have been and who used them captivates me. Being new to stamps, I'm starting with unused, but if I know me, lol, I'll end up collecting some used stamps also.

Wow what a topic. After reading this I wonder how many true collectors are out there. My thoughts are 15%. The rest are in it for money. What is a true collector?
As far as US collections it is nice to say you have a complete collection but the only way [99%] most people will have one is to outright buy a collection not put it together piecemeal. I have a nice collection [75-80%] complete.
Not perfect and probably a lot that is cataloged wrong due to eye sight. I started at 8 and will be 81 on the 22nd of December. I enjoy buying recents stamps because the future collectors will love them.
People who say they don't buy anything after 1970 [or whenever]
don't what they are missing.
Please note these are my opinions only.

IMO you have to divorce collecting to make money (I have met very few non-dealers that fit that description) from collecting with the goal of not losing your shirt. For me that is a part of the challenge and since I do not have unlimited resources like Bill Gross I try and maximize my return on sold goods in order to fund more acquisitions. The prison of two ideas is a road to nowhere. There are lots of philosophies when it comes to collecting and I don't think it fair to pigeonhole people based upon their personal goals. If you strive to make money on a sale that doesn't throw you into the non-collector camp.

I have lost my shirt on some sales. I am a collector.

I have disposed of a number of collections and accumulations and actually broke even or made some money. I am still a collector.

The same principle holds true for the scope of your collecting efforts. Collecting common modern used stamps does not make you less of a collector than someone who is chasing every inverted Jenny on the planet. The itch needs the same scratch.

Not fair to categorize and use purity tests to define a "real" collector. It just sounds elitist ironically.

Thoughts?

I have never sold a stamp. I can't part with them. I probably would never recoup my investments. If I got 50% of what I paid in a sale, maybe I just paid 50% in enjoyment. If it was beer I'd have less.

Seems like good advice, there are many such lots and collections on Ebay all the time where you can get stamps for close to face, or even less.

Well, I've only been collecting U.S. stamps for about 3 weeks now, and I have changed my mind three times about WHAT to collect. There's just a lot that appeals to me, whether it be 1930's-50's, 60's-80's or post-1990 self adhesives. So far, I have a little of each, but I think I am leaning more towards the earlier stuff, I just like the history behind the commemorative's of our country, the land and it's people.

You can also acquire a great number of inexpensive stamps at local stamp club meetings and local stamp shows or through the American Philatelic Society's stamp sales.

Every time I have ever turned a hobby into a business it ruined the hobby for me.
Don

I guess in any hobby that involves tangible collectibles there is a tendency to evolve into some profit motive.

If one treats stamps like some leisure activities like golf (green fees, activity) or sports event, it more like entertainment expense so no one is looking for a ROI -
bragging and memories.

If you look at much today, it is paying lots of ongoing service fees related to products such as online streaming fees.

Happy Birthday today Zman.



Welcome to being a collector, jmgi2022, I've been collecting 40 years and still adding new areas to collect. Just this year expanded US collecting from 1985 to 2015 as I went from a 1988 set of catalogs to a 2016 set of catalogs. Limited budget, limited time on this earth, limited space, but unlimited desire to own anything I don't have. My foreign will probably continue to stop pre1965 (with some exceptions) as no space.

I am looking forward to attending my first stamp show!