Reorganizing My Un Album

I confess! I collect United Nations and I like it.

As a new collector, UN appealed to me because 1) it is relatively inexpensive to collect in MNH condition; 2) the topics include geography, animals, and environmental issues; and 3) the stamps were listed in the Scott Catalog I purchased for my USA collection

Over time, I expanded (or got sucked in, depending on your perspective) my UN collection to include New York, Geneva, and Vienna. I confess that if I were giving advice to a new or young collector, I would recommend collecting NY and ignoring the other two. Of course, that shows a bit of bias towards people living in the US.

If you don't collect UN, I should tell you that each new issue or set of stamps is released in 3 different currencies, but is otherwise the same design, or very similar designs.

Today, I spent several enjoyable hours re-organizing my UN collection. Before, I had separate binders for the three issuing authorities, which I have now merged into chronological volumes.

End result -- my collection will be easier to update, and the stamps easier to find/view; at least I think that's going to be the benefit.

Also, I was able to consolidate 5 albums into 4; freeing up one binder and slipcase that I can use for something else.

Kirk

P.S. I now realize this is an incredibly boring post, but I've put so much time into typing, that I'm going to post it anyway

Not a boring post ... quite interesting!

I, too, collect UN stamps from all three authorities, though as a US resident, naturally the NY issues are easier to come by. I haven't got to the point of sorting all of it out yet, and I know it's not a collection that is going to make me a rich man ... but as you said, you can spend several enjoyable hours with these issues, as they are easy to come by, relatively inexpensive, and yet colorful. Also, the subject matter is quite pertinent to today's world.

Don't listen to those who shrug off UN stamps as being worthless ... instead, simply enjoy it ... after all, that's what the stamp collecting hobby is all about.

OK, wt1...

Since you're so nice about it, I'll admit that I also have the album pages for Kosovo and East Timor

But I don't have any of those stamps yet.
Kirk

I would like to think of it as the 4 issuing authorities. Canada - Montreal.
United Nations Scott's 170-4 were valid for postage only on mail posted at the UN Pavilion at the World's Fair '67 and were using Canadian currency.

I remember in the late sixties UN stamps were hot. I started collecting them for awhile up to the late seventies mainly because I liked the designs and the UNPA used some excellent security printers such as Waterlow, De la Rue for engraved stamps and Courvoisier & Japan State Printers for photogravure.
Later on I lost interest in them as did a hole lot of other people and then came the downward slide.

No more boring than Easter seals, Cinderellas,
Canadian Whale stamps

It's great to read about the less promoted issues,
we all learn something we might otherwise pass over,
it's also nice to read about the hurdles and solutions
of a collecting theme.
I enjoyed the read very much

I have a few pieces of early UN stationery and very early inscription plate blocks for sale - all VF condition. Write me if interested.

moonbird... scans/pics?

I also collect UN. bought a bunch of UN FDC's but now am not into FDC's of any kind unless it's prior to 1940.
However I am looking to finish up my UN collection. I need to publish my want list.

Thanks for being receptive to my ramblings. You've inspired me to add a photo...

The blue binders on the top shelf are my UN albums, complete with temporary post-it note labels reading Vol 1 1951-88; Vol 2 1989-98; etc. On the far right is the dust cover for the fifth binder that's now lying empty on my desk.



Later, I'll make better labels. When I have time I'll post some scans of the stamps themselves.

KirkS

I have found that it don't have to be valuable to be enjoyable. Collecting should be fun.

I received this Cinderella item from the UNPA when I had a subscription with them. It was a nice gesture which perhaps didn't cost them anything since Courvoisier probably printed them for free.

The UNPA at least cared about their customers whereas many Postal Administrations didn't.

Great thread Kirk !

It reminded me a bit of the Canadian Stamp News. A great read, down to earth, no frills and real life.

If everyone would make a post ot three about what they are doing at that moment, a bit of an explanation and a pic or two, I would be there every time.

More threads like this please.

Londonbus1

Kirk thanks for posting, I found it informational not boring. so keep posting your boring posts I like the info...

Thanks LB & Edwin.

As an extension of this conversation, I started two new threads with some scans of my UN stamps.

Kirk

First I would like to thank KirkS in welcoming me to the group. Being out of this hobby for about 30 years, I was rather supprised if not shocked at the lose of interest in UN stamps. I never figured on getting rich on them but I thought that they would rise in value a little bit. On the up side is the fact that I'm now able to complete my collection without spending tons of money! I had heard about the personalized sheets but ignored them. Now that I know more about them, I'm going to start collecting them as well. I found that the early sheets can be very expensive ($200 to $800 apiece).

For those who haven't seen it, this Audit Report from June 2012 contains some rather interesting information on the UNPA and some of their rather questionable accounting and inventory practices for their stamp program:

http://usun.state.gov/documents/org...n/199194.pdf