Which Do You Prefer To Look At Mint Or Used?

Hey, that's a hard one.......... Some mints are works of art, and some used with a legible non obliterating postmark are very interesting.
I would have liked a third option - both!

I didn't give a third option on purpose. I will share this purpose at the end of next week when the poll ends. Then I will ask a specific question which I will not share at this time but will clarify the purpose of this poll.

I find used stamps have much more character. Especially when found with a nice cancel. They tend to tell a story.

Interesting way the question is framed... not what you prefer to collect, but what you prefer to look at.

The real answer for me is "it depends". There's nothing more attractive than a page of post-office-fresh 19th-century material, but as a cancel specialist that same page with clean used examples with crisp socked-on-the-nose cancels actually holds my attention longer.

From a collecting perspective, I much prefer used stamps, although I do have plenty of mint stamps in various country collections. Collecting used stamps has far fewer potential pitfalls. No NH vs. LH vs. HH vs. HR to deal with. No regumming to be wary of. No concerns about a bleached/cleaned cancel masquerading as unused. Fewer concerns regarding environmental conditions having an impact on your material.

I'll stick with used...

I prefer mint in everything I collect, not just stamps. That's just my preference, of course. Imagine if you collected fine old books, what would be your preference? A well-preserved, crisp book that you could display, or a dog-eared old paperback that was falling apart?

I buy mint when I can and have had a preference for them. I am starting to have an appreciation for cancels, in particular sock on the nose.

I voted for "mint", as that's the way the stamps look best in an ALBUM.

However, I qualify that with the comment that I enjoy looking at used stamps with legible postmarks, too. In that state, they are often not mounted in an album, but include corners, cut squares, covers, etc. In fact, since postmarks are a study all to themselves, I guess what I'm saying is that in the case of used stamps, I look beyond the stamp and more at the postmark.

In an album, the mint stamp keeps the focus on the stamp itself; on the other hand, the used stamp brings your attention more to the postmark than to just the stamp and puts a different dimension on the study of the stamp (i.e. when and where it was used, etc.). They each have their own distinct qualities.

I voted "mint". But, I also put a used copy beside the mint in my albums to show how the stamp looks after it has done its work.

I prefer to look at them on cover.

Thanks for your feedback and now I will answer why I conducted this poll and didn't give a third or more options and ask you two new questions.
First.I am considering broadening my collection to include Canadian and Australian Stamps. I was wondering what Albums you would recommend for each.

Second What suppliers and resources besides ebay would you recommend for a beginner to start with for collecting Canadian and Australian Stamps.

THE REASONS I CONDUCTED THE POLL. I was considering purchasing another complete American Heirloom Album Collection Strictly for collecting and housing used U.S. Stamps. That Idea of running two collections. I think. I will scrap for time being and continue to pursue Mint stamps. Collecting only used stamps until I can find mint to replace. I do like Post Marks on used stamps though and that was my thought of running two collections.That and the cost factor of used vs mint. My current U.S. American Heirloom Collection has now expanded to five Albums and I can see Vol VI in the not too far distance.

Chuck
IE: TinMan

Hi TinMan,

I collect both Canada and Australia, mint and used, from the early Canadian Provinces and Australian States to around 1940. The difficulty I came across at the beginning was getting a suitable pre-printed album easily in the UK that covered the early provinces and states issues. Most albums that were available to me began in 1913 or thereabouts. Consequently I have been making up my own pages, which suits me because I don't collect everything issued. Should you come across any decent albums I would be interested in your opinion of them.

Terry

Used with a nice clean CDS strike or a nice SOTN cork (not too heavily inked). no gum for me please.

I like the analogy of stamps to bullets.....
lots more interesting is the story behind the used ones....:)

Personally I prefer unused Bullets. Used bullets do me no good. They're like a dead soldier. I want a live one standing beside me. Ha! Ha! since we're doing analogy's.

My favourite Frederick Remington drawing. A full load always useful when resolving a difficulty in this manner....

Terry