Your Funny Or Not So Funny Stamp Stories.

A guy was showing off his mint never hinged rare Newfoundland airmail overprinted stamps in a stamp store, only to dump the small stock book that they were in into a large briefcase full of loose junk that rattled as he walked around and left. I always wondered if those stamps eventually got damaged or not in that briefcase.

My dad spent over $1000.00 on new issue Canada Post Office sheets in the middle 1980's as a non collector after I advised him as a collector not to do so because everyone was doing it and the post office panes had no marginal inscriptions on them compared to those from the philatelic center which were more collectible. When he needed the money, he had to settle taking a loss by selling it for discount postage. It was one of those rare child to parent, I told you so's

Once my dad and I went to a dealer in town who was rather impatient with his customers, but who always seemed to have good material. He was even more impatient with kids wanting to look at stamps. Well, my dad wanted me to get some stamps for my collection and the dealer was besides himself. After I had selected $20.00 worth of stamps, my dad paid the dealer $20.00 and the smart impatient dealer gave my dad $20.00 back in change and we ran out of there ASAP. Thus, it made our day and hopefully the dealer learned a lesson in manners.

My dad used to accumulate stamp kiloware from parcels that he got at work and from others he knew for me since I collected stamps, but as time went on my stamp collecting interests changed so that the kiloware was accumulated and then taken to a dealer or two for which it could be exchanged for stamps that I wanted and needed for my collecting interest at the time. I remember how dealers loved used $5.00 face stamps more than most of the others. One day with bags full of kiloware, we came into this new stamp shop. The owner wasn't in but his brother was in and he made us an offer we couldn't refuse after we showed him what we had after he was more impressed with quantity rather than quality. The owner who was a stamp expert (while his brother was not) was out for an hour for lunch and we said we could wait for him, but he said and insisted that he wanted to show his brother that he also knew how to buy stamps too. A few weeks later, that store was no longer in business.

jogil
Great to read your stories. Here is one about me. Do you remember the Canada Capex 1978 souvenir sheet? Back then it was suppose to be a good invesment. I remember the morning it was on sale people were lining up at the philatelic Post Canada Center downtown Montreal. I bought 50 souvenir sheets at $1.69 each with my little money. I thought I was in business as I saw other collectors doing the same and that I would sell them in few years for the double or more. The sheet never gain good market value. 4 for years later I sold them and other stamps to help pay for a trip to NY City. Maybe I got nominal value I don't remember. Anyway it was then the end of collecting stamps for me. I came back to the hobby 25 years later! Daniel

timbres667
Very interesting story about quitting stamp collecting. I don't blame you for quitting, if you couldn't get back what you paid for them. I also quit for around 10 years, but it was because I had solved something that was bothering philatelic experts for many years, but I didn't feel that I got the right recognition for it.

Yes, I knew someone who spent around $10,000 on CAPEX 1978 souvenir sheets and 25 years later they only managed to get around $3,000 for them. They didn't buy them at the show, but from a stamp dealer who was also a relative of theirs after the show who advised them that it was a good investment. Ironically, it was the same dealer who bought them back 25 years later. As a result, the buyer no longer speaks to the dealer anymore even though they are somewhat related.

That was one problem with CAPEX '78.

While it was a great show, there were many 'investors' there as well. As stated previously, some spent $1000s for new issues. A lot of people did not recoup their 'investment'. It only goes to show you that investing in new issues is not a good idea. Most of the new issues are printed in such large quantities that it is practically impossible to make money on them years down the line. We all know too that a lot of dealers still use old stamps on their mail to customers. That in itself, should be a clue.

People who dropped out of the hobby, only because they did not get their money back in an investment, were not collectors anyway. They were in it to make money only. I guess you could say this was 'inverters versus collectors & dealers'. I prefer collectors & dealers because invertors can be bad news for collectors & dealers alike, and, the hobby as a whole - so I have been told anyway. My opinion of course.

Chimo

Bujutsu

jogil- very interesting stamp stories. They remind me a bit of Herman (Pat) Hearst Jr.


Japan 1919 Scott 158 10s dark blue "Dove and Olive Branch"

My story isn't humorous, but just a loving remembrance of my Father.

When my Father came home from WW II, he, like many of his generation, had some interest in stamps, and he had obtained some Japanese stamps while he was over there during the occupation.

He housed them in the red "Modern Postage Stamp Album", the one with an airplane flying over some skyscrapers on the cover.

I loved looking at his stamps as a child- especially the "Dove and Olive Branch" peace stamp issued by Japan after WW I.

Eventually, he gave me the collection when I was older. But I had other things on my mind (Girls!), so I promptly put the album away and forgot about it.

50 years later I again become interested in stamps. This time, I have many feeder albums, and am putting the collections together. I get to Japan, and recall my Father's collection. There- the very same Peace stamp that he had brought back from WW II.

What sweet memories it evoked of my Father.

I have one funny story.

There was a postal history dealer who passed away shortly after CAPEX '96. He did know his Canadian postal history well. Some people said he was high priced - I don't know about that but I did get some covers from him over the years.

The one story about him is this: He was a smoker and he always had to go for a smoke break at the stamp shows. On one occasion, he asked a friend of his to look after his table for 10 minutes while he went out for a smoke. The friend was nervous about this and asked what the covers etc sold for and he was told not to worry because each item had the price on it. The friend thought this was ok.

When he came back from his break, his friend told him he sold one item only. When the dealer asked him what cover it was, he described it. He said the customer paid for $4.00 for it. The dealer then stated, "Oh no, that was supposed to be $400.00". The friend was really upset about this. However, the dealer said to him - 'don't worry about it, I still made $3.00 profit".

Chimo

Bujutsu

Jkjblue - A very touching story about your father and his stamp collection and peace stamp. It is stories like these that bring back memories of our late loved ones. Thanks.

jogil
It's the same today. When I need money I sell a collection and often get less than I spend on it. Like many here I quit collecting as a young adult to come back many years after. Go out, go for girls or go for a trip when your a young adult you need all your money and nothing left for stamps and no time also for the hobby.

Bujutsu - Was the dealer A.S.? Did he say that he sold around $1,000,000 of covers at CAPEX '96 which was the most he ever sold at any show?

Yes Jogil, it was A.S.

I don't know about the $1000.00 at any show but I do know he had great stock. Granted, some were overpriced.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Many of you know the news about the SPANISH stamp firm ASFINSA,they sold millions of dollars of over-price stamps and worthless stamps to 10's 0f thousands of retired people in Spain and other parts of Europe as part of a retirement plan .Now the whole thing is in front of the Spanish courts.
But this story is about me and the owners of ASFINSA. Years ago I was at a stamp auction in New Jersey. I examined one lot which I thought was very nice and the opening bid was fair . The lot open at $3,000.00 and a few of us ran it up to $5,000.00 every other dealer dropped out and it was going to me a collector who will win the lot. But then another bidder card popped up. Since this was a new bidder ,I was pissed and held my bid card up .We went back and forth at $500.00 bid increments .The other card was staying up and the holder was smiling at me ,well that got me mad .I ran it up to $12,000.00 and dropped my card ,that is when I heared the auctioneer say sold to the other fellow .I went on and purchased my other lots and spend my funds .
During the lunch break ,over came four guys to introduce themselves they were from Spain and the one who bid against me ,he didn't speak English .They told me since I wanted the lot ,they will ask the stamp firm to add it to my totals and they really didn't want the lot . I just thanked them but told them the lot wasn't worth anything near that price and all I care to pay was $5,000 and they all got up and didn't say a word and walked off ....,.......and that's how I met the firm that would years later rip-off thousands of retired people in Europe sell them worthless stamps for retirement .I believe they ripped off 2 billion dollars not millions .

I remember reading about that scam.

It was a real shame about the people they ripped off.

If guilty, I hope they get the book thrown at them.

Chimo

Bujutsu

is it AFINSA?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afinsa

Thread Bumped : Dormant 9 years

7-8 years ago a friend offered me a small batch for a few euros.
The price seemed good to me, but I am used to haggling with him, who always lowers me something, even today. He said that if I kept them at the given price he would give me 3,000 Australian stamps as a gift.
Blinded by greed, I immediately closed the deal. He gave me a bag with the stamps, I looked at them and "fell into the trap".
I took the trouble to count them over a few days, little by little. There were over 3,300 stamps, ALL of them were this

Still a friend?