An Interesting Observation

I was showing my collection to someone that I know the other day and I was dismayed that all they were interested in was knowing how much it was worth and how much I spent on it. It's like "How much is that stamp worth and how much is that other stamp worth?". They didn't care about anything else such as the years of time, effort, study and research behind it. I guess this is all some non-collectors think about a stamp collection. There's more to stamp collecting than just following the money. I just didn't realize it that some people only see things in life as dollars and cents mostly. I was taken a bit a back by this since I have known and I have experienced some insensitive and unscrupulous wheeler dealer greedy stamp dealers that act like this too.

Indeed so. In fact it might be best not to think of the money when collecting stamps. Just the pleasure it brings.

Terry

I try very hard to NOT think about money, because I know that I will never have enough to actually collect all the stamps that I would like. Which makes it all that much sweeter when I do get a bargain, or am able to afford something to fill a hole in my collections.

JOGIL-------you hit the nail on the head with your posting .I've had many remarks like the one you had. This problem has been around for a long time and the way some collectors deal with this is to buy forgeries and defective stamps and mount them in their collection and so when that guest starts talking about stamps and value .They shown them a stamp catalog and then the stamp .....and WHA-LA .....they can impresses the guest.

I guess everyone has or will come across someone who looks at the hobby in dollars only. I try to remember and to tell them that I invested an undeterminable amount of dollars and interest over the years and that the last time I checked the catalogue or my stamp program, my collection was worth a life time of memories.

I think it has to do with all the press that the rarities get. That's all people that aren't collectors really know about collecting stamps is basically an old stamp is like a lottery ticket or something? Come to think of it, stamps are indeed exactly like a lottery ticket in that every ticket I ever bought isn't worth the paper it's printed on! ha-ha! I'll maybe talk about history or something and then present a cover or picture postcard that directly or indirectly relates to the subject so it's in the "correct" context but even then I'll still sometimes get an "ooooh I bet that costs a lot of money huh?" I feel like saying "look around man! Does it look like I'm loaded to you?"

Hi!
My two main hobbies these days are stamp collecting and model railroading. There are many similarities between the two. I was "Inbetween wives" from 86 to 99, and dated quit a bit - always looking for "Ms. Right". One lady I met was a terrific prospect - and was very "well to do". The first time she came to my house, I took her upstairs to see the room filling model railroad layout. Now I'm not bragging, but it was quite a sight, and I was pretty proud of it. So I open the door, she walks in, looks around, and says (seriously) - "How much did all this stuff cost?" Man, was I taken aback! Needless to say, that relationship didn't last much longer.

The stamp collections are the same. Folks can look at the fancy albums and neat presentations and see "thousands of dollars" and that's the sum total of their interest. I look at it as an amazing record of history and wonder - and know quite well that my heirs might get 20 percent out of what I put into it. But, I just won't fret about that when it happens..........

Now I feel bad...I acquired this collection years ago through no fault of my own! :) And now that I am downsizing AND need some money; I thought I'd see what the stamps are worth and try to sell them. Needless to say, I'm doomed to disappointment. Most of my stamps are common, I've learned. And still, I hold out that there might be one really special (big bucks) stamp in there that will make it worth all the time I spent sorting and researching them! I'm sorry guys...please don't throw me off the forum! You all teach me something every day and if I become a stamp collector it'll be because of you. (i.e. all your fault) Ugh.

Getting asked about value doesn't strike me as offensive. For people who aren't collectors, would you expect them to ask about the perforation varieties or style of watermark? Asking about value is just making conversation, in my opinion, and gives the collector the opportunity to educate on the "real" value of the vast majority of collections - the intrinsic value to the collector. People are intrigued by rarities and "special" items. If I met, say, a matchbook or political pin collector or something else I know nothing about, I'd probably start off asking about which ones are the most valuable or rare... and then get into the subtleties of historical significance, etc. If someone showed me their Pokémon card collection, I'd probably just walk away and they could post a message on PokemonCommunity about how shallow I am. ;)

Well, may I add...........
When someone asks about "value" out of curiosity, that is one thing. When someone asks about "value" and is inferring you are a fool for spending "so much money" on the hobby, that is another. Oh, believe me, one can tell the difference - even if the words are the same.

Wow. My uncle had three wives ... you broke that record quire admirably.

When I was between wives I spent a whole bag of money on loose women, none of them "collectable".

Terry

Not quite as scary as being between 'wife 86' and 'wife 99'.

Most non stamp people are flabbergasted by our hobby..i guess we really should not blame them !

I've just about given up showing my collection to anybody. Nobody ever seems to get it. I have maybe two friends who understand...one of them is a letter carrier, he seems to be interested in the history part.

The beauty of forums such as this is you can be sure you will spark the interest of somebody somewhere around the globe.!