Hard To Find Topicals

Does anyone else collect a topical selection that is very difficult to get, especially without buying a ton of stamps that you don't want? I've got two, I collect cheetahs on stamp and parrots on stamp. Cheetahs are definitely the worst, in most sets where they are included, individual stamps are rarely offered and you end up buying an entire set of stamps for a single example. Parrots are a bit easier, but you often have non-parrot bird stamps or other wildlife included in the series, more stamps to pay for and discard.

So anyone else?

Yes, for me it is stamps depicting martial arts. Some are issued singly, which is ok and easier to get, but, others are issued within sets and most dealers, understandably, don't want to break them up. Also, some dealers get martial arts confused with 'regular' Olympic sports, which only adds to the confusion. One example, to name just one, is Greco wrestling. This is not martial arts, but, is a regular sport and listed every now and then as a form of martial arts, which it is not.

Chimo

Bujutsu

I'm like Bujutsu. I collect specifically judo on stamps. That usually requires buying a set - often from an Olympic year - and pulling out the single. There are plenty of judo stamps out there, fortunately, and a good batch every four years.

Does this make you less enthusiastic in pursuing those collections? I still get them as I find them but honestly, I just think about all of the waste, stamps that I have no interest in rotting in a drawer and being unable to sell them because most people only want the full set... it's kind of depressing really.

In all honesty, sometimes it does. If a nation issues four or six or eight "Olympics" stamps, and only one is judo, that's a heck of a lot of stamps I don't need. Usually, in the long run, I do break down and buy the stamps, but I have to talk myself into it.

While I would like to complete my martial arts stamps, I don't buy large sets with just one item in it to procure it. The way I figure is, I have enough other interests to keep me going anyway.

To be honest, I don't think that I have ever bought a set of stamps just to get one stamp. IOW - I can wait.

Chimo

Bujutsu

mine is stamps with just banknotes and no coins

You are far more patient than I. When I get on my judo stamp kick, I just have to get them. I do keep the sets and store them, so if a day ever comes that I want to get rid of the collection, I can say in many cases I do have the full set.