Collect - Accumulate

Pulled the old hardback dictionary off the shelf and looked at the definitions of these words. A couple terms that stood out for me in the definitions:

Collect - "gather, assemble"
Accumulate - "amass, pile up"

I wonder how many of us are better described as Stamp Accumulators rather than Stamp Collectors (I put myself in this discussion). I need to give this some thought about my own participation in this hobby.

Often I feel like an accumulator rather than a collector.

All of the above :)

Collecting is a process: Accumulate -> Process into a collection -> Repeat

1. Accumulate
2. Process into a collection
3. Go to step 1

Sometimes we get stuck at step one

The deciding factor is focus. Good collectors are not accumulators - the latter being the ones who are trying to amass the world's largest ball of string. But that target in stamp collecting can do you in - and have you end up living in a warehouse where you spend your days re-arranging boxes.

I just call everything that hasn't been organized "in que".

Will,
Put me in the category of all of the above. After nearly 50 years of accumulating stamps,(I started at 7) I have a basement full. The last 20 years I have been mainly into covers, I got a few from you last month. My focus does wander at times, but I have my staples that I always come back to. I do need to start getting rid of things. There is so much it seems like a nearly impossible task.
Pat

I'm a collector
Tom

I am a collector so far.

"In queue" is perfect. I'm probably both a collector and an accumulator. I purposefully build some parts of my collection but then I can never resist a good deal on a mixed lot or kiloware. Those accumulated stamps do generally become part of an organized collection at some point, although God knows I need to do something about my duplicates and unwanted stamps.

I collect accumulations it seems.

Years later I am still finding interesting new items to ponder.

Definitely a collector.

I am accumulating my collection!!

I don't collect any new stamps, post 2000. I have been accumulating pre 1900, in between 1900 and 2000 is on a whim. I rarely look at my collection of these dates though its fairly complete. So, what does that make me?

Art

pjsstamps wrote




I started buying surprise boxes. I take what I need for my collections and then process what's left as give-aways or for swaps when of some value. One German forum I'm active in has a youth section, I offer the stuff for free and it's gone in no time.

Klaus

I accumulate in order to collect. For example, I've accumulated 243 copies of the Charkhari 1931 ½ Anna pictorial



but I do it in order to study them. They're essentially worthless when CTO, as the vast majority are. However, there are the odd postally used copies, like the one above, and they can be found with three different perforation gauges, as well as compounds of the three. Plenty to study, while accumulating! (All the same, I have 91 copies of the ½ Anna perf 12 and CTO. Anyone want one?)

I just want to enjoy stamping as a part of a very enjoyable lifestyle.

Flexibility in what I do is critical and I create and change what I do with stamps so it makes me happy and I enjoy a busy stamping environment. The happiness that stamping brings to my household is a huge blessing that in its self makes me even more happier.

It all adds up to what ever makes you happy.