That Hard To Get Low Catalog Value Stamp

I'm surprised that no one has suggested the APS mail circuits that go out to members. I've both bought and sold in the APS circuits; altho not in recent years. Real easy way to maybe find some of the cheap value that one is looking for; and no ebay hassles either. The APS Stamp Store is also good for finding lower priced stamps; and I have bought from the Store in the past year..

For the past year I have been using the in-home stamp shop program that Bellmore Philatelics offers in Linn's and have found it to be a great way to find those harder-to get low value stamps. They mail you out collections from which you can pick items from and you pay a certain % of CV and then send the collection back with your payment. I've been focusing on French colonies and found quite a few of those -odd value- stamps that never seem to come up on bidstart etc because of their low CV. If you are in the USA I can definitely recommend their service.

Perhaps a list could be made on this site listing those elusive low value stamps that people want. I, as others, have many low value stamps that I would be willing to let go of. Ideas?

Why don't we use the auction site? We could all discuss it in terms of shipping etc.
Tom

CanadaStamp - I hope you can help him. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to.

I am not sure if I can get APS circuits in Canada or not as an APS member. I have been looking on their website and had found that they do also sell stamps online.

I'd like to second the idea of assembling a list.

I can give two personal examples for why I could see it being helpful:

(1) I have thousands and thousands of Japan duplicates, especially used, that came with collections or accumulations I've picked up over the years. Since my personal collection has been primarily mint, with some selected used cancels, I really don't have any idea what low-catalog items may be elusive. If I knew from experienced general collectors what's missing, I could put some emphasis on trying to track those down.

(2) I also have several worldwide collections and accumulations that I picked up 15-20-25 years ago, and that have been unchecked since the 1950's-60's, again numbering in the thousands, if not tens of thousands. Same thing -- if I know what's hard to find, I can have that list in hand in looking through them. Otherwise, they're likely to just be set aside again as a minimum- or low-value stamp.

I'm sure this is true for many other collectors who've accumulated a bunch of stuff. If an elusive low-value stamp looks in the catalog like every other minimum value stamp, then there is at best only a small chance of ever rescuing it from that designation and having it see the light of day. A list would shine that light on the elusive ones.

It is possible that over time catalog values on these stamps could rise, which, although they would not be the same bargain they are now when found by a collector, might actually reflect their value and relative scarcity, which might eventually bring more of them to market as well and completing collections. Right now, they may well just be languishing in rows of glassines in stacks of shoeboxes.

-- Dave

I've still got my thinking cap on as far as how to do this and make it a fair value for all. We're not gonna get rich on a 1958 Minnesota Statehood stamp but perhaps someone has an Arizona Statehood and a trade could be made. Will keep all posted
Tom

Some good ideas above ,if a list is ever created it would need some price limits or guide lines. First it needs some kind of top limit ,like stamps that catalog under $10.00 and then a catalog limit like Scotts ,do you want to get into foreign catalogs ? The thing that I know is the closes a list was made, was the posting about filling a pre-1940 Scott International and what stamps were the hardest to get and all they identified was the Syrian color error and the four values in Cape Juby. There are hundreds more that most serious worldwide collectors are missing .I guess the only way would be for 5 or 6 of these collectors need to post what they are missing base on their worldwide collections to start to see what is CHEAP and Difficult to get.

I'm putting together a want list.
Tom

I only had two, although both are now found. One was the 10.1 cent Oil Wagon transportation coil precanceled, Scott #2130a. I just never remembered to look for it and when I did, it was nowhere to be found. Came across it a while back and added it to the collection. The other was the last stamp in the 20 cent 1985 Official stamp, Scott #O1388. Likewise, I forgot I needed it most of the time, then I finally remembered, got it ordered and finished the page.

I don't think I have any others at the moment.

I need a pristine 1128 antarctic stamp. I'm willing to trade a strip of 3 with plate number of the new chippendale release.
Tom

I had a heck of a time finding the 2ct "coarse impression" KGVI Hong Kong stamp.

Keep the replies coming.
Tom

sdtom....
I should have some of what you need....
Could you post the Scott#s and I will check.
KL