Modern Used Stamps

Anyone have a goood source for modern used-(1980-present)? Sets, year sets, singles? Looking for a cheap way to fill those modern worldwide album spaces.

I often use Vista. They follow the prices in the Unitrade catalogue. Google Vista.

If you don't mind buying unsorted, uncatalogued mixtures, you can fill a ton of modern spaces for a few cents a stamp. There are plenty of ebay sellers selling worldwide or country mixtures, there are plenty of good deals to be found, at a small fraction of catalog prices. The classified section of Linn's also has dozens of sellers, many offering outstanding deals. You can access those ads without a subscription.

Otherwise, if you're looking for specific countries and prefer to buy stamps in an organized fashion individually or by set, there are often certain dealers specializing in certain countries. If you search for "stamp dealer (country name)" you should find some dealers specializing in that country. Most popular countries will have several dealers that have price lists for them, most of which will offer things like year sets (or even decade sets, etc). Happy hunting!

Join the APS and get some of their sales circuits. The sales books usually have a good variety of contemporary stamps at reasonable prices. The downside is the expense of mailing the circuit books back to the APS or to the next member on the circuit.

Also check to see if there is a state philatelic society where you live that circulates sales books. Same for some of the specialist societies and organizations.

I have purchased many common stamps from sales circuits that dealers don't want to take the time to list because the profit margin is just not high enough.

Don

Have you taken a look at BidStart? It's a mixture of professional and part-time dealers, plus collectors selling off their duplicates. The selling fees are low, which makes it reasonable for low-priced items to be listed. You can also create a wantlist within your account on there, and it'll let you know whenever someone lists a stamp you're looking for.

I'm not trying to sound like a commercial for them. I'm one of those collectors who's downsizing, and have my gripes about them from a small seller's perspective (especially because they've been in transition since they got acquired by Stanley Gibbons last year), but I think it's still a pretty good site for a buyer, if you find things you're interested in. (Also, I don't have any modern used, so I'm not trying to solicit your business.)

Here's the link to the stamps portion of the site:

http://stampwants-stamps.bidstart.com/

Hope that's helpful!

-- Dave

Oh, I see you're in the Boston area. There are bound to be some 1- or 2-day stamp shows. That'd be a great place to look.

I'm in diagonally opposite end of the country, so I don't know which shows might be best, but, if no one chimes in here, you could also post a new thread asking about stamp shows in the Boston area.

Good luck, and enjoy!

-- Dave

Also, local stamp clubs. There's usually some buying and selling going on at most clubs, often at really good prices.

(Hopefully I've thought of everything I can by now, and won't keep adding posts!)

-- Dave

Yeah the APS circuit books will give you a wide variety of stamps. I got my first Canada one the other day and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of stamps included. It was 10 seller books and you can start or fill a collection nicely with all the variety.

The Boston area does have some big stamp shows - The Northeast Federation of Stamps Club has a show in the spring. Google/Yahoo that club name and I'm sure you'll find the location and dates.

paulyann,

Am in the Boston area too. The Spellman Museum here has annual stamp bazaar and is great for US and non US stuff for great prices. Check out below link for local stamp clubs in the area; mine has circuit books for all over the place.

http://www.nefed.org/02_clubs.htm

Below link shows all the upcoming events
http://www.nefed.org/02_events.htm

-Ram