A Book You May Want To Read..........

Awhile back I posted asking questions about the history of the business side of the hobby. Someone (and I thank you) suggested I get a copy of "Nassau Street" by Herman Herst Jr.

Well, I got one on ebay and once I started reading, it was hart to put down.

Mr. Herst became interested in stamps during the 1920s/30s and eventually found himself working for a finance firm in New York. Thru various connections, he managed to accumulate a lot of postage stamps, that he was able to trade and resell at a profit.

Nassau street was where many of the stamp dealers had their stores in NYC, and eventually Mr. Herst opened up his own. He than traveled the world - right before WWII's outbreak, building up his stock and cementing stamp relationships for the future.

The book is mostly filled with "stories", from harrowing trips thru Germany to digging thru attics and barns in northern NY.

I found the book fascinating, and highly recommend it. It took me awhile to finish it, but the neat thing was you could put it down after each story, and start up again later without losing anything.

Just thought I'd pass that on..............

Nassau Street has always been one of my favorites. Mr. Herst wrote others, but my memory is that they weren't as interesting as his first. Still worth seeking out at the local library or second hand bookstore.

Thanks, that sounds like one I might enjoy. I would guess it is in a somewhat similar vein as the current books by Stephen Datz that Linn's sells.... "On the Road- Quest for Stamps" and "The Wild Side- Philaetic Mischief, Murder and Intrique" which concern adventures from the dealer's perspective.

I've had Pat Herst's book (Pat was his nickname) for probably 23-24 years. Haven't read it in at least 20. Thanks for the reminder to pick up again a very entertaining book. I also vaguely remember his periodic columns in Linn's.

Some other books worth your time are the Philatelic Gems series published by Amos Press (originally published by Linn's). They tell the story of the rarities of philately; at least many of them. Also on my to-do list is to get a copy of the late Varro Tyler's book on forgeries. I think it also is published by Amos, but would have to check.

His books are very interesting and based on his many years of experience in the stamp business. More than anything, I remember how he could never understand how some would speculate on new issues by buying them with the hope of reselling them later at a profit. He told the story of this guy who approached him at a stamp show and showed him a bunch of new stamp sheets that he just bought at the post office. He asked him "How much do you think they'll be worth one day?" The gist of the answer was not much more than you paid (face value) for them or sometimes even less (than face value) as bulk postage. He then showed him sheets that he had that were over 20 years old and even these didn't go up much. He asked the guy that if these older sheets weren't worth much more after so many years then there's nothing to say that his new sheets will do better. Many still buy new issues with the same intentions and expectations even more so today. Some things never change.

Thanks for the recommendation, mobilman44.

Yes, thanks for the recommendation....I picked up a 1960-2nd edition on ebay for $1.59, perhaps the book will appreciate in value better than those stamp sheets! John

Thanks for recommending this book mobilman. I am deffinately going to look it up.

Dianne

There are a number of inexpensive copies on ebay.

Here is another good story book....
On the Road by: Stephen Datz
Makes for great reading....tells about stamp
buyers, sellers, investors....based on his dealings.
PRETTY GOOD!

Hi to all

When I go overseas on holidays with the family, I always check out the thrift shops and market stalls, and sometimes you actually find stamps. Most are coffee table stamps. (They look pretty and were printed with collectors in mind. but sometimes you actually will find something interesting.
Horamakhet

Great read, it has become my "just before shutting off the light" book....well at least for a couple of weeks. The internet has its advantages, but this makes you long for the day when a train/bus trip into Manhattan could be met with a slew of actual stamp shops to investigate. John

Ordered "Nassau Street" through Abe Books; not very expensive.