When Do You Cut The Cord?

So, I was thinking about my Scouts on Stamps collection, one of several I have.

Thing is, I've not worked on it in years. Multiple shows, approvals, ebay sales, and I suspect it has been eight or ten years since I paid any serious attention to it.

I am contemplating selling it, but I'm afraid as soon as I do, I'll get the urge to work on Scouts again. But I'm afraid if I don't, my Scouts collection will continue to just take space on my bookshelf.

Have you cut the cord and given up on an area, topic, or country of interest? What made you pull the trigger?

Umm... no. I have instead added a few more cords, more shelves, more closet space, a cabinet, and a second desk. I know this doesn't help, but one thing to consider is, that by selling it you can move to another area. On the flip side if you decide to start again, it will be just as fun the second time around.
I am however giving heavy consideration to specializing in a few select countries, and selling off the smaller quantities as packets. For Focus. Things like Burundi... Ajman... some others I have very small amounts of. (under 100)

I haven't cut a cord per se, but I started out as a worldwide collector and eventually had to draw the line at about 35-40 countries or so. I use Steiner pages, so album cost isn't a huge issue. There were two factors for me: shelf space and time. I probably have a good 20-25 feet of shelf space for albums and just didn't want to keep adding more. Also, I just plain don't have the time to deal with more than I already have. I work on Germany a few times a week, each of the Scandinavian countries once or twice a month, some countries just once every month or two, then on down the line to ones I might pick up once or twice a year. Any new pages I print would probably fall into a "once a year or less" category, which kind of translates as "why bother?".

I wish I was that organized with my time. I spend all stamp time on cataloging US Singles. Maybe about 1% in sorting countries. As son as Im caught up on the US, I will venture into Germany, Israel, Russia and Slovensko, Maybe France.

I think Guy & I are on the same page!

I used to hold on (horde?) much longer then I do today. As I have gotten older I now tend to stay more focused and turn over those things which are not my current interest. I may be kidding myself but I justify this with the standard, "this is better off in the hands of someone else who will appreciate it more than I currently am".
don

In a way I have. I stopped collecting US plate# blocks. This was an early passion for me in stamp collecting, but for the most part I have everything that can be gotten reasonably. I haven't sold mine yet, though. I also pulled the plug on collecting mint US. Any mint US I get in lots these days are either postage or resold.

Hi,
Keep it. Even if you don't touch it again, keep it. It was a big part of your life and meant a lot to you. Someday you, or your heirs, may well get enjoyment from it

If your only concern is the shelf space or the fact it sits idle, I would keep it. It does no harm where it is, right? Put a value on it, and ensure your heir(s) know how to find it, and thus give them the responsibility, at least until you come up with a better reason to sell.

I cut the cord on trying to fill every space (at least modern) in my US collection a few years ago. I contemplated it for 2 years before actually cutting it and must say it was not an easy decision. I gave up WW stamps about 15 years ago. I will also say that to this day I do not regret my decisions one bit. With a few exceptions I now focus mainly on 19th Century cancels from my hometown and elaborate penmanship on covers. I find it very satisfying and much less expensive, unless I were to purchase the stampless era allegorical York, PA cancel. That one is nearly impossible to obtain for less than $700.00. The best strikes are well above $1,000.00.

I want to get rid of most of my US and Guatemala collections as kiloware but have not had much success mainly due to high postal rates for anything over 50 grams from Guatemala.

If you sell a collection and then later change your mind, it will be very difficult to duplicate what you had. The best philatelic advice I was ever given is not to sell what I collect.

Good advice, Jenny2U, for someone who has doubts about cutting the cord. By all means, if someone is not sure whether or not they might regret it, keep the stamps. My comment comes from knowing what I want and taking my age into consideration. Personally speaking, I will not be changing my mind.

I believe in keeping as well. I sold off some collectibles from another hobby I was involved with and even though it has been many years since I had a passion for that type of item. I regret not being able to pull out the collectibles and remember the thrill of the hunt to put the collection together. Space can be a challenge but so far I have been creative enough with storage to keep all the stamps/albums I have acquired. I am better at pacing myself though as I get older.

I can understand selling part of a collection if the money is needed to expand something else but it must be hard to do. Very recently, I viewed an almost complete and beautifully displayed collection of Canadian Provinces for sale. It included many of the Newfoundland rarities and had to be worth in excess of $100K. The owner was selling it because he wanted to concentrate his money in his new collecting interest, New Zealand. I have only seen a nicer accumulation of these issues in a well-known Canadian dealer's stock. Would really have liked to make an offer but the price was just out of reach. The collection was only shown to a small number of collectors at the stamp show and I think one was going to make an offer and, if successful, intended to break the collection up and recover his capital, keeping only a samll number of items for his personal collection. What a shame.

I've turned over a few items much too quickly in the past - only to purchase back similar items a few years later. As long as I have the "space" I haven't sold anything off in a few years now. At the same time I've slowed my purchases so I no longer have the need to "fund" any current purchases. If there is one item I wish I could get back, it would be a Canadian collection I started in my youth. I know I can purchase better collections at lower prices, but it won't be that same one I started years ago.

Start over pk-short and relive the journey!