Stamp Snobs

Sorry, but I'm on a bit of a roll. I've just got back from holiday in the Western Isles of Scotland and the brain is ticking over nicely.

I have often thought that stamp snobs exist. You know the type - people who think that large-format stamps from (for example) sand-dune states or eastern-bloc countries should be used to line the kitty-litter tray?

I finally met one such guy on holiday. He simply couldn't accept that I collect both Yemen miniature sheets and early British colonial southern Africa. We all have specialisations, but surely the fun of collecting stamps goes beyond these wierd attitudes.

Has anyone else come across stamp snobs? What do you do to change their attitude?

I am *never* going to get over the fact that you collect Yemen miniature sheets, period.

OTOH, I don't have to, either.

It is down to you to enjoy looking at them.

Here's hoping that you do a good job of it.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

Snobs exist everywhere. I admit to being a snob about collectors of "Precious Moments" figurines. But that doesn't mean I can be disrespectful when someone else gets excited about them.

Ignore snobs and enjoy your collection! There are no doubt other enthusiasts that will appreciate it!

Welcome to SCF! You will find more respect here!

I ran into one of those close to 15 years ago. Unfortunately he was the owner of a small nearby stamp and collectables shop and runs the local stamp collecting club. I have never walked back into the shop since nor have I bothered to join my local club. Thank goodness for the rise of ebay and the Internet - they breathed new life into my Scott International Albums - or as I was told at the time "crappy albums for beginners."

I for one, do not collect Eastern Europe or the sand dune countries. I don't consider myself a stamp snob either.

Having stated this, if one collects those areas, fine. After all, it is a hobby and, we all collect whatever pleases us the most.

I used to collect these countries but, found more pleasure in the countries I decided to keep.

Chimo

Bujutsu

I've met those at various local clubs over the years.
In my experience, their attitude can not be changed. Forget them and move on.
Better to find people with similar interests online via for example this forum :-)

I have met more than one dealer with this kind of attitude. One in particular told me to throw out (literally throw-away) all of my 1869s with condition issues because they detracted from the rest of my 1869s. I have never been back to his table since - even though I see him at least once a month. I really detest that attitude!

My guess is that the "stamp snob" you encountered is probably a snob about other things too. If they don't care for it, for whatever reason, it's crap and they will be more than happy to tell you so.

Opinions are like pie holes. Everyone has one. If someone gives you an unsolicited opinion about your collection, ignore it. You aren't going to change their mind.

The nice thing about stamp collecting is that there are no rules. You collect what you want and how you want. Period. Just enjoy your collection.

As ClassicalStamps said, "Better to find people with similar interests online." SCF is a great place to hang out. You would be surprised what pops out of the woodwork here when you hit another collector's interest.

Dan

Aw shucks IkeyPikey. I thought you guys were soooo sympathetic. I'll stamp my foot and sell my collection NOW!

Seriously though, I agree with Kehess that this guy is probably a snob elsewhere. I just collect what look good and interesting, have fun doing it. My local dealer is like-minded, as has been every person I meet in his shop. Thanks for all your support on the forum, and now I'll get back in the undergrowth :-)

I live in Barcelona. Here, "serious collectable countries" are: Andorra, France, Germany, Britain, Scandinavia and Vatican.
When, 22 years ago, I started to collect the newly independent Baltic republics, most people told me that I was wasting my money and advise me to turn to serious countries. Some people, even said that anything issued later than 1900 was rubish.
I kept my Baltic collection, and now I've a nice postal history collection of the early days of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia second republics.
My Estonian 1990-1992 collection, has even won a prize on Modern Philately, and I'm toying with the idea of leaving it to the Estonian Postal Museum in Tartu (Estonia), which I visited three years ago and found that they miss a number of postal items that are in my collection. As I don't have heirs, it might be a good idea. How knows?
Some people keeps on talking about "those strange countries that you collect"...But I don't care!

There are a lot of stamp snobs on line, too. They will try to put you down if you do not collect what they think is acceptable. Postal History buffs can be like this- if you are not into what they are you're 'just a stamp collector.'

I used to enjoy participating in an on line chat sponsored by a well known single-country specialty society. I was always aware most of these guys were miles ahead of me and was trying to absorb some knowledge. One day I made the mistake of mentioning that I was getting stamps on approval from a dealer- I was told by one of the participants that they thought I was 'more advanced than that." Another told me, that well, if that is what makes you happy. It was and is and I never went back. I think they are still out there talking about postal markings on WWII submarine postcards or whatever. I am on the verge of terminating membership in one society because all they have in their journal is this arcane stuff. No wonder parts of the hobby are dying..

My definition of stamp snob is not based upon 'country' or collecting area. In my opinion a stamp snob is a person who refuses to share philatelic information with fellow collectors; sometimes even taking it to their grave with them rather than share. ('Information' meaning not just what is in their heads but also what is in their collections and libraries.)
Don

A few years ago, one of my children asked for advice (yes, true story) about travel; specifically, should she keep re-visiting a country she had already been to 2-3 times, or should she try to visit a new & different country each time.

I explained various advantages of settling on some country that appealed to her - the one she had been to, or another - and making that her regular travel destination. Some of those advantages included the opportunity to establish continuing relationships with some of the locals, developing enough of an understanding of the language/etc to be able to commercialize it, and having the choice of new/foreign or familiar/foreign (or a combination thereof) when travelling to that country.

Recently, I had occasion to attend a postal history lecture by a fellow who had done pretty much just that. For the last 20/30 years, he (and a wife send by a very friendly Providence) have taken their vacations in the same little country. His collection includes a lot of stuff you could not throw enough money around to own any other way.

And, he has enjoyed a 'network' effect; each new piece adds more to a collection than it is worth (in the broadest sense of the word) on its own.

Whether/not this leads to snobbery is about him, not his collection or the knowledge he has collected about his subject. In his case, he has chosen to become a friendly, walking encyclopedia. You can, too ... even if it is about Yemen miniature sheets ;)

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

The philatelic world was a LOT more snobbish 40 years ago. Exhibits had to be "classic postage issues"; revenues and back of the book or modern postal material was sneered at big time. Many clubs were also very snobbish and elitist. Highbrow was in full flower back then.

I can proudly say I am not a snob. Collectors collect with so many different agendas the possibilities must be almost endless.


-IBFS

There are guys at the stamp clubs I've belonged to that I call "got everything, know everythings". I don't know why they even attend - they are downers who are just grumpy old men. Collectors who enjoy the hobby are always adding weird and crazy stuff - always learning.