What's Happening With German Stamps?

Well guess what- I got another message from him today. He spent an entire paragraph explaining his philosophy about feedback. Sort of boils down to the fact that this one stamp would prevent him from leaving me a 'perfect five' so according to his beliefs he didn't think I deserved any. I sort of understand where he is coming from but wish he'd think this through- he gets a terrific steal on a collection and then does this? Oh, and he also said he 'has his eye' on other lots I am selling. Now I fear blocking him- the guy IMO is applying subtle extortion to prevent that- he can still neg me.

This guy sort of reminds me of a fellow at my local club- very obsessive compulsive, humorless takes his collecting very, very seriously and thinks you should too. The guy at my club usually walks out the same time as I- he always goes through a ritual to see if anyone dinged his car, walks around looking and looking before he leaves. I park very far away from him.. now. Takes all kinds.

You can still leave feedback without touching the stars

I bet I only get feedback half the time or less on items I sell. It's no biggie, it's not like there's a prize waiting for me when I get to X number of positive feedbacks. More feedback doesn't get you more traffic or guarantee more sales, either.

I just bought a full run of Berlin used 1960-1990 for 56 Euros, which is approx. 5% of Michel catalog value (now is a good time to pick up German bargains?).

I have many of the earlier stamps - I'm watching for good deals on the more expensive ones to complete my Berlin collection. I have yet to see them at 5% of catalog though

That's not too far out of line, given that Michel prices are even more inflated than Scott's. There is no shortage of post-1960 used German stamps and there never will be. Despite what the CV says, they are, with a few exceptions, penny stamps. However, some of the later high-value definitives of Berlin do have fairly high CVs in postally used condition, and I've seen sets of those sell for $30 or so by themselves.

I got the monthly edition of Linn's today- there is an interview with Jim Dempsey of A and D Stamps. He was discussion market cycles, mentioning countries which have had 'their day in the sun'. His list included UN, Israel, Vatican, and among others..Germany. He also mentioned Russia as being a collecting area currently in a cool-down.

It would be interesting to analyze what happened with the German area but I think a lot of ideas have been mentioned here. I think in any event it is evident German stamps are not the investment they used to be. Good time however to buy selectively.

Fixed.

Good one!

On the other hand, it's unlikely that "better" German material will ever become totally worthless, either. There will still be a lot of people who collect the German area for as long as any of us are alive, just not as many as previously, hence recent declining prices.

Good point, and- unlike UN or some other areas, Germany will most certainly 'make a comeback' in time. The better material may be a good buy at today's prices. ebay dealers are unloading huge lots of the more common stuff at attractive prices these days. There are lots of full mint NH collections of areas like Berlin, Bundepost and DDR going for prices that a few years ago would have been unbelievable.

German colonies, for example, are regularly selling on ebay at 50-100% of Scott values. Most German-area stamps with a CV of over $20 or so usually bring 20-50% of CV, sometimes more, which is generally in line with prices for most areas. I really don't know how that compares to 5 or 10+ years ago, though, as I wasn't collecting then. Material from about 1960-1990 or so, regardless of condition, is very cheap and common across most countries.

Germany is the area I collect the most seriously (by far), but I collect 3 dozen or so other countries on a much more casual basis. My preferred method of buying stamps for those countries is through mixtures and kiloware, etc. It's rare that I buy individual stamps and sets for those other countries. Anyway, for almost every one of those countries, my albums are pretty full in that 1960-1990 range (or thereabouts), much less so before and after those dates. Generally speaking, the stamps of that era, whether used or mint, are very, very common. They were never worth very much and they never will be, with few exceptions. Few collectors need those stamps for their collections except for beginners; more advanced collectors either don't collect them at all or they've already had them in their collections for a long time.

German stamps 1948-1955 are on fire! I'm not a bottom feeder, but I've been outbid on 9 out of 10 DDR/Berlin lots I recently bid on. I think from now on I'll have to put in nuclear bids for lots I really want and hope for the best

These are by far the most valuable stamps from modern Germany - regardless of which zone you collect.

I'm just curious what you were bidding on. MH and CTOs are still a dime-a-dozen and can be had for 10-15% of catalogue. MNH stamps from this era still do quite well, postally used stamps will often realize full cat values, and certified Berlin overprints from 1948 will bring a fortune (which are the only stamps missing from my Berlin collection as I have chosen not to purchase them due to rampant forgeries ).

After 1955, the market is still in a coma.

Brian

I only collect postally used and I need a few DDR and Berlin stamps 1949-1952 to complete my collection, but I thought it would be fun to bid on stamp lots and have duplicates. I lost every time with what I considered decent bids. I have since discovered it's better for me to buy individual stamps on Delcampe and ebay Germany.

I've now moved on to Bavaria and am delighted that I won a great "starter" lot last week. It's over 1,000 stamps from all periods with some better stamps. I was hoping that my usual competition would be on vacation, but still put in a bit of a nuclear bid. I was right about the vacation and fortunately won the lot for a reasonable price. I can't wait to start going through it

Jenny

While working my way around the globe, I've tended to buy starter lots, and then work up to better ones if I get interested. The benefit is tasting and trying, and learning. The drawback is yet more stockbooks bulging with swaps.

All the best in Bavaria. I'm (vicariously) in Morocco at present. And really in France later this week. Yippee!

Geoff