Blocks Of 4 - What Do You Do With Them?

I think blocks of 4 look great. Still they may also be quite annoying, as there is normally not sufficient space for them - at least not in my stock-book system.

Probably most of you have been there. What do you do with them?

Simple. If you fold a block of four twice you can easily fit it into the space set aside for a single stamp.

I put the best of the best in Hagners, which I used to get pretty cheap at a local stamp store.

I love blocks too. Think outside the album, and store them in sales cards. They can be compactly stored, and flipping through them for viewing is a breeze. This is how I store all my plate blocks.

Thanks gents! Seems like most of us have more or less a similar idea - by having a separate collection for the blocks. I am intending to establish a dedicated block collection on vario pages, which should allow flexibility.

Then - what do you do when you get a block for which you do not have the single in your main collection - do you still add it to the block collection? Then the main collection would appear like you are missing that stamp.

Hieronymus - - I hope you don't do that to such lovely items

If possible, I store them in glassine envelopes in one of those Red boxes available from Stamp suppliers. Most of my unmounted US plate blocks are in such a box. If the blocks are too big for the glassine envelopes, I store them in 2 or 3 pocket Vario pages.

This is the same storage approach I take for souvenir sheets I haven't yet mounted.

Ultimately the plate blocks will be mounted in an album. For US, I purchased old Harris US 2 volume plate block albums from ebay and assembled a decent set of pages for mounting the US blocks when I get around to it.

I used to keep pairs, strips, blocks etc. Then I asked myself why I was doing it. The answer probably lay in some dim memory of a 60s orthodoxy that they would be worth more. Indeed, just like FDCs. Now, if it's post-war and doesn't have an excitingly high CV, I'll break the block to get a decent single. If I already have a decent single, the pair, block etc goes into the "get rid of this on ebay sometime" section.

Rather reminds me of my record-selling days, when I asked a customer why he was buying multiple copies of the same C&W LPs. "I'm a collector", he said, spreading his arms in bafflement at my obtuseness.

Geoff

You aren't paying attention. If you fold it, it can go into the spot for the single,then,when you acquire a single, just unfold the block and put it with the other blocks. What's not to like?

Seriously, I wish you well, Blamand, in establishing a shining, superior blocks-of-four collection. Show us some pictures when you are ready.

No one has really asked the most basic of questions here:

1. What blocks of 4 are we talking about? US, Canada or another country (noting this thread is in the Non-Country Specific category)?

2. What period stamps are we talking about? If it's modern stuff, saving stamps in blocks will seldom result in any premium value; if it's pre-1940 US material, for example, there is some premium placed on keeping certain stamps in an unfolded block of 4 as compared to just four single stamps, provided, of course, the stamped are not hinged and retain their original gum, etc. If there's damage to one or more of the stamps because of gum disturbances, the diminished value of the block will probably offset any premium of keeping the stamps in that format.

Of course, there are no rules in stamp collecting. If you like to collect blocks (or plate blocks) of stamps, good luck to you. If you're looking at it with the idea that blocks are worth more than four single stamps of the same issue, with certain exceptions, they probably don't warrant the extra expense involved in more elaborate mounting or storage of the stamps in the larger format.

Hieronymus -

wt1 asked a key question - what kind of blocks are we talking about? I intentionally raised the question in the thread open-ended, inviting anyone to relate to it, regardless of collecting US, Canada, WW or topical or whatever.

That being said I am mostly interested in WW pre-1900, so for my point of view it is my classic blocks that made me ask the question. I have read some other threads in here (and other forums) concerning values of blocks versus singles, mostly indicating the premium is often insignificant, if any at all. However for the classics I believe its another story. Some time ago I tried to purchase a block of early Ceres issue, France. The winning bid went through the roof of cat value, way beyond what I was prepared to pay anyway. So, I am not collecting blocks due to value but simply because I think they are beautiful. Unfortunately others with funds to spare seem to think they are valuable as well

I collect US used blocks of four hinged into my Scott National block of four album, the Scott National has a dedicated album for blocks of four, as well as White Ace, the National album is no longer available and very difficult to find in decent condition, I have seen later supplements but no new albums.I have no idea if any of the European album makers have dedicated block albums.

Used blocks of four cancelled during the period of use are difficult to find, this includes stamps from the late 80's and into the 90's. And of course high value stamps are four times the cost, completing a set of Kansas Nebraska overprints in blocks of four stings the wallet a bit as well as many other pre 1930 issues.

I believe that in the 50's to early 60's blocks of four were popular with collectors, based on what I have found in albums my take is mostly mint examples were collected. I assume that that many blocks of four mint and used have been broken up into singles in the last 50 years or so.

Blaamand

Early Ceres in blocks? That is scary. Yvert catalogues blocks of numbers 1-6 at between €5000 (the 20c) and €100,000 (the 15c). I don't think I'd even look!

Geoff

Used blocks of four (especially with a central CDS cancel) are nice in many ways. If I find a nice one, I put it in my CDS collection (country not important).

Earlier "classic" stamps even more so are nice to find in a block - sometimes very scarce or even unavailable in that format.

Geoff - Ok, that explains why I was surprised with the high selling price then. I did only have an older Scott available saying 2750 usd.(20c). Think it sold at 600 usd approx, condition was fair so I had my limit at 10% of 'my' catalog value. Presume I have to look at Napoleon until I win the lottery!

One of the reasons that classic blocks of four are tough to find is that postal clerks usually tore vertical strips of stamps from their stock when they needed more than one copy for franking. The reason for this was that it made it easier for accounting purposes at the day's end. Even if used strips or the rarer block survived and were soaked by a collector or dealer, at some point they would probably be separated for sale or trade...or to fit in an album space.

I always buy classic era used strips or blocks, if I can find them and the price is right.

I collect blocks of Newfoundland and classic New Zealand and Canada. Some have premiums as blocks; some don't, but they look nice. I use Vario 3 or 4 sleeve sheets and, for the rarer stuff, place the blocks in mounts as well for added protection.