Bellmore Philatelics

I have been an approval customer of this firm for many years. I currently have a collection on approval to pick over and today got a call from someone there telling me that Marvin Frey, the owner, passed away this week. They will no longer be continuing their approval business.

At one time this firm was servicing hundreds of clients and I felt perhaps some on here might want to know about this.

Philately seems to be a shrinking world these days. If anyone on here knows or is using a good general approval service, preferably one that supplies collections to pick from on approval, please let me know. I told the caller to pass along my condolences.

Thanks for sharing the news. Always a bummer to hear of a philatelic friend passing. I bought a few great items from Bellmore several years ago. Great service and good value and quality.

Oh how sad. I have been a customer of Bellmore's for the last few years, and most of my French Colonial collection has been built buying from them. I had just called last week to see when they were going to send out a new approval selection, but had not heard back. Had just talked to Mr Frey a few weeks back too. Wonderful company with a great business model and great customer service. RIP Mr Frey.

stamps1962 I have started getting approvals from Universal Philatelic Auctions in the UK. Excellent customer service and they offer a lot of great discounts on purchases. They do number by Gibbons and prices are in sterling but with the strong US dollar it's not a bad deal.

I've received approvals from Universal and they offer good service. What I liked about Bellmore was them sending huge lots of album pages to pick from, I could fill hundreds of spaces if I wanted to with one mailing. Universal prices individually, it's just not the same, but I may try them again.

I may post a new thread about approval dealers so this can be discussed in greater detail.

I've used Downtown Stamp Company for approvals a lot over the past 10 years or so.