New Collector, Help Me Clarify A Few Things.

Hey everyone, yes this is the same harmonica/Terry at C.C.F.

So I want to dabble around in stamps. Just topical collecting and if I like it Atlantic Canadian issues as well.

People have gave me stamps as presents in the past come my birthday and what not (coin collectors and stamps just seem to go together, I listen to classic country radio and they always advertise NASCAR, same thing, they seem to go together).

Anyways I have was wondering a few things. Do we use hinges or those plastic slit things?

You know how coins have special issues that don't see circulation? What is the stamp equivalent? I have a few packages of stamps I don't think were meant to be used.

Can I make my own pages? Part of the fun seems like getting a bunch of say, cat stamps, and hinging them and labeling them with calligraphy/fountain pen. I suppose I would use special acid free paper and then put them in protective sleeves in a binder or just skip the sleeve?

I have a bunch of stamps that are in a sheet with graphics around it, I wouldn't imagine that I would break those up to hinge/mount, how do I put those in a album?

Lastly I have a couple Canadian Stamp Yearbooks. Are those the best way to pick up all the stamps at the end of the year? I love the write ups they have.

Sorry guys, I did search the forum and watch YouTube videos but I am still not sure of anything.

Thats alot of questions lol, basicly you just have to look stuff up to see what you have. If you cant figure something out people can help. At first it seems to take forever because you have to look everything up but then the more things you learn the less you have to figure out.

The advice I have received, is it is your stamp collection. Make it how you want it, so you can enjoy it. Make your own pages if you've the time and desire to do so. I am doing this, because my stamps are a collection mostly for cancels, not the series. It's a hodgepodge of stamps that don't necessarily fit in a premade binder. There would be alot gaps. I get a lot of enjoyment on creating the pages.

I have seen alot of advice, in the positive, for handwritten labels, information. Calligraphy, in my opinion, is a dying art. I think it would be great to see it kept alive, on a stamp page. Some of the fonts I'm choosing, for my self made pages are more along the lines of calligraphy, than engraver's mark, or the typical normal fonts you see. Again, make it how you want it. And post pictures of some of the pages, when you're gotten to the point you can. Would love to see them.

Yes, to Showgard mounts (the plastic slit things) and acid free paper.

There are different sizes of protectors for sheets of stamps, etc. There are several sites that offer them, such as Showgard. You might want to do a web search, to find a good product with the right price to fit in the binder you will use, for what you have.

edited to add: My opinion, though it be novice, is to use Showgard, or an equivalent, as opposed to hinges. There are threads in the community, you can search and find opinions about those. None of my stamps were pre mounted in protective products, but if I had some that were hinged, I would leave them as is. I don't think, as a beginner I would be successful at taking them off the hinge, without damaging them, without being more experienced, and knowledgeable as to how to do that, or which stamps I should do that to.

Thank you two. I live in a town of 913 so any stamp supplies will have to be ordered in and Canada Post LOVES to gouge.

After my next coin show I will pick up a kiloware and go to work (I already have a Torontonian supplier in mind).

So one question I would like answered is are their "using stamps" and "collectible stamps"? I don't want to collect "collectibles" I want actual work horse stamps. Circulating stamps if you will.

Welcome Harmonica,

Just getting started can be daunting but it can also be great fun. As I suspect many will tell you, there is no wrong way to start and where you start may not be where you end up. The best thing of all you decide what and how to collect. As many will also tell you, the key is collect what you like. You mention stamps with cats and there are groups dedicated to Topical collections (cats, dogs, trains, planes, tree, flags.. it is endless) and you can likely find them with internet searches.

In stamps like coins, condition is a key component in terms of value. Stamps direct from the post office are called mint Post office fresh. Some people only collect these types of stamps and only want those that have not been hinged in albums as this leaves marks on the reverse side. Others only collect used stamps with postmarks from specific towns or those with neat cancels. (often called fancy cancels on older US classic issues). You may decide to focus on one country or you may just want stamps from as many different countries as you can find and locate on maps. There are dead countries (those no longer exists) and newly created countries that are just getting started. I suggest starting broadly and see what appeals to you. Spend small amounts at the start to keep it fun and not be concerned with costs. At some point you will find that you purchased something you no longer like or feel that was not a good purchase(we all do), the key is don't let that discourage you from starting.

I find lots of fun in the "organizing" of my collection. In some cases I keep them in simple and lost cost stock books, easy to place them and reorganize them as they grow in numbers. In this case no need to worry about hinges or plastic holders. A quick search of the internet under stamp stock books will present a myriad of options. Try a couple see what you like as many have pros and cons(cost, ease of use, availability).

They also have dedicated fully pictured albums for most countries and some many topical collections. In this case you can see what exists and then work to fill album pages. This can be overwhelming at first seeing all the blank pages and you may have a tendency to simple try to fill holes which can be fun but may also limit your scope or learning opportunities.

Focus on what you like and ask questions. Stamps can be a solitary thing that gets you away from everyday life and they also could lead to long term friendships from like mined people in stamp clubs or local stamp shows.

Key is keep it fun. I am sure others will add to my thoughts so I will stop here but encourage you to talk to others and ask questions but most of all keep it fun.

Hope that helps.
Hobsun

Yes yes, thank you Hobsum013. I used cats as an example but I am a cat fancier so you never know. I was half thinking of mounting them on paper cut out like trading cards so I can put them in card binder sleves. Seems like once I mount them I am stuck with them there.

I collect a lot of Atlantic Canadian coins, tokens and lapel pins so I want my stamp collection to be an out reach of that but I also want to order in a box of stamps just for the shere enjoyment of jumping in.

I save stamps that have towns and cities stamped over them so I guess I am a stamp collector already, huh!

Greetings, Harmonica and welcome to the forums. The best thing about collecting stamps, in my opinion, is that there is no right or wrong way to collect. (Okay, gluing your stamps into a scrap-book is wrong, but almost everything else is okay.) If you like the Canadian Stamp Yearbooks, then go for it.

I don't know about the coins you refer to, but all US stamps issued are valid for postage. Some, like souvenir sheets are meant to be saved, but they also can be used as postage.

Making your own pages is time consuming, but extremely rewarding. I started making my own pages because I couldn't find an album I liked. I collect US mainly, but I don't need each variety of the 1907-1919 Washington-Franklin series, just an example of each denomination. So that is what my album has spaces for.

Thank you for the encouragement BKIng. I still have his concert T-Shirt when he came up to Maine.

I am reading the stamp collecting merit badge requirements and I decided to use the list as a template to what I am going to do to get my feet wet.

I really think I want to go the home made route. I have a 2002 Scott catalogue so I will familiarize myself with the old provincial stamps and get to work.

Hello Harmonica!

You've asked lots of questions and have already received lota of good answers. You certinly came to the right Forum. May I suggest that you use the "Search" feature, above? Most of your questions have already been answered!
You can certainly make your own pages. Many of us do. Its been discussed before (many times). Also, generally speaking, we use Showgard Mounts" ("the plastic slit things") for miny, unsed never previously hinged stamps. Hope this helps and WELCOME!

Jack Kelley

I agree the organizing is the fun part.

I think it's also important to consider what your ultimate objective is, as to how you organize it. If it is to be displayed in exhibits, the advice would be different, based on the requirements of the host of the showing, or award you wish to achieve. If it is for personal use only, make it how you want to see it.

For our collection, which is a family effort, through four generations, I have created pages, like the one below. There are arguments on what to put on the page, how many stamps to a page, whether to use black or white background, etc.

I had cataracts in both eyes, when I began organizing, and the black background was better for me to see the different shades of color, and the stamps stood out, whereas a white background, the light reflected off the white paper, distorting my ability to differentiate between shades. I've since had surgery on both eyes, but do not intend to change anything, at this time.

I put as much information about the stamp as I could gather, for my own reference back to a particular stamp. I don't trust all the knowledge will stay in my head, as time passes. That, and my parents are greatly enjoying seeing things, listed next to the stamp, they did not know, or know to look for, when they had the collection.

I have left room, for any additions, so I'm not having to risk damage, moving them around, as things are added to the collection.

Even though it's not award winning, exhibit professional, I like the way it looks, it has what I need, I can add to it, or redo it another time. I'm happy they are no longer in baggies, envelopes, and shoeboxes. For the moment, it has been fun getting it to this point. The colors on this one are not quite as the stamps look. I used photoshop, to manuever the stamps around, on the page, before putting them on the paper, permanently.

I'll leave the response of collectibles, and work horse stamps, for your area, to someone better suited to answer that.

I also say welcome, have fun, and happy stamping!

Harmonica,

As a follow-up based on your responses, I suggest stock books or possibly "vario" or "hagner" pages would best suit your needs at the start. Again shop around but look at ebay under stamps and search vario or hanger pages and you will see several options. (Different sizes to meet specific needs) I am not saying ebay is always the best place to buy things but you can use it to get educated on what is available. If you can find a dealer or vendor who can send you samples that would be great. I understand being from a small town, local vendors or shows would likely be tough.

Mounting anything on cards or permanent locations does sort of create issues when you try to add things. The benefit of these pages is that you can add them to a binder and then re-arrange the pages if needed. If you fill a stock book and want to add something in the middle you have to move things around. Using individual pages in a binder will limit this to some degree. You can still make it personal by inserting pieces of paper with stamp details or designs on them around the stamps. Stock books will often be cheaper (varies) so you may end up with a combination of both depending on what you need.

People will define "workhorse" stamps differently. I focus on used stamps - those that served their purpose. There are commemorative stamps (issued in smaller quantities to honor places, things events, dates) and there are definitive stamps (issued in larger quantities) that are usually more broadly used on mail and sometimes people call those the workhorse stamps. Yes there are some stamps that were primarily made as collectables. (in the US Elvis stamps, state Birds/Flowers/Flag stamps come to mind) but they did also carry the mail. However most people just bought them to save them not use them. As you move forward, these will become more evident.

Hobsun

Welcome!

1) Philately being what it is, one good way for a beginner to get a feel for the field is to gloss thru a glossary or two:

http://glossary.usstamps.org/ ... this one ought to keep you busy, and most of the terms are universal

2) Stamps do not have the 'proof sets' that you are familiar with (coins set aside at the mint for close inspection, special polishing, and public sale), but we do have essays, proofs, and printers' waste, all of which terms you will find in that glossary.

3) Search results here on SCF are often more manageable if you first search [Subject Only] and, if that fails to serve, expand the search to [Entire Message] (the default).

4) There are long-term widely-accepted trends in stamp collecting which may be of interest to you, including hinges (out) and original gum (in) and cancelled-to-order (out) and expertizing (in) and ...

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey