What Did You Do Philatelically: Today Or Recently?

Today I looked at the humungous pile of US precancels and decided it was too much work. I had already started to put them into albums, but seriously, unless you are into precancels it becomes hard work. Maybe I should pick just one state and work on that?

A couple of days ago, I finished mounting the Japan and Lebanon that I had prepared. Since then, I prepared 2 more pages for Jamaica out to 1959, Liberia from 1940-1959, Luxembourg from 1940-1959, and Vatican City from 1940-1959. Should be obvious I am extending my mounting project to 1959. For anyone who uses Steiner, I found that the Liberia pages aren't quite up to par, at least not for me. There are many frames that just aren't the correct size and there are some page heading issues. The other difference with Liberia is that Steiner decided to keep the AIR POST stamps with the regular issues for many of the sets. It's not an awful thing to have done, but it's just different enough to make me consider redoing the pages. Since I already printed out the pages, I am debating on whether or not to just use them as is or spend a couple of hours fixing them up. I also ordered more mounts and some 107 cards. I have decided that I want to keep certain items in dealer cards as opposed to glassines or stock books.

Received some FDC's & mint USPS stationary items (mail order Canada & NH). Crossing off the list, checking off in reference books, getting ready to catalog, value & place in albums. (still waiting on a USPS Fulfillment order) About 60+ items. Needs to wait for a rainy day, as the yard is greening & needs some serious attention.

I'm at PIPEX in Portland, OR. I live around 230 miles east of either Portland or Seattle but have never been to a major stamp show there or anywhere. I initially was going to do a day trip but stayed over a night and I'm glad I did, there is a lot more to look at today. Amtrak is offering double rewards points and it's an easy light rail connection (Green Line) from Union Station to the Clackamas Town Center station, 1/2 mile from the show hotel. That's an easy walk for me but the hotel said their van will convey guests to and from the station. I am having a great time and looking forward to what I might find today before taking the afternoon Empire Builder back to Pasco.

It's only a coincidence that I started to work on Mexico 1940-1959 this weekend. It's something I dreaded because of several sets that more or less repeat with different watermarks. I'm not overly fond of spending money on anything to see watermarks, so I just do my best. If I get really frustrated, I'll dip used stamps in water and hope that works. That said, I did print pages and have laid out the stamps ready to be mounted. I'm very happy with the coverage.

Continued scanning/posting on ebay.

Posted an 1873 German Wechsel-Stemple for identification on another thread.

I have been following a Spanish online auction. Interestingly, you can scroll back to lots that were passed and reserve the lot. Already during the auction, you are notified whether you will receive the lot at the starting price.

In itself it is not strange for passed lots to be offered at their reserve price. This is the first time I have seen this happen during the online auction itself.

NSK don't forget to show us your winnings!

The fiscals (not my field of interest) attracted many bids. Cabo Juby all have opening bids. They are up in a few minutes, together with other territories. I am done, but may watch those overseas issues for fun.

I've laid out Greece and Spain 1940-1959. I've also removed Salvador and San Marino from International Parts 2 thru 4 pages. I have so much ready for mounting now. Good thing most of my mount order arrived 2 days ago. I also received 500 more sheets of 65lb cream cover stock yesterday. Staples is out of stock again, so I had to order elsewhere and pay shipping. It's not so bad, but I should have probably ordered 2000 sheets.

Took the time to go through some old stock and found a top right margin plate block of 8 of the 1935 Farley reprint of the Wisconsin Tercentenary that I bought on ebay in 1999! I laid out a page for my Farley Specialized album and the stamps finally found a home. Hopefully, I don't have any items like that begging to be mounted.

Reviewed my recent shipment from Fulfillment Services, cataloged, & placed in 2024 album. Ordered the May issues from Fulfillment. (I am going to go broke when June order is made)

I started the E Post Offices for my book yesterday.

132 pages & 38,500 words thus far.

43 POs down, 142 to go.

Yes it's been a bit slow going but with winter closing in I expect to get more done

I worked some more, doing the merging of four collections into one. The country is Mexico, the period is the first 84 years of Mexican stamps; 1856 - 1940.

For this early period, I'm merging 4 Mexico collections onto Steiner pages (in the green folder). I've finished with all of the types of these stamps except the airmail stamps.

This photo shows the merging array of 2 Mexico collections (in the yellow and black folders) on my table. My current album on the nearby couch is another source collection. The 4th collection did not come with any airmail stamps.



The plastic folders are dual-clamp folders. One clamp is in the fold, and the other clamp is on the left inside cover of the folder, as you can see. The clamps make sure the pages are kept from folding or creasing, with the pages held open in the folders' working areas. The source pages in the folders have glassines between their pages. After I'm finished with Mexico airs, the Steiner pages will be moved from the green clamping folder and into my album.

Finish mounting on simple homemade pages over 2500 different Swedish city and town postmarks.
Also made a simple month day calendar for Swedish stamps and was surprised that of the 366 spaces I'm only missing seven dates.