What Did You Do Philatelically: Today Or Recently?

I was gifted three pounds weight of modern Ireland kiloware. Not finished sorting them. The interesting thing is that there are so few commemoratives. The vast majority of the stamps are "Stamps on A Roll", booklet stamps and coils from recent years...ie fauna, Easter Rising and this years series "100 Artefacts from Irish History" (hopefully the series will get more interesting that the eight ancient objects in 2017. A four digit code on SOAR stamps indicate the post office which issued the stamp and so far around 660 different post offices have been identified. As at 2008, there were 1,424 post offices in the Republic of Ireland (and around 1,150 in 2017) and more to close in coming years. I am reasonably happy. Obviously it is getting harder to pick out a new post office (the law of diminishing returns and I am realistic enough to know that I wont get them all).
Otherwise I am hibernating for the winter. The dark days and cold has curtailed my (senior citizen free) travel but during 2017, I have visited about 190 post offices.

Created Steiner-like custom album pages for the U.S. Overrun Countries issue to include the reverse printings and partial reverse printings. Also created custom album pages for some U.S. odd and ends: computer-vended postage, die cut varieties, singles from booklets and sheetlets, plate number coils, precancels, etc.

Robert

Finished Entering all the Gibbons and Brusden-White data on the King George V Side Face definitives from Australia into my Stamp Mate. 437 varieties in total added. Still need to add in the Official Stamps (Punctured and Overprinted) and then the Michel and Scott # correlations.

Here's an image of the listings for the 1 1/2d Multiple Small Crown and A watermark listings from 1926, just to give a flavor of what all I am putting in.

Blaamand, I once saw a collection where the collector only missed a few covers from having one cover from each day of 1962. 1962 was the year he was born, and since I thought it was a really cool idea for a collection I wanted to do something similar for 1979 which is the year I was born.

I don't spend a lot of money or time on this collection, but I enjoy searching for covers from 1979. Going through a box of covers is something I enjoy anyway, and now I have one more thing to look for.

@Yobo, that's interesting, good luck with that

Last night, I moved the laser printer up to my stamp den, and began the process of printing out Steiner pages and mounting stamps.

Got through Afghanistan, Ajman, and Albania.

It sadly became apparent that the pages in the albums I am retiring are absolutely trashed by the Prinz hinges I used for a while. Oh, well, at least I can use the Minkus Comprehensive World Wide binders with the Steiner pages.

I've spent the last 4-5 weeks rebuilding my French Colonies want list. I had tons of material, just not organized. After reviewing literally dozens of auction lots I finally was able to generate a meaningful want list with which to move forward.

As I result, I started scouring for sources of material and discovered a couple in Europe that have helped me expand the collect greatly. One prized stamp I needed I actually discovered here in the US- the 2fr from the 1917 French Morocco definitives, MNH. Sorry for the crappy images, I just took quick shots with my phone camera. The Morocco is fresh and very fine despite the washed out look inside the 102 card.



Another prized stamp that has been difficult to find in good condition is the 5fr Tunisia definitive from 1931. Most copies I encounter have short or missing perfs, but this one is quite nice and MNH.



I mentioned finding 2 new sources in Europe. the next 4 images are MNH stamps from my want list that just came in the mail. I also placed an order this week from a different seller that has several hundred more Dom Tom singles, and I will post images when they arrive.

Again, sorry for the very rough images, will be some time before I can break these lots down. But man was it fun to see this stuff come through the door... getting closer and closer.

Incorporated another tranche of US commemoratives into my collection. The march to completion continues.

shermae those all look gorgeous, esp the 5F Tunisia - well done!

Why can't the USA have stamps like this? We used to.

Jack Kelley

Hadn't done much in recent weeks except keeping up with my philatelic reading. Finally started re-mounting my collection of Zambesia this week. Also working on a want list for Zambesia; to fill holes; and modern colonial Angola (about 1964-74) to head out to my favorite dealer, D & P Stamps in CA, right after Xmas.

And to answer the unasked question, Zambesia #72 is way beyond my budget at this time. Check the Scott Classic catalog to see what I'm referring to.

Steve,

Zambesia #72 is not even listed on ebay or HipStamp.

Jack Kelley

Jack: there is no space for #72 on the Scott pages for Zambesia, but there is a blank area. I saw it offered once in the immediate past; maybe 15 years ago; in an ISPP auction (ISPP = International Society for Portuguese Philately). Also saw one in an old Peter Kenedi auction from 1988. So, it does exist. Should not buy it, however, without a certificate preferably from ISPP or APS (usually the same individual does certs for both).

No, I don't collect old auction catalogs other than retaining all my Portu-Info bulletins and auctions since I joined ISPP in 1991. The Kenedi auction in 1988 caught my eye; in a Linn's ad; because it featured a gold medal Portuguese colonial collection. I still have the catalog and occasionally pull it out to "drool." That catalog re-kindled my interest in the Portuguese colonies that had been dormant since the late 1970s. Steve

Well, the card-stock Steiner pages I had been printing up all curled up on me, and pressing the pages with heavy books didn't help.

Went to the office supply and picked up some 24 lb. Hammermill paper, which lies flat after printing and feels just like the paper in my Scott album. Ahh, now that's much better!

Reprinted pages and remounted Afghanistan, Ajman, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua, finished up Argentina, and got started with Australia.

I use 28 lb paper and I see less curling effect when printed on my HP versus my Brother. I suspect some is related to the paper path.