What Did You Do Philatelically: Today Or Recently?

Nice René



Agree - and the best thing is - it never ends

and.....Blaamand....Thanks ! and....

You have to read the Catalogues

I agree, Jon

I plated one, US Three Cent 1851-57, stamp and spent some time staring at another.

I've been researching UV lighting for my UK collection. Totally confused and totally need help.

Jack Kelley

My second batch of Christmas cards went out today as I had finished addressing and sticking the stamps on the envelopes yesterday.

So far, I've sent 79 cards and 1 postcard.

I get such enjoyment out of mailing cards this time of year and the local postmaster is top notch.

-MV

@jkelley01938

FWIW, I am considering getting one of these:
http://www.ultraviolet-tools.com/ul...uv-lamp.html

@Jack Kelley and @dkabq8. I have one of those and use it sparingly because it is battery powered. It does a good job as long as you use fresh batteries and never use the ones you can recharge. I use mine when I am at shows. At home when I need a stronger light I have an AC unit that I bought from ultraviolet tools.

Peter

@Petert4522

Did you get the 13W or 36W unit?

But as Jack needs a long wave UV lamp for UK, neither will work for him.

@Jack Kelley

You might consider this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008133KB4/

Signed up for three APS circuit books.

dkabq8, I ordered the 13 watt and they were out so they substituted the 18 watt unit. I have a portable one like the Amazon unit and it is useless. Also, the small from uvtools is both long and short wave - it will work fine for looking at British UVbars. But again, a battery operated unit is not really recommended unless you use fresh batteries and that gets kind of expensive,

Peter

I bought an abandoned estate/huge collection of stamps and covers, which belonged to some stamp dealer (yard sale finding). I am getting more and more confused starting to work on it. It is so hard to clean it up and organize. As I see, the dealer was active till 1990s or at some time when collectors used to request and exchange stamps in hard paper envelopes via regular mail. It is impossible to count how many albums, boxes with antique covers, old stamps I have. The most distracting is that many of the stamps are misplaced in the albums, envelopes, etc. It is obvious that someone keeping it didn't know the difference between Chinese and Japanese stamps or Bulgarian and Russian; on the other hand - the person may just didn't have time for details... Anyway, I will pray for his soul to the end of my life.
So, I feel lucky, thankful and at the same time - it is a huge challenge.
My aim was to collect USA, Canadian and may be - Austria's stamps.
I am afraid of getting rid of all other stamps and covers without a good research. You never know what kind of rarities can be in the "collections" like this. If I would find a really rare stamps, which I don't need - I would be able to sell them and step up on the higher level of collecting - spending much less time for reading, studying and finally - start to buy directly from the International Auctions. ))) My biggest dream!

If someone can suggest a good stamp experts' firm, I would really appreciate. I sent a few stamps and got certificates, which confirm only the Scott number. I would love to use service of experts that in their certificates describe measurements and grade in addition. Please kindly help.
Thank you ))

Aurora ----First you need to put up here those stamps that you want to get certificates for,scan and post them to this chat board ,people here can help you before you start spending money on fees and expert research.

Still stuck on UV selection, but have ruled our battery operated due to the comments above. Not sure whether to go with dual or short UV. Also, I am a little concerned about safety. My eyes are the only thing that I have left that works. And that's only because I had lens replacements.

It would be nice if someone could tell me which one to get )and goggles too).

Thanks.
Jack Kelley

If you wear standard glasses (even plastic) it blocks most UV. It is easy to not look directly in the lamp. You can test by placing the material (like stamp mounts) under and you will notice the UV is blocked (as it should). I noticed some plastics do not block UV.

My Versalume is battery and AC powered.