My Incredible Ebay Score

I was surfing ebay tonight. I have been looking for some time for a Gibbons New Imperial set- they are out of print. Here's what I found:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/26297261058...RK:MEBIDX:IT

As new set, never used. I wasn't expecting to spend this much just now but it was one of those now or never moments.

I just have to hope it will turn out to be OK. Finding a set of these is very difficult. Finding one in new shape, incredible. I may set it aside for Christmas, doubt I can wait. Just had to share.

I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes you just know that you have to bite the bullet and open your wallet. You won't regret this, but you would have been bothered forever if you had lost the opportunity. Congratulations!

Well done. You just have to save up for the 1c magenta to go in it now!

This thread, which has run sporadically for the best part of ten years, shows how good this album can look. Unlike mine, sadly.

http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopi...f=17&t=38856

I do not realistically think I will fill even a third of the spaces but I do have a lot of older Commonwealth material from this era in stock books left over from a dissolution of a large worldwide collection I sold recently. It took me all of five minutes when seeing this listed to push the Buy It Now button. For an apparently as new set this is a terrific bargain.

As to the 1c magentas, I think I'd mentioned elsewhere that my son will be in London from later this week for a few weeks while doing University studies. He'd asked me before about bringing back anything from Stanley Gibbons, he does not collect, never have been able to interest him- but says he may stop into their shop just to see it. It'd be nice if he did get interested- I wouldn't have to worry over who gets my stuff later on. One can hope.

...and you benefited a charity at the same time. Nice album, if it is ever re-printed I may have my eye on it.

Congrats on the new babies ! Happy for you - Rene

I spent Saturday filing pages in this album, I have much of the Canada section filled. Pages are crowded but the overall effect is very nice. The foreword to the album states that users ought not to try to add stamps unprovided for into the margins because this will 'spoil the appearance'. I can see that. I used vintage hinges to mount my material. I used clear mounts on four stamps, all hinged but higher values- including a 'Bluenose'.

I already have a Great Britain collection on my own pages and prefer to keep it there. The GB sector of this album will be where I can place my duplicates, etc.

I already had a SG George VI album set, I have that perhaps 60% filled, I have a checklist worked up for stamps I still need for that set using Scott #s. I take it to shows or use it while surfing ebay. It won't be possible to do that with these albums. Once I get material I already have merged into it I think I will create a list of more affordable stamps for it.

The Scroll Issue is the Canada series that make the most beautiful pages if you ask me. The Jubilees are not bad , but they are on 2 separate pages on Lighthouse and the high value have other stamps on the pages like the Xmass one.

I am now working on remounting my earlier British material into these albums. One interesting thing I noticed; the absence of frame lines means I have to take greater than usual care when mounting. If a stamp is even slightly out of alignment with the others, it stands out. Inclusion of frame lines wold have meant a larger volume on these so I know why they did it this way.

I have mounted nearly a full run of Canada after the first page- of course. That page is half full. Other parts of this album will not- nor ever- have this degree of completion.

It's completely pristine and you assisted a charity. If I had wanted something like this as much as you obviously did, I would have gone for it too. Bravo.

P.S.- We expect periodic image updates as you populate the albums!

For anyone interested, a "very fine" set of Gibbons New Imperial albums here. Estimate looks on the low side

http://www.warwickandwarwick.com/au...logue/161603