Stamp Collecting..what Is Your Preference.

Used stamps, when I can identify the place where it was canceled.
I look up the places, get a feeling for them, even feel a bit like I've visited there even if I haven't been there physically. Learn a heck of a lot of geography & history. Each of the stamps becomes, for me, something that a real person used at a unique place, not just piece of paper different from other pieces of paper. Most of them are common stamps, so not worth much in money, but worth a heck of a lot in satisfaction for me.

MNH should also be an option

I like all of the above for what I collect.

With US revenues it really isn't an option to collect mint due to the thin pocketbook, but even then it can be the cancel that is the rarity on a very common stamp.

With all of my other likes I try to get MNH but cost being what it is and if I can find a nice clean stamp with a nice clear cancel I'll bite till I can afford better.

Then there is the squared circle cancels which I try to find with a clear strike so I know where it came from, as Edziu said I like to look up the location to get a feel for it and learn about the history of the area.

Willie

My first option is M NH. But, I am now at the "$$$$$ one" and I have to go with USED, M NH are too expensive for me.

My general rule of thumb is used (preferably with clear Circular Date Stamp) for items before 1890, mint hinged up to the early 1960s and Mint Never Hinged after that.

Of course it all depends on the country and stamp cost. I won't pass up a mint hinged stamp from say the 1870s if it a good price, for example.


For Canada, the breakdown would be used to 1910, mint hinged 1910-1945 and then NH for postwar to present.

I do prefer used stamps with a nice cancel, for many of the reasons already mentioned. In fact even trickier with the more modern stamps.
Lately I am really into covers as well.

I certainly have many mint stamps and enjoy them as well, but not my first preference. Probably makes me a minority.
Enjoying everyone's logic to this.

I never found a stamp I didn't like. I like MNH though have no problems collecting used stamps. I try to buy MNH classics that are in my budge. Thus since most are above what I am willing to pay used are just fine.

used. I just like the fact that the stamp did what it was supposed to do and has a story to tell

I am a US collector (sometimes going to a foreign s/s issue when joint w/US) and I purchase current in mint, most post 1920 in mint and the pre-1920 in mint if reasonable $ & used in F-VF again if reasonable $. I have a complete US Airmail collection sans the Zepps but I am looking for a lottery hit to get those. So budget drives my acquisitions more than anything else. (just like everyone)

I collect used only Canada and BNA Provinces. I also am building a 1-for-each collection for which I accept used, unused or mint.

I prefer used for the same reason as espoused by knuppster59. I freely admit that this is just my personal bias and I don't try to convert others.

I see I'm in the 20% minority so I'd be happy to take any used BNA anyone needs to dispose of.

Terry

Mint when I can afford mint; used for the older and more expensive items.

Interesting results.. I often get the impression that the big auction houses see Mint stamps as a much more important.

Look at Maresch's catalogue cover for today's auction and you'll see 19 stamps in total...only one of which is used.

To those of you who say you try to go with Mint if you can afford them...well most collectors including myself have a bucket of mid-century mints that we can't even liquidate for face value... And it's not as if Used don't fetch big money--let's not forget Wert's beautiful 2c LQ on Laid Paper...highest price in history, right?

Sometimes SAN lacks photos of Used stamps...which I find ridiculous, seeing as the aesthetics of a cancellation are impossible to describe in words.

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I'm a fervent Used-only collector. Like the contributors above, I find cancellations (esp. CDS-types) can tell an fun little history of where and when the stamp traveled, and what kind of package it transported. A bit like the provenance of a painting, but rather than a paper trail, the stamp bears its history on its very face. Isn't that more interesting, for example, than stamps bought and left forgotten in a drawer? Ever found a stamp bearing the name of a town that no longer exists? That's always a cool experience.

Since $value is also important to me as a collector, this essently cuts me off at Unitrade #103 so that I may focus more in depth on the beautiful, but beguiling 19th century issues like the Large Queens.

Lastly, I was once dunking jubilees in warm water to remove hinge remnants and I accidentally got a few drops on one that was MNH. That pretty much turned me off Mints.

I selected mint and used, but my preference is for used stamps. To me there is just something about collecting a stamp after it has served its purpose.

Used stamps. I collect U. S. Officials, the most of which where remaindered when they were no longer valid. A high value official that has been postally used is much scarcer than it's mint counterpart. I also do collect mint Proofs and the Official Special printings.

If I buy...........I love to have either a MNH-VF, or MH-VF, and am flexible for a Mint Fine if the buy is good
Excellent Post !

.......and there are a lot of other things in I life you can do with your $$$