The Problem With US Philately

https://www.apfelbauminc.com/blog/p...tely-stamps/

This is a link to an article on the Apfelbaum website. Before clicking 'back' read it. Despite it's author, it raises some interesting ideas about the subset of collecting US Stamps.

Rather than expecting Scott to pull major catalog status on some of these stamps it would make more sense to simply collect what you like, doing your own pages on some areas. Those catalog numbers are set in concrete and will IMO never change. It's an interesting read.

Problems With Philately? My opinion in no particular order…

1. Dealers who rig auctions http://www.stampsmauritius.com/Apfe...dsGuilty.htm (Sorry, the irony was simply too overwhelming.)
2. Companies which market stamps/covers as 'collectibles'
3. Postal services which over-issue stamps
4. Philatelic organizations, clubs and hobbyists which refused to acknowledge how technology change the hobby and take advantage of it.
5. Catalog publishers who continue to publish fantasy values
6. Philatelic press which refuses to investigate and expose fraudulent practices
7. Hobbyists who refuse to share and communicate knowledge including preferred sellers
8. eBay (both a boon and a bust for the hobby).

I see no point in beefing about major/minor catalog numbers, numbers are free in the digital and database world. And as more and more people do desktop publishing of their own album pages, the legacy publishers will continue to lose influence there too.

The article (like many of the others) is penned by a person who is viewing the hobby from 1970s.
Don

I might add another factor; all the nasty grumpy old men who infest many stamp clubs, driving off potential members. I recently attended a meeting of my local Coin club. The difference between the two groups was incredible. The coin folks were welcoming; go to many stamp clubs and you'll be ignored. I think it has to do with Philately being a more solitary hobby.

I agree that catalog numbers are an arbitrary classification. Collect and organize your material however you wish. Its more interesting that way.

The multitude of catalog numbers illustrates how well evolved our understanding of the material has become. The Scott US Specialized catalog is actually a fabulous piece of reference material on US stamps. There is a lot of information there.

I'll add slightly to Don's list:

9. Facebook/Social Media - Helps shorten people's attention spans even more in general, which is not terribly compatible with stamp collecting.

I choked a bit as well when reading that article, considering the source. It seemed quite self-serving.

txstamp,

I do not consider social media a self-induced wound as I see Don's list.

In this modern world, people going to some banquet in a tux a bit much where exhibiting is much about wealth as anything else.

The current big show model always seems to be focused on exhibits (90% of which someone may not appreciate) and the dealers paying high table fees. From what I see from all the "cons" (conventions), it is a broad agenda for all: sellers, buyers, speakers, education, celebrities, cosplay but not as applicable to stamps), etc) that is much more complex than world stamp show. Suits with fancy ribbons are out of place. It is interesting enough for people to have to pay to get in.

Look at the APS show in August where the USPS is releasing some wallpaper dragon stamps.

Hmm, I take a different perspective on this. If you did away with all the "minor" varieties that have a Scott #, say only list all the 1851's as 7's or if perfed as 24's and so forth all the way through the W/F's then most collectors would walk away as it would get boring. Scarcity drives buyers hoping to find that one rare stamp. For a lot of collectors it's more in the hunt. And varieties themselves would drive the cost and eventually a catalog listing the variants. And once that is done then those prices would be driven up regardless. It also drives exhibits.
As for the pricing in Scott's I don't have a problem with that either. The average stamp at auction on ebay has flaws which drive the values down from the Scott value. And, that's why certain items bring more than Scott values if they are flawless.

Point taken.

With regard to shows, lots of exhibits with entry fees, presumably helps fund the show, and make it happen. I have no issue with that - I'd rather have a show than no show. That said, my understanding from the grapevine is that exhibiting, at least in the US, is shrinking.

Online exhibiting is a huge potential opportunity which is only starting to be exploited. This is one area, that the US stamp community has been way too slow to grab onto and promote -- in keeping with some of Don's comments above.

From what I see, single frame is $30, multi-frame is %15 per frame, and non-competitive is $7.50 per frame. Table fees are a lot higher.

I don't understand how this is a problem, but perhaps I don't understand what you mean by 'collectibles'. It is a problem when they are sold as an investment (either explicitly or implying it) as anything short of a howling rarity is not headed up (and selling costs and inflation are never mentioned by sellers pushing investments).




I can only assume you mean cat values are significantly higher than ebay prices, but there are multiple markets out there. There is still a "full retail" show dealer market, a traditional auction market, a traditional mail order market, a club member to club member market and the ebay market. The same item will sell for a different price in each of these markets. Even on ebay different sellers get different results for the same item.




So you expect people to tell their competition who their favorite sellers are?

Hi eyeonwall,


The marketing of the companies that I was referring to heavily promotes 'collectables' as investments.



My opinion is that this hobby requires significant 'special knowledge' (and/or considerable experience) to even begin to understand actual market values. I feel that philately would be improved if it was easier to understand actual market values. Of course there will always be challenges in fully understanding the complexity of market values; but other hobbies have done a better job at providing value summaries. Most importantly, they emphasize how condition impacts the valuations.



I have no expectations nor did I post any. Which is better for the hobby; is it everyone out for themselves or everyone helping each other? Or asked another way, which environment would a fraudulent seller prefer; folks share who the best sellers are or one where everyone refuses to recommend quality sellers?
Don

Please Practice Positive Philately.

Let's focus on what is right with our hobby.

The internet: We can now buy, sell, research, exhibit, and discuss whatever interests us philatelically from the safety, seclusion and privacy of our abodes.

Ignoring problems doesn't make them go away. Examining and discussing them in an open forum can broaden understanding. It educates people and may bring solutions.

Practicing positive philately includes spreading the word about the negative. Sticking ones head in the sand is never a good thing.

The best thing all collectors can do is to promote through local clubs and national and international societies and organizations. Sometimes you have to be patient with any of these organizations. The local club you join might not have a program of interest for six months, but individuals need to keep attending and take part to learn and share.

The entire hobby needs to embrace technology. The local clubs and stamp shows are losing traction to e-commerce. What percentage of collectors actually participate in online discussions? I'd say there are a lot more collectors over the age of 50 than under the age of 50. The best way to reach the younger generation these days is through the use of technology.

I have 2 children ages 14 and 12 and they live in the digital world in both School and free time. E-commerce and the internet have opened an entire new world of information and procurement for collectors and now the exchange of information can take place instantly between groups of people from all corners of the world. Stamps can be seen in greater detail, Postal History can be researched more in depth, and access to world wide catalogs are now at your finger tips.

Yes there are shady sellers out there but through technology they can be flushed out and identified easier and quicker. How many misdescribed stamps exchanged hands when the hobby was limited to local clubs, brick and mortar shops, and mail orders? When you purchased a stamp from a dealer you took his word for it and if you had someone in your local club you might ask them for their opinion. Now I can post an image here and have 8 knowledgeable people venture an opinion in a hour by providing a high resolution image that shows every detail of the item.

It is the future, embrace it. There were shady dealers before ebay and there always will be as long as money is involved.

They also infest forums. Anyone thinking of joining this forum that read, for instance, the #613 is there any real believers thread, would never join up.

Calling the OP a troll in my opinion is disgraceful, and should not be tolerated.