The Problem With US Philately

I do agree with the aspect that if someone finds a new plate scratch that almost no one can see on a classic stamp it can get major catalogue status yet ignores very visible differences on modern US. Is there financial incentive for Scott to do this?

Might have to do with the printing methods. Most classics stamps were steel engraved and used transfer rolls and plates.
Modern stamps for the most part are computer generated pictures.

I think the classics fell under a controlled hierarchy of collectors who had a lot of clout an pull with the hobby. That era is past and gone and that type of control just wouldn't be allowed in this day and age. But, you can't all of a sudden do away with all this Scott numbers and varieties today. The stamp market and hobby would crash. Those people of yesteryear also paved the way for how we analyze stamps today. All those varieties and types are part of what drives people to continue to purchase most stamps, looking and hoping to find that one that had slipped through the cracks or that was overlooked by previous owners. Some keep looking in hopes of a new discovery. It is what makes this hobby so unique from almost every other hobby. We get into the "details" of every line engraved, scratch formed, and color discrepancies that can be found. I don't collect much from after 1940 so not sure much can be found once we stopped using plates.

Virtual every catalog numbering system has evolved over time; and much like a house that has experienced multiple 'additions' the results are never as good as being properly planned from inception.

In my opinion a catalog numbering system should reflect how people collect stamps (i.e. be reflected in the published album pages).

In the new Christmas seal catalog/database/album pages I am working on I am matching the catalog numbering to the way people actually collect seals; 'Major' numbers will be included in the simplest album pages. 'Minor' numbers will be included in an album which is more detailed. And a third level catalog number, which covers almost every variety, will be contained in the specialize album pages.

Three levels of catalog numbers, three matching levels of album pages.

I do not envy existing catalog publishers who are saddled with a legacy body of work. Short of scrapping everythign and starting over, they will always be handicapped with the existing body of work.
Don

Don, are you doing the catalog for the CSCSS?

No, I am doing it for my site; the catalog and album pages will be offered for free. The simple pages will be like the existing one I have released here http://stampsmarter.com/learning/Fo...alsHome.html
Don

Oh ok, got it.

I agree with Turff49 wholeheartedly. I started with US stamps and bought a lot of current stamps at that time. Disgusted on the quantity that started pouring out, most with no intention or postal need, so I stopped. Went to WW. Then I found the 1c Franklins. They brought me back to US stamps. Nothing like staring at a group of 15 stamps at 2400 dpi and find the exact spot each came from. Some just keep moving forward, hard to plate. Then it becomes a search for certain plate positions, or margins, or rare plate stamps. It has brought some enjoyment to stamp collectors. New stuff, not really interested. My US and WW stops at 1992.

I read the Apfelbaum post on their website dated February 26, 2018 and I have to say I took a moment to shed a few great big crocodile tears for the Apfelbaums and their difficulties of having to deal with knowledgeable collectors who have created specialized collections and who are unwilling to sell to the Apfelbaums' their valuable stamps and covers at 10% of catalog, or less.

Yep, that's what the Apfelbaums offer people today…10% of catalog, and less -- along with a big sob story with how depressed the market is and how they are just buying the good stuff and will take the un-saleable material along with the good to get it out your way.

Earl Apfelbaum, who I purchased from and I knew personally, would have never complained about the number of varieties of U.S. stamps. Earl was a first-class gentleman, who dealt fairly with clients. He would never have be-moaned the number of stamp varieties or claimed it turned collectors away from the hobby. Why? Because the sub-varieties are where a dealer like Apfelbaum makes real money. And the Apfelbaums aren't bashful in the prices they ask for these sub-varieties – just look at their prices. (honnkkk!) Sorry, I was still crying and had to blow my nose.

I agree with 51studebaker observations 110%! The hobby has done itself more harm than good...especially the APS, ASDA and ebay. The hobby has been far too slow in migrating to digital technology and adapting social media in all areas -- especially dealers and the APS.

The APS, ASDA and ebay refuses to confront to growing problem of philatelic fraud. The APS seems only interested in philatelic fraud that occurs in their circuits. The ASDA is basically worthless and ebay is only interested in making their % of the sale – period – end-of-story.

As for the other "Problems in Philately", let me put it this way: I remember a time when I use to plunge my arm into a large refrigerated metal cooler of ice cold water to grab a 5c glass soda bottle with a pry-off bottle cap. I did my best not to bend that cap when I pried it off the top of the bottle, just to be able to add a clean cap to a collection. Times changed. The glass bottle changed to the aluminum can and I, along with millions of other kids, stopped collecting bottle caps. So it is to some extent with stamps.

With the advent of digital e-mail usage stamp demand has diminished substantially. I rarely see a new U.S. commemorative placed on a commercial cover or personal letter. The only time I do see a commemorative used is on something I purchased from another collector on ebay.

The other problem is the American educational system -- or lack thereof. There seems to be little emphasis today on reading, history or culture (American or World) -- which is what stamps are about. So, what would peak a kid's interest in stamps today? I'm sorry to say, very little.

As for those blaming Social Media for the demise of the hobby…sorry, your 100% WRONG! Actually, stamps and covers are a perfect fit for the philatelic collectible …and YES, stamps and covers are "collectibles". Here is the definition of the word:
> As an adjective: "good for a collection : considered valuable by collectors
>. As a noun: something that is considered valuable by collectors and usually kept as part of a group of similar things : a collectible thing."

Hal

Many organized groups (societies, companies) likely fear social media because they fear they will lose more control of the conversation. It is about keeping up appearances.

I'm sorry but this is just not an accurate statement. I have 2 children in the educational system and they do indeed read and spend a great deal of time studying history. In fact this is my Son's favorite class.

A page or so back I made the comment on how the hobby needs to embrace technology and focus on moving into the digital age since this is where the youth of this country live.

The hobby as it sits today probably has an average age of mid 50's to early 60's. Mostly new collectors (I use the term loosely) have inherited a collection and are trying to find out if there is any value in the collection and few will carry the torch once they realize the vast majority of stamps have little value.

The only chance this hobby has to continue in the future is to embrace technology and move it to the digital world. My children no longer use text books in School and due to the cost of publishing and manufacturing everything is now on their IPADS and all homework is no longer turned in it is uploaded.

What percentage of collectors in the world participate in on line forums? I'd venture to say less than 10%. Never before in the history of collecting has acquisition of material been easier. Yes, sellers probably suffer a bit but competition between sellers is good for buyers but has an effect on value.

I can view a sellers material in China and make a purchase in 5 minutes where before I was limited to what my local brick and mortar shop had in inventory or wait for the local show to make its way through town twice a year, or worse get in my car and travel for hours.

For as long as I have been collecting, it appears that there is a generation gap between myself and most collectors to my disadvantage. Most tend to be at least 15 years older than me but even more so at least 20 years older. This could be due to them being baby boomers that came before my generation x. When I was 20, they were the dominating 40 year olds of the hobby. When I was 40, they were the dominating 60 year olds of the hobby. It is not easy for different generations to relate to each other and this is especially true between baby boomers and generation x.

Jogil, look at it this way, you being 20 years younger means you'll be able to snatch up those old codgers collections when they pass. I'm at the end of the boomers as I was born in 63. I'm waiting on a couple collections to hit the market so I can buy them...lol Plus it gives the benefit of you learning all you can before they pass. I've been lucky since I've been at it pretty steady for 20 plus years and had a budget set aside for my purchases. Thank goodness for the internet as I may not have stuck with it since purchasing was by mail or in person only.

My 9 year old daughter is still interested in stamp collecting, and there's only 1 reason. Its because I am interested in it and she wants to do what I am doing, so I found a way to include her. Otherwise, she wouldn't know what a stamp is.


When I started at 10 or 11 I didn't do it to learn anything, I just enjoyed the hunt, filling spaces, and trading with my friends. Learning happened, but it wasn't the pull. If I had all the things to occupy me that kids have now, I would not be a stamp collector. That doesn't mean there is something wrong with the world of today, kids, or the hobby... just that things change.

Like jogil, I'm a Gen-Xer (born in 1966), and I still feel like a young whippersnapper when I'm at stamp shows, despite the ever-increasing amount of grey (already dominant) in my hair and beard.


The educational aspect was always an important part of the hobby for me, since I've been interested in history and geography longer than I can remember. The "collecting" aspect is just as important, though, since the "collector's gene" practically rules my life, and I'm not just talking about stamps.