Seeking Advice From Those Crazy Ww Collectors

Steevh--You're right, as I get further into it I most likely will start buying larger more expensive collections. The money I'm spend on cheap off paper mixtures is really helping me to get acquainted with different countries etc. I've gone to the atlas more than once and learned a lot about history that I didn't know before. It's also provided hours of entertainment. I have looked at some collections and right now I have no idea what's good and what's not and that will come in time as I get more familiar with the stamps of various countries. I also have no idea what is a good deal and what is a rip off. If I spend under $20 on a mixture it's hard to feel ripped off, it's like having lunch at Chipotle.

Floortrader--As far as limiting my stamp purchase to around a cent that is for my general WW collection for stamps that I know nothing about right now. I am actively working on my Greenland collection and I've looked at several collections but I decided it would be more fun to buy the items separately and make my own collection. I am doing the same with my classic Mongolia collection and just picked up a few nice stamps at an auction that rarely come up for sale. For most other countries I have been learning from others here about buying collections, feeder albums, prices to pay for material etc. It's a whole new world and it's totally different than the way I've collected in the pas--make a want list, go to a stamp show or look online, try to find the stamp at a % of catalogue and purchase. . . . As for "goodby", I guess we'll see. It's not the most welcoming response to a newcomer to the forum who is asking experienced veterans for advice about collecting the world. Perhaps I'll decide it's a fool's errand and I'll go back to the 7 countries I used to collect, or perhaps I'll continue. In any event, I'll have fun doing it and my approach is to start slowly and not drop a bunch of money on something I know nothing about. Whether it's wrong or not, time will tell.

As a WW collector back and forth, I would suggest not getting behind in putting stamps in the album. I have done that for years and right now I don't need to buy stamps for the next decade as I have so many to go through, actually thinking of getting rid of most and starting it fresh. As to the bulk it won't take long to start getting many doubles I would suggest not keeping those ( wish I would not have now). Attend stamp shows many are around and you can get some good stamps. But most of all just enjoy it is a hobby. You can find some good sellers in the Linn's magazine, you will soon learn which ones are better.

Paul--
There's always so much to learn, even when you think you know a lot!
For example, just the other day I got some 1930s Italian stamps overprinted 'Provinz Laibach' and couldnt find them anywhere in the catalogue -- had to do some googling. Turned out to be German issues for occupied Italy in WWII. After 20 years I'm still coming across new 'countries' that I didnt even know existed.
As a way to boost your knowledge at low cost I would suggest joining the local stamp club, if there is one nearby. The opportunity to see well-presented collections is invaluable.

PAULSONJA ----you said "It is not the most welcoming response " true but you didn't ask a experience veteran for advice you asked a crazy W.W. collector . You got a respond.

Point taken floortrader. You'd have to be crazy to do this . . . why would I want experienced? Good advice--and you are right that I will definitely need to go big or go home . . . and I will. I am following a few lots on ebay to try to look at what albums are selling for and getting a general idea of what I can expect before thy start prying the hundreds out of my purse (yep, I am a woman).

"In any event, I'll have fun doing it and my approach is to start slowly and not drop a bunch of money on something I know nothing about?

Sounds like a good idea to me.

If you still use books then a book I would recommend to tyro WW collectors is Rossiter, S. & Flower J. World history Stamp atlas. Macdonald & co. 1986. reprint 1992 ISBN 0748103090, It should be avaliable cheaply used off the internet. the book doesn't answer all questions but gives you a quick intro to almost every stamp issuing organisation, dates of operation, and physical location. I use my copy quite a lot and can even read it for pleasure. of course being nearly thirty years old it misses a lot of post Soviet Union border changes but I find it valuable.

I recommend joining the International Society of Worldwide Stamp Collectors. As a n00b WW collector I have found their swap circuits to be good way to obtain low-value material and get rid of your duplicates.
http://www.iswsc.org/iswsc_swaps.html

Thanks! I put in my application today.