Lest Anyone Think That Stamp Collecting Is Dying...

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There is no doubt that extra fine, jumbo margin specimens command a premium over lesser examples but there is also no doubt that the same stamp mentioned in my post, without a certificate, would not have sold for even half as much.

Re: Siegel auction: I bid on 10 lots and was successful on 6. All were NYS covers. There was one lot (Jamaica, Long Island NY cancel( that I really wanted but I didn't feel I would be successful so I put a low bid in and was successful. So I'm happy.

"common and subpar material........is in the tank" Yes and no. I'll leave out the subpar reference and focus on this question: what is "common material?"

If one is talking US stamp issues since World War II; yes, that is primarily "common material." But doesn't one need the "common material" to complete a collection? I've noticed with my main collecting specialty; Portugal & colonies through 1974-75 that I've written about before; that the so-called "common material" can be exceedingly hard to find.

With Mexico, another specialty area for me, I'm fortunate to have both sets of the National University issue of 1934, cataloging in 2016 Scott at $6,100+. But one also needs the cheapo stamps from the same period to move toward completeness. Those can be as hard to find as the cheap 1950s Portuguese colonials, unless one buys a bulk lot which then yields a lot of low catalog duplicates.

I agree with Climber Steve that a collection needs the common material. If I had unlimited cash I could easily pick uo all varieties of GB Queen Victoria £5 orange. getting some 1970s GB commem can be more of a hassle, particularly if I don't want to purchase a set. There are many stamps I am assured are common that I chase for a long time. Consequently I can get more of a thrill from getting some stamp costing 50p or less at times.

The thread on getting youth interested in collecting, well it might be a bit of a roadblock when they discover a very nice set of 551 - 573's might set them back $25K.

Agree with the above statements there is a lot of "common" low value stamps that I never seen nor have I ever found in all the collections that I have purchased . It gets to the point after buying and mounting Worldwide stamps for almost 60 years than any collection or large lot that is purchased it will be 90% to 95% duplicates for me .

The problem is very few dealers and collectors really understand what is common and what is "rare" in worldwide collections . It took me three years of searching just to fill my INTERNATIONAL's with a completed CAPE JUBY page .

I know what people are saying about some common stamps being very hard to find is true, but I wonder if these hard to find stamps are under cataloged?

that is correct to some extent. The hobby is demizing without a doubt as more are dying than beginning in most countries.

and the interest in quality objects merely reflects a richer world where there are many who doesn't worry too much about throwing a few 1000$ at a small piece of paper.

the average to poor material continues to go down in prices where the really good stuff doesn't.

i agree with you on the decentralization and the internet collectors.

That's gonna be a lot of lawns to mow, little Jimmy.