"Showing Off" Collections In The Forum

Is it fair to say that security concerns are the reason for there being few if any posts in which members "show off" their stamp collections?

I would highly doubt that. Most here post lots of images of their collections but I'm not sure anyone has ever posted "here is my entire collection". This is probably due to many members having thousands of items. If you want to see many of what members have take a look at the Topical section or any of the forums for that matter. For example in the classic U.S. forum there are many threads about the 1¢ 1851-1861 Franklin's that many of us inserted a lot of our collection of that particular stamp into.

What security concerns do you have in mind? Unless people's home addresses were being published, I don't see how there's a security risk from posting up images.

I don't think so. If you are worried about being robbed based on your stamp collection posts, I think you might have other issues. I think it's far worse what goes on on other social media sites, auction sites, Alexa, and whatnot. Example, I regularly see folks post pictures of the front of the house revealing their address to the online world, their car with license plates, or other identifying info that is of graver concern. Also, it's far worse to submit a financial transaction to a website without a properly signed certificate, which many dealers and auction sites don't even enforce.

Plus on forums, there is no requirement to reveal your identity, beyond an alias/username.

It simply takes a lot of time and effort to scan pages, crop them and post them. And it can be quite dispiriting when no-one comments!

agree with Geoffha, and that might be because most doesn't know the area you're displaying.

Most of my collection is not unusual, and with over 60,000 stamps in albums, it'd be a lot of work to "show off" something that really isn't that special (except to me). Instead I would just share items which I find very interesting, or have an unusual story associated.

Very interesting replies, none of which I anticipated. But therein lies the fun.

One of my favorite websites is Jim's Stamp Album (http://album.dweeb.org). I'm actually in the process of finishing a website that showcases my entire mint U.S. collection. It will include scans of every page (nearly 700 pages as of now) and super-enlarged images of each stamp when you click on it. The basic site is complete except for a few coding issues. I've scanned all of the enlarged commemorative issues and I'm starting the definitive stamps this week to be followed by back-of-book and plate number coils.

As for security, I've followed the advice of a dealer friend and replaced expensive issues ($100+) with scans of the original and stored those in a safe. I don't have a huge number of those, so it's not terribly inconvenient.

I'll be posting the URL here soon. Although I'm looking forward to any feedback this community might have to offer, I'm doing this for me. It's on my bucket list and I'm determined to see it through.

GeoffHa wrote: "it simply takes a lot of time and effort to scan pages......." As well as the knowledge of how to scan, which I don't have. But, in the several years since I've been a part of this forum, only one person has asked to see part of my collection, and that person doesn't seem to be around these days. So.........maybe eventually, at some future time, if the portents are viable......

There are hundreds if not thousands of scans of my collection on different public stamp chat room , I also have shown my stamp room .

If a person is thinking ill will he got two problems .....First he better have a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and be trained in MMA fighting . Second he is going to need a big truck one that has a double wheels in the back to handle 3 or 4 tons which creates a second problem he got to bring 40 or 50 banker boxes and tape for the cartons and a dolly and a hand truck with 2 helpers wouldn't be a bad idea .

Since there going to be here all night they are going to have to bring their own coffee for the coffee machine because I only have decafe in the house ----and ---Please wash out the coffee machine before you leave .

That will stop most people .

Floortrader…

Floortrader,

I was ready to take you on but it's the coffee machine washing that's stopping me.

Don't stop now, folks... this thread has taken on a whole new trajectory.

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Comments by floortrader and rogdcam remind me of the scene in the movie classic; Raiders of the Lost Ark; where the bad guy Arab comes toward Indiana Jones waving a long bladed knife in each hand. Indy; played of course by the great actor Harrison Ford; shrugs, pulls out his gun, and shoots the baddie.