Thanks For All The Feedback

Thanks to everyone who provided their insights and shared their thoughts on my post about the best way to create my own albums for an international collection. I did find a great supply of archival paper at Staples and have tested several types. Also found some great archival quality 3-D ring binders with slip covers on line and plan to order those soon. Depending on the results of a test I plan to do I think I'll be using EZStamp and AlbumGen. I like the versatility and ability to make customized pages with my own text, as well as create quick pages with one of their built in utilities. That's the way I'm leaning, but it will also largely depend on how well and "glitch free" the demo version runs for a week or so. I just wanted to thank all of you who provided me with your insight. Now, who knows the best place to purchase bulk international stamps, off the paper?

I would be interested in seeing some of your pages as you create them and get a better understanding of your vision...for example, when you create a page how do you determine how much space to reserve for stamps (all major Scott numbers within that time frame? just the ones you own? some subset you defined?). I print Steiner pages complete to certain dates.

As for getting stamps. Do you have a certain criteria you are seeking (i.e. pre-1940, more recent, certain countries, etc.?)

I have seen the following sources:

"Shoe box" lots - very low cost per stamp but usually the most common issues

Kiloware/on-paper - often country specific and recent - you don't seem to want on-paper. I like these for certain countries where I collect modern stamps.

ebay also has collectors selling doubles scanned from stock pages at around 5-10cent each on average.

Stamp stores like Subway that sell X-many different per country.

ebay for collections in stock books, on pages, in glassines, etc.

Stamp shows - I bought a collection on MInkus pages of just western Europe in an auction at the local show that has been a good jumpsart and complement to my albums for those countries.

I am starting to believe that I want to make bigger, more expensive, but fewer buys vs. a lot of small buys in pursuit of getting a few more gems and still keep the average price over time affordable. THis can be supplemented with some recent issues buys on paper or off....Japan for example keeps me busy...lot's of recent kiloware and off paper at affordable prices, but my main interest is buying collections focused on pre-1940...or at least pre-1960...usually with a volume focus on certain countries to get a great start on a particular album vs. diluting my buy across 30+ albums. I'm selling dupes, and extras trying to build some funds...I also sold off some portions such as post 1940 eastern europe, independent Africa and my Latin American collection to raise funds to improve my coverage in areas of greater interest.

I'm still learning, however, so I'm interested in what others have to say as well!

Hi Mike....

Quanah pretty much covered it.......and his idea about larger groups is right.....a lot of smaller groups will contain much the same material from any paricular country. Stamp magazines like Linns run adds for bulk lots.....they can usually be trusted because Linns actually checks on what is being offered with test purchases.

What countries are you interested in ?

I did order a lot of 10,000 from Subway, with the assurance there were no duplicates and nothing on paper. I like pre 1950's for most of the world and have some favorite countries as well. Germany, Great Britain, Canada, France, Russia, most British Commonwealth and Empire, and I really like engraved the best. I once owned more than 20 International albums, maybe 50K to 80K stamps and gave it up to focus on my US collection. I quit buying new US in 2001 and have focused more on pre 1900's US now. Unfortunately it's far more pricey and not enough "activity" so I began to miss my international collection. I had some really incredible sets and very much regret having sold the collection. I started collecting when I was 7 years old. My Dad sat me down with an orange bag of stamps, some scissors, glue and a 45 page worldwide stamp album! I loved finding the places in the album for the stamps and learning about the country from my father. He was in the Merchant Marines for 17 years and could almost always tell me where a stamp was from and then something about the country. I collected international for another 25 years before I sold my collection. Now, 28 years after that, I'm starting from scratch, a whole older and a little bit wiser. I'm really looking forward to it. One thing I also miss. It used to be you could find a stamp collector's shop in almost any size town and many shops in some places. Also, H.E. Harris was the biggest, most well respected stamp dealer in the world and they were in Boston. Things have changed.

Having built a ~20 volume International album collection it's interesting to see what you are now wanting to do differently. I have asked myself, "if I was to start over, what would I do different". It seems your short answer is create your own pages...perhaps focus on pre1950's.

I'd be interested in a summary of what you find in the Subway lot.

I have been thinking about buying that Subway lot also. Please let us know what you think about it. I collect up through 2000 and would hate to spend the money on that lot only to find out they were all recent issues.