Collecting "Junk Countries" - Or Not

Mike, when this particular group of countries sprouted from the former Trucial States during the earlier 1960's, the stamp trade politely referred to them as "dunes" and "sheikdoms" and mostly thought they were junk.

Wow! Lots of variety in opinion on this subject. I got so hooked on stamps when I was a kid that I just enjoy looking at them from time to time. I'll pull out my US collection, which I didn't sell way back when, and as I turn through the pages I can remember where I was when I bought the stamp and how excited I was when I got them home to put them in my album. Now I don't recall that for every single stamp I own, but a good portion I do. Since I sold the foreign collection and I'm now starting over I'm amazed at how many of the issues I remember. I'm really looking forward to finishing the sorting process so I can start to lay out the pages and javascript:insertsmilie('') create my new international stamp albums. I've decided to stop using the term junk countries or junk stamps. I love them all anyway, so I think I'll just enjoy them for what they are to me, a reminder and a window to years ago.

Ain't that the truth Mike! That's really the way it should be. I don't hold a grudge against any stamp (CTO, damaged, etc.) I just won't put them in my collection or my accumulation. I'll even put damaged stamps to sleep comfortably and won't pass them on to others, but I will give CTO's away (no trading) to the Boy Scouts.

If it is a stamp from a real country I collect it. I even collect CTO's. They have the perfect cancellation. I think it's funny how some collectors shun CTO's but will collect FDC's. Isn't a FDC a CTO? There use to be a list in Linn's of what they called abusive countries. These are countries that produced a lot of stamps each year. I guess just about all countries would fall into that category now.