Rarity / Treasure Hunting Online / Ebay

I've been content with hunting for (and finding) relatively low-value treasures on ebay and Delcampe. If I pay only $7 for something that catalogs at $100, then I've had a very good day. But I've had an equally good day if I pay a few bucks to get something that is hard to find and relevant to my collection but has practically no monetary value.

I sometimes wonder just how accurate or indeed helpful catalogue values are. For example, here is an example of a Victoria stamp that in relaity is probably not worth more than 40 to 50 euro, regardless of the catalogue value. Rare stamps are rarely perfect specimens and will have seen life or been damaged by the gum on hinges when stored for a long time. While I understand that dealers need benchmarks for pricing, it can be misleading to the naive and/or amateur collector.

When tales are told of the great philatelic treasure finds, they seldom ever come with "the rest of the story" that it took investment in the literature, years of study, and hundreds of hours searching to find that rare needle in the immense haystack.

AND that the one ebay "find" actually came with 1000+ non-finds, several of them purchased with false hopes. That fantastic tip of the iceberg never describes the huge percentage under water. Like golf, practice improves the chances of a hole-in-one, study and experience will improve the chances of a valuable philatelic find. Thus those newer to the hobby may get the impression that finding great treasures is an everyday affair.

Not to mention that there really is such a thing as luck.

Both of the above are obviously true. At the same time, those with genuine knowledge in an area can find rather more than
"one in a thousand" items if they want to spend some time searching. Not all worth a lot more financially, but it is possible to come out very far ahead on ebay over time.

I def still enjoy the hobby as I mention over past 20+ years since I inherited my late aunts collection from when she was a kid. There werent really any rarities but it got me into the hobby. Im only 39 live in CA, have a full time construction job and side remodels, work 7 days a week with 3 teenagers and a 3 month baby, single income. Its hard to find time to relax and go through my stamps and enjoy looking for scott #s needed or rarities when I have time, again maybe 2-3 times a year. Though its easy to fill your album up with scott #s that arent hard to find, the rarities is what takes the time to find if you cant afford to buy authenticated. Would love to be able to display a very rare but I cant see doing that if it has significant value and better off in a big collection. I appreciate everyones insight and look forward to sharing more.

Greetings Postalattic,
Read your post and knew exactly where you're coming from. Dude been there. 30 years ago. It gets easier.
Stamp collecting like life is a journey. It's a fools errand to think treasure collecting. Instead think enjoyment, knowledge, more enjoyment the more knowledge you obtain, and maybe a bargain purchase now and then. That's the most of it for me. In the meantime your Aunt awakens every time you pick up where she left off.
Enjoy your family and your hobby. They can go hand in hand.
Cheers mark

You make your own "luck" by learning more and looking more.

Treasure hunting is a lousy business model, but depending on your personality a possibly viable pastime.

One shouldn't simply go "treasure hunting", they should hunt for items that fit their collecting interests. Sometimes while doing so, a treasure will fall into one's lap. Most times it won't. But a lot of very nice items might be found in the meantime which can make for an enjoyable time and enrich a collection as well.

Yes think of her everytime I get to have some stamp time. Thank you GMC.

This is just one topic and by all means this hobby is not all about treasure hunting. I've been learning/doing research/adding to album, all along as well and appreciate all the sharing of rarities and look forward to getting into all the other topics.

My definition of luck: when knowledge and skill collide with opportunity.

Papa - Excellent definition. Luck is undeniable.

100 people drive over that mail in the road and 1 blows a tire is a definition where knowledge and skill have little or nothing to do with it.

On the other hand a lot of success stories are acknowledged by people like Bill Gates to have large doses of "luck" involved.

The right place at the right time and all of that. Things we have no control over that are components of something good or bad taking place.

Very good thread everyone. I love all the stories and great thoughts. I myself am a ebay hunter and have done well on occasions. It's all about averages. Like was said it takes multiple tries to find that one amazing find. Perhaps expectations are to high though when it comes to treasure hunting. We all want that one thing that will allow us to retire. Perhaps the old saying divide and conquer makes more sense when hoping to hit big. Instead of searching for thousand dollar items Perhaps it's easier to find 4 $250 ones. Or 10 $100. When I'm searching I evaluate and if I can get something at 1/10 value then I buy. It takes time but "treasures" are plentiful. My favorite find besides the fenian note I posted in the bonds section was from ckstamps. They had labeled a collection of gold replica stamps as the title and a picture of that ugly brown book in a box. Ugh.. these things again lol. But I looked in the description for the rest of the pics and saw to my surprise 27 postmaster issued covers with the silver coins intact. Obviously nobody noticed that collects silver bc 23 Oz of silver would surely bring in the bids. I won for $82 shipping included. A quick 4-5x my money if I ever sold anything lol. Anyway just wanted to participate in the conversation bc I liked it so much. Have a great day.

Ps. Rog you know your a philatelist when you type "drive over a nail" and spellchecker changes it to "mail". Lol love it

As I recall it was Vince Lombardi who said "the harder we work, the luckier we get"
Feeling luck today, I think I'll load up on lottery tickets.
Cheers m