Decisions, Decisions

Decision time again with sales coming up.

Next week a Siegel sale, a Kelleher sale and if into coins a Stack's Bowers sale. And in a few weeks a Rasdale sale. My oh my, what does one try for? This happens all the time. But now is a time I think stamps in serious mode.

A lot I want. A few I can afford. What to stretch budget on, what to try for if cheap enough. Focus.

Also, with the stock market down and inflation up and the funds I withdrew in January becoming worth less, does one buy stamps now or hope for a better 'deal' later? It's those decisions!!

Of the offerings you mentioned, is there anything in particular that is interesting for your collection or something you want to start collecting?

As Don (51Studebaker) often says, figure out what the entertainment value to yourself is and proceed accordingly. Who knows what the stamp market will do near or long term. There are so many sectors of the market anyway that all attract different levels of cash.

I may go back to buying a cheap carton lot, and I do mean cheap, to entertain myself. I will not bid against you.

When I look at an over abundance of material and limited funds (always the case!), I consider several factors in deciding what to bid on and how high to bid:

1. What are my true primary interests? I see my collections like layers of an onion. The inner layer contains the core "must have" pieces. The next layers outward are areas of diminishing interest and importance, the things I just dabble in.

2. How bad do I need it? Will I ever exhibit it? Write about it? It is really useful to me?

3. Supply? Is it mass-produced or unique. The unique or truly rare items should be acquired when they come to market or I may have to wait another generation or two. How many of the "name sales" have items with a provenance showing a public last sale 25-50 years ago? I can be patient and shop around for the mass-produced items.

4. For the unique/rare items, it does not matter what inflation or the stock market are doing (or what you think they will do 5 or 10 years out). I see that as overthinking. Buy it when you see it.

5. And price, of course. And related to that, do I want an upgrade or a duplicate, and at what price?

Wheatcent: I am wanting what I don't have. So as Goldfinger said to James bond in the movie I am always looking to add to my larder.

rogdcam and John Becker: Great advice.

Hey, at least it isn't Christmas time where, in addition to living expenses, you have to also worry about buying presents which takes $$$ away from the immediate stamp budget. I usually find summer to be the best stamp-buying time. Not yet worried about my Christmas budget and (usually) the stamp business is slower because people are weird and want to spend time outdoors when the weather is nice.

Just remember there are people that go to Las Vegas and come back a lot poorer but seem to like the entertainment value. It is all relative.

all I can recommend is, don't be cheap.

if you really want an item, get it, it'll bring you joy for years.
if you don't get it, you'll kick yourself for being cheap, and the next copy might cost a lot more.. or it'll be years for it to appear again.

don't worry about inflation or stamps dropping in value - no one knows.

The key to building a nice collection is to be steady over the long term .

There is no reason to bite off more than you can handle each year ..

I been buying stamp each year to keep the excitement going but at the same time not to overwhelm myself .

You remember the ones that got away more than the cost of the ones you got.

As I enjoy collecting stamps and coins, I am learning that slow and steady attains the greatest pleasure. Or a better piece of sound advice from the excellent book "Foundations of Philately"

"It is important to remember that a hobby is made for riding BY the hobby-ist, and NOT for him or her to be ridden by it."

I think it is one of those quotes that belongs on everyone's list of life quotes.

Thinkstamp, I suppose I should have asked if there was one in particular that had caught your eye. I just took a look at the Siegel website to see what sales you were talking about and I am instantly reminded of how well done their catalogues are. I've only skimmed Kelleher's current auction that started yesterday, I can definitely see why you said "decisions, decisions"!

i took a look at all the sites you mentioned, but since I know very little about american stamps, I only looked at the europe/scandinavian sections.

HORRIBLE, just plain horrible, all common stuff and in horrific quality.