Hello From Toronto, Canada

Hi everyone -

I started collecting stamps about 15 years ago and have been on and off since. I began with used worldwide stamp lots from ebay and then ventured into topical stamps of airplanes, birds and things that fly.

I store all my stamps in stockbooks but recently started to get more specific and started collecting stamps from Poland and stamps engraved by Slania. I wonder more about other methods of storing my collection (though hinges are not appealing at all to me). Perhaps creating custom pages and using those "SF" mounts/strips are in my near future... although it does seem like the mounts can get fairly expensive.

I've been browsing the forum a lot lately, so I thought it was a great time to join and say hello. Looking to learn and share with this community!

Here are a couple photos of me soaking some Slania stamps.

D

17stamps,

Enjoy having fun with stamps! That is the name of this game. Wonderful you are carrying on your father's collection. You are the next steward of a family treasure you can pass on to future generations. Its value as a family heirloom wil always surpass it monetary value.

Collecting for the enjoyment of collecting, whatever that might be, is the name of the game. Don't hesitate to ask questions especially if you need basic information and especially more advanced sources of information for any possible topic. You should be able to find folks on this board a little further along on their collecting journey glad to share experiences.

My personal bias is a used stamp loses the story of its journey in the postal service when it is removed from the cover it transported to its destination. Collecting postal history adds a whole new aspect to your journey in our hobby.

Wishing you many enjoyable future days in our hobby. Russ

Welcome 17stamps,
I can fully understand you are going after stamps engraved by Slania. He was realy a master.
Your stamps with danish landscape scenes are among my own favourites. As you probaly know, both your landscape stamps are from the 1981 serie with motives from Zealand and the surrounding islands.
There is a little story connected to the 200 øre stamp with Grønsund as motive, because Grønsund is not an island. It is a small waters south of Zealand, where the wikings used to hide their wikingships out of sight from their enemies.

Welcome.

Have you considered using 'VARIO' or similar systems? You can add descriptions on pieces of paper and move them around as you like.
Of course, you can also do this with stockbooks.

Welcome.
I also collect Poland (mix) and Slania (MNH).
I made the pages for Poland in Spanish, but they are fully modifiable because they are in Word.
Regards.

Welcome!

@Roberto59 - Hello! Good to know. I'd love to take a look at what you have so far some time. That is a lovely looking page, how are you making/maintaining these?

@NSK - I have looked at VARIO but I have something against using plastic sheets. The stockbooks are similar in application but with the stiffness of the pages I feel more comfort in knowing those stamps are "safe". Also, is it just me or are "stamp specific" plastic pages generally much more expensive than similar generic-use counterparts?

@Jyllinge - Thank you for the background on those stamps. It is funny you mentioned Grønsund... I looked it up because I wondered perhaps if it was something I had seen on a boat trip while living in Malmö years ago. I get very excited when I find a Slania stamp, it is a unique experience. Though I generally love all engraved stamps, a Slania always makes me want to research the stamp/motif more.

@hoosierboy - As I have been soaking some of these stamps I wondered if folks collected stamps on paper with cancellation/postmarks. Especially for some of those I have where the postmark is complete and nicely represented it did feel separating them from the paper was losing some history. Although all the ones I am processing are on paper, they are already cut out from the envelopes.

Greetings and welcome to the forum. There are many experienced collectors here so feel free to ask question. As per your collecting preferences - well, those choices are up to you. Certainly, plenty of folks collect the stamps with postal cancellations. Your choice whether on paper of off.

I cut the collection in 2010. I did all the sheets up to 2005, I'm missing a lot from after.
I collect the block and loose stamp. I have the end-of-catalogue pages, except the aerial ones, which go by their years.