My First Buy Of United States Classic Stamp

I wanted to show you this lot of American classic stamps that I just bought (it's already on way), this is the first time I've bought stamps...in principle I don't think I paid much for them (approximately 0.25 cts each) knowing more or at least I paid a fair price for mine, it could even be a good purchase I also think...I have bought them for several reasons:
1 Obviously I like this hobby more and more, enough to spend money on new stamps.
2 Because it is classic American stamps and it is crazy complex and fun to classify (to me more than any other type I know). I am also learning a lot from them thanks to this community.
3 I don't have many of them
4 Some could be very interesting and even valuable (a lottery) after meticulous observation. And without a doubt they will be with time.
5 I thought it was a good price. I think that the fun they will provide me will far exceed the money paid that does not reach a round of 4 beers...

It introduces you to the hobby—good show!

Congratulations and enjoy. Yes, I think you are right, the entertainment value should last longer than one round of 4 beers. And any duplicates that you find, you might be able to sell or trade to get back some of your cost.

Yet if you keep the money factor out of it, I think you will find more enjoyment. If you try to chase the lottery and spend too much time looking for rare varieties, you will end each day with disappointment. Nothing wrong with looking for and collecting flyspeck varieties, but if you are doing so with the intent to fund a child's college education, that is a fool's errand.

That looks like a very fun grouping of stamps to get going with. Enjoy.

Please keep the money factor out of it. It is not realistic. Pain!

Money may be a factor to take into account, but it is not the first, second or third priority...at least for me...Here in my country, Spain, in 2006 there was a terrible scam of stamps on a large scale (Forum Filatelico and Afinsa) and many many people lost all their money, it was a hard blow that left philatelic collecting completely broken, even today people do not want to know anything about stamps and even less as a formula investment, the collector is a minority and is usually old people who have always collected only because they like stamps and enjoy them...There were also many who collected privately and when they wanted to sell their collections no one paid for them (they still don't do it ), and they were sold practically by weight, especially the used stamp. The merchants stopped buying because there was a lot of supply and no one bought, their stores were filled with boxes of accumulated stamps... in my city there are no specialized stores left Of the 3 or 4 that there were, today you only find them in flea markets and rarely in numismatic stores, the countries, years and series mixed, and with no one who can inform you of what you are buying...I have just taken up the hobby since I started it (I left it in the 80s), because they have always attracted me and because today there are great tools to have them well identified and classified, so I can clearly decide which line I want to collect...By the way, I lied, it is not the first time I buy, shortly after Due to the total collapse of Spanish philately, I bought a few unused Japanese stamps at a bargain price, all of them beautiful, for me the most beautiful of all the ones I have, but lack the crazy details world that has the US stamp around him.

I did it again, I saw them and said "Take my money"...these were not cheap but they weren't expensive either...I think they will give consistency to my collection without spending too much, I don't know if it's appropriate to say prices in the community. I took the first group because I don't have any stamps with schermark perforations, I took the second because love it and the last because it is a new and complete serie although it has a hinge...

I would agree that the enjoyment is the most valuable aspect. When I purchase lots of used stamps, I try and do some mental calculus:

e.g. For the same amount of money I can either (a) buy these stamps that will give me hours of enjoyment sorting and cataloguing. Not to mention I will have them in my collection for years and can enjoy them repeatedly. OR (b), I can buy that burger and fries that I will enjoy for 15 minutes but maybe even regret eating shortly thereafter.

To me cost does not matter either. I just bought a collection that was 4 Citation albums 5 to 6 inches thick each for $225.00 total. There is nothing of great value but a lot of stamps. I will be selling some off to get my investment back and then the leftovers are mine to collect.

The enjoyment I will have is a lot greater than the cost of the albums.

Buy what you enjoy!

Bob

Agree with all comments. Try to keep the enjoyment of collecting at the forefront. Get yourself an album and start filling some spaces, it's a wonderful recreation, although your family may not get it

I wholeheartedly agree with this, but got into a bit of hot water with my normally supportive wife last night. It seems that I spent nearly $1,000 during the month of January acquiring classic Canada stamps and a few U.S. issues. It helps that I don't have any other hobbies...


Scott

I enjoy going to stamp sales and auctions. I usually but not always go for the cheaper less prestigous events. I buy things that yield something for my collection. I often give bits to other people at my stamp club because most of the stamps aren't worth the effort to market them, and I get a kick out of the pleasure others get from my give aways. Also people return the favour so recently I was given an SG USA catalogue by a colleague. Even Stanley Gibbons didn't have one, nor did Amazon or ABE books. Next April our club is experimenting with an evening where people just bring surplus philatelic stuff to give away. I hope the evening will make lots of big smiles as people fill irritating gaps in their collection.

Identifying the one and two cent Washington-Franklins in your fourth and fifth rows will call for some study of the watermarks and perforations. I suggest Scott's Identification Guide to US Stamps by Charles Micarelli.

The middle one in your second post is a masonic cancel. Fancy cancels were a thing in the 1800s, went away and then made a comeback in the period of your stamp - typically smaller towns, and often the cancel had a design that reflected the towns name.

Welcome to our "world." Looks like you're off to a good start!

Absolutely do it for the enjoyment. Can make good gifts when the story behind the stamp is included somehow. People love nostalgia.