New Stamp Collector Here, I Need To Have Some Questions Answered By Experienced Collectors!

Hello, im quite enjoying the format of this website, it seems older than me! Regardless, I inherited some stamps some while ago and recently I decided to dive into philately in seach of some extra money. On the way I fell inlove with the "sport" and since then I have been trying to consume as much infromation as I can on the topic. As soon as I realised that a piece of paper like a stamp survived two world wars and made its way somehow into my hands, that is when I officially became a buyer and not a seller. Anyhow here are some questions I need answers to.

How and should I clean old stamps? I have some Napoleon/Ceres french stamps with their post mark being smuged. I heard people wet them and genty scrub the stamp to reveal the image more clear. I know that a beautiful or specific cancel mark is valuable thus those im not touching.

Is collecting stamps that are tied to a specific intrest of history worth collecting? I've had someone tell me that collecting any stamps I like is not real collecting and you can burn your intrest fast. I like stamps that have some tie to some historical fact, not postal history, for example stamps of the provisional governement of Crete or ottoman stamps with greek over print etc. I know you will say that collecting is personal but I want to have some fidea of format. I also dont like new stamps or definatives, I like stamps that emit imperial aesthetic, war, past greatness, state power etc.

Tips for buying in ebay. I have recently overpaied for some stamps I thought I was getting a bargain. Turns out I was fast to act, the pictures provided where too blurry, apparently Chatgpt said that it was either a bargain or a scam since the stamps themselves do not show their true quality. Except being more careful, how can I tell what is good to bid and what not and what to search. I heard people save specific searches and cop great stamps for cheap etc.

What other essential accesories do I need except twizers? Some people have the some perf measuring mats, cant I just count the perfs my self?

What is punched perf? I have a weimar two "2 millionen" stamps with different perfs on them. Apparently world stamp catalougue registers three variations with a crazy value difference. I cant tell if I have something good.

Guys sorry to just dump these questions, this forum seems wise maybe someone with some time could address these questions. I would love for ideas tips about anything I should know about stamp collecting and philately in general.

-SI

* * * Moved by Moderator to more appropriate Forum. Make sure you open another post Introducing yourself (in the appropriate Forum). Stick around, you'll like it here * * *

Collect what you like to collect and enjoy the hobby. The person who told you collecting stamps you like is not real collecting is an idiot. Everyone decides what and how he collects.

No you cannot count the perfs yourself. Get a perf guide, they are not that expensive.

Also, you might want to get a catalog or two that include the areas you are most interested in. A good catalog - Stanley Gibbons, Scott, Michel - also includes a lot of information about the hobby, as well as details about the stamps. Since you are not interested in modern stamps and older (thus - used and less expensive) catalog will do for you - though I do recommend one that shows color images, so not too old. Scott started using color images in 2006.

Hold back on buying anything until you look around. It's not shameful to overpay, as we have all done it at some point. Experience will eventually lead you.

Are you close enough to civilization to attend a stamp club or stamp shows? People there can help you.

Just focus on two or three areas for the moment and work with those.

Good luck. Have fun.

Tweezers is a perfectly fine word. Tongs is American, elsewhere, they are called tweezers. Your post raises the question whether you learned English as a second language. "Catalougue" as below is an example that suggests either a French native tongue, or a typo, but English English and not American English education.




Where did you find that reference? Some sites are translated into English from another language. Stampworld appears to be one. The translations are not always correct.

Posting pictures of stamps you have questionsabout helps us understand your questions.

"tongs vs tweezers"
The important thing is not the term, but rather the construction.
The critical feature is that they are smooth-faced and do not have serrations, which will damage your stamps.

Not in the UK. Tongs are what you use to turn a steak.

Regarding the "2 million" stamp - you didn't mention if it was overprinted or not. Depending on which one you have this stamp comes perforated and rouletted, flat plate and rotary press, and in several different shades. Unused the stamps only have minimal value. Genuinely used and in the correct shade it can have a crazy high catalog value. But that would only be for an expertized stamp. I can state confidently you have a run of the mill stamp, which was printed in the millions.

On-line buying tip. A fuzzy photo is always intentional and is intended to scam the buyer.

NSK,
You do not seem to understand the importance of describing the tool's gripping as to smooth vs serrations.
We do not know the nationality of the OP, so calling them tongs or tweezers may fail to communicate this very important difference.

Add: There are many beginners in the U.S. who use initially the term tweezers, having experience only with pulling an eyebrow hair.

Add: To Stampimperium, it would be useful to know what country you are in. As you can see, there are some terminology differences among countries/regions.

Indeed we do not know where OP is from or was from. OP referred to tweezers and someone stated they are called tongs. They are not called tongs but tweezers in Europe.

By all means point out one should use the ones that are smooth. But do not assume everyone uses American words and reproach them when they use English. OP used a correct word, although OP spelled it incorrectly. Telling OP he or she should call them tongs does not convey 'the importance of describing the tool's gripping as to smooth vs serrations.'

OP used 'twizers' and 'catalougue.' Both might be typos, but it is likely OP is not a native English speaker. Also, the use of catalogue and not catalog is a very strong hint OP, certainly, did not learn American English. So, there is no need to start teaching people another type of English.

Welcome, StampImperium.




You are not alone in harboring a dislike for new, recently issued stamps. A number of us, though not all, have various cut off years from 1960, or 1980, etc. depending on our interests and in some cases the country(ies) we collect.

As to collecting stamps which reflect an imperial aesthetic, or state power, let me ask if you are or might be interested in collecting stamps of a "mother country" alongside those of a colony(ies)? Some fascinating juxtapositions are possible.

But bottom line, you get to define the countries, topics, and periods for which you collect stamps.

You'll want a catalog or access to one that treats of the areas of interest, and you do need to get a perforation gauge. In a pinch, you can download and print one at https://stampsmarter.org/learning/F...rfGauge.html
But since you want tongs (tweezers) which have smooth gripping surfaces, and will be ordering some presumably, you should order a good perforation gauge at the same time.

For more advice, it would help us to know where you are and if there is a particular country or group of countries that most interests you.

Again, welcome!


Edited to get the URL to work.

Please don't "gently scrub" your stamps. At most, see if they clean up by putting them in water, then letting them dry. Many postmarks are smudged - they were struck by hand.

How and should I clean old stamps?

For unused stamps (ie, without a cancellation on them) they will usually have gum on the back and getting them wet is a non-no as it will dissolve the gum. Used stamps however, in 99 percent of cases, are safe to soak in a 10-minute bath of luke-warm water. Then let them dry. It can work wonders with their freshness. I'd recommend do some reading up on the best way to do it before you jump in.

Is collecting stamps that are tied to a specific intrest of history worth collecting?

Yes! Thematic collecting, also known as topical collecting - many people do it. You may find others with the same area of interest and ideas on how to compile a good collection. Collect what you want, how you want. You can go as deep as you like. Assemble what you have, order it how you like, dedicate album pages to anything you want - historical events, specific countries, political movements. Be your own boss. With a stock-book, you can put the stamps together on pages, but they are not fixed permanently so you can shuffle them around as you go and add in more. Might be a good way to start.

Tips for buying in ebay.

I've been stung with blurry or misleading images too. The lesson is - look for clear images of front and back. Without them, suspect that the seller is concealing something. Also, assess the images. I bought a box of pages and albums once. Looked like a deep box full of stuff - the camera's lens "accidentally" made it look like much more than it really was. Just be cautious, I guess. And check the seller's feedback.

What other essential accesories do I need except twizers? Some people have the some perf measuring mats, cant I just count the perfs my self?

Tweezers, soaking bath, magnifier, stock book for loose stamps, some packets. Perforations are measured by how many perfs there are every two centimetres - it's not simply a count of how many perforations there are in total. The answer gives you the perf size you read about - perf size 10 means 10 perforations in every two centimetres. You can calculate that manually. A gague makes it simple.

What is punched perf?

Just a means of saying how the perforation holes were manufactured in the paper. Few stamps will have two different sorts of perfs, although some may have different sized varieties.

Enjoy the hobby!

Reading and keeping good notes will help you learn about stamps and how to buy at auctions. Use the search function on this site! There is also a glossary on every page of this forum in the upper left margin. Your local library will probably have some general stamp books and some catalogs. Most catalogs have information on on stamps as well as how to use the catalog. You may be able to borrow them or read them while there. Stamp clubs and stamp shops (rare these days) are also great for learning. Many have web sites and online meetings and programs. Happy hunting.

@Ringo "Used stamps however, in 99 percent of cases, are safe to soak"

I would say it's more like 70%, from my experience.

For original question: Do not "gently scrub" your stamps, and do not "talk" to ChatGPT or any other AI garbage for "advice", you even say the AI said "it's either a bargain or a scam", which is just nonsense, self-contradictary weasel words. Never trust AI, especially the ones telling you to "scrub" a 100 year old piece of paper. Nobody does that for any reason, because all it will do is destroy your stamp (obviously).

Most stamps can be put in hot water and the yellow marks in the paper will evaporate without damaging the stamp, as long as it is not mint. You cannot remove cancellations, yet again, this AI is telling you nonsense. Cancellations are designed not to be removed, removing them will destroy your stamp and make it a forgery (attempting to remove a cancellation on a postally valid stamp also counts as fraud). You cannot "clean" stamps like you clean a kitchen counter, you cannot scrub them, you cannot remove cancellations, any damage to a stamp cannot be undone.

Regarding the 70% thing: Lots of stamps use ink that actually disolves in water. I don't know if there is any way to tell, or if a list of these stamps exists anywhere, but I have ended up with stamps with ink bleeding because of the fact I didn't know they had this type of ink. The only reason you should try to "clean" a stamp is in case of "foxing" which are yellow, orange or brown marks throughout the paper that appear due to oxidisation and certain acids in the paper. You cannot clean a cancellation, if it is smudged, that is how it was and it will remain.

I am quite concerned with what nonsense has been shared with you as "advice" from this AI and other people pretending to know things when they clearly do not. There is no "that's not real collecting", it's like saying "you don't walk the way I do, that's not real walking". You can choose to buy whatever you want, from anything and everything to more specific countries, periods or topics, which would be called "topical collecting".

As others have said, do not go in expecting things to be money makers or thinking you have the ultra-rare variety of an otherwise ultra-common stamp. Used stamps from the late 19th century to now are usually not worth more than a few cents, and that is assuming they aren't damaged at all. It's not a "money maker" hobby, like some people think.

I would also like to add: Don't glue, tape or lick your stamps (people do this a lot)

I'll add on thst you easily be scammed on ebay as a buyer because you can return anything if you say it does not match the description. The seller cannot refuse such a return. The site has a guarantee.

ebay is an excellent source of used catalogs. I find catalogs absolutely necessary to identify stamps. Scott Catalogs were only 2 books in 1969, probably 10 volumes today. The disadvantage of older Scott cats is they are organized according to who colonized whom.

Google image lookup is excellent, but not foolproof. ChatGPT I would leave alone in this area.

@Ellie88 - If only 70 percent of stamps are safe to soak, that means almost a third will be damaged in the process. That simply does not accord with my lifetime's experince.

I have soaked countless thousands of stamps. I routinely soak used stamps I have acquired for no reason that to improve their freshness, and I have albums full of stamps I have soaked. It's very unusual indeed for me to see any damage to any of them. Mostly I think I've experienced discolouration from their being an a bit of red envelope - which is uncommon but easily avoided anyway. Soaking as a risk to condition, I barely give it a second thought to when it comes to used stamps.

So your experience is different from mine.