Just Starting Now Retired

Hi
Like many others, I collected stamps in my youth, many years ago, and having just retired thought I would take it up again.

Everything has changed now, so not really sure where to start. In my day all stamps were gummed and were put in books with little hinges you had to lick!

I was thinking of getting a stock book initially, but what is the best type to get? Cost not a major issue, just don't want to waste money on something that turns out to be rubbish.

Any beginner tips would be really appreciated. I am in West Sussex.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Hi modelman!

I've bought a few well-stuffed "vintage" stockbooks recently. Some of the better-quality ones have folded-over strips of some semi-translucent material. I've found that care has to be taken in taking perforated stamps out of the strips, as the edge of the strip is pointing downwards and can catch on the perfs.

I'd also be interested in a recommendation for a good stock book.

That and getting to see Beachy Head in action.

Hello! Stock-books are a good way to go, especially if you're deciding what to focus on. Dauwalders in Somerset sells the Lighthouse range, which are good quality, but their own-brand ones are fine -

https://www.dauwalders.co.uk/stockbooks-2132-cjust

@GeoffHa This link does not work.

Try this one:

https://www.dauwalders.co.uk/stockbooks-2132-c

Agree. If I had to do some major rearranging right now, I'd transfer all to stockbooks. Glad to have you here.

Welcome to the community modelman

modelman, welcome to the fold. You've started (restarted?) your journey on a great website.

Welcome modelman! Agree with the above, I use stockbooks for most of my collections. My GB, NZ and German collections are in Prinz sheets housed in 4 ring folders. Both are easy to expand when new items come along.
Regards
DavidR

I'm a few years from retirement but after 15 years of active collecting my interest is fading. I no longer want to spend several hundred dollars a pop and then wait several weeks just to throw more stamps on the pile. My tastes are expensive so I'm gradually dropping out. If you find an area that interests you then best of luck. It is time well spent if your heart is in it.

I suggest that stamps have changed, but stamp collecting has not. You will find that issues since the 90s exploded in number of issues so that maintaining albums of new issues consts a mint just for the binders and paper even if you print your own.

I recommend setting a cutoff year (maybe around the time you stopped as a kid) and go back from there.

If you want to collect in Albums I recommend a used one from ebay or the equivalent where you are.

I'm West Sussex too. Not many stamp dealers in this neck of the woods, but a shop in Brighton.

WH Smith do decent stock books. Maybe take a punt on one and see how things go. If it looks good, you can always pick up some more.

If you become hooked, there's Toovey's auction house in Washington, which offers some paper collectables sales. A large degree of uselessness for most of us, as it doesn't ship lots, but fine if you're in Sussex.

https://www.tooveys.com/

Hi Ringo, I am in East Preston. I remember the shop in Queens road. Wasn't it originally a Stanley Gibbons shop, back in the 60's?

I will give Toovey's a go, not far from me.

I use Dauwalder's stockbooks and also Prophila stockbooks. Both are satisfactory.

What kinds of stamps are you proposing to collect?

Not sure yet. I bought a large kiloware assorted lot and am still going through them. Will probably go for just collecting certain countries.