Does anyone do any serious stamp collecting?

apricot · #1 (**permalink**) 07-06-2008, 11:54 AM

I wasn't sure where to put this question since most of the threads are about crafting. I used to collect stamps as a child and still have a few from the 60s and some of my dad's too. I was wondering if anyone knows of a good book on stamp collecting? I checked Borders and there were several to choose from.

**seleach** · #2 (**permalink**) 07-06-2008, 07:23 PM

I had a large stamp collection. Mostly USA stamps as they were issued. I did have foreign ones also but if you want to sell it at some point it is best to collect USA. I sold mine about 15 yrs. ago. I will see if I still have any info on it.

apricot · #3 (**permalink**) 07-06-2008, 07:38 PM

Sharon, Any information you have would be great. Where did you sell your stamps? I don't have any full sets, just a few scattered in a couple of albums. The album that was my dad's has the date 1941 on the front.

debknechtel · #4 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 06:38 AM

Laura I am a serious stamp collector.....but only collect Canadian Stamps...I have every first day cover issued in Canada since 1955.....plus corner blocks and singles......Don't have as much time now to put them in my albums but I still collect them.

I have seen stamps being sold on e-bay so you can get an idea of the worth of some......there is a book that comes out yearly with all the values of stamps and what to look for...makes a difference if they are mint....also if they are full sheets or corner blocks....if they are mint you should not be touching them with your hands...use tweasers......I will go looking for my copy of the book on values...and get back to you with it......I have single stamps back to the 1800's

Hugs debbie

**seleach** · #5 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 08:43 AM

Laura, you can get a guide to stamp collecting and a free catalog from http://www.kenmorestamps.com

The best catalog at this time is from Mystic.
http://www. mysticstamps.com

There is a lot of info at http://www.linns.com

The catalog will give you the prices. The guide has a lof of usefull info much like what you will find at linns site but more and if you got the guide you wouldn't have to keep going back to the web site to find an answer to your question.

I collected full sheets of stamps which I bought at the PO on the date of issue. I put saran wrap around the sheets to protect them. These days you can buy something to put them in.

Sometimes I did just get a corner.

I also bought books because sometimes the stamps were different than sheet stamps.

Always use a tweasers to handle mint stamps.

You can get supplies like stamp hinges and corner mounts from any of those sites also. for single stamps to put in albums.

I sold my collection to a stamp dealer in Wis Rapids, WI.

apricot · #6 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 06:51 PM

Debbie, Your Canadian stamp collection sounds really interesting. Did you inherit it and start collecting more when you were a child? I do vaguely remember using tweasers on the stamps when I was a child. I don't have many mint stamps though.

Sharon, It sounds like you had a pretty extensive collection too. Thanks for all the helpful links and info. I'll check them out. I remember those stamp hinges too. I've seen ads for Mystic Stamp sets in the weeknd newspaper.

**seleach** · #7 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 07:56 PM

Laura, stick to US stamps as they are worth something. Foreign stamps are fun to collect and I had a lot of them too but collectors aren't interested in them.

Mish · #8 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 03:21 PM

My grandmother collects stamps,.She used to go to shows to see what other dealers had and if she wanted to sell any of hers.Hope this helps.
Mish

debknechtel · #9 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 03:29 PM

Laura i started collecting in 1972 and my dad had some from before so that is why I have 1st day covers for all those years.....I collect a 1st day cover and then a right upper corner block and a single for every Canadian Stamp issued. I have a separate album for Canadian single stamps.......It goes all the way back to when Canadian provinces had their own stamps.......I am not sure what the value is on my collection but I know it is up there. My dad also has a duplicate from 1972 of all the covers I have and my aunt has a huge collection that will come to me or my kids someday. I also have some stamps from other countries but mostly Canadian...I do have a very nice full sheet of an American stamp of the moon walk in mint condition that my aunt gave to me. I love finding different stamps....I also check for watermarks etc as they are valuable.......I have stamps that have been misprinted etc. I use Minkus albums and it was a scotts book on the value of stamps I have.

Hugs dEbbie

apricot · #10 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 08:34 PM

Sharon, Most of mine are used U.S. but I do have a few foreign stamps, mostly from letters that I received. I took my smaller album from my childhood to a stamp/coin store back in the late 80's and the guy acted like it was practically worthless then so I just kept it. He was very much against putting stamps in albums.

Mish, When I was a child my dad used to take my brother and me to stamp auctions for awhile. I was too young to really understand it and then he stopped taking us. I think maybe the people were just buying and selling the same stamps over again. That was way before there was internet and eBay.

Debbie, Your extensive stamp collection sounds wonderful. It probably tells a lot of history and is worth a lot in Canada. The U.S. Moon Walk stamps would probably be worth a lot too since that was a major milestone in history. I checked my albums and my dad's 1941 album is from the Scott Stamp and Coin Company in New York.