Exploring philatelic apps and mail:  

Hi Graham. Reg Gersbach here (Sasolburg Philatelic Society -Oilphilat - , Free State). Thanks for the heads-up with the apps.

Hi.. i wish i had stamp identifier 50 years ago. Love your videos and humour.

The international icecream sound. We hear it every sunday now in Drachten, the Netherlands. There are still wallpaper companies who sell their wallpaper as stamps. In the 60-70's Umm-al Qiwain and other Arabic dwarf states, end 70-begin 80 Grenadines, Grenadines of Grenadines and other islandstates with the beautiful locomotives, oldtimer cars, etc. Paraguay, just for stealing the collector's money.

So Glad this dropped today, I have been in bed recoverying from surgery and binge watch you old episode and listening the podcast, "Stamp Show Here Today". Philately can save you life, everyone should listen to the advice on the Prostate Cancer Awareness Stamp Scott 3315. Mine was found very early, and I am will on my way to a full recovery.

Keep going interesting great channel and learning a lot 👍🇦🇺

Hey, great video! I've found a box filled with books next to a trash can, inside there's a stamp collection with german and italian stamps from the 1890s all the way to the 1960s. The Stamp Identifier App is really helping me. Thanks for sharing! Cheers from southern Brazil!

Thank you for the advice on the stamp identifier app. What a time saver!!!

I took your stamp identifier app challenge with 10 various US stamps and the app identified 9 out of 10. In the process I found a 37c flag stamp from 2003 that has a Shrek postmark. Cool beans.

I really enjoy your videos but this last sequence in which you talk about the mail you receive is the best. Your charisma flows and I can listen about all the topics related to the stamps and the stories behind. Besides is an excellent way to approach to us, your audience.

The music on the ice cream truck is The Entertainer. One of just a few things I know how to play on the piano. Self taught. Missed your videos.

After watching your video, I tried using the stamp-identifier app for the first time- LOVED it/ total "life-saver"! (A tip for those with -ehem- not the fanciest of mobile phones- it helped me to hold a magnifying glass directly up against my cell phone camera's lens to be able to hold the phone a bit closer to the stamp and get it to be in focus! Basically, our old phones need bifocals...) I am in the process of trying to get a stamp album from my Dad, who has been collecting since childhood (meaning he has a huge, vast, collection.) It was given to him by a friend, and he said it's mine to take as long as I first double check all of the stamps and make sure that he already has them in his collection.... this involves me identifying the stamp country and year in order to know which of his (4!! ) massive International Scott albums to sift through and see if it's already in his collection. Using the Identifier app is so much faster than typing, for example "Algeria green stamp tower" into google to try and identify each stamp! Thank you as well for all of your videos. I truly enjoy each one!

I haven't used any app earlier for stamps. Just download stamps identifier. Its working really well. Thank you very much for sharing.

Stamperija: Unfortunately some of these do get used on mail. The Stamperija Mozambique stamps have shown up on covers along with "local: stamps. For example (while the lot is still listed): www.delcampe.net/en_US/collectibles/stamps/mozambique/timbres-lettre-recommandee-pour-portugal-mozambique-mocambique-timbres-divers-sports-et-fruits-474960193.html I had a non-collector friend buy me some stamps from a PO in Mozambique and one or two Stamperija ones were included. The problem is that Stamperija produced one or two thousand distinct stamps for Mozambique. We'll probably never find out which made it there and which did not. I was ready to write them off but now I will never get anywhere close to completing a collection of postally used Mozambique. BTW Mozambique plans to terminate their postal service this year, so it looks like 2021 is the last year of Moz stamps.

yay my letter made it into the video haha glad you liked the stamps Graham! i guess similar connection that you have to the insulin stamps that i didn't say in the letter, about 10 years ago I was diagnosed with the same form of cancer terry fox had and common practice in the 80's was to amputate the effected limb and hope for the best but because of developments since then I am still around today. Love the videos and cant wait to see what you come out with next!

Greetings from France I have 1/ started to collect stamps again after a gap of almost 70 years ( That's not a typo !) and 2/ discovered your channel Thank you so much Your uncomplicated but informative approach make you videos a pleasure to watch .

Great episode! Definitely going to download the app for the stamp identifier. It's fun seeing you open the mail!

I LOVE these casual #philately episodes, my favorite format on the channel!

Your positivity is contagious....Well done!

finally! the legend came back!!!

Excellent episode!

Superbe vidéo. Un grand merci !

The current interest in Covid-19 philately kind of reminds me of another area of study which involves the collecting of decontaminated covers. Postal Authorities as far back as 350 years ago, afraid of plague and epidemic, would insist on having the mail treated with such things as vinegar baths or fumigate with juniper smoke if the letter came from a plagued areas. These covers would sometimes have holes punched in the corners to allow smoke in or be stamped "Disinfected" to assure the recipient that the letter was treated somehow.

Great video and great work as always. 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Thanks for these resources, Graham, which are especially useful for those of us who are not exactly techheads. Keep up the good work!

Hey, Graham. I absolutely love all of your videos but this one was especially awesome. Perhaps it was hearing "The Entertainer" ice cream truck tune, instantly transporting me back to childhood summers in Texas, Tennessee, and Kansas. The ice cream here in Thailand is just not the same. They use CORN as a topping for starters. Instead of trucks, it is usually an old lady pushing a cart down the street; the kids come runninig to the sound of a bicycle bell. I have used the Colnect site for a few years to help me keep track of recent issues. I have PDF's of most of the major catalogues (Scott, Michel, Stanley Gibbons, etc.) to identify older stamps in my collection hut there are always a few I can never find. I will definitely run them through the app to see if it works on those. Been a fan of KEP for years. One of the best postal services around, IMHO. New Zealand Post is also way up their in terms of customer service and downright friendliness. Stamperija, BTW, has recently changed their name to Stampera so, yes, you were pronouncing it correctly. I cannot stress how much I HATE the agencies and have recently banned their discussion in two of the FB groups that I founded as they invariably start heated arguments. But there are a few collectors who have sent these "stamps" to various post offices in a few countries and have successfully gotten covers in return. Apparently, Togo and Djibouti both have a supply now judging from the posts by one collector from China. He has also just posted a couple of covers bearing Stampera items from Sierra Leone. I actually cringe whenever I see these as some of the denominations on the stamps are more than the average monthly salaries of many local residents! Anyway, well done and I look forward to your next video(s).

Well presented Mr Beck ... your videos are my "must see TV" :)

Yes I'm also a stamp collector coins and diecast so I do have time to listen in . Just luv it

YESSSSS!!! Another episode. Was going to study but guess I have to take an early 40 mins break then.

It IS a big deal! TWENTY THOUSAND subscribers is wicked great, Graham! I never feel like the only girl in the room here (waving to your Mrs.!)

I've just started watching your videos - I've been organising my collection (into Countries) whilst I watched. Thank you so much for the app recommendation!! It has helped me identify many of the stamps with cyrillic alphabets. Most of my stamps come from my Postcrossing hobby - where I send postcard across the world. I ask on my profile for people to send postcards on envelopes because I like to keep the postcards in tact and use the stamps. Really loving your videos thank you.

Great energy you have on a hobby you are passionate about.....Your the reason I've started dusting off the boxes and albums in my years of accumulating and looking at them. I ❤ this episode. Your awsome !

Quite an amazing episode. Many congrats on your Sub base heading north. You throughly deserve it 👍

Awesome :-)

Thanks for your videos! I enjoyed seeing all the things people sent to you while learning a lot.

Wow that App is really impressive! Can't believe it got the Girl Bora Bora one right. :)

On sending non-paper stuff as a letter: it used to be a thing in Soviet times to send a leaf of Magnolia tree as a postcard, with stamps applied directly on it, and address written on it. Magnolias grow in Sochi, but not many more places in Russia, because of the colder climate, so it was special. A few years back I tried to send one, but the postal office workers wouldn't take it, and after a bit of convincing they agreed to place it into a clear plastic bag and accept it that way, and it made it to the destination. But now they don't even accept it even like this. Then I tried to just drop it in the mail box, but it never made it :(

Nothing like waking up to a new video of yours, amazing again, keep up the good work!

A hobby where you don't need a ton of money to keep you happy. Another very informative video!

Another awesome video! So glad you included mail from viewers and enjoyed seeing stamps from all over. We pronounce it New•fin•land, if you say New•found•land to a Newfie they will correct you. Thanks for sharing the cool tools you have found and like, I am so excited to give them all a try! It was cool to hear about your topical collection of rhinos and more about Jackson’s life 🦏💔

The Philately Museum is a very Good concept and Idea , Bravo !

Great video Graham, I love watching you open your mail :)

If you are really can't identifying the stamp, try using Google Lens. Usually it's matching due to Google excellent abilities in searching and it's database.

One more very agreable episode Graham..( the answer to your question is on its way...a surprise and a double somehow...) ...many many thanks for your sharing....!

That's funny came back with ice cream.

You have been sent some cool free gifts 🎁 That's awesome 👏🏼

congratulations graham i love your vids

Yes! My Letter made it into the Video! :) I'm super happy! (I'm Nils btw)

love your show, thank you, Butch

Outstanding as usual

I really love your videos, and a little bit its host 😉... I have been collecting stamps since 1986, but now I am comitted to put them in album and catalog them. Your videos teach a lot, and they are funny, especially the ice cream truck. Cheers from Toronto, Ontario, Canada!!!

Starting using stamp identifier - 6 for 6 - all were lightly cancelled stamps, five from People’s Republic of China that I could not find in the catalog. Helpful and cool app!

I've been using the stamp identifier app for several months now and really like it. Looking for to the next episode of #Philately

Those German stamps are very… efficient. I can see their line of thinking. “The stamp is worth three, so the stamp says three.”

Great video and your editing is mind blowing! I’m still collecting- I’ve just gave up on video making…for now. But you, sir, are excellent in editing your videos! Maybe it’s your better half. 😆🤪🙌🙏🍻

Funny that my personal stamp was the only one without the pen cancel 😂

This was an amazing video! Definitely need to check some other stuff from your channel!!

Sending a coconut or flip-flops might not be accepted in our local post office since sending ordinary mail seems to be a chore for them, hahaha. I also use the Stamp Identifier app for looking at the info regarding a particular stamp. Proud to be one of the 20k subscribers :)

I really enjoy you reading the letters from viewers! 44 mins video feels like 1 min! Yes I am using stamp identifier and found their improvement recently too. And there are something confused me. I don’t know how the UN Mail works. How could Frank send you a mail from Central African Republic to you via UN Mail? Did he send the mail to UN headquarters for repost? Because I find there is a New York postmark on the cover. Thank you Graham☺️

Another good video. Thanks

I really enjoyed the video. Thank you for making it. I will also be using that stamp identifier app. Have a great day! =)

I’ve spent the last few days cataloging my WW collection in colnect with the app. I have to say, I’m very impressed. There might only be 1 or 2 stamps out of 100 that it could not identify and those were usually very heavy cancels or it is a very bright yellow on white paper. There are some difficult stamps, but if you center the image, have it focused and remove all the background, including the white around the stamp, it will pick it up.

Found prononce it as New Found Land. Yes I am so glad than insuline was discoverd to save so many life! This is a very good video, yes as usual, but a very interesting one for it large range of topics! Thanks to all of the ones who send you mail which contibuted to our knolange!

Colnect, very good digital stamp album. Probably the best!

Great video as always! As a fellow T1 Diabetic (and as a Canadian) I was so proud to see those insulin stamps issued. I also meant to pick up the FDC, which is a really nice one, especially by modern standards, but I waited too long. Off to the secondary market to track one down!

Oh by the way thanks for the informations about the Stamp Identifier programme! I test it and I also come to close to 80% on oser 20 stamps. Have a good one Graham from the old french Canadien philatelist!

Nice video as always:) I use often colnect and it's one of the best online sites for collectors, I tried also the stamp identify app and works quite well for the few items I tested.. Waiting for you next episode 😊

Well it was interesting to get confirmation that you can't actually use Stamperija and IGPC stamps for mail. I'm sure some people enjoy collecting them, but imo if you can't use them to send something through the postal service, they (and most CTOs, I suppose) are nothing more than glorified cinderella labels.

Nice to see that the ice-cream truck plays the same EXACT annoying music in other neighborhoods too. LOL

Can’t wait to try out the identifier.

Good job. Now we are getting opened again, I’ll try send something to you.

At first I thought, oh good, an Aussie accent. But I didn't take me long to realise, wait, even better: a South African accent! 😁

OMG that app!!! Downloading now

About Russian stamps from Anna (~16:50): - not Amur leopard, but Asia Minor leopard (aka Caucasian leopard or Persian leopard). they are being reintroduced in Russia's Caucasus since around 2012? - Russia still doesn't have a specific COVID stamp. The one you have is "National projects. Health care.", it's part of the "National projects" series. I'm pretty sure it was scheduled to be issued at the time it was issued before the pandemic came to be. There's another stamp that maybe more COVID related: "Pirogov medal", which is awarded for "for dedication in the provision of medical care in emergencies, epidemics, hostilities and other circumstances that pose a risk to life" and other medical-related achievements. This is also non-specific to COVID, and it's part of State awards series, which started a while back.. but this particular medal was established in Russia on 19-JUNE-2020, which is the midst of the first wave of pandemic. The Pirogov medal stamp was issued in May 2021.

Thanks for recommending the Stamp Identifier app! Wish such a thing like this existed when I was a kid. I was able to identify stamps from Bulgaria and Crete. The app struggled with an older stamp from Thailand, but when I selected “Show Closest Match”, I found a similar match.

About the Museum of Philately, my exhibit has won multiple awards all over the world, Gold Medal with special awards. I was approached by the MoP to host my exhibit. Signed a contract, checked and everything by their Head of Philately and it was online. There was a lot of hype about it because it was the ONLY thematic exhibit and the only one from Israel. An article was written about my entry to the MoP as it being a first and was supposed to be issued February 2021. In January the editor asked me what the URL was as he couldn't find it. The URL gave a blank screen. My exhibit was removed. The only one removed. My name was removed as well. I asked my contact and he had no idea. He got back to me a few days later and said that the new Head of Philately had changed the regulations. Mine was the only one pulled!!! No warning, just pulled and all evidence removed. He was very embarrassed. The editor of the magazine had to find another article for the February issue and this was mid January

Thank you, I am downloading the Colnect App now, as I have several stamps that I am not to sure of.

Yes I use for the ones I can’t find in catalogs and would say I’m running at the 80% Mark you have found .

I had no idea you were from Bora Bora, Graham. :)

Next episode: Scott Joplin stamp and the ragtime music, ja, ja.

I have used stamp identifier for like an year and I couldn’t find only one from Uzbekistan. For mi size and level is fine!!!

Excellent video and gg for the stats hope you the nest, for whats about the stamp identifier app, changing the crop can really chance the identification process it worked for me several times after 2 or 3 tries when it fails, or use another stamp of the same set it can work too, but overall it is an excellent app

Ty for app nice i have 20 unknow stamp i scan them tomorrow :-)

Hi Graham, I just started an APS membership because of this great channel! You really won me over! Do you have a working invite for the Discord server?

Downloaded the Stamp Identifier app seems to work good .. Wondering how you get it to auto crop the picture though ?

Graham I am searching for a reliable site online or dealer to purchase foreign stamps. Any ideas? And where did you get that huge box of stamps? Not sure if that was covered in one of your videos. Thanks for any help.

Graham, I don not have an Iphone, so will 'colnect' work with the camera of the laptop?

رائع وجميل جدا

@Exploring Stamps Hi, can you make a video on where to reach out society or trusted dealer? Here at Malaysia, there are so many scammers that lead people getting cheated on selling stamps and old coins . I have small collection of stamps too but I never get the pleasure of sharing it due to the lack of info on where I should begin with. Thanks

So, if one needs to be invited to join International Philatelic Promoters, how can you let them know you want to join? If that's impossible, what was the value in promoting Discord?

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

if people think german stamps from recent years are boring they should really see greek stamps of recent years

just wondering, should stamps on letters be cold stamped? wondering the pros and cons on this?

Paulette connect stamps identify it Connect stamps identify it

nm the bad pronunciation of newfoundland - when in the province itself be aware the newfie dialect is very old: like in parts of nova scotia and on the island of nfld many words are lifted right outta shakespeare's time and somewhat earlier. btw, most newfies refer to the island of nfld as "the rock" (pronounced "t' rock"). startlingly beautiful place, incredible people, more moose and caribou than people.

Graham, excuse me if this question should go elsewhere. I am a new collector seeking both Italy and US. I cannot find either albums or catalog for Italy; do you have any suggestions for where I might? Also, I'd like a US catalog but can't really make sense of the Scott or Amos website to find a catalog or album. what am I doing wrong? Sorry nd thanks for your time. I recently discovered your channel and have been binging on it since.

Looks like I get a birthday video

Hey, I heard your ice cream truck, let's trade, send me ice cream in cone and put the stamp on cone, I'll do mine here.

I wonder if the company making stamps for central Africa are also responsible for making my Ferrari stamps from central Africa?

Sir I'm from india I have large collection of envelopes and Indian post card of 1870 to 1947 all types but I don't know about them price so how can I do

Does the app give value of stamp?