I so enjoy buying old collections and spending hours upon hours grading and identifying singles for resale. It is such a brilliant exercise and a fun way to make your hobby partially pay for itself. I am so lucky to find contentment in this simple thing and have no worries about keeping myself busy after retiring. ;-)
My favorite part of buying old collections is trying to get into the mind of the previous collector. On occasions, the collection includes covers with their name and address, allowing some internet sleuthing. Also looking through notes, writings in catalogs, wish lists, etc. It's unfortunate that many resellers split up collections, selling albums individually, and just throw away all the context, but you can still find untouched collections with all the context at estate sales.
Totally agree! I haven't bought many solo stamps lately... wanted to mention that that's a good way to fill out a collection (and probably more efficient than buying collections)... but I love not knowing what you'll find... so many surprises...
My general approach is also that I buy collections. I really like the hunt of finding a treasure in there. I take out what I need and split the rest out and sell. This way my collection if self-sustainable. Sometimes when I make a good deal I use the exceed money to buy some of the more rare stamps on auction in good condition. Morten.
A few months ago, I bought a large “box” full of all kinds! There was even a 1920s Strand stamp album chocked full of treats from all over the world - two nice Penny Blacks, a few Penny Blues and Reds. Tons of late 1800s from all over the world! And bags and bags full of used, mint, blocks, plate blocks! I filled a ton of holes in my US collection, in my Canada collection, my GB collection - and haven’t even scratched the surface yet!! And the entire box cost me only $25 (CAD)! 🤌📬 I gives that would be about $18 USD! 😂
You should do a video on how you are keeping track of what you have and have not. For example I have custom excel sheets for each country with MNH/Used/FCD/postalhistory so i can just take those sheets to shows etc. How do you track your 'needs and have'?
I love the fact that over your right shoulder is a plastic shoe box with a green lid FILLED with sorting to do. On that you have a cigar box for the better stuff you pulled out of the sorting box (my best guess for its use). On the top shelf is a large size picture of a Canadian Beaver stamp. Now it just so happens I have a plastic shoe box filled with stamps to sort that has a green lid. On top of it is a very similar cigar box housing the better loot awaiting my attention. And the beaver? It was my first Canadian stamp I ever bought. As for buying albums? It's a fun way to fill your own album. Many children's collections aren't worth looking at but remember...schoolboy collections are where some of the kings of philately come from...British Guyana 1 cent magenta for instance...so schoolboy albums have to be perused before you pass on them. If the kid had a maiden aunt who lived in Poland and sent him stamp packets, well, Polish commemorative stamps are big, beautiful and colorful stamps. Buy that album to help fill yours. Fun video today. Its a blast to see someone as full of energy and enthusiasm as you are. The advice about buying the best you can afford today is sound. If I took my allowance and bought the best I could afford over the years I might not have a big collection, but every stamp could be a home run by now. Stuff that was readily available in the 60s is now much harder to find. Imagine spending $40 for a color- missing baseball stamp (Scott 1381) mint, never hinged back when it came out. Now the book today at around $500 each, but the book ain't buying, so we shop our favorite internet dealer and discover we can get one for about $85. Imagine your smug feeling realizing you scored one years ago when buying the best your money could buy. Good advice.
My favorite part of RU-vid is comments like yours... so many thanks for sharing! And yeah, I love keeping a box of random stamps on hand, a project at the ready whenever I need one...
I collect mint only up through 1969 so buying albums will not do much for me as most of them will be used. I buy most of my stamps at stamp shows which I think is the best since you can see the stamp as many older stamps are not well centered. Plus you get the stamp right away for instant gratification, no waiting for the mail. In addition since there are many dealers there you can kind of comparison shop.
I like to buy worldwide in big batches cause I enjoy the many hours of sorting and finding stamps I don't have. I of course like very fine mint stamps but I don't mind good shaped used.
Glad the stamps arrived safely. USPS is still saying they are trying to deliver the envelope. Now the fun part of attaching all the stamps to Robert's album.
I believe I could build a better collection if I first had an album of a country which I am planning to collect to see which series appealing to me and more to that if I have read all the books (philatelic) that I read as of today then I would really know what to look for and be safe from frauds and build a set properly
Mr Silk's @@silkontheweb reaction to receiving these was priceless. The satisfaction was in seeing Silk enjoying the gifts. Well done @banburg13 and others
