Government has a pervasive impact on modern life. We awaken to a radio alarm where the signal is sent over regulated airwaves. We shower with water provided by the water agency which in most areas is at least quasi governmental. We ride to work on government regulated roads and go to government paid for (or […]
Government Service Read More »
Perhaps the most ridiculous man made disaster of our lifetime is closer and closer to coming about. I have refrained from writing about it as it seemed inconceivable that the United States House of Representatives would actually renege on the debts and legal obligations of the United States. This is the same group who is
Default and Philately Read More »
Two hundred thirty five years ago the thirteen American colonies declared their independence from Great Britain and began a seven year war that would result in the the founding of the United States of America. Before our Revolutionary War, Great Britain thought of her American Colonies as a whole and lumped the thirteen colonies in
Most of the business of professional stamp dealers consists of buying stamp collections from collectors when they have decided to give up their collecting due to age or illness or financial constraints. Then we break these larger collections down into their smaller components and offer the smaller units to our customers through our public auctions
The Typical Collection Read More »
United States collectors have long had a field day with revenue collecting. (Revenues are stamps issued to prove the payment of a tax or levy instead of for postal use). The US has issued thousands of different revenues and, ever since philately took hold in this country, revenue collecting had been incorporated into mainstream US
Revenue Collecting Read More »
I look for several factors when I recommend a collecting specialty to a collector. First is the intrinsic beauty of the stamps themselves. Does the country have high production values and are the stamps artistically compelling? Do the design types change over time to reflect new technologies in printing and new tastes in the graphic
Social change happens all the time and in no area of American life has change been greater than in the status of gays and lesbians. Only thirty years ago the idea of gay marriage was considered so ridiculous that pollsters didn’t even ask the question. Today, New York has been added to the list of
One of the nicest things about the stamp business is how you keep relationships with people over such a long period of time. Car dealers sell you once and then have years before you call again even if you choose to buy the same car. And sales relationships of that type are ephemeral and rarely
Cut Squares and Entires (the Scott “U” numbers in the catalog) have always seemed to be less popular than they should be. They have several important specialty features going for them. They are scarce and they are attractive. They are complex. There are hundreds of major numbers and about 95% of them sell for under