One of the main problems with stamp collecting is the tendency to paint oneself into a philatelic corner. Every collector soon gets to the point where the stamps that he needs to fill the empty spaces in his album become fewer and fewer. But the cost of each new acquisition becomes greater and greater. And […]
Pictures of Prince Harry in the buff have made the papers recently, taken by some bimbo who he was orgying with. Harry deserves our sympathy. He has been and will continue to be on postage stamps and even has a bit of a chance of someday becoming king, but he hasn’t realized yet that the appeal of
Poor Prince Harry Read More »
In the 1950s and 1960s our company had an Estate Planning department. Estate Planning (it is so far in the distant philatelic past that it needs explanation) was advice to philatelists on what to do with their collections after they died, especially with regards to estate tax appraisals. This was needed because the level at which estates became taxable was
Taxes and Estate Planning Read More »
Who doesn’t know what a Hula Hoop is? Who, of a certain age, never played with a slinky? When the Baby Boomers were kids nearly everyone collected stamps. In my neighborhood there were two different kid organized stamp clubs, created and administered by ten year olds. We were very adult in our social organization skills, spending
Auction sale for philatelic material began to be the predominant way that philatelic material was sold in the 1870s. Pioneered (as so many other things were) by the first great American stamps dealer J. Walter Scott, the reasons for auction sales seemed at the time related to issues of lack of liquidity among stamp dealers
Auctions versus Direct Sale Read More »
One of the ways that the Internet has changed stamp collecting is that it has added a great deal of transparency and equality in the pricing of more esoteric items. By example, about 1975, I began to collect Mozambique Company postal history. I was always fascinated by the Portuguese African Colonies and their exploitive character, especially
Specialty Philately Costs Less in the Internet Era Read More »
Before 1867 Canada consisted of autonomous provinces, some of which issued their own postage stamps. Stamps were issued for the Dominion of Canada which comprised mostly of the central part of the country; separate provinces on the coast issued their own stamps. The Atlantic provinces are called the “Maritime Provinces” by collectors and consist of
Every specialty collection runs out of wind. You start with great energy and begin to acquire stamps and covers in your area and sooner or later the amount of time you spend searching increases and the amount of money that you need to spend for each item increases. Most collectors get to the point where they are spending more and enjoying it less.
When you Complete your Collection Read More »