The truth is within and only you can reveal it 21 Jan 2016 08:20:35pm
Today I'm starting a new thread because the first one is starting to take to much time to load. Because of this I'll be starting a new thread every twenty days until completed.
For today one of my favorite and most difficult European countries to collect; Portugal The early issues are loaded with variants and subtypes that make it a most challenging pursuit. There are also many beautiful bi-color engraved issues to collect as well as the ever growing Ceres issues and their many variants. Showed today are the first and second page and a couple other favorites. I highly recommend Portugal for collectors looking for a challenge.
The truth is within and only you can reveal it 22 Jan 2016 06:19:38pm
re: A-Ra's Page of the Day --- Part II
For today a major south American country Venezuela It's another one of my favorite countries which presents a great many challenges for the collector. I am showing the first three pages but remember to click on the country link to see most all of the stamps issued. In the pages shown there are several stamps that are seldom seen. For example there are only 33 known copies of the 25B from the 1880 Escuela set, which makes it the key item for the country. It's another country that I highly recommend for anyone to collect.
LOVE the Venezuelan bisect! And your 1863 issues have gorgeous color.
I spent 6 months there back in the early 70s. What a beautiful country - so sad that their government is in the crapper. I wish everyone could visit Canaima and see Angel Falls - breathtaking! The mesas are so magical - like stepping back in time - awesome! And the butterflies - blue morphos flying in SWARMS through the jungle. Beautiful with a capitol B.
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The truth is within and only you can reveal it 23 Jan 2016 05:32:04pm
re: A-Ra's Page of the Day --- Part II
I think the reason that many Latin American countries have been shunned by collectors is because of all the "reprints" that were made in the latter part of the 19th century. It seems to be just lately that collectors are becoming interested again in these countries. Interest and catalog values have been climbing over the last decade and I think they will continue to grow and for very good reason.
Ever since they were first issued the Cape of Good Hope Triangles have been a favorite amongst collectors the world over. Unlike any other issue I keep every one that comes my way, I just find them irresistible.
Shown are my first three pages.
bobgggg President Cortlandt Stamp Club 24 Jan 2016 09:29:36am
re: A-Ra's Page of the Day --- Part II
Phil...I remember reading this article a few years ago. The problem seems to be within the actual Latin America countries.
Also you need to keep in mind, that when it comes to Central America, many collections were destroyed when the earthquakes hit.
"Stamp Collecting in South America
"
Monday, January 3rd, 2011
The conventional wisdom is that it is wealth and education that determines the rate at which a nation collects stamps. I just came back from Ecuador where I visited the Galapagos Islands and Quito and am fascinated but how little philately seems to have caught on in that country. By world standards, Ecuador is average in per capita income and, even though its education level is low, one would expect at least some philately in the country. And yet a google search turns up only one stamp dealer in Quito (and he has a post office box) and no dealers in Guayaquil. And Ecuador is hardly unusual in Latin America. Only Argentina and Chile have strongish native collecting bases and this can largely be explained by the large influx of European immigrants in the nineteenth century. Nearly everywhere else in Latin America, where the population has retained the old mix of indigenous, Spanish and mestizo, stamp collectors are few and far between. And this seems irrespective of economic well being. Mexico and Brazil are becoming wealthy countries but stamp collecting still languishes and is still very small on a per capita basis. Stamp collecting is very popular in China but there are many more reasons for this than just philately as I have written in earlier posts. It seems that philately in its serious forms is a European phenomenon that has taken root a bit in the United States and only a few other parts of the word.
Bob, i read something to the effect that there were less than half a dozen stamp collectors in Nicaragua..it mind boggling ..not all Central American countries got involved with reprinting schemes...Guatemala had a very conservative stamp issuing policy..however,many of their overprinted stamps are fakes or forgeries.
The truth is within and only you can reveal it 24 Jan 2016 06:31:30pm
re: A-Ra's Page of the Day --- Part II
Only 6 collectors in Nicaragua? That's pretty hard to believe! Makes one wonder where all the stamps are, I sure don't have them. It is one of the most difficult Latin American countries to collect as prior to 1940 many of the stamps are never seen for sale. From 1890 to 1900 the reprints are easy to come by but the originals that often cannot be told from the reprints are very hard to find. From 1901 to 1939 there are mostly a great many overprinted stamps, many of which are never found in the market.
I do not expect to ever reach a high level of completion with Nicaragua.
Showing the first page and the second page which are surely all reprints and another page of overprints.
Nice pages Mitch!
Something about a page of engraved definitives. I am starting to collect Scandinavia and Switzerland, lots of nice early definitives.
The truth is within and only you can reveal it 25 Jan 2016 04:49:26pm
re: A-Ra's Page of the Day --- Part II
For today the French Colony of Madagascar. A large island off the East coast of Africa, it is one of the most mysterious places on earth. Showing the first, second and 4th page.
A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent). 26 Jan 2016 03:10:45am
re: A-Ra's Page of the Day --- Part II
Mitch - you're beginning to make me think about going back into worldwide collecting. Nothing like what you have done but you've definitely got the wheels turning in my brain. Thank you
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I am fascinated by the second issue on this Madagascar page. I have the source material which indicates the 10 varieties of each stamp. They were all prepared in sheets of 10 and there are definite differences in each position. Of course the lower values are a little more realistic to collect all.
The truth is within and only you can reveal it 27 Jan 2016 06:42:24pm
re: A-Ra's Page of the Day --- Part II
Today the Danish West Indies Formerly A Danish Colony the Islands were bought by the U.S. in 1917 and became the Virgin Islands. I was lucky to spend a few days there in January of 2000. Shown are the only three pages.
The truth is within and only you can reveal it 28 Jan 2016 08:26:33pm
re: A-Ra's Page of the Day --- Part II
Kuwait is the country for today. As with most Mid-East countries I have spent little time in collecting them. Lately I have been trying to fill in the spaces. Most of what I have for Kuwait has been added in the last couple months.
Shown is the first page and a couple other earlier ones.
The truth is within and only you can reveal it 29 Jan 2016 07:31:34pm
re: A-Ra's Page of the Day --- Part II
Founded in the 4th century A.D. San Marino claims to be the oldest country in Europe. It is completely surrounded by Italy. Producing stamps for collectors has long been a source of income and they have produced many a beautiful stamp. There have been approximately 1 stamp issued per 20 citizens.
Shown are the first three pages.
The truth is within and only you can reveal it 31 Jan 2016 09:19:47pm
re: A-Ra's Page of the Day --- Part II
Vinman, Thanks for the kudos. There are two types of the diamonds within diamond cancels.
The type that is equal on all sides is simply called "Grille" The elongated type is called "grille sans fin" I believe they were only used on the first issue.
The truth is within and only you can reveal it 04 Feb 2016 09:23:01pm
re: A-Ra's Page of the Day --- Part II
One of the three Baltic countries Latvia is a fun country to collect.Shown are the first page and a favorite Semi Postal and Air Mail page. Notice that the two first stamps were printed on the back of German maps because of a shortage of paper due to the war. Many other stamps were printed on the backs of unfinished and uncut sheets of German bank notes.
The truth is within and only you can reveal it 05 Feb 2016 02:14:20pm
re: A-Ra's Page of the Day --- Part II
As requested Liberia is the country for today. One of the most popular African countries for collectors LIberia produced many beautiful bi color sets. Shown are the first page and a couple other favorites.
The truth is within and only you can reveal it 06 Feb 2016 06:03:32pm
re: A-Ra's Page of the Day --- Part II
Today another major European country Belgium Shown are the first page and a couple other early pages of regular issues. Besides the many beautiful regular issues Belgium also has the most Semi-Postals issued by any country as well a great many other B.O.B issues. If I make it thru the regular issues of the world I might start another thread of Back of Books of the world of which Belgium probably has the most.
The truth is within and only you can reveal it 10 Feb 2016 06:17:31pm
re: A-Ra's Page of the Day --- Part II
Another favorite small European country is Liechtenstein A great many beautiful stamps and fairly low expense to collect makes it a favorite for many collectors. Shown are the first page and a couple other early ones.
