I'm not. It's just that every time I pull out my old stamp collection from my childhood days, I want more. So I am back in the game. Stopped collecting decades ago so I automatically have antique stamps. Probably not worth that much, but they are old. Just retired so I have time on my hands, and staring at colored pieces of paper and learning their story seems oddly appealing. I have a half decent collection of US and a smattering of World.
Hoping to focus on US or Great Britain. Would prefer Great Britain but not sure how accessible it is to collect them? Any good stamp companies anyone could recommend?
Live close to Cape Canaveral with a wife who thinks I am having a late-mid life crisis (stamps) and a cat who doesn't care.
Eric,
Wonderful to have you with us. We all know what it is like when the bug bites. It is hard at times to explain to your wife why you really need that extra batch of stamps. I think many of us can relate.
there are lots of folks who collect, and sell, GB here. Look at approvals and auctions; even put it out there that you want peeps to put up GB in auction. Tons of US guys here too.
your albums won't starve here
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"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"
There is active stamp club up your way, and also one down here in Port Saint Lucie. There is a mini bourse up in Melbourne every second Sunday -- here's the location;
The Second Sunday Coin & Stamp Show Next show - Valentine's day (rut roh!)
The Azan Shrine Center
1591 West Eau Gallie Blvd.
Melbourne 32935
Here's one stamp club near you;
Meeting City: Palm Bay
Missile Stamp Club
Meeting Time and Location: 7 p.m., 1st Wed., Peace Lutheran Church, 1801 Port Malabar Blvd.
You're always welcome to come down the Port Saint Lucie, too!
Have fun!
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"Just one more small collection, hun, really! LoL "
Glad to have you here, winedrinker (as I take a sip of Pinot Grigio). My only advice is to take your time seeing what your options are. First you have to decide on your focus (US? GB?) and then how you want to do it. Some people like to use pre-printed albums, but others find it easy to print their own pages with a computer and printer, and still others claim that using stock books is the best solution. It's all a matter of preference and the only right answer is the one that you decide is right for you.
You can also see several examples online. A few of us have links to our web pages illustrating our collections, and any of us would be happy to answer any specific questions you might have.
Happy hunting!
Lars
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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."
winedrinker, welcome to Stamporama from a fellow Central Floridian -- I live in Orlando. There's a great club up here and a number of great shows throughout the year in the O-Town area.
Welcome aboard Winedrinker, from another Floridian that loves wine, stamps and retirement, not necessarily in that order. Yes, do check out the auctions and approvals here before you look elsewhere, you'll be surprised at what is available in-house.
Mike
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"It's been three years now, since I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet..."
More good advice. I shall indeed give thought before plowing ahead. Unlike my youth when I tried to collect every country. I believe I have decided on Great Britain as a focus -- good old Queen Victoria, and I find the history interesting. But I will keep my US album and add to it as I go along. As for an album for Great Britain, I am smitten with the Palo unhinged. Have not committed to that yet as it is a juuuust a tad costly. Sigh.
As for wine: Don't know much about Chilean Merlots, but I like the Chilean Pinot Grigos. Been stuck on reds for a while, but breaking out into sauvignon blanc and others just to know what I'm missing. I am somewhat abashed in mentioning that I am drinking Beefeater's Gin at the moment. At least keeping with a Great Britain theme.
Look forward to chatting with y'all and pestering you with noob questions. Cheers!
My wife is taking it pretty well. But she does cringe when I ask her to "come look at this cool stamp." As in this morning when I found I have 3 of the 4 King Edward VII stamps (he abdicated himself out of a lot of good stamps I reckon).
Decided to go with a Davo album -- Great Britain.
Not a fan of Disneyland, so stamps it is!
Say, if I were starting a GB collection and drinking some beefeater, I might be tempted to soak the beefeater label off the bottle and put it in there somewhere with my stamps.
Dave N.
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bobgggg President Cortlandt Stamp Club 09 Feb 2016 06:35:01pm
Just joined the list and found your comments interesting. I took over the dining room. My wife walks past me and giggles almost every time. The only time she doesn't is when I ask her to come look at something.
It swings the other way too guys. My hubby looks at my spread on the dining room table and shakes his head. Occasionally he'll get this funny smile when I show him something interesting. I relieved him considerably when I told him if anything happens to me to donate the entire thing. His main concern was what to do with it all on my demise. My collection isn't worth enough for an auction house to care about. I'm not in crisis, but stamp collecting is a good change from what I normally do...various crafts and fibre art.
With a handle like "winedrinker" your wife is obviously pretty reasonable and kindly. Hope the resurrection of your childhood lobby goes well and she doesn't force you down the sorry path of other lost comrades like "vodkaguzzler", "weedpuffer", "methamphetaman".
Collecting broad countries such as USA and GB will yeild plenty of opportunities in buying general collections on ebay or Delcampe ot TradeMe. You can get a whole lot of holes filled for not much money (as a % of cat val) and then gradually improve the copies you have until you are happy.
I'll be loosening the Stelvin cap (much more romantic to pop a cork) on a 2010 Coonawarra Cab Suav tonight. JUst a cleanskin, $9 in a dozen from my local supplier.
Not only is that good advice, but you appear to be a man of distinction who imbibes $9 Cabernet. My limit is usually 7$ Yellow Tail, but I splurge for the next-to-top-shelf bottles from time to time, for the special moments that require Stelvin caps. Trysts with starlets, that kind of thing.
I collect Australia and its dim lost colonies, and Great Britain. I like these stamps very much. Especially my precious Penny Black. Prehhhhhhcious.
Have not tried Delcampe or TradeMe, but will check those out tomorrow. Thanks again.
Some years back I authored a thread on that 'other' stamp board down under, titled 'How to Collect Stamps Without Telling your Wife'. I may try something similar on here. Let's not kid ourselves, most of our spouses have a good idea what we spend on stamps. They rationalize that it's better than hard liquor.
"...most of our spouses have a good idea what we spend on stamps. They rationalize that it's better than hard liquor. "
Good timing to read this. At my "meeting" yesterday I mentioned a (tragically) true story from a couple weeks ago. My 16 year old daughter had some friends over for a pizza party. I said I was heading out for a meeting and one of her friends asked "what's your meeting?" My daughter quickly chimed in "he goes to Alcoholics Anonymous" and the room when silent (and the subject's never been raised since).
When I got home I was still mad with her and said "Nikki, you know I wasn't going to AA tonight, why would you say that in front of your friends?" She said "Dad, I'm sorry, but I didn't want them to know you were going to a stamp collector's meeting".
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). 10 Apr 2016 12:59:06pm
re: Wife thinks I am having a crisis
Welcome to SOR - I think all of us who have husbands and wives generally have come to the same conclusion - we've lost our minds. After 13 years, I just see the head shake and no words, just walks away. I fear the day that the men in white coats will appear at our door In the meantime I'll smile as the head shakes and go back to my pretty little coloured pieces of paper.
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"Let's find a cure for Still's Disease, Breast Cancer and Canine Addison's Disease. We CAN find a cure and save lives!!"
Thank you Poodle_Mum, if indeed that is your real name.
I am really enjoying my time here. And seem to have focused on Great Britain/Australia/Australian States. Spending way too much $ and learning a lot. My wife has actually gotten a bit interested in some of my shenanigans -- the history, geography, etc. of the stamps.
Your message at the bottom of your posts about breast cancer is very important. My wife Penny is in chemotherapy for stage 1 breast cancer, which is quite treatable thankfully, but the medication can really beat you up. It certainly changes your perspective.
I enjoy your comments when I see them. Keep up the good work!
Eric Carlson
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