For used stamps, I look for the one in best condition overall. Then I look for the postmark that shows that stamp to it's best advantage.
Second, I don't use standard albums so I'm not restricted to the little box for each stamp. I am currently putting my USA stamps in order, and filling in holes in the collection. I try to vary what I use to represent each stamp issue. I have plate number singles, other selvage markings such as the old "Bureau of Printing and Engraving" logo, and even selvage corners (the narrow side without markings but the corner of the sheet). For some issues, if I had a plate block but no single, that's what's in the album. Same with first day cover or interesting usage on cover. I didn't have a good set of National Parks and I saw a set of blocks of four on eBay, so I grabbed it. That's what will be in my album for that issue.
For instance I just bought this stamp. I like margin markings and the like.
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy.. 21 Feb 2016 08:38:16pm
re: selecting proper stamp
" .... Second, I don't use standard albums so I'm not restricted to the little box for each stamp. ...."
I'm allergic to little boxes as well.
I buy slightly heavier paper stock and l mount stamps in whatever way suites the set, the era and the country. The Minkus Albums are good enough up to the mid-70s. But after that, counties of regions get separate binders.
Often extra copies of the same stamp issue can be examined for interesting shades, minor varieties and cancellations.
Some can be brought together in a theme such as Viking Long ships a recent favorite. Long lasting issues just be to have one stamp cancelled during each year of the stamp's issuance.
A complete set of an otherwise common definitive first year of issue, followed by sets of each of the stamps in the set for each year it remained valid and used, can look rather neat. The trick is to find nice cancellations.
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".... You may think you understood what you thought I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you think you heard is not what I thought I meant. .... "
"If you have many of the same stamp , which would put in your album and why?"
If I'm not filling a pre-printed "box" on an album page, I would defer to the prior posts. If I am filling a space on pre-printed pages and I can only place one copy, I choose the best one! The best one for my collecting criteria, that is. I collect U.S. mint starting with the First Bureau and used prior to that, but I have several used stamps as placeholders from 1st Bureau forward. If I were to fill a space where I had several stamps to choose from (likely a more common stamp), I would first determine if that was the mint or used portion of my collection and check the appropriate options. I would check for any faults (like tears or creases), and among the faultless (or nearly so) examples, look for the best centering. If used, I would look for a light or crisp cancel. If mint, I don't care about previous hinges. Some folks consider MNH to be a requirement. I don't care. But that's my criteria. You are free to develop your own. After all, it's YOUR collection!
Lars
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"Expanding your knowledge faster than your collection can save you a few bucks."