I currently collect Great Britain -- the Royal theme being quite interesting and amusing. But even more amusing is kangaroos on stamps. I am VERY tempted to start collecting Australia as a 2nd pursuit. (Uruguay was enticing me for a bit, but there are very few roos on those stamps.) Any pros and cons with Australia stamp collecting? Would eBay be the prime source? And are there any good online stamp companies for Australia?
Also, can someone post some Aussie stamps with Drop Bears depicted? I understand they are becoming quite a menace.
Winedrinker, if you're talking about classic Australia (and if you are concerned with 'roos, then you probably are), be forewarned, the cons of collecting that country are just that, "cons." Classic Aus is rife with altered, reperfed, and otherwise fraudulent practices. You will need good reference material and a sharp eye to navigate that minefield.
OK needing some educating here LOL - what are "drop bears"???? The only thing I can find on the internet are carniverous koalas (LMBO!!) urban legends, but nothing related to philately.
Thanks for the answer!
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"Just one more small collection, hun, really! LoL "
Appreciate the heads up on the nefarious practices regarding classic Australia stamps. I did just purchase an Australian DAVO album to cover 1913 - 1966, but will practice as much due diligence as I can before getting carried away with purchases. I collect "used" before 1940 so hopefully that will take care of at least some of the problems. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
I love them Drop Bears! Fraudulent creatures? I wonder. I'm wearing a pointy hat just in case.
"OK needing some educating here LOL - what are "drop bears"???? The only thing I can find on the internet are carniverous koalas (LMBO!!) urban legends, but nothing related to philately. "
Beats me !!
There are no bears native to OZ or in the wild here.... So "Drop Bear" must be a nickname or a figment of someones overactive imagination.
Thank you Steve. I will indeed check on StampoRama first. Have had good luck purchasing Great Britain stamps here as well.
As far as Drop Bears: seems to be a hoax some people play on tourists for amusement. Do a search on Google for Drop Bear, and select "images" and you will find some entertaining "evil Australian bear" images.
No really, drop bears are for real, here is an extract from a well respected author.
....
The Drop-bear….dropped. It was a close relative of the Koala, although this doesn’t mean much. After all, the closest relative of the common elephant is about the size and shape of a rabbit. The drop-bear’s most notable feature was its posterior, thick and heavily padded to provide the maximum shock to the victim with the minimum shock to the bear. The initial blow rendered the prey unconscious, and then the bears could gather round to feed. It was a magnificent method of killing, since in other respects the bears were not very well built to be serious predators, and it was unfortunate for this bear that it chose, on this night, to drop on a man who might well have had “victim†written all over him but also had “Wizzard†written on his hat, and that this hat most significantly, came to a point.
Extracted from The last Continent written by Terry Pratchett (RIP)
So it must be true cos I read it in a book and not one like what i wrote.
Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy.. 17 Mar 2016 08:53:00am
re: Drop Bears?
I see, first cousin to a jackalope.
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