Now that I am retired, I have plenty of time to work on organizing my worldwide stamp collection. I first got interested in stamp collecting back in the mid-1970s and specialized in a few countries such as Germany and Austria. I only became interested in collecting worldwide about 20 years ago, but my job kept me from spending a lot of time with my stamps. But it did not stop me from purchasing individual stamps or sets of stamps, country collections, worldwide collections, accumulations (hoards) and kiloware that caught my fancy, with all this material for the most part just packed away waiting for my retirement years. Now that I do have the time to spend with all of my accumulated treasure, I realize that I have more than I will ever be able to deal with in my lifetime.
I could sell the excess off online, and some of it will eventually be sold, but that involves a lot of effort and time. And some of the stuff that shows up in accumulations (hoards) is just weird to the point that I wouldn't know how to sell it and believe that nobody would be interested in paying for it. As a case in point, look at the following cover (front and back):
There is a $25 coin (or at least a proof of a coin) incorporated into this cover. You could never mount it in an ordinary album as that coin is big and it is heavy (over two ounces in weight). So what do I do with this thing? And the bigger problem is that not just one of these appeared in this particular accumulation, there was a whole range of coin-containing covers from different countries.
So in pondering what to do with this cover and all of the other material that I either don't want for my collection or that I will never get a chance to properly categorize and organize, I thought of having a potlatch. If you want a detailed explanation of what a potlatch is, Google the term. A very short description would be a big give-away of stuff to others with no payment expected in return. Sorry, no feast will be involved as with a traditional potlatch.
So from now on, when I come across material that I don't have a use for or where I have numerous duplicates, I will just send it off to whoever I believe might have a use for it. Do I care whether the person receiving the item will revere it, be mildly appreciative of it or just throw it in the trash as soon as received? Not at all. Actually, if truly following the tradition of the potlatch, they would eventually forward this item on to someone else (sort of like the proverbial "hot potato"). Please just don't send it back to me.
Who will receive these treasures from me? Whoever I think might find an interest in them. When Bermuda is mentioned, who is the first person here at StampoRama that comes to mind? So when this cover get packaged up with plenty of bubble-wrap and sent on, it will end up in Theresa's mailbox. Lemaven was just asking what kiloware consists of, so he is going to get a representative sample of kiloware from my hoard. These two individuals got a warning of what is headed their way; in most cases no warning will be given, you will just get a surprise in the mail.
I intend to have a lot of fun with this. I hope that everyone else also sees the humor in this and that no one gets upset when something shows up unannounced. If you have no interest in what you receive, just toss it like other "junk mail". So be careful what you post here in the Discussion Board; anything you say could give me an idea of where to send the next package.
PS: I have oodles of mint USA postage stamps that have accumulated over the years, so the cost of the stamps needed to send this material out is of no concern to me. So do not worry about any expense on my part.
Or you could buy some Bermuda stamps from Bermuda Post and pay them with their own coin. Their dollar values are on a par with US dollars, in fact almost every store, pub, etc, you shop at while there has both US and Bermuda money in their tills and if you had them US bills, they return US bills in change. Hand them Bermuda bills and get Bermuda money back, it's just something they automatically do over there.
Mike
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"It's been three years now, since I joined a support group for procrastinators. We haven't met yet..."
30+ year member APS; member of ATA, ISWSC, ATA, PSS, MSS, PMCC, FDCS 02 Sep 2016 12:12:04am
re: Let the Potlatch Begin
A proof coin is a real coin. It differs from the coins in general circulation in that it is struck twice on a specially polished blank to give the coin perfectly raised rims and a brilliant surface. In recent years the coin is struck in such a way as to give the raised portions a matte finish which stand out sharply against the mirror-like background.
These coins are all intended for collectors but may end up in circulation, often fron stolen collections.
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"Never take yourself too seroiusly... that way you won't be too disappointed when noboby esle does either."
I just googled this coin and saw the "Canadian Coin and Currency"
has this cover/coin listed as "Bermuda 1975 $25 Silver Proof Coin - Royal Visit Commemorative" with a price of $99.95.
Another site listed
Metal - Silver (.925) (sterling Silver)
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). 03 Sep 2016 04:29:16pm
re: Let the Potlatch Begin
Gee, at that price, we all should get one!
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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!!"
The truth is within and only you can reveal it 04 Sep 2016 01:04:44am
re: Let the Potlatch Begin
These type of coins especially if proof can be sold to collectors for a bit over the going price of Silver. Regular non proof coins will sell for close to the value of the day times the % of silver content of the metal. The content of silver in coinage varies from country to country. For newer coins the coin is likely not worth any more than the silver it contains. Older coins and certain dates may have more collector value. Ebay is o.k. to sell them on or you can simply take them down to the local pawn shop where you're likely to get just as much. There are also fakes where the coins are just silver plated and have no value. The price of silver right now is just at $19.50 per oz. They're also nice to keep in your piggy bank.
Hey Richard, just received my potlatch. Youre awesome my friend; I applaud your generosity and thoughtfulness.
Beautiful cover by the way. What you sent me arrived in pristine condition. It has secured it's rightful place in my 50 states modern cover collection. I didn't have Oklahoma. Oklahoma is OK!
Thanks again Richard. Hope you have a great weekend.
Do you have many stamps from Mexico in your "Shocking and Weird" topical collection? I was paging through an album that I need to break down and came across a few Mexican stamps that might be of interest to you. They center on either the themes of anti-smoking, illegal drugs or All Souls' Day (Day of the Dead). The last one produced a number of interesting stamps that will fit your topic perfectly.
The stamps that I found in this album will stay in my own world-wide collection, but thought that this might give you another area in which to search. If I do come across any duplicates, they will be sent your way.
Also, do you receive the APS journal "The American Philatelist"? There is a nice article in the September issue on stamps depicting horror and Halloween. A number of the Mexican Day of the Dead stamps are pictured.
Hey Richard,
Yes....well aware of that great anti smoking stamp from Mexico. There's actually several somewhat similar stamps from other countries. Some stamps are hard to get as used or even mint singles, unless your willing to buy a mint book plus $7-$8 shipping. It's all good. That's what makes it fun when you can finally grab on your own terms. That's the fun of collecting.
Wow!! I almost fainted when I opened the envelope! Wow! Thank you so much for the gorgeous Bermuda cover and coin! How extremely generous! It will have a place of honor in my Bermuda collection. Thank you soooooooooo much Richard!
I've had a few folks mention that maybe I was being too generous with a few of my giveaways - but gosh - you see what happens with a bunch of great folks like we have in this club? Some day someone will do something fabulous for you, too! So - keep paying it forward. The feeling of giving something totally free just for fun is just the best feeling in the world - almost as wonderful as getting such an awesome surprise!
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"Just one more small collection, hun, really! LoL "
Hey, Hey, Hey! I've been POTLATCHED!
Got the package in the mail yesterday. Not only was the contents great, but the imperf stamps on the outside are AWESOME. Going to remove them and place in my album tonight!
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). 23 Sep 2016 07:25:41pm
re: Let the Potlatch Begin
Wow - awesome surprise! I was speechless
The cover is in beautiful condition.
The surprise inside? Wow!!!
Thank you!!!
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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!!"
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). 23 Sep 2016 11:04:18pm
re: Let the Potlatch Begin
I love getting surprises in my post box (even when it's something I bought through the Approvals and forgotten about).
Thank goodness my neighbours are used to me talking to myself at the post box (although I always have Dayton with me so I tend to talk to him).
Whenever I get something that is obviously from a fellow stamp collector but I don't recognise the address or even when I do (if not expecting anything), I'll be sitting there talking to Dayton - "wow, there's something here - what is it? who is it from? what could be inside?" If it's an envelope I don't open it until I get upstairs to get the straight edge of my tongs to open it (when you don't have a letter opener, straight tongs work great!) So all the way to and up the elevator and down the hall I have a puzzled look on my face and jabbering away at the size of the envelope and what could be inside.
Seriously - I'm glad my neighbours already know I'm nuts!
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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!!"