They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin 22 Jan 2014 09:35:13pm
re: correct category
The Republic of the Maldives is officially part of Asia, so you could put it there.
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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke"
My thinking may be off, but the way I would use only one available category for British Commonwealth items is also to consider the time period that the country was a colony or territory or protectorate. Thus Hong Kong would still be placed under British Commonwealth up through 1997, and under Asia afterwards. Similarly with the Maldives; there was a period when they declined membership in the Commonwealth, then joined in 1982.
The key, to me, is to use the category where collectors of that period would look; I'm more likely to look at British Commonwealth stamps than Asia for Hong Kong items, for example.
Thanks for that tidbit about the Maldives rejoining the Commonwealth, Peter. I did not know that!
Maldives was one, but I've frequently struggled with others, especially post-1960 Cyprus. "Eastern Europe" or even "Middle East". Now I see British Commonwealth could apply there still as well. Well, without consideration for disputed territories.
Retired Ap. Book Mod, Pres Golden Gate Stamp Club, Hi Tech Consultant 25 Jan 2014 01:47:21pm
re: correct category
I find that colony is the determining measure for me. A country that is no longer a colony, or territory belongs (by my definition) in its own region. Commonwealth should not apply, or you would list Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa under British Related.
Independent states of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia etc...don't belong under French, but under Africa. I don't think it is a good idea to lump independent states with their former "masters". When a former colonial country becomes independent, it should be dropped from the affiliation with the former colonial empire. Otherwise, why would you limit it to commonwealth? Why not include free trade zone? political Blocks (think former USSR countries) or some other affiliation.
Just my view point, but as it relates to the Maldives, I would never think of looking elsewhere than under Asia.
rrr...
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"E. Rutherford: All science is either physics or stamp collecting."
The issue of "enough" specificity in categories will plague all selling sites; there is never enough specificity, and almost impossible (at least impractical) to do so. Therefore we have to use the best available category as sellers and as buyers. Sometimes, that's easy; Macao, for example, is clearly Asia, but maybe it would be wise to search under Portugal too.
However, a challenge would be where you would look for Canada or Australia if they didn't have their own categories. Interestingly, the stamp categories used at eBay, bidStart, and here don't have an adequate "mother" category for these countries (e.g., "Americas" or "Oceania") ... other than British Commonwealth, of course.
Peter
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"TO ERR IS HUMAN; TO FORGIVE, CANINE."
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