After lurking for a while, I’d like to introduce myself. My name is Dave Parsons and I currently split my time between Truckee, CA (near Lake Tahoe) and La Quinta, CA (near Palm Springs). My stamp collecting history appears to be similar to many of those posting here. I collected stamps as a kid in the late 50’s with my Dad. This early hobby gave me a great understanding of geography, and has carried over to my interest in travel. After moving from Kentucky to Maryland in 1960, I went over to the dark side (coin collecting) as that was what my friends were doing. This lasted for a few years before college, USAF, marriage, job, kids, etc. etc. got in the way, during which time all collecting came to a standstill.
Now I’m retired with a little more time- and it seems like little time!- on my hands. So, I’ve been combining my little collection with my Dad’s collection which I inherited, along with a collection he bought prior to his passing, and with my wife’s minor collection. There is lots of organizing work to be done in this regard. Right now I’m concentrating on the U.S. issues, and it’s really hard to fathom that box of worldwide stamps in various envelopes.
For now the concentration is on organizing stamps and then filling in some of those spaces of the Classic U.S. Right now I’m missing 75 of these (excluding the really high value stamps) but most of these have CV’s over $500. After that I’ll be delving into British, Swiss, and Canadian issues.
Lately I’ve been seeing red, or carmine. I have about 1700 of the 1894-7 2c Washingtons in the 249, 250, 267, 279B category. Looking there for the less common varieties and higher quality stamps. Found several 248’s, definite pink, in the group of 249’s. This exercise is providing a good lesson in stamp identification as I get back into the hobby. Sure is hard to differentiate dark carmine from a faded carmine lake! After reading several posts on SOR, I set up several stamps of known “red†shades as a reference for comparison and this really helps.
I’d like to thank all of you for your informative posts. Your thoughts and ideas are very helpful to the aspiring collector. Since I am not near any local stamp clubs, this online format is very welcome!
They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin 31 Jan 2014 06:44:15am
re: Greetings from the Left Coast
Welcome, David. Enjoy yourself. If you are interested in colors and shades in general (not confined to US issues alone), a good place to start would be the posts by Rhinelander HERE.
Bobby
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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. -Edmund Burke"
Welcome David, and once you get to the point of knowing what you have and what you need you'll find folks here who are very willing to share/trade/sell/buy. No rush, just enjoy the overall collecting that your many separate collections speak to, and perhaps incorporate them to become an heirloom to pass on to your heirs.
The great value is in the connection to all those through whom the collection has passes, along with the stories and history they bring to mind.Nothing you didn't already know-but somehow I thought it worth saying.
Welcome again, and know that you are among friends.
Best,
Dan C.
To error is human -to really fowl things up takes a computer 31 Jan 2014 09:18:47pm
re: Greetings from the Left Coast
Welcome David,
I your area well some of my old stomping grounds- Reno, Lake Tahoe, Carson City then more recently Apple Valley CA- now back in Chicago.
Ross