Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
When my daughter got married, they said that I wasn't losing a daughter ... I was gaining a son. Well, this feels like losing a 60 year collection, and gaining nothing but a great big void.
Using a spreadsheet of my collection of over 460 pre-1920 stamps, I determined that 8% (52 stamps)had a Catalog Value of slightly more then 55% of the total Cat Val !
Edited to remove portion of post in violation of Rule #2 of the Discussion Rules relating to advertising/self promotion - Bobby Barnhart, DB Moderator
(Modified by Moderator on 2015-05-22 18:19:39)
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Nice job in laying them out, Carl. Best of luck in the merchandising.
Dan C.
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Some beautiful stamps there Carl. I can sense the sadness of letting them go. Do something fun with the proceeds!
-Ernie
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Hi Carl;
I share your loss as I have collected for a lifetime too.
Why not start a new collection of less expensive material from a nation you have never collected before.
Take the proceeds from your sale and visit that nation as a tourist and learn some of the history from the
folks that lived that history....and then start a collection to honor them and their struggles....
Keep in touch and keep us posted on that adventure too.
Just reflectin'....
TuskenRaider
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TuskenRaider:
Sounds like a plan. Iran makes some pretty awesome stamps. LOL.
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Carl's post is certainly one of the most poignant I've ever read in my long association with Stamporama. I wish him the best in his efforts to divest himself of his collection, but I just couldn't do that.
The thought of giving up my collection at this time (I'm 72) just appals me! Stamps and postal history are the focus of my life every day of the year, and I decided some time ago that if I am gone before my wife (I'm not saying where I'll be going), she should just toss my albums, stock books, boxes, etc. into a couple or three large boxes and ship them to a stamp dealer to dispose of. My wife knows about this, and agrees.
I don't believe that we have any obligation to deny ourselves our pleasures, as long as we are physically and mentally capable to of enjoying them. And I don't think that our spouses and children would even think of denying those please to us; at least I hope that is the case!
I once had a good friend, retired, who had learned to fly shortly before retirement and in retirement was operating a successful bush flying business here in British Columbia. And he had other interests as well — no grass grew under his feet! He once visited me and brought along a friend, a former colleague, also retired. That man did nothing but complain about how bored he was! He had no hobbies, few responsibilities, and apparently no interest in anything. He might as well have been buried in the ground, which certainly would have been no less interesting than his life as a "living" person!
To my mind, one of the best things about about philately is that it can be enjoyed long past the time when other pursuits are no longer possible. Osteoarthritis killed my ability to ski and hike and canoe, and photography didn't mean much when I could no longer operate my photo studio because of other physical problems. But I can still sit at my desk and do "stamp things," which include looking forward to tomorrow or the next day when I just might find that stamp that I've been looking for…for forever!
Bob
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To bob: but yeah, he said it was time to sell so it's time to sell
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No need to tell about this one and that one who did this or that. He feels likes it's time to let go. No need to make him feel bad about stories about people who collected until whatever
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I respect Carl's decision to dispose of his collection.
Yet, I was glad to read Bob's different perspective on how it can be that you don't have to do that. Having read both perspectives, I feel I would like to adopt Bob's and enjoy my collection for as long as I can, leaving instructions for its simple disposal by my non-collecting heirs.
I'm 55 now. I'll try to remember to post on the subject again when I'm 72 and again when I'm 84....g
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Let people choose what they will and celebrate the choice!
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Carl, I would pick out a reputable dealer you can trust, and have a discussion with them about buying your collection from your estate after you pass on. Make sure your family has the information as to who to contact and the relative value to expect.
I'm 57 but lose peers of all ages in my hobbies, so this subject effects us all. You never know just when the grim reaper will call your name. I have not only my stamps, but my more valuable collections are my model cars and car memorabilia. My wife knows who to call, and who in my club would be able to assist.
I will be in the position of helping a widow dispose of a model car collection of a colleague who died last year, once she is ready. He was 51.
If indeed you have collecting areas that you no longer are interested in or work with, by all means dispose of that material. I will be doing the same with some of my collections. But if you enjoy your collection and view it regularly, don't take that pleasure away from your life!
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and when I typed the last post I was unaware that Carl already had set up an eBay Store. The moderators had cut out that link, I later found it in the email of his initial post.
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To improve my EBay store, I've been adding scans of the back of the stamps being offered.
I discovered an error in my listing of Scott #190, which I was offering for $250. The scan showed a grill pattern, and #190 doesn't have a grill. In fact, none of the similar Hamilton Bank Notes had a grill, according to my Kenmore catalog.
Eureka !!! A google search turned up power auctions of #143 ... Cat Val $20,000 !!!
I guess my next step is to get it certified by Bill Weiss ... unless someone here can bust my balloon.
Tried to upload images, but it's rejected because it reads "application.gif"
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Im rooting for you!!!! That would be a serious find.
Don
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Further to this topic, here's an interesting study on how elderly people choose to dispose of their "material convoy," the possessions they have accumulated over their lifetime.
It turns out that most of us prefer to keep all that stuff! My wife's maternal grandmother is a good example: When we went to Hastings, Nebraska in 1967 to clean out her house, we found such interesting items as canned wild duck dating from the Depression in her pantry. (We handled those cans carefully — they were swollen and looked ready to burst!) There was also a dresser drawer filled with loose snapshots, most of them without identification.
Bob
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I'm taking my collection with me. Sorry kids.
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Bob, when I bought my house in NJ back in 1988, we bought it from an elderly couple. They left a lot of collateral behind. Some of my favorites was a gallon glass jar completely full of soap bars that were too small to use anymore and two kitchen cabinets full of plastic butter tubs. There were 100s of them!
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Carl,
Would it be a violation of club rules to at least provide your eBay account name?
If that won't work, can you list a link to a single item in the "For Sale" section? If I can locate your ID, I can look over what you have for sale.
Lars
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Carl can enter the URL to his eBay store, if he has a store, as the "Home Page" in his member profile. The URL will appear at the bottom of each post he creates.
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Carl,
I strongly suggest that you look at everything you have listed as regummed and see if it doesn't look like used with a cleaned cancel. There is a big difference in price and I spotted 3 that seemed obvious right off the bat. There are also some very attractive items in your listings as well, so it's not all bad, but there are a few that might need a second look.
Lars
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Post a picture of the stamp you have a question about.
The "Catalog value if perfect" sounds a tad gimmicky.
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These look like cleaned cancels, and the regum makes me doubly suspicious:
Lars
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How would someone clean a cancel from the stamp without damaging the stamp itself?
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It depends on the difference between the ink the stamp is printed in and the ink the cancel is stamped in. Careful use of chemicals (and a solid dose of avarice) will work to good effect, though often there are still tell-tale signs visible to the observant philatelist.
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I would be careful using the term "unused" on many/some of these NG and OG? stamps (and ensuring the quoted CV is not the mint OG value).
The "scans" are sometimes not adequate to discern if the "toning" etc. is actually a cancel. On the other hand, some seem obvious: the #153 looks used to me. Possibly the #260.
I'm curious to see the front and back scan of the #190/143 with grill.
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The "toning", it's hard to tell from the pictures, could be gum overlapping the perfs. That would be a result of regumming. Perfs are supposed to be soft like the paper. Stiff perfs are an almost sure sign of regumming.
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Replying to several posts:
I entered the store url in the original post, but it was edited out because of a rule violation.
When I see gum on top of hinge remnants, I call it regummed.
If there is no gum, I suspect soaking in water to remove a hinge or remnants.
I've tried to show scans of the # 143, but I keep getting rejected with a message that "application.gif" is not acceptable. Yes, I tried "jpeg" and others, but more variations of the message. I have posted many other images in the past, so I'm confused. (Help!) Will try again at the end of this post. If no images, same problem.
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07:55:32am
Please note that Carl has taken Michael's advice and provided a link to the site you have all been begging for. It is in the proper and acceptable place at the bottom of all his posts.
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I've added a scan of the back of #143 at my store. It's in the logo spot, top left area.
It's quite small, but the best I can do right now.
The stamp will be mailed to Bill Weiss tomorrow, for certification and evaluation.
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Good luck, Carl! Let us know what Mr. Weiss says.
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Michael, I'll post a scan of the certificate as soon as I get thru celebrating. If it turns out to be a fake, my son-in-law will let you know exactly how I committed suicide.
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LOL but please!
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Still having trouble uploading my images, but thanks to Bobby, you can find images of my #143 at Club Business & Announcements - Test Msgs: List of Discussion Threads
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08:56:05pm
Here are Carl's scans:
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Blah! Got an Email from Bill Weiss. "Your stamp arrived. Unfortunately, it is a fake grill on #190 .... ".
Well, I guess you can't win them all ... but once in a while ? LOL ... on the outside.
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Sorry to hear that Carl!
This is a whole new side of stamps to me. The last time I seriously collected I was in my late teens in the 1970s! I didn't have enough money to buy stamps worth forging or altering! I guess I'll avoid 19th century stamps! And maybe send some of my Franklin rarities to an expert for an opinion.
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Sorry to hear that. So many fakes and altered stamps out there now.
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My being 84 years old is enough of a burden for my family. Disposing of my estate can be a daunting task for my heirs, so I've decided to sell my US stamp collection now. Trying to explain to my son-in-law the realities of the value of a stamp, and what it can be sold for, led to my decision.
When my daughter got married, they said that I wasn't losing a daughter ... I was gaining a son. Well, this feels like losing a 60 year collection, and gaining nothing but a great big void.
Using a spreadsheet of my collection of over 460 pre-1920 stamps, I determined that 8% (52 stamps)had a Catalog Value of slightly more then 55% of the total Cat Val !
Edited to remove portion of post in violation of Rule #2 of the Discussion Rules relating to advertising/self promotion - Bobby Barnhart, DB Moderator
(Modified by Moderator on 2015-05-22 18:19:39)
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Nice job in laying them out, Carl. Best of luck in the merchandising.
Dan C.
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04:10:15pm
re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Some beautiful stamps there Carl. I can sense the sadness of letting them go. Do something fun with the proceeds!
-Ernie
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Hi Carl;
I share your loss as I have collected for a lifetime too.
Why not start a new collection of less expensive material from a nation you have never collected before.
Take the proceeds from your sale and visit that nation as a tourist and learn some of the history from the
folks that lived that history....and then start a collection to honor them and their struggles....
Keep in touch and keep us posted on that adventure too.
Just reflectin'....
TuskenRaider
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
TuskenRaider:
Sounds like a plan. Iran makes some pretty awesome stamps. LOL.
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Carl's post is certainly one of the most poignant I've ever read in my long association with Stamporama. I wish him the best in his efforts to divest himself of his collection, but I just couldn't do that.
The thought of giving up my collection at this time (I'm 72) just appals me! Stamps and postal history are the focus of my life every day of the year, and I decided some time ago that if I am gone before my wife (I'm not saying where I'll be going), she should just toss my albums, stock books, boxes, etc. into a couple or three large boxes and ship them to a stamp dealer to dispose of. My wife knows about this, and agrees.
I don't believe that we have any obligation to deny ourselves our pleasures, as long as we are physically and mentally capable to of enjoying them. And I don't think that our spouses and children would even think of denying those please to us; at least I hope that is the case!
I once had a good friend, retired, who had learned to fly shortly before retirement and in retirement was operating a successful bush flying business here in British Columbia. And he had other interests as well — no grass grew under his feet! He once visited me and brought along a friend, a former colleague, also retired. That man did nothing but complain about how bored he was! He had no hobbies, few responsibilities, and apparently no interest in anything. He might as well have been buried in the ground, which certainly would have been no less interesting than his life as a "living" person!
To my mind, one of the best things about about philately is that it can be enjoyed long past the time when other pursuits are no longer possible. Osteoarthritis killed my ability to ski and hike and canoe, and photography didn't mean much when I could no longer operate my photo studio because of other physical problems. But I can still sit at my desk and do "stamp things," which include looking forward to tomorrow or the next day when I just might find that stamp that I've been looking for…for forever!
Bob
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07:34:02pm
re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
To bob: but yeah, he said it was time to sell so it's time to sell
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07:50:24pm
re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
No need to tell about this one and that one who did this or that. He feels likes it's time to let go. No need to make him feel bad about stories about people who collected until whatever
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09:02:53pm
re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
I respect Carl's decision to dispose of his collection.
Yet, I was glad to read Bob's different perspective on how it can be that you don't have to do that. Having read both perspectives, I feel I would like to adopt Bob's and enjoy my collection for as long as I can, leaving instructions for its simple disposal by my non-collecting heirs.
I'm 55 now. I'll try to remember to post on the subject again when I'm 72 and again when I'm 84....g
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09:08:02pm
re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Let people choose what they will and celebrate the choice!
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Carl, I would pick out a reputable dealer you can trust, and have a discussion with them about buying your collection from your estate after you pass on. Make sure your family has the information as to who to contact and the relative value to expect.
I'm 57 but lose peers of all ages in my hobbies, so this subject effects us all. You never know just when the grim reaper will call your name. I have not only my stamps, but my more valuable collections are my model cars and car memorabilia. My wife knows who to call, and who in my club would be able to assist.
I will be in the position of helping a widow dispose of a model car collection of a colleague who died last year, once she is ready. He was 51.
If indeed you have collecting areas that you no longer are interested in or work with, by all means dispose of that material. I will be doing the same with some of my collections. But if you enjoy your collection and view it regularly, don't take that pleasure away from your life!
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
and when I typed the last post I was unaware that Carl already had set up an eBay Store. The moderators had cut out that link, I later found it in the email of his initial post.
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
To improve my EBay store, I've been adding scans of the back of the stamps being offered.
I discovered an error in my listing of Scott #190, which I was offering for $250. The scan showed a grill pattern, and #190 doesn't have a grill. In fact, none of the similar Hamilton Bank Notes had a grill, according to my Kenmore catalog.
Eureka !!! A google search turned up power auctions of #143 ... Cat Val $20,000 !!!
I guess my next step is to get it certified by Bill Weiss ... unless someone here can bust my balloon.
Tried to upload images, but it's rejected because it reads "application.gif"
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Im rooting for you!!!! That would be a serious find.
Don
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Further to this topic, here's an interesting study on how elderly people choose to dispose of their "material convoy," the possessions they have accumulated over their lifetime.
It turns out that most of us prefer to keep all that stuff! My wife's maternal grandmother is a good example: When we went to Hastings, Nebraska in 1967 to clean out her house, we found such interesting items as canned wild duck dating from the Depression in her pantry. (We handled those cans carefully — they were swollen and looked ready to burst!) There was also a dresser drawer filled with loose snapshots, most of them without identification.
Bob
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
I'm taking my collection with me. Sorry kids.
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Bob, when I bought my house in NJ back in 1988, we bought it from an elderly couple. They left a lot of collateral behind. Some of my favorites was a gallon glass jar completely full of soap bars that were too small to use anymore and two kitchen cabinets full of plastic butter tubs. There were 100s of them!
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Carl,
Would it be a violation of club rules to at least provide your eBay account name?
If that won't work, can you list a link to a single item in the "For Sale" section? If I can locate your ID, I can look over what you have for sale.
Lars
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12:26:01am
re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Carl can enter the URL to his eBay store, if he has a store, as the "Home Page" in his member profile. The URL will appear at the bottom of each post he creates.
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Carl,
I strongly suggest that you look at everything you have listed as regummed and see if it doesn't look like used with a cleaned cancel. There is a big difference in price and I spotted 3 that seemed obvious right off the bat. There are also some very attractive items in your listings as well, so it's not all bad, but there are a few that might need a second look.
Lars
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Post a picture of the stamp you have a question about.
The "Catalog value if perfect" sounds a tad gimmicky.
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
These look like cleaned cancels, and the regum makes me doubly suspicious:
Lars
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
How would someone clean a cancel from the stamp without damaging the stamp itself?
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
It depends on the difference between the ink the stamp is printed in and the ink the cancel is stamped in. Careful use of chemicals (and a solid dose of avarice) will work to good effect, though often there are still tell-tale signs visible to the observant philatelist.
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
I would be careful using the term "unused" on many/some of these NG and OG? stamps (and ensuring the quoted CV is not the mint OG value).
The "scans" are sometimes not adequate to discern if the "toning" etc. is actually a cancel. On the other hand, some seem obvious: the #153 looks used to me. Possibly the #260.
I'm curious to see the front and back scan of the #190/143 with grill.
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06:47:22pm
re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
The "toning", it's hard to tell from the pictures, could be gum overlapping the perfs. That would be a result of regumming. Perfs are supposed to be soft like the paper. Stiff perfs are an almost sure sign of regumming.
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Replying to several posts:
I entered the store url in the original post, but it was edited out because of a rule violation.
When I see gum on top of hinge remnants, I call it regummed.
If there is no gum, I suspect soaking in water to remove a hinge or remnants.
I've tried to show scans of the # 143, but I keep getting rejected with a message that "application.gif" is not acceptable. Yes, I tried "jpeg" and others, but more variations of the message. I have posted many other images in the past, so I'm confused. (Help!) Will try again at the end of this post. If no images, same problem.
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
31 May 2015
07:55:32am
re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Please note that Carl has taken Michael's advice and provided a link to the site you have all been begging for. It is in the proper and acceptable place at the bottom of all his posts.
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
I've added a scan of the back of #143 at my store. It's in the logo spot, top left area.
It's quite small, but the best I can do right now.
The stamp will be mailed to Bill Weiss tomorrow, for certification and evaluation.
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01:47:41pm
re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Good luck, Carl! Let us know what Mr. Weiss says.
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Michael, I'll post a scan of the certificate as soon as I get thru celebrating. If it turns out to be a fake, my son-in-law will let you know exactly how I committed suicide.
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03:20:18pm
re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
LOL but please!
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Still having trouble uploading my images, but thanks to Bobby, you can find images of my #143 at Club Business & Announcements - Test Msgs: List of Discussion Threads
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
31 May 2015
08:56:05pm
re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Here are Carl's scans:
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Blah! Got an Email from Bill Weiss. "Your stamp arrived. Unfortunately, it is a fake grill on #190 .... ".
Well, I guess you can't win them all ... but once in a while ? LOL ... on the outside.
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re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Sorry to hear that Carl!
This is a whole new side of stamps to me. The last time I seriously collected I was in my late teens in the 1970s! I didn't have enough money to buy stamps worth forging or altering! I guess I'll avoid 19th century stamps! And maybe send some of my Franklin rarities to an expert for an opinion.
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12:31:39am
re: Sadly, I'm disposing of my US stamp collection
Sorry to hear that. So many fakes and altered stamps out there now.
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