Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
10:41:16am
In an effort to stimulate the writing of informative and factual "mini-articles" on the Discussion Board I am launching a new competition.
Rules are very simple.
1) Entrants post an informative article to the Discussion Board. Something they think that other collectors can benefit from. I have in mind articles such as these:
Great Britain Penny Reds : A short tutorial
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=5743#34234
A short tutorial on Great Britain Seahorse issues
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=5712#33957
The level of detail is entirely up to you. The "likes" will decide who gets the prize!
2) After posting their article (under its own title, not here!) entrants then come back to this thread and post the title, an optional subtitle and a link back to their article, just like this:
Great Britain Penny Reds : A short tutorial
Finally, learn how to tell those pesky Victoria's apart!
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=5743#34234
3) In order to be eligible, the link must be posted to this page, or I won't necessarily know about the article. At the close of the competition, I will view all the article links in this thread and tally the "likes".
4) Competition will close Sunday June 12. That will allow about a week to write articles and another week for viewing and accumulating "likes".
Selection of the "Winner" and Prize
1) We are all winners by being able to see and share all the articles to come, but at the end of the voting period the "most popular" exhibit will be awarded a US$10 gift certificate (with free shipping) to be used on their choice of BuckaCover.com (http://www.buckacover.com) or Discount Stamp Shop (http://www.discountstampshop.com)
2) Voting for "Most Popular" article will be through use of the "Like" button. Voters may cast a vote at any time. "Likes" will be tallied at the end of the contest period.
3) Voting will close at noon EDT (1600 UTC) Sunday June 12.
4) The article with the most "likes" at that time will win the gift certificate. In the event of tie(s), I'll think something up!
5) If I left anything out, please let me know.
Do you have an idea for an article you would like to see, but can't write it yourself?
Post it here! Maybe someone will pick it up and write about it. For example,
"How do I tell the difference between US Scott #10 and #11?" (picked this idea up from another thread.)
What are British Colonial "key plate" issues?
How do I tell the difference between "lithographed" and "engraved"?
Given the discussions about optimizing scanning, create a You Tube video on cropping and resizing scans using IRfanview and post the link to it.
Some people have trouble posting links on the DB - but it's really easy when you know what buttons to push -- create a YouTube video showing the sequence of creating a link!
Your ideas?
Roy
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Is there any way we could submit them anonymously? Human nature is to give more credit to those we perceive as authorities and to vote for one's friends. How about if we send entries to you and you post them without the author's name? Wouldn't that add a level of suspense and surprise?
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A great idea, Roy, but I won't have time to participate. Too many other obligations this time of the year.
A question:
Would more members be likely to participate if they were given a longer time frame for preparing their articles, particularly those members who don't have a great deal of writing experience or experience putting together the graphics and tables that may be an important part of some articles?
I look forward to seeing what SoR members produce!
And thanks, Roy, for the links to the examples. Those are threads I had never seen! Maybe we need to find a way to make that type of informative post more readily accessible/searchable at SoR? Maybe there is the kernel of an idea for an article in that question!!!!
Tom
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12:58:56pm
"Would more members be likely to participate if they were given a longer time frame for preparing their articles, particularly those members who don't have a great deal of writing experience or experience putting together the graphics and tables that may be an important part of some articles?"
Well, the opportunity to participate (in the sense of adding to the knowledge base within the Stamporama Discussion Board) is always there. However, for the purposes of getting things kick-started via a competition, I figured some sort of reasonably short time frame was required to keep the voters' interest in the competition. I'd be happy to make it a month. If the general consensus is that is not TOO long, I'd be happy to double the prize.
My hope is that a spurt of such articles might encourage our "writers" among the membership to continue to contribute, regardless of any competition.
"And thanks, Roy, for the links to the examples. Those are threads I had never seen! Maybe we need to find a way to make that type of informative post more readily accessible/searchable at SoR? Maybe there is the kernel of an idea for an article in that question!!!!"
See my new post "Index to Informative Articles - Volunteer needed" for more on this good idea.
Roy
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Roy, I hadn't seen the "drift" thread when I saw and responded to your contest thread! I was missing the context when I wrote those comments and questions. In that context, your time frame makes perfect sense!
I'll look for the new post!
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Here we go:
Netherlands International Court of Justice overprints - How to spot fakes?
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14747#110289
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Here's a link to my mini article;
Post War Japan Overprinted for Usage in the Ryukyu Islands - How to identify
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14749#110297
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A second one, from my archives:
Type variations of Australian Stamps - Pre decimal issues
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14758#110393
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10:10:18am
More competitors needed!
Who wants to write an article about Canadian varieties of the 1930s? i.e. the cock-eyed King, broken X, Mountie with the broken leg, Man in the mast, extended moustache, missing spire, scar on the cheek ...
How about an article about collecting US FDC's by picking one favourite issue and collecting all cachets? #855 Baseball, Iwo Jima are favourites for that. I'm partial to some of the issues of the mid-1960s ... Battle of New Orleans, Carolina Charter etc. Show us what can be done.
Write whatever you know about!
And don't forget to vote on the current entries.
Roy
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Let's see some more entries, folks! Jan-Simon and I are feeling kinda lonely here. LOL!
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Fear not Theresa, you are not alone!
He is my little effort on how to float off stamp blocks.
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14849
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OK, I revisited my article on the USS Texas, https://stamporama.com/articles/display_article.php?id=RAAEy6qg1GAMY, and still think it a nice piece of writing. Interestingly, I bought it for the Christmas seal, but since there are so few seal collectors here, I concentrated on the ship.
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AND, I still get a kick out of the misdirected Omaha Home for Boys Cover about which I wrote. Automation allowed the machines to read the selvege of some seals as the intended address, ignoring the larger manuscript address that dominates most of the rest of the cover. Doug Cass, if you're still here on SOR, I should get at least one like on this one.
https://stamporama.com/articles/display_article.php?id=RA.adEBhupRVw
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Another article, How to hinge stamps.
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14855#111133
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Hermes on stamps, and misrepresentations of his Caduceus.
Asclepius or Caduceus? Where did we go wrong?
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14850#111096
Eric
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09:41:11am
Last chance to vote! I will tally the "likes" on each article at noon June 12 (EDT).
Please vote by "Liking" the original article (not here).
Roy
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pity i used the articles link, as they cannot be liked. oh well, hope folks enjoyed them even if they didn't like them.
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09:01:22am
And the winner is (by a runaway!)
philatelia
for her article:
Post War Japan Overprinted for Usage in the Ryukyu Islands - How to identify
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14749#110297
A link to her prize has been sent privately, but here is what she won:
Congratulations for a well-received article!
Roy
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Wow 
- THANK YOU Roy and thanks all for the votes, everyone! I'm really delighted that so many of you liked my little article. The biggest thank you needs to go to all of the other members who submitted articles. I really enjoyed reading them - damichab's soaking tip was a jewel and I knew nothing about those early aussie varieties Jan-Simon explored. So in the end, the real winner is ALL OF US!
These mini articles were just the tip of the iceberg of the incredible range and depth of philatelic knowledge held by our members. Let's keep the articles coming, folks!
OK, enough blather - LOL- time to go cover shopping!!!!!!
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Congratulations Theresa, it has been fun. I like the discussions following all the articles too.
I have been a bit busy the last couple of days (beautiful weather here, doing some work in the backyard while I can), but want to do some hinging tests then follow up some comments in my second article. Once again, the comments were better than my article! Will get to that in about a week or so.
I also have a scrip ready for an article on MS Publisher and how to use it to create custom pages, but I have found that reading it and following with actions at the same time harder than I thought it would be. I will get my son to help me with that one - the young kids these days seem good at that sort of thing.
And in the back of my mind I have an idea for an article on Australia's iconic first stamp, the kangaroo series and the furore they caused. I came across quite a few interesting newspaper articles on them when researching for my album pages. I did not save all of them, but it would not be hard finding them again.
...so much to do, so little time!
Cheers to all,
David
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Grats to Theresa!
Damichab,
I love stamps that create furores.
Was just reading about the first stamps of King George V's reign in 1911. People hated the lion below the portrait of the King on the 1 penny stamp. The feeling was that the lion looked too skinny, and was therefore an affront to imperial sentiment. The lion was fattened up in a 1912 issue.
Look forward to your work on the Kangaroo Map stamps.
Eric
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Congrats Theresa!
@ Damichab,
I think a lion with that lean and hungry look might get a little more respect! 
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Does the article need to be newly written? I have a couple of articles in the articles section I would like to enter. 
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I haven't kept up with all the posts in a timely manner. A belated "Congratulations," Theresa, on your award-winning article.
Ted
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"I think a lion with that lean and hungry look might get a little more respect!"
I have changed my profile pic to a friendlier, more approachable me one! Better?
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Congrats, Theresa!! 
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
28 May 2016
10:41:16am
In an effort to stimulate the writing of informative and factual "mini-articles" on the Discussion Board I am launching a new competition.
Rules are very simple.
1) Entrants post an informative article to the Discussion Board. Something they think that other collectors can benefit from. I have in mind articles such as these:
Great Britain Penny Reds : A short tutorial
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=5743#34234
A short tutorial on Great Britain Seahorse issues
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=5712#33957
The level of detail is entirely up to you. The "likes" will decide who gets the prize!
2) After posting their article (under its own title, not here!) entrants then come back to this thread and post the title, an optional subtitle and a link back to their article, just like this:
Great Britain Penny Reds : A short tutorial
Finally, learn how to tell those pesky Victoria's apart!
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=5743#34234
3) In order to be eligible, the link must be posted to this page, or I won't necessarily know about the article. At the close of the competition, I will view all the article links in this thread and tally the "likes".
4) Competition will close Sunday June 12. That will allow about a week to write articles and another week for viewing and accumulating "likes".
Selection of the "Winner" and Prize
1) We are all winners by being able to see and share all the articles to come, but at the end of the voting period the "most popular" exhibit will be awarded a US$10 gift certificate (with free shipping) to be used on their choice of BuckaCover.com (http://www.buckacover.com) or Discount Stamp Shop (http://www.discountstampshop.com)
2) Voting for "Most Popular" article will be through use of the "Like" button. Voters may cast a vote at any time. "Likes" will be tallied at the end of the contest period.
3) Voting will close at noon EDT (1600 UTC) Sunday June 12.
4) The article with the most "likes" at that time will win the gift certificate. In the event of tie(s), I'll think something up!
5) If I left anything out, please let me know.
Do you have an idea for an article you would like to see, but can't write it yourself?
Post it here! Maybe someone will pick it up and write about it. For example,
"How do I tell the difference between US Scott #10 and #11?" (picked this idea up from another thread.)
What are British Colonial "key plate" issues?
How do I tell the difference between "lithographed" and "engraved"?
Given the discussions about optimizing scanning, create a You Tube video on cropping and resizing scans using IRfanview and post the link to it.
Some people have trouble posting links on the DB - but it's really easy when you know what buttons to push -- create a YouTube video showing the sequence of creating a link!
Your ideas?
Roy
4 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
Is there any way we could submit them anonymously? Human nature is to give more credit to those we perceive as authorities and to vote for one's friends. How about if we send entries to you and you post them without the author's name? Wouldn't that add a level of suspense and surprise?
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
A great idea, Roy, but I won't have time to participate. Too many other obligations this time of the year.
A question:
Would more members be likely to participate if they were given a longer time frame for preparing their articles, particularly those members who don't have a great deal of writing experience or experience putting together the graphics and tables that may be an important part of some articles?
I look forward to seeing what SoR members produce!
And thanks, Roy, for the links to the examples. Those are threads I had never seen! Maybe we need to find a way to make that type of informative post more readily accessible/searchable at SoR? Maybe there is the kernel of an idea for an article in that question!!!!
Tom
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
28 May 2016
12:58:56pm
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
"Would more members be likely to participate if they were given a longer time frame for preparing their articles, particularly those members who don't have a great deal of writing experience or experience putting together the graphics and tables that may be an important part of some articles?"
Well, the opportunity to participate (in the sense of adding to the knowledge base within the Stamporama Discussion Board) is always there. However, for the purposes of getting things kick-started via a competition, I figured some sort of reasonably short time frame was required to keep the voters' interest in the competition. I'd be happy to make it a month. If the general consensus is that is not TOO long, I'd be happy to double the prize.
My hope is that a spurt of such articles might encourage our "writers" among the membership to continue to contribute, regardless of any competition.
"And thanks, Roy, for the links to the examples. Those are threads I had never seen! Maybe we need to find a way to make that type of informative post more readily accessible/searchable at SoR? Maybe there is the kernel of an idea for an article in that question!!!!"
See my new post "Index to Informative Articles - Volunteer needed" for more on this good idea.
Roy
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re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
Roy, I hadn't seen the "drift" thread when I saw and responded to your contest thread! I was missing the context when I wrote those comments and questions. In that context, your time frame makes perfect sense!
I'll look for the new post!
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Approvals
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
Here we go:
Netherlands International Court of Justice overprints - How to spot fakes?
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14747#110289
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this post
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
Here's a link to my mini article;
Post War Japan Overprinted for Usage in the Ryukyu Islands - How to identify
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14749#110297
5 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Approvals
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
A second one, from my archives:
Type variations of Australian Stamps - Pre decimal issues
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14758#110393
Login to Like
this post
BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
02 Jun 2016
10:10:18am
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
More competitors needed!
Who wants to write an article about Canadian varieties of the 1930s? i.e. the cock-eyed King, broken X, Mountie with the broken leg, Man in the mast, extended moustache, missing spire, scar on the cheek ...
How about an article about collecting US FDC's by picking one favourite issue and collecting all cachets? #855 Baseball, Iwo Jima are favourites for that. I'm partial to some of the issues of the mid-1960s ... Battle of New Orleans, Carolina Charter etc. Show us what can be done.
Write whatever you know about!
And don't forget to vote on the current entries.
Roy
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this post
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
Let's see some more entries, folks! Jan-Simon and I are feeling kinda lonely here. LOL!
Login to Like
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re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
Fear not Theresa, you are not alone!
He is my little effort on how to float off stamp blocks.
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14849
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Auctions
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
OK, I revisited my article on the USS Texas, https://stamporama.com/articles/display_article.php?id=RAAEy6qg1GAMY, and still think it a nice piece of writing. Interestingly, I bought it for the Christmas seal, but since there are so few seal collectors here, I concentrated on the ship.
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this post
Auctions
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
AND, I still get a kick out of the misdirected Omaha Home for Boys Cover about which I wrote. Automation allowed the machines to read the selvege of some seals as the intended address, ignoring the larger manuscript address that dominates most of the rest of the cover. Doug Cass, if you're still here on SOR, I should get at least one like on this one.
https://stamporama.com/articles/display_article.php?id=RA.adEBhupRVw
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re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
Another article, How to hinge stamps.
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14855#111133
1 Member
likes this post.
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re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
Hermes on stamps, and misrepresentations of his Caduceus.
Asclepius or Caduceus? Where did we go wrong?
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14850#111096
Eric
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
11 Jun 2016
09:41:11am
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
Last chance to vote! I will tally the "likes" on each article at noon June 12 (EDT).
Please vote by "Liking" the original article (not here).
Roy
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Auctions
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
pity i used the articles link, as they cannot be liked. oh well, hope folks enjoyed them even if they didn't like them.
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
13 Jun 2016
09:01:22am
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
And the winner is (by a runaway!)
philatelia
for her article:
Post War Japan Overprinted for Usage in the Ryukyu Islands - How to identify
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=14749#110297
A link to her prize has been sent privately, but here is what she won:
Congratulations for a well-received article!
Roy
3 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
Wow - THANK YOU Roy and thanks all for the votes, everyone! I'm really delighted that so many of you liked my little article. The biggest thank you needs to go to all of the other members who submitted articles. I really enjoyed reading them - damichab's soaking tip was a jewel and I knew nothing about those early aussie varieties Jan-Simon explored. So in the end, the real winner is ALL OF US!
These mini articles were just the tip of the iceberg of the incredible range and depth of philatelic knowledge held by our members. Let's keep the articles coming, folks!
OK, enough blather - LOL- time to go cover shopping!!!!!!
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
Congratulations Theresa, it has been fun. I like the discussions following all the articles too.
I have been a bit busy the last couple of days (beautiful weather here, doing some work in the backyard while I can), but want to do some hinging tests then follow up some comments in my second article. Once again, the comments were better than my article! Will get to that in about a week or so.
I also have a scrip ready for an article on MS Publisher and how to use it to create custom pages, but I have found that reading it and following with actions at the same time harder than I thought it would be. I will get my son to help me with that one - the young kids these days seem good at that sort of thing.
And in the back of my mind I have an idea for an article on Australia's iconic first stamp, the kangaroo series and the furore they caused. I came across quite a few interesting newspaper articles on them when researching for my album pages. I did not save all of them, but it would not be hard finding them again.
...so much to do, so little time!
Cheers to all,
David
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
Grats to Theresa!
Damichab,
I love stamps that create furores.
Was just reading about the first stamps of King George V's reign in 1911. People hated the lion below the portrait of the King on the 1 penny stamp. The feeling was that the lion looked too skinny, and was therefore an affront to imperial sentiment. The lion was fattened up in a 1912 issue.
Look forward to your work on the Kangaroo Map stamps.
Eric
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05:35:05pm
re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
Congrats Theresa!
@ Damichab,
I think a lion with that lean and hungry look might get a little more respect!
Login to Like
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re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
Does the article need to be newly written? I have a couple of articles in the articles section I would like to enter.
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re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
I haven't kept up with all the posts in a timely manner. A belated "Congratulations," Theresa, on your award-winning article.
Ted
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re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
"I think a lion with that lean and hungry look might get a little more respect!"
I have changed my profile pic to a friendlier, more approachable me one! Better?
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re: Write a mini-article, Win a Prize! New competition
Congrats, Theresa!!
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