Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Collecting stamps for 50 years I have learned more here on Stamporama from reading various threads on the discussion board the last 2 years than the prior 48 years. I don't think I have ever seen any discussion on Maximum Cards. What are their purpose? Are they just for collecting (like FDC's) or is there some actual use for them? The ones I've seen on auction ads are mostly European in origin. How collectible are they and how do you place a value on them? Thanks in advance for your collective knowledge in answering my questions!
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In the early days - just as with FDCs - you had more people making individual efforts, with varied results - but the definition of a proper Maximum Card has narrowed.
These days, the subject of the stamp and the subject of the card's artwork and the cancellation must all match, and the cards are issued by many postal authorities.
I would hope there are lots of people making individual efforts but, as with FDCs, these would be more for your own joy, and less for resale.
Some day, perhaps I will consign the 50-100 MaxiCards that have come my way to an approvals book here on SOR, but I ain't yet got that round tuit.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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08:44:29pm
" ... What are their purpose? ..."
They are contrived souvenirs, serving no more purpose than the collection of small rock samples I've gathered from different places where there has been some cutting so that layers millions of years old are exposed. Purely for my mown amusement although occasionally used to show the kids the difference between Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, or the presence of copper or iron.
Monetary Value - close to zero
Story value - not much more.
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MAXIMAPHILY as the collection of maxicards is known is just as viable as a topical, Cinderella or any other specialized branch of philately.
The vast majority of maxicards have little value (I believe regular stamps work that way also?)
They generally feature an actual stamp(s) and a photograph or depiction of the stamp subject. If the depiction is exactly as the stamp and appropriately cancelled, it has more value
If the stamp is valuable, then so is the maxicard or it may have been produced in very limited quantities by a well known artist. It may simply be old and rare.
Many are valuable enough to have been forged.
As for the "proper definition" of a Maxicard. Who cares - unless you plan to exhibit, collect them because you like them.
A $10 & $30 maxicard
Never discount that what me be your trash is another's treasure
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I would dispute that the stamp and postcard picture should be identical.
The French who are THE experts at this game class "maximum conformance" in the following terms.
The postcard should be a commercially available postcard ( not identical to the stamp design specially produced by the post office in the way that GB maximum cards are ) with a design showing the same subject as the stamp in as close a format as possible without being identical. Additionally the postmark should be relevant - either directly linked to the subject in some way, or as a play on words.
The object is to be creative rather than slavishly copying the stamp. The people who are good at this create some amazing stuff, which while not necessarily valuable, are really intriguing. You have to be well organised and resourceful to source suitable postcards, and some logistical effort is required to get stamp, postcard and postmark in the same place at the same time!
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malcolm197 nailed it, nicely.
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Hmm, I will answer in a few days, with images from my hard drive, since photobucket may or may not survive.
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cdj1122 sounds like a detractor/enemy of maximaphily: "re: Foreign Maximum
" ... What are (What IS) their purpose? ..."
They are contrived souvenirs, serving no more purpose than the collection of small rock samples I've gathered from different places where there has been some cutting so that layers millions of years old are exposed. Purely for my mown amusement although occasionally used to show the kids the difference between Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, or the presence of copper or iron.
Monetary Value - close to zero
Story value - not much more."
Do I agree with that?
No! 
Look at the SOLD listings of maxicards/maximum cards on eBay, delcampe, etc.
When you simply buy a regular stamp, what is "the story value" about that?
"You pay, you get it", usually without extra efforts/stories.
When you create a maxicard, you DO make extra efforts, so you DO have a story of what it took for you to finally create that maxicard.
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll201/dorincard/Jenny1.jpg
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Brooklyn Bridge maxicard.
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Backside of the Brooklyn Bridge maxicard, with a support postcard really circulated in 1906.
How's that for a story value?...
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The Brooklyn Bridge Max. card is a perfect example "in the French tradition".
You have what is probably a commercial postcard produced by the million, which is close, but different to the stamp design together with a relevant postmark.
A minor quibble is that the stamp, postcard and postmark are not contemporary with each other, but bearing in mind that it commemorates an event it is perhaps not too important.
If you were to take a more "normal" example ( and no I don't collect them so I can't show you one ). Take a ( fictitious) stamp say showing a Bald Eagle. Find a current generally available postcard showing a Bald Eagle( in a different "pose" to the stamp), affix the stamps and have it posted at "Eagle Creek" or similar as shortly after the issue date as possible. Even better would be to have the postmark from a town with a name close to the Linnaean name for the bird !
The "value" is mainly in the creativity and efforts of the originator, rather than in cash terms, as the number of collectors is likely less than the number of creators, so the more creative the effort the more people will want to buy it, and the more it will realise.
My interest is not in collecting such things, but they are very interesting to look at and marvel at the efforts ( and sometimes downright convoluted thinking).
Malcolm
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08:38:48am
The value of something is determined by the people who appreciate an item and want to own it, not by the arbitrary opinions of onlookers who are not involved in the market.
I sold this one on eBay for $137.50, to active bidding (NOT Buy It Now)
Even though this is a US Maximum Card, it went to China.
Roy
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Very good, Roy! Any more sales like this, since then?
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Roy
A good example. While it is the same statue taken from the almost same angle, the treatment of the plinth is different, and I am guessing that this is a commercial postcard and not one specifically issued by the USPS in conjunction with the stamp ?
This is a thousand miles away from a card showing the exact stamp design produced by a national post office's philatelic service in conjunction with the stamp which means that a maximum card can be created at your local post office by the million, and broadly have the same appeal as a first day cover.
Also this is an old postcard, and maximun cards of this period I guess are not very common anyway, hence the value.
In my post I was referring to current or recent cards which are produced as more of a creative art-form or as an intellectual exercise, than a conventional collectable.
Malcolm
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Hi All.
Collecting stamps for 50 years I have learned more here on Stamporama from reading various threads on the discussion board the last 2 years than the prior 48 years. I don't think I have ever seen any discussion on Maximum Cards. What are their purpose? Are they just for collecting (like FDC's) or is there some actual use for them? The ones I've seen on auction ads are mostly European in origin. How collectible are they and how do you place a value on them? Thanks in advance for your collective knowledge in answering my questions!
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re: Foreign Maximum
In the early days - just as with FDCs - you had more people making individual efforts, with varied results - but the definition of a proper Maximum Card has narrowed.
These days, the subject of the stamp and the subject of the card's artwork and the cancellation must all match, and the cards are issued by many postal authorities.
I would hope there are lots of people making individual efforts but, as with FDCs, these would be more for your own joy, and less for resale.
Some day, perhaps I will consign the 50-100 MaxiCards that have come my way to an approvals book here on SOR, but I ain't yet got that round tuit.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
14 Sep 2016
08:44:29pm
re: Foreign Maximum
" ... What are their purpose? ..."
They are contrived souvenirs, serving no more purpose than the collection of small rock samples I've gathered from different places where there has been some cutting so that layers millions of years old are exposed. Purely for my mown amusement although occasionally used to show the kids the difference between Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, or the presence of copper or iron.
Monetary Value - close to zero
Story value - not much more.
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03:21:25pm
re: Foreign Maximum
MAXIMAPHILY as the collection of maxicards is known is just as viable as a topical, Cinderella or any other specialized branch of philately.
The vast majority of maxicards have little value (I believe regular stamps work that way also?)
They generally feature an actual stamp(s) and a photograph or depiction of the stamp subject. If the depiction is exactly as the stamp and appropriately cancelled, it has more value
If the stamp is valuable, then so is the maxicard or it may have been produced in very limited quantities by a well known artist. It may simply be old and rare.
Many are valuable enough to have been forged.
As for the "proper definition" of a Maxicard. Who cares - unless you plan to exhibit, collect them because you like them.
A $10 & $30 maxicard
Never discount that what me be your trash is another's treasure
Login to Like
this post
12:14:50pm
re: Foreign Maximum
I would dispute that the stamp and postcard picture should be identical.
The French who are THE experts at this game class "maximum conformance" in the following terms.
The postcard should be a commercially available postcard ( not identical to the stamp design specially produced by the post office in the way that GB maximum cards are ) with a design showing the same subject as the stamp in as close a format as possible without being identical. Additionally the postmark should be relevant - either directly linked to the subject in some way, or as a play on words.
The object is to be creative rather than slavishly copying the stamp. The people who are good at this create some amazing stuff, which while not necessarily valuable, are really intriguing. You have to be well organised and resourceful to source suitable postcards, and some logistical effort is required to get stamp, postcard and postmark in the same place at the same time!
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re: Foreign Maximum
malcolm197 nailed it, nicely.
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re: Foreign Maximum
Hmm, I will answer in a few days, with images from my hard drive, since photobucket may or may not survive.
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re: Foreign Maximum
cdj1122 sounds like a detractor/enemy of maximaphily: "re: Foreign Maximum
" ... What are (What IS) their purpose? ..."
They are contrived souvenirs, serving no more purpose than the collection of small rock samples I've gathered from different places where there has been some cutting so that layers millions of years old are exposed. Purely for my mown amusement although occasionally used to show the kids the difference between Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, or the presence of copper or iron.
Monetary Value - close to zero
Story value - not much more."
Do I agree with that?
No!
Look at the SOLD listings of maxicards/maximum cards on eBay, delcampe, etc.
When you simply buy a regular stamp, what is "the story value" about that?
"You pay, you get it", usually without extra efforts/stories.
When you create a maxicard, you DO make extra efforts, so you DO have a story of what it took for you to finally create that maxicard.
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll201/dorincard/Jenny1.jpg
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re: Foreign Maximum
Brooklyn Bridge maxicard.
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re: Foreign Maximum
Backside of the Brooklyn Bridge maxicard, with a support postcard really circulated in 1906.
How's that for a story value?...
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this post
07:15:42am
re: Foreign Maximum
The Brooklyn Bridge Max. card is a perfect example "in the French tradition".
You have what is probably a commercial postcard produced by the million, which is close, but different to the stamp design together with a relevant postmark.
A minor quibble is that the stamp, postcard and postmark are not contemporary with each other, but bearing in mind that it commemorates an event it is perhaps not too important.
If you were to take a more "normal" example ( and no I don't collect them so I can't show you one ). Take a ( fictitious) stamp say showing a Bald Eagle. Find a current generally available postcard showing a Bald Eagle( in a different "pose" to the stamp), affix the stamps and have it posted at "Eagle Creek" or similar as shortly after the issue date as possible. Even better would be to have the postmark from a town with a name close to the Linnaean name for the bird !
The "value" is mainly in the creativity and efforts of the originator, rather than in cash terms, as the number of collectors is likely less than the number of creators, so the more creative the effort the more people will want to buy it, and the more it will realise.
My interest is not in collecting such things, but they are very interesting to look at and marvel at the efforts ( and sometimes downright convoluted thinking).
Malcolm
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 500 categories
16 Aug 2017
08:38:48am
re: Foreign Maximum
The value of something is determined by the people who appreciate an item and want to own it, not by the arbitrary opinions of onlookers who are not involved in the market.
I sold this one on eBay for $137.50, to active bidding (NOT Buy It Now)
Even though this is a US Maximum Card, it went to China.
Roy
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re: Foreign Maximum
Very good, Roy! Any more sales like this, since then?
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05:01:13pm
re: Foreign Maximum
Roy
A good example. While it is the same statue taken from the almost same angle, the treatment of the plinth is different, and I am guessing that this is a commercial postcard and not one specifically issued by the USPS in conjunction with the stamp ?
This is a thousand miles away from a card showing the exact stamp design produced by a national post office's philatelic service in conjunction with the stamp which means that a maximum card can be created at your local post office by the million, and broadly have the same appeal as a first day cover.
Also this is an old postcard, and maximun cards of this period I guess are not very common anyway, hence the value.
In my post I was referring to current or recent cards which are produced as more of a creative art-form or as an intellectual exercise, than a conventional collectable.
Malcolm
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