Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
- United States Stamp Company, 5901 Christie Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608
- Robert R Johnson Coin and Stamp Co. Inc., 5 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94103
- Mr Z's Vogt Stamps, 1301 Broadway, Burlingame, CA 94010
- Treasure Island Stamps & Coins, 3703 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306
- Carmel Stamp & Coin Shop, Mission St, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923
But those are all complete unknowns to me. The trip will take me between San Francisco and Monterrey, so anything in that general corridor is fair game.
Thanks!
-Steve
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I used to live in the Bay Area (on the Peninsula), but was not active in philately at that time. (It was that period between adolescence and having a little discretionary pocket money after a few years in the working world.)
However, I seem to remember several people mentioning favorably a stamp shop around Los Altos or Sunnyvale. After a little digging around, it may be this store, although it's in Sunnyvale (and I would've bet money it was in Los Altos). Perhaps one of the Bay Area locals can fill in the gaps.
Nevertheless, here is their website and contact info:
http://www.firesidestampco.com/
My Google search revealed that a philatelic friend of mine was visiting the Bay Area a couple of years ago and did a short write-up of the shop:
http://leftfieldwander.blogspot.com/2016/12/fireside-stamp-shop.html
If you're going to be in the area over a weekend, do check and see if any good local shows are going on. The Bay Area has some great shows and some great dealers.
- - - -
There is also a great philatelic library in Redwood City (again, that's on the Peninsula). I haven't visited since it was located in Sunnyvale, but it was awfully helpful to me on my visits:
http://www.fwpl.org/
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There is also Stamp Craft at 933 Monroe Street in Santa Clara.
I've dealt with Treasure Island, Fireside and Stamp Craft.
Stamp Craft has only stamps.
Fireside also has dollar covers and collections.
Treasure Island also deals in coins, but they have collections in the back.
And, of course, I'd recommend a visit to the library. The place is huge and has most every reference you could think of. They also have used books surplus to their requirements for sale.
I'd call ahead at any of these to make sure they are open.
Jan
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Treasure Island is my favorite, with depth and personalized knowledge. Pricing is a bit high (but aren't all stamp shops charging more than on-line sellers?) but if you have an area that is tough to collect, they may surprise you! They also sell coins and I think that they make more income from coins, but if you have the time, and a wish list, and don't mind waiting for the coin buyers to finish, do visit them.
No presence in shows or on line. Make sure of the hours of operation. (last time I just dropped by, the shop was closed due to illness)
Fireside has a good presence at shows and on line, and a broad range of collections they sell as such in binders. Have not bought much stamp by stamp from them, so I cannot comment.
Mr Z is often closed, and has limited material.
Robert R Johnson is not much of a stamp dealer.
Most of the serious dealers in SF have closed shop, due to high overhead. As I live in the city itself, I find it hard to visit a stamp shop on a regular basis, and have confined my purchases to a handful of on-line sellers. In some ways, it is so much more convenient, but if you are looking to visit a shop with good knowledge and solid inventory, Treasure Island would be my choice.
rrr...
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Anyone else remember Richard Wolffer's? I last visited there in 1968 as a twenty year old filling spaces in a National album. They were mainly an auction house but maintained a walk in shop one flight up, can't recall the street. I think they went out of business years ago.
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07:41:18pm
" ... , can't recall the street. ..."
I think it was Kearney Street.
(My mother's family name was Kearney from Kearney New Joisey.}.
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I thank everyone for the responses! If my travel plans hold, I'll have about a half-day Saturday to drop in on a couple of these. I look forward to providing the "trip report" for this one. 
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I have an upcoming business trip to the San Francisco area and wanted to see what shops our members know of or recommend in the area. A few minutes with Google gave me the following:
- United States Stamp Company, 5901 Christie Ave, Emeryville, CA 94608
- Robert R Johnson Coin and Stamp Co. Inc., 5 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94103
- Mr Z's Vogt Stamps, 1301 Broadway, Burlingame, CA 94010
- Treasure Island Stamps & Coins, 3703 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306
- Carmel Stamp & Coin Shop, Mission St, Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 93923
But those are all complete unknowns to me. The trip will take me between San Francisco and Monterrey, so anything in that general corridor is fair game.
Thanks!
-Steve
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this post
re: Shops in the San Francisco Area?
I used to live in the Bay Area (on the Peninsula), but was not active in philately at that time. (It was that period between adolescence and having a little discretionary pocket money after a few years in the working world.)
However, I seem to remember several people mentioning favorably a stamp shop around Los Altos or Sunnyvale. After a little digging around, it may be this store, although it's in Sunnyvale (and I would've bet money it was in Los Altos). Perhaps one of the Bay Area locals can fill in the gaps.
Nevertheless, here is their website and contact info:
http://www.firesidestampco.com/
My Google search revealed that a philatelic friend of mine was visiting the Bay Area a couple of years ago and did a short write-up of the shop:
http://leftfieldwander.blogspot.com/2016/12/fireside-stamp-shop.html
If you're going to be in the area over a weekend, do check and see if any good local shows are going on. The Bay Area has some great shows and some great dealers.
- - - -
There is also a great philatelic library in Redwood City (again, that's on the Peninsula). I haven't visited since it was located in Sunnyvale, but it was awfully helpful to me on my visits:
http://www.fwpl.org/
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11:05:59am
re: Shops in the San Francisco Area?
There is also Stamp Craft at 933 Monroe Street in Santa Clara.
I've dealt with Treasure Island, Fireside and Stamp Craft.
Stamp Craft has only stamps.
Fireside also has dollar covers and collections.
Treasure Island also deals in coins, but they have collections in the back.
And, of course, I'd recommend a visit to the library. The place is huge and has most every reference you could think of. They also have used books surplus to their requirements for sale.
I'd call ahead at any of these to make sure they are open.
Jan
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re: Shops in the San Francisco Area?
Treasure Island is my favorite, with depth and personalized knowledge. Pricing is a bit high (but aren't all stamp shops charging more than on-line sellers?) but if you have an area that is tough to collect, they may surprise you! They also sell coins and I think that they make more income from coins, but if you have the time, and a wish list, and don't mind waiting for the coin buyers to finish, do visit them.
No presence in shows or on line. Make sure of the hours of operation. (last time I just dropped by, the shop was closed due to illness)
Fireside has a good presence at shows and on line, and a broad range of collections they sell as such in binders. Have not bought much stamp by stamp from them, so I cannot comment.
Mr Z is often closed, and has limited material.
Robert R Johnson is not much of a stamp dealer.
Most of the serious dealers in SF have closed shop, due to high overhead. As I live in the city itself, I find it hard to visit a stamp shop on a regular basis, and have confined my purchases to a handful of on-line sellers. In some ways, it is so much more convenient, but if you are looking to visit a shop with good knowledge and solid inventory, Treasure Island would be my choice.
rrr...
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re: Shops in the San Francisco Area?
Anyone else remember Richard Wolffer's? I last visited there in 1968 as a twenty year old filling spaces in a National album. They were mainly an auction house but maintained a walk in shop one flight up, can't recall the street. I think they went out of business years ago.
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
09 Jun 2018
07:41:18pm
re: Shops in the San Francisco Area?
" ... , can't recall the street. ..."
I think it was Kearney Street.
(My mother's family name was Kearney from Kearney New Joisey.}.
Login to Like
this post
re: Shops in the San Francisco Area?
I thank everyone for the responses! If my travel plans hold, I'll have about a half-day Saturday to drop in on a couple of these. I look forward to providing the "trip report" for this one.
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