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What we collect!
What we collect!


General Philatelic/Gen. Discussion : Kinda sad

 

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bigcreekdad
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15 Apr 2022
09:12:27am
I bought a small collection from the son of a now deceased man who collected during the 50s and 60s. He was only asking $20 so I figured it was worth at least that much just to look through it. It was all in a bag...one pretty basic album, several large envelopes, and a Whitman's Chocolates box. Finally got into it a few days ago. The album had only a few countries with more than 10 stamps, all pretty common, stamps. ( I should add, my interest is pre 1940 stamps, especially British Commonwealth). I moved on to the box, and there were several first day covers, but none were much dated. Under the covers were literally a thousand or more loose world wide stamps . I didn't spend much time looking through, because, again, they were pretty common. The large envelope had more of the same.

Nothing at all of interest to me, but certainly worth $20 of browsing.

I was wondering what to do with them, and I had the idea of donating them to a high school stamp club. After several inquiries, I find there is no such thing in my area. I almost find this hard to believe. I have read several places that this hobby was on it's last legs with us Baby Boomers dying off, but this was the first evidence that it might be true. Replaced I guess with video games.
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dani20
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15 Apr 2022
09:28:56am
re: Kinda sad

Your donating idea is the right approach. Perhaps add the following to possible recipients:
Veterans Hospital, Boy/Girl/Cub Scouts, Church of your faith, SOR newbies/Holocaust project/Jr.members,Sr.Citizen group, shelters of various types.

Perhaps include a brief description- accumulation/starter collection, good for a possible shut-in or disabled person with time on their hands.

The direction is good, the intent noble. Now to find the right venue.
Dan

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Harvey
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This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!

15 Apr 2022
10:56:24am
re: Kinda sad

I have a huge amount of great stuff here that I've accumulated over the year's. I don't sell so eventually, if I ever get my act totally together, I'll send it off to The Holocaust Project. I have it half done so hang in there, you should be pleased when it arrives, eventually!! Another of my major hobbies is procrastination, I just wish I wasn't so good at it!!

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""We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living but not a life. We’ve added years to life, not life to years." George Carlin"
Lou47
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15 Apr 2022
12:16:50pm
re: Kinda sad

Some other possibilities might include:

Stamps for the Wounded ... https://www.stampsforthewounded.org/dona ...
Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History ... https://spellmanmuseum.org/
Both acknowledge donations.

Moderator - links active


(Modified by Moderator on 2022-04-15 15:06:02)

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BermudaSailor
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15 Apr 2022
01:19:51pm
re: Kinda sad

Stamp clubs or organizations (like the APS) that sponsor regional or national shows always need material for their kids tables.

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angore
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Al
Collector, Moderator

15 Apr 2022
03:15:51pm
re: Kinda sad

I thought APS stopped asking for donations of stamps in bulk.

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Bobstamp
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15 Apr 2022
05:04:03pm
re: Kinda sad

It’s true — kids, at least American and Canadian kids — no longer see stamp collecting as a worthwhile hobby, or even know it exists.

In the 1980s, I sponsored successful stamp clubs in an elementary school and then a large high school. But starting in 2003, when I became involved in the activities of the British Columbia Philatelic Society, we tried in vain to encourage young people to join. Over 10 years, we briefly had two teenage members, and the only kids who attended our annual stamp show, VANPEX, we’re the bored children or grandchildren of two adult exhibitors.

One exception, was the attendance of a dozen or so young exhibitors from India, but their sponsor would allow them to do anything but sit in chairs or stay in their hotel room throughout the three days of the show.

On one occasion, I was invited to give talks to a group of young Girl Scouts and on another to young students in a program that featured four days a week of home instruction, and one day a week in a school classroom with other student in the program. In both cases, the youngsters seemed utterly unengaged with anything I was saying or showing them.

There used to be a very successful kids’ stamp club in Edmonton. After their popular sponsor, a well-known philatelic judge, died of cancer, the club itself died.

With the world “on fire,” as it seems to be, I think it would be virtually impossible to have a successful youth stamp club in any setting.

Bob

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angore
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Al
Collector, Moderator

16 Apr 2022
06:49:20am
re: Kinda sad

Has traditional stamp collecting really been that mainstream since the 60's? Now, I grew up in a mostly sheltered life as an Army brat and went to school (mostly on base) but we played with others but never really encountered stamp collectors. If there were, no one was mentioning it. I was not even a collector then after my basic worldwide one volume collection was stolen during the move back to the US from Germany. Also, was it more regional? All my kin are from the south and again collecting never seemed to be a topic except for hoarding mint sheets as an investment. The areas were never that urban compared to the northeast US. This may explain why Florida is active because all the northerners that went south.

The market is now flooded with material. I suspect APS could assemble mixtures of thousands of stamps for almost nothing through donations and give away regularly. mystic sells their albums at a cost competitive price but then make up for in their stamp prices.

But other hobbies are on the decline as well so stamps is not alone.




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amsd
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Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads

16 Apr 2022
10:11:15am

Auctions
re: Kinda sad

I "collected" as a kid: mostly self-created FDCs and a box of loose stamps in no particular organization (funny, in some ways it doesn't seem as if I have changed that much, except in volume), gave it up, and returned in my early thirties.

I NEVER dealt with other kids. it was solitary then, and is at its most interactive this very minute.

At stamp shows, from 1990s onward, kids are aliens, and young folk rare. This is mostly an old man's hobby, with some of us joining in anticipation of AARP cards.

I guess what I'm getting at is that philately, as Al suggests, was always well outside the mainstream; and when it was more mainstream, it was more akin to poor folks' investments in plates, pictures, and fanciful bullion than what I think we do, which is far more than buy waiting for our investment to mature.

The biggest changes have been in communication and sales, now mostly online instead of in person. exceptions exist, but that's what they are, exceptions.

I will say I am blessed to have a local club that meets not two miles away from my home and that is peopled by a wide range of interests and knowledge and a narrow range of gender and age.

David

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Author/Postings
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bigcreekdad

15 Apr 2022
09:12:27am

I bought a small collection from the son of a now deceased man who collected during the 50s and 60s. He was only asking $20 so I figured it was worth at least that much just to look through it. It was all in a bag...one pretty basic album, several large envelopes, and a Whitman's Chocolates box. Finally got into it a few days ago. The album had only a few countries with more than 10 stamps, all pretty common, stamps. ( I should add, my interest is pre 1940 stamps, especially British Commonwealth). I moved on to the box, and there were several first day covers, but none were much dated. Under the covers were literally a thousand or more loose world wide stamps . I didn't spend much time looking through, because, again, they were pretty common. The large envelope had more of the same.

Nothing at all of interest to me, but certainly worth $20 of browsing.

I was wondering what to do with them, and I had the idea of donating them to a high school stamp club. After several inquiries, I find there is no such thing in my area. I almost find this hard to believe. I have read several places that this hobby was on it's last legs with us Baby Boomers dying off, but this was the first evidence that it might be true. Replaced I guess with video games.

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Login to Like.

www.hipstamp.com/sto ...
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dani20

15 Apr 2022
09:28:56am

re: Kinda sad

Your donating idea is the right approach. Perhaps add the following to possible recipients:
Veterans Hospital, Boy/Girl/Cub Scouts, Church of your faith, SOR newbies/Holocaust project/Jr.members,Sr.Citizen group, shelters of various types.

Perhaps include a brief description- accumulation/starter collection, good for a possible shut-in or disabled person with time on their hands.

The direction is good, the intent noble. Now to find the right venue.
Dan

Like
Login to Like
this post

This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
15 Apr 2022
10:56:24am

re: Kinda sad

I have a huge amount of great stuff here that I've accumulated over the year's. I don't sell so eventually, if I ever get my act totally together, I'll send it off to The Holocaust Project. I have it half done so hang in there, you should be pleased when it arrives, eventually!! Another of my major hobbies is procrastination, I just wish I wasn't so good at it!!

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

""We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We’ve learned how to make a living but not a life. We’ve added years to life, not life to years." George Carlin"
Members Picture
Lou47

15 Apr 2022
12:16:50pm

re: Kinda sad

Some other possibilities might include:

Stamps for the Wounded ... https://www.stampsforthewounded.org/dona ...
Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History ... https://spellmanmuseum.org/
Both acknowledge donations.

Moderator - links active


(Modified by Moderator on 2022-04-15 15:06:02)

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1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Members Picture
BermudaSailor

15 Apr 2022
01:19:51pm

re: Kinda sad

Stamp clubs or organizations (like the APS) that sponsor regional or national shows always need material for their kids tables.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
angore

Al
Collector, Moderator
15 Apr 2022
03:15:51pm

re: Kinda sad

I thought APS stopped asking for donations of stamps in bulk.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Stamp Collecting is a many splendored thing"
Members Picture
Bobstamp

15 Apr 2022
05:04:03pm

re: Kinda sad

It’s true — kids, at least American and Canadian kids — no longer see stamp collecting as a worthwhile hobby, or even know it exists.

In the 1980s, I sponsored successful stamp clubs in an elementary school and then a large high school. But starting in 2003, when I became involved in the activities of the British Columbia Philatelic Society, we tried in vain to encourage young people to join. Over 10 years, we briefly had two teenage members, and the only kids who attended our annual stamp show, VANPEX, we’re the bored children or grandchildren of two adult exhibitors.

One exception, was the attendance of a dozen or so young exhibitors from India, but their sponsor would allow them to do anything but sit in chairs or stay in their hotel room throughout the three days of the show.

On one occasion, I was invited to give talks to a group of young Girl Scouts and on another to young students in a program that featured four days a week of home instruction, and one day a week in a school classroom with other student in the program. In both cases, the youngsters seemed utterly unengaged with anything I was saying or showing them.

There used to be a very successful kids’ stamp club in Edmonton. After their popular sponsor, a well-known philatelic judge, died of cancer, the club itself died.

With the world “on fire,” as it seems to be, I think it would be virtually impossible to have a successful youth stamp club in any setting.

Bob

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Login to Like
this post

www.ephemeraltreasur ...
Members Picture
angore

Al
Collector, Moderator
16 Apr 2022
06:49:20am

re: Kinda sad

Has traditional stamp collecting really been that mainstream since the 60's? Now, I grew up in a mostly sheltered life as an Army brat and went to school (mostly on base) but we played with others but never really encountered stamp collectors. If there were, no one was mentioning it. I was not even a collector then after my basic worldwide one volume collection was stolen during the move back to the US from Germany. Also, was it more regional? All my kin are from the south and again collecting never seemed to be a topic except for hoarding mint sheets as an investment. The areas were never that urban compared to the northeast US. This may explain why Florida is active because all the northerners that went south.

The market is now flooded with material. I suspect APS could assemble mixtures of thousands of stamps for almost nothing through donations and give away regularly. mystic sells their albums at a cost competitive price but then make up for in their stamp prices.

But other hobbies are on the decline as well so stamps is not alone.




Like
Login to Like
this post

"Stamp Collecting is a many splendored thing"
Members Picture
amsd

Editor, Seal News; contributor, JuicyHeads
16 Apr 2022
10:11:15am

Auctions

re: Kinda sad

I "collected" as a kid: mostly self-created FDCs and a box of loose stamps in no particular organization (funny, in some ways it doesn't seem as if I have changed that much, except in volume), gave it up, and returned in my early thirties.

I NEVER dealt with other kids. it was solitary then, and is at its most interactive this very minute.

At stamp shows, from 1990s onward, kids are aliens, and young folk rare. This is mostly an old man's hobby, with some of us joining in anticipation of AARP cards.

I guess what I'm getting at is that philately, as Al suggests, was always well outside the mainstream; and when it was more mainstream, it was more akin to poor folks' investments in plates, pictures, and fanciful bullion than what I think we do, which is far more than buy waiting for our investment to mature.

The biggest changes have been in communication and sales, now mostly online instead of in person. exceptions exist, but that's what they are, exceptions.

I will say I am blessed to have a local club that meets not two miles away from my home and that is peopled by a wide range of interests and knowledge and a narrow range of gender and age.

David

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Save the USPS, buy stamps; save the hobby, use commemoratives"

juicyheads.com/link. ...
        

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