Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
01:44:34pm
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@Harvey
I search "Stamp Auction Network" and Ebay" often for unrecognized or misidentified stamps, and find more than my share. It concern me that the avg. seller does not know how to properly identify stamps. It appears maybe some of the buyers are just trusting the sellers to make the right and proper identification for them instead of doing it them self. Too bad as it only takes common sense to properly identify most stamps. As an example Washington/Franklin head stamps, I always hear how hard it is to identify them, but just simple common sense and a positive attitude works wonders.
So I get to pick up good material usually very cheap and trade it off for what I want.
1898
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09:58:21pm
I only deal with people on E-Bay and HipStamp that I have had good experiences with and have had no problems. One person I have had great success with is DanTheStampMan. He mostly deals in lots and a few years ago I almost doubled my Russia collection by buying an album that was almost full. I took what I needed and then passed the rest on for a fair price and was very pleased. I could mention a few others but I shouldn't really do that! I honestly think that if you pick certain buyers that you've had good luck with and stick with them you can stay away from the idiots or the crooks! I check most stamps that could be a problem and (knock on wood) I am doing pretty well. I will buy non troublesome material from people I don't usually deal with, stamps that are not a problem, and so far I'm very pleased. I also stay away from people with ridiculous shipping prices but I find that the people I have continually bought from also treat me fairly. I think that sometimes crooks buy from other crooks, get cheated, and then get angry!! Stick with people you know and trust and treat them fairly and you have a good chance of being a "happy camper"!! Again, this is only my opinion!
We are off topic, I was really interested in how many people look for certain types of stamps mostly on SOR.
Edit: I'm a collector and rarely trade or sell. Maybe I'm a bit of an idiot but I think taking advantage of a naive seller is wrong. A couple times, especially in the antique business, I tell people when their items are under priced. I know this sounds like a dumb way to run a business but in the selling (and buying) business we live or die by our reputation. I know of an antique picker who was buying from an older (but not stupid) person and offered her $50 for this old painting hanging in her kitchen. The painting was very valuable, she knew it, kicked the picker out of the house and talked about it for years! A couple times I've told people selling stamps on E-Bay that they should recheck their item and sometimes it was in their benefit to do so. A little honesty is sometimes a good thing. I think there is an expression "you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar"! No offence intended 1898 but with what you said in your post I'm very glad you're a buyer and not a seller!!
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@Harvey
Sorry thought I was on topic as I understood it!
As far as SOR, I keep looking perhaps it will take more time to find something of interest.
1898
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Harvey -- I *really* agree with your last post. Very well stated!
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08:25:08am
"it only takes common sense to properly identify most stamps. As an example Washington/Franklin head stamps, I always hear how hard it is to identify them, but just simple common sense and a positive attitude works wonders."
There is absolutely no way that some of the early Washingtons and Franklins can be IDed by just looking at an online picture, if that's what you meant. Colour shades don't show up well, watermarks can't be checked and you can only guess at perforations. This is the type of stuff I stay away from unless I've had good experiences with that dealer and, even though I deal with some, I tend to stay away from people who don't allow returns. I know this sounds very unlikely but I've never had to return a stamp (yet!!!). Of course I'm not a huge buyer there, I've been buying stamps on E-Bay for about 9 years and have not reached my "500 star" yet. I'll get to 500 in a year or so but that's the last plateau for me!!
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@Harvey
My point was, it's possible to (and I find it easy) to make proper identification for unrecognized or misidentified stamps on computer.
Using my methods you can check perfs., and the ID different types. Also if you know what you are looking for you cherry pick errors!
Colors never enter into the picture using my method.
Washington/Franklin heads identification is easy, they only become hard if you make them hard.
1898
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@Harvey and anyone else who thinks you can't ID stamps on the computer.
Here is a case of 3 misidentified revenue stamps from an online auction house.
I'll check Washington/Franklin head stamps, too busy right now.
I took me about 30 seconds to find this example.
1898
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04:16:04pm
''... It concern me that the avg. seller does not know how to properly identify stamps. It appears maybe some of the buyers are just trusting the sellers to make the right and proper identification for them instead of doing it them self.....''
I agree, there are many collectors, or perhaps, 'wanna-be' collectors who never bother to read a book on the subject. Some even SOR members, which is why we are open to any query, regardless of its simplicity.
''.... Too bad as it only takes common sense to properly iIt should revolutionize rhe 1900-1930dentify most stamps. As an example Washington/Franklin head stamps, I always hear how hard it is to identify them, but just simple common sense and a positive attitude works wonders.....''
It is sad that for about 100 years, so many certified experts have been blind to your simple and well thought out identification procedure. It may well revolutionize the art of collecting the 1900 - 1930 era.
Cheers
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"It is sad that for about 100 years, so many certified experts have been blind to your simple and well thought out identification procedure. It may well revolutionize the art of collecting the 1900 - 1930 era."
These are the people I learned this info from, I call it my method, but really I just learned from some of them.
Here are two more misidentified examples I just found.
1898
And this #500 is really an offset type V. There was also 2 #5 on cover, but both examples the scan/photo was blurred, so I can say for sure for sure!
I don't buy rare stamps I discover them!
1898
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This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
29 Jul 2023
01:44:34pm
This is not meant to be an article in the "stamps to buy area"! Are there certain things you mainly look for here? I've started collecting some new items lately and I'm going to try to mostly keep them reserved for SOR. The newer items are: Canada booklet panes and mini-sheets, Canada McDonald's advertising items, Canada/provinces duck stamps, US and Canada precancels, Peanuts stamps, some media material and just certain odds and ends. I recently picked up a dog souvenir sheet because the cocker spaniel on it looked like a friend's dog and she can use it as a bookmark since she doesn't collect stamps, I also pick up my Canada varieties/errors here as well, though usually a certain seller contacts me. This is a great site to pick up odd types of stuff and I really enjoy going through the auctions and books regularly. I'm trying to stay away from ebay because of the shipping prices. I usually can't find a lot of classic material here but it does happen occasionally. Also when sellers find out what you like quite often they get in contact with you and usually at good, or great, prices! There's great stuff here and I can usually find something I like!! If you only collect classic stamps, as I used to do, find something fun that you'd like to pick up!!
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07:49:15pm
re: Some stuff I mostly look for here!
@Harvey
I search "Stamp Auction Network" and Ebay" often for unrecognized or misidentified stamps, and find more than my share. It concern me that the avg. seller does not know how to properly identify stamps. It appears maybe some of the buyers are just trusting the sellers to make the right and proper identification for them instead of doing it them self. Too bad as it only takes common sense to properly identify most stamps. As an example Washington/Franklin head stamps, I always hear how hard it is to identify them, but just simple common sense and a positive attitude works wonders.
So I get to pick up good material usually very cheap and trade it off for what I want.
1898
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This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
29 Jul 2023
09:58:21pm
re: Some stuff I mostly look for here!
I only deal with people on E-Bay and HipStamp that I have had good experiences with and have had no problems. One person I have had great success with is DanTheStampMan. He mostly deals in lots and a few years ago I almost doubled my Russia collection by buying an album that was almost full. I took what I needed and then passed the rest on for a fair price and was very pleased. I could mention a few others but I shouldn't really do that! I honestly think that if you pick certain buyers that you've had good luck with and stick with them you can stay away from the idiots or the crooks! I check most stamps that could be a problem and (knock on wood) I am doing pretty well. I will buy non troublesome material from people I don't usually deal with, stamps that are not a problem, and so far I'm very pleased. I also stay away from people with ridiculous shipping prices but I find that the people I have continually bought from also treat me fairly. I think that sometimes crooks buy from other crooks, get cheated, and then get angry!! Stick with people you know and trust and treat them fairly and you have a good chance of being a "happy camper"!! Again, this is only my opinion!
We are off topic, I was really interested in how many people look for certain types of stamps mostly on SOR.
Edit: I'm a collector and rarely trade or sell. Maybe I'm a bit of an idiot but I think taking advantage of a naive seller is wrong. A couple times, especially in the antique business, I tell people when their items are under priced. I know this sounds like a dumb way to run a business but in the selling (and buying) business we live or die by our reputation. I know of an antique picker who was buying from an older (but not stupid) person and offered her $50 for this old painting hanging in her kitchen. The painting was very valuable, she knew it, kicked the picker out of the house and talked about it for years! A couple times I've told people selling stamps on E-Bay that they should recheck their item and sometimes it was in their benefit to do so. A little honesty is sometimes a good thing. I think there is an expression "you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar"! No offence intended 1898 but with what you said in your post I'm very glad you're a buyer and not a seller!!
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10:22:57pm
re: Some stuff I mostly look for here!
@Harvey
Sorry thought I was on topic as I understood it!
As far as SOR, I keep looking perhaps it will take more time to find something of interest.
1898
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re: Some stuff I mostly look for here!
Harvey -- I *really* agree with your last post. Very well stated!
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This is my diabetic cat OBI! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
30 Jul 2023
08:25:08am
re: Some stuff I mostly look for here!
"it only takes common sense to properly identify most stamps. As an example Washington/Franklin head stamps, I always hear how hard it is to identify them, but just simple common sense and a positive attitude works wonders."
There is absolutely no way that some of the early Washingtons and Franklins can be IDed by just looking at an online picture, if that's what you meant. Colour shades don't show up well, watermarks can't be checked and you can only guess at perforations. This is the type of stuff I stay away from unless I've had good experiences with that dealer and, even though I deal with some, I tend to stay away from people who don't allow returns. I know this sounds very unlikely but I've never had to return a stamp (yet!!!). Of course I'm not a huge buyer there, I've been buying stamps on E-Bay for about 9 years and have not reached my "500 star" yet. I'll get to 500 in a year or so but that's the last plateau for me!!
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09:36:10am
re: Some stuff I mostly look for here!
@Harvey
My point was, it's possible to (and I find it easy) to make proper identification for unrecognized or misidentified stamps on computer.
Using my methods you can check perfs., and the ID different types. Also if you know what you are looking for you cherry pick errors!
Colors never enter into the picture using my method.
Washington/Franklin heads identification is easy, they only become hard if you make them hard.
1898
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01:06:40pm
re: Some stuff I mostly look for here!
@Harvey and anyone else who thinks you can't ID stamps on the computer.
Here is a case of 3 misidentified revenue stamps from an online auction house.
I'll check Washington/Franklin head stamps, too busy right now.
I took me about 30 seconds to find this example.
1898
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
30 Jul 2023
04:16:04pm
re: Some stuff I mostly look for here!
''... It concern me that the avg. seller does not know how to properly identify stamps. It appears maybe some of the buyers are just trusting the sellers to make the right and proper identification for them instead of doing it them self.....''
I agree, there are many collectors, or perhaps, 'wanna-be' collectors who never bother to read a book on the subject. Some even SOR members, which is why we are open to any query, regardless of its simplicity.
''.... Too bad as it only takes common sense to properly iIt should revolutionize rhe 1900-1930dentify most stamps. As an example Washington/Franklin head stamps, I always hear how hard it is to identify them, but just simple common sense and a positive attitude works wonders.....''
It is sad that for about 100 years, so many certified experts have been blind to your simple and well thought out identification procedure. It may well revolutionize the art of collecting the 1900 - 1930 era.
Cheers
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04:55:11pm
re: Some stuff I mostly look for here!
"It is sad that for about 100 years, so many certified experts have been blind to your simple and well thought out identification procedure. It may well revolutionize the art of collecting the 1900 - 1930 era."
These are the people I learned this info from, I call it my method, but really I just learned from some of them.
Here are two more misidentified examples I just found.
1898
And this #500 is really an offset type V. There was also 2 #5 on cover, but both examples the scan/photo was blurred, so I can say for sure for sure!
I don't buy rare stamps I discover them!
1898
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