



Wow, nice stamps!
Here is one of my sets from Russia. I do have other collecting interests and refuse to break up sets especially after I piece them together.

Jeremy
Come on people let's see what you have!
Jeremy
These are among my favourites:
Early Greece airmails. Such simple designs. So easy to forge, I suspect:

Definitive airmail stamps of the 1940s. The post office department apparent didn't want to show favouritism to any one airplane manufacturer, so they released these stamps, showing a fantasy transport that combined the features of Douglas, Lockheed, and possibly Convair airliners:
Newfoundland "Trail of the Cariboo" issued shortly after the First World War, commemorating the service of the Newfoundland Regiment in various battles of the war:

Hitler Heads on approval. As Allied soldiers occupied Germany at the end of the Second World War, they "liberated" millions of postage stamps, including these issued for use in Occupied Ukraine:

The WW2 "London Issue" of Norway stamps, used by merchant seamen on Norwegian ships during the war (VERY hard to find on cover) and allowed for use on civilian mail after the war:

Post-WW2 Cuba airmail stamps picture the Lockheed Constellation airliner. At that time, Cuba was buying American airliners. Since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, Cuba has been buying Russian airliners. It seems to me that a in the 63 years since then, the U.S. might have been able to reestablish diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Bob

I have four of these sets myself and they are some of my favourites as well! I am going to try to convert my Newfoundland set of WWI battles to mint. Congratulations on you having already done that. I also really like the Cuban plane set as well, great set of airmails! I have the Ukraine set in my Russian BOB area in my Minkus album, I'm not real keen on the subject area but it's an "attractive" set of stamps! I have the US set mint as well, another great set.
I've been showing some of the early Russia sets in a set of posts I hijacked from Ari and I'll show three more pages sometime tomorrow. I really like some of the early Russia material!
Great thread!
Will post some complete Austria when I am done sorting!
My current venture!
Joe, I have learned so much from your "hijack".
-Ari
@Harvey
Thanks for the heads up on your posting next day, gives us the time necessary to put out computers screen on the floor 90 degrees so we can see your wonderful stamps!
Sorry I asked if this was somekind of a joke, as you said it was not a joke, again sorry!
Here's my contribution:


Great looking set Ernie, it looks like all of them except for two are mint! My set is all used and three are precanceled. I don't think I'll upgrade to mint even though your set looks fantastic. Two sets I'd love to finish are the airmails to my 1976 cut off, I'm missing the last of the Dirigible series (C15) which is very pricey. It would also be great to finish the US offices in China, I'm missing K16 which is also pricey!! They're both on my bucket list of stamps so maybe someday I can post pictures of the complete sets!!
In the airmails I'm also missing 3c but I think I can forget about that!! I think there's still one that is not accounted for so I guess I can always hope it shows up on E-Bay and no one knows what it is!!
I love complete sets, such as this one.

More than that I like the feeling when I have completed a set or page I have long been working on.

Thanks Harvey, yeah I bought these stamps a very long time ago. Q10 and Q12 are the high values of the set. Centering is way off on a few. I think I'm more selective now. Not sure if that's good or bad. Maybe I had more fun being less selective.
Antonio, WOW! those look amazing. All of them look perfect.

"cherry picking dealer"....sounds kinda negative....IMO. Nice sets!
Argentina Sc C30-34,issued in 1931.

Ok I am growing really tired of the partial quotes that somehow always turn out to be a debate of words and wit. The term I used.
Cherry picking as it pertains to philately in no way meant to be a derogatory term. If some of you take it that way? Then I apologize to a point and that point is that I don't mean to offend anyone.
It is a term that is used all of the time to describe what one is doing and in this case I used the term to describe how collectors and some dealers select the most valuable individual piece out of a set to sell. That is exactly what I meant by the use of the term.
More-over I Cherry Pick all of the time and that is to be selective and fill my collections with the best possible stamps. So I am a Cherry Picker too which is why I buy large box lots to find what others miss. This is a treasure hunt of sorts.
I hope that my explanation clears up my position.
Jeremy
Now lets see what you ladies and gentleman have for complete sets.
Set of buses from Malta.

Harvey said, referring to my set of “Hitler Head” Ukraine occupation stamps, “I have the Ukraine set in my Russian BOB area in my Minkus album, I'm not real keen on the subject area but it's an ‘attractive’ set of stamps!”
I’m “keen” on some stamps while others, like the Hitler-head stamps, just are artifacts that help to explain and illustrate the historical events and circumstances that interest me.
Bob

I have been trying to figure out the Nyassa series (two actually) from #81 - #105, the Lisbon and London printings. Each denomination is different and I really got fed up working on it. The Scott album only shows one set so I'm not really that worried about it. It would still be great to figure out exactly what I already have and what I still need to pick up!!
Hey Sarge.....maybe it was "dismantled" that gave me that thought. 
Hell, I "cherry pick " myself from sets, although having spent some time on this Board, I am doing so less, unless there is one stamp that really sticks out value wise.
I just posted this set to my store a bit ago. Not of tremendous vale, but a very nice set IMO.
bigcreekdad,
It isn't a problem. That is a nice set by the way.
I have many more sets that I have completed over the years and 4 US collections going at the same time here. Plus hundreds and hundreds of what many others would consider as duplicates or space fillers. So what is one to do with all of that duplication that I sometimes cant even give away? For me at least I make or try to make complete sets or short sets and as a bonus I get to busy myself chasing EFO's and those difficult to find listed varieties. That is enough of that.
Here is a set of United States War Department Officials that I completed a few years back as an entirely used collection and as you all should be able to see I have begun to slowly work in unused stamps into replace those used ones. Once that happens then I'll have two sets and what is not like about that?

Jeremy

Nice set to see complete!! Thanks for posting Jeremy! I'm still missing O88 and O93 and yours are in a bit better shape than mine. I have quite a few of the officials and just got two nice ones from my local dealer today, O29 and O120 - good prices but still about $350 CD in total. I still have a long ways to go though!! Some are quite pricey and very hard to find.
Start watching your mailbox.
Jeremy
A few more modern sets from the African countries, always colourful favourites.





British Guiana

Bechuanaland Protectorate
I've got a Lindner stockbook full of European colonials, not well organized though. The colonials were nicer looking usually than the countries regular issues. I love just looking at them.
Indonesia "Vienna" issues (complete page not set). Scott listed in 2008 but Gibbons still does not list.

Definitive set from Basutoland.

No US collection is complete without these. I've forgotten how long ago I completed this set. But this page with the set is to my Minkus album that I inherited from my grandmother. It has taken the better part of 30+ years to darn near fill every single space with MNH stamps. Except for those that would be a mortgage payment for the most of us. One day it will be completed.

Jeremy

Here's the same set precancelled Fall River Mills Calif. It's probably a set precancelled by request, not a real large area!

Netherlands Antilles airmail set from 1942.

Bosnia Herzegovina 1879/1901

Biafra 1968

Those are some nice sets Ian. Thank you for sharing.
The same thank you goes out to everyone who is participating with the thread.
Jeremy
The first definitive series from Sabah.

The Falkland Islands

Ascension Island

Jersey

A couple more sets from the Falkland Islands.

Airmail set from Ireland.

In a recent acquisition on eBay to the tune of less than 20 shekels I got not one but 8 complete sets and 3 short sets along with some other stamps in the same lot. Honestly I was only after the Kansas and Nebraska Overprint's and the 5 officials. The overprints are incomplete and so is the Pan American series because one is perf 10 and the rest are perf 12. Not a bad haul if I can say so myself. Here they are.


Jeremy
Awesome!
I have been working hard on getting good prices for my Kans/Nebr.!
Trying for the set mint!
(Thanks ccndd for helping with some of them!)
A nice set sarge!
-Ari
P.S. Will post pictures in a separate thread...


Complete sets of early Ireland overprints.



Three Russia pages with complete sets! I'm not going to mess around with the orientation, it takes time and this seems to fill less space anyway. On this page the unusual stamp is the one in the middle far left, the horizontal overprint was never issued and is a little bit more pricey and hard to find. It's a great looking page!

Again, to me the orientation is not a problem. The missing stamp on this page will always be missing. A value is $10 000+ and according to Scott's "dangerous fakes exist". I've seen them on sale without certificates and wouldn't even consider them!! The inverted overprint, even though it could easily be a forgery is an interesting item. Many of these inverted overprints exist, just don't overpay for them! It is a nice looking page though, even if it is sideways! By the way it is right-side-up in my computer. I know how to fix it but on my old computer it is a real pain!! So, humour me!

The next page is one of my favourite Russian series. It's not real expensive but it does take a while to complete! IMHO you should easily be able to complete the series for under $100. B31 is the hardest to find at a reasonable price!

Astonishing collection Joe, wow.
So that 20r is as rare as the inverted jenny.

"So that 20r is as rare as the inverted jenny.
"
Three homemade album pages:




Hauled this out of the string on precancels - a complete set of the US #300 series with a few varieties and the complete set of precancels. I am pretty sure a precancel was never issued for the $5 stamp. I know my pages are very messy compared to many but I prefer to show my varieties on the same page as the regular series, we're all different and that's fine!

Your collection never ceases to amaze me!!

Remember I've been collecting for over 50 years, it takes a lot of time to accumulate as much stuff as I have!!!!!
Yes, though you seem to have something of everything. Especially great stamps!!

I was brought up by a single parent with very little money. That meant that I treasured everything I had and that turned me into a collector of almost anything - comics, books, glass, china, art and many other things and eventually stamps. Being a part time antique dealer for many years didn't hurt either. I am giving the proceeds from all this "stuff" to charity. Unfortunately this means all the collections will be broken up ... but at least I won't be around to see it!! Ari, you sound like a born collector as well so don't be afraid to experiment with other types of items. I enjoy looking at my 300+ oil lamps almost as much as my stamps, the same as my antique glass and china. Variety is good!!
Now, enough of this, lets get back to talking about complete sets of stamps!!
Here is one more treasure that I bought on my way to choir practice in 1963!! Not in great shape, but RARE!

Yes, I also collect coins a lot, and my mom collects china too! ( I do help her out with categorizing it.)
Joe that comic in your condition is worth 11K~
It is very kind that you are donating the proceeds to charity!
-Ari

The first page shows three series of US officials, Treasury, War and Postal Savings. The second series is only complete due to a gift from Jeremy!
The second page shows a series almost complete. The missing stamp will be picked up eventually!
Again, even though they are right side up on my computer they show up sideways. The only way I can fix it is a procedure that takes a fair bit of time and effort. I don't really see a problem leaving them as they are.


Really nice Classic stamps Harvey!

Thanks Ernie! These series are difficult because many sellers, especially on E-Bay, grossly overprice the stamps. It is especially difficult to find the Shanghai overprints at prices close to Scott's prices. Very frustrating and occasionally I just get fed up and overpay, I really hate doing that!!
Nice sets Joe.
Keep them coming people.
Jeremy

Two complete sets on this page - registered and war tax. Sorry it's a bit messy, just my way of collecting! Sorry sideways again, turn your monitor 90 deg. to the left!!

Joe, I think I have a registered label or two somewhere.
Are there any values to these?

Not sure exactly what you mean Ari. Could you post a scan?
I am not sure where they are, but here is what they look like!
2c and 5c if I recall correctly!
Harvey, they would go with the registered stamps in your photo at least I think they are registered stamps difficult to make out in your photo!

Sorry, but there is nothing wrong with my photo. It is sideways but perfectly readable!!
Note to members: For some reason my computer, possibly because of it's age, prefers to post pictures to this site sideways when they come from one of my two picture takers. Please put up with this since fixing it involves several steps. I find the pictures a bit annoying myself but they are perfectly readable. This only seems to annoy one person so maybe the rest of you could be patient with me! By the way, they are right side up on my computer!
I have no problems with your great photos, Joe... I just download, rotate 90 deg, and zoom in for a fantastic view. I really appreciate the hand written annotations as well. Great stuff!

Thanks Terry! I really appreciate the comment! I know it sometimes messes up the page but I find the comments useful and helps remind me what's happening with the stamps. When the time comes when someone has to break up (
) and dispose of my collection the comments will help the seller!
Finally completed France C8-C14 mint set for my worldwide airmail collection. Missing a couple of minor varieties, but I call it complete. Also, I obtained a VF MNH C15. It's only a single stamp, but that is a "complete" set as well.

I noticed the design which was stated to be a Caudron 635 "Simoun" aircraft flying over a view of Paris. In the set C8-C14, the aircraft is missing its tail fin (rudder)! The engraving appears to have been corrected in the issue of C15.


Terry,
That is a nice set and I'd call that complete too. Now the chase is on for you to find those minor varieties. Good luck with that endeavor. I also like the fact you brought up the difference in the planes on the stamps. That is very interesting. Thank you for sharing with us.
Jeremy
Set of Commemorative Labels produced by the Gravure Institute in Paris for the 1934 Air Post Exhibition held at the RHS Halls in London. The labels have the 'tabs' to the right advertising the paper supplier Samuel Jones & Co. The left side of the sheet (of 25) had 'tabs' describing the production method.



Not to the caliber of many of the other sets shown in this very enjoyable post, but earlier this year I got to visit the Franklin D Roosevelt Presidential Museum and Home in Hyde Park, New York. Combining a post card I bought at the gift shop with this set of FDR Memorial stamps brings back great memories of my most recent visit to New York


I don't really collect Angola but I really couldn't resist these two incredible nature series. What I decided to do is collect the Angola that fits into 1950 - 1955 which is Vol III of Scott's International album! Of course since it was via Tim's camera it shows up sideways!!! There is no easy way to fix this and with these two series it doesn't really matter. The next time I'll get him to do the photo sideways!!
EDIT: I checked Tim's camera and the image was sent right side up but when it showed up in my e-mail it was sideways. I had to reduce the size to make it fit here, turned the image and it shows up properly in my documents. It's when I load it here that it goes sideways again. It is possible to fix using print screens, cut and paste and transferal to a Word document, etc. but IMHO it's not worth the effort. This does not happen with Catherine's camera! So we have to live with it until I pick up a new camera! Life is way too short to let trivial things like this bother me!! Lie down sideways in front of your screen, do a few leg lifts while you're down there and call it exercise!




For Harvey. Nice sets indeed.

Thanks Michael!! Greatly appreciated!!
More stamps from Angola
Coat of Arms,first series issued in 1963


A couple of complete sets. The first is the set of Dutch officials connected the The International Court of Justice at the Hague. I have these because of the fact I collected UN complete to 1988 which led to Swiss Officials connected to UN offices (lots to still find) and this led me to the two sets shown below. The second is UN connected, the first is not. The pictures are not great because of the stock books but they're not too bad!


EDIT: I have some doubles in the lots. You can probably see them as being behind the regular stamp. If anyone wants these let me know and I'll mail them to you. I don't mind sending to the US, I'll just put them in a regular envelope and hope for the best! Send me a message or an email!






I DO! I DO! I DO! (quite partial to planes & trains)
There is magic in complete sets!
Just an FYI. I recently acquired a fairly nice Newfoundland collection. I will be adding half a dozen or more complete sets to my store over the next week.
(Hope it's OK to post this....if not let me know).
I do!
Or maybe I should say I like building them myself from the scraps of collections that have been clearly dismantled by a cherry picking dealer or collector. Here is the second complete set of Scott 219-229 that includes 219d, 220a and 220c that I have made complete in the past 5 months. In the same photo is a short set of the Columbian's Scott 230 thru 240 and includes the 2 additional varieties of 231 the broken hat and the broken frame line. I have to get my wallet off of its diet before I can complete the Columbian set. 
Let's see what you guys have. This is a general philatelic discussion so worldwide material is welcome.
Jeremy
re: Who likes complete sets?
Here is one of my sets from Russia. I do have other collecting interests and refuse to break up sets especially after I piece them together.

Jeremy
re: Who likes complete sets?
Come on people let's see what you have!
Jeremy

re: Who likes complete sets?
These are among my favourites:
Early Greece airmails. Such simple designs. So easy to forge, I suspect:

Definitive airmail stamps of the 1940s. The post office department apparent didn't want to show favouritism to any one airplane manufacturer, so they released these stamps, showing a fantasy transport that combined the features of Douglas, Lockheed, and possibly Convair airliners:
Newfoundland "Trail of the Cariboo" issued shortly after the First World War, commemorating the service of the Newfoundland Regiment in various battles of the war:

Hitler Heads on approval. As Allied soldiers occupied Germany at the end of the Second World War, they "liberated" millions of postage stamps, including these issued for use in Occupied Ukraine:

The WW2 "London Issue" of Norway stamps, used by merchant seamen on Norwegian ships during the war (VERY hard to find on cover) and allowed for use on civilian mail after the war:

Post-WW2 Cuba airmail stamps picture the Lockheed Constellation airliner. At that time, Cuba was buying American airliners. Since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, Cuba has been buying Russian airliners. It seems to me that a in the 63 years since then, the U.S. might have been able to reestablish diplomatic relations with Cuba.

Bob
re: Who likes complete sets?
I have four of these sets myself and they are some of my favourites as well! I am going to try to convert my Newfoundland set of WWI battles to mint. Congratulations on you having already done that. I also really like the Cuban plane set as well, great set of airmails! I have the Ukraine set in my Russian BOB area in my Minkus album, I'm not real keen on the subject area but it's an "attractive" set of stamps! I have the US set mint as well, another great set.
I've been showing some of the early Russia sets in a set of posts I hijacked from Ari and I'll show three more pages sometime tomorrow. I really like some of the early Russia material!

re: Who likes complete sets?
Great thread!
Will post some complete Austria when I am done sorting!
My current venture!
Joe, I have learned so much from your "hijack".
-Ari

re: Who likes complete sets?
@Harvey
Thanks for the heads up on your posting next day, gives us the time necessary to put out computers screen on the floor 90 degrees so we can see your wonderful stamps!
Sorry I asked if this was somekind of a joke, as you said it was not a joke, again sorry!

re: Who likes complete sets?
Here's my contribution:

re: Who likes complete sets?
Great looking set Ernie, it looks like all of them except for two are mint! My set is all used and three are precanceled. I don't think I'll upgrade to mint even though your set looks fantastic. Two sets I'd love to finish are the airmails to my 1976 cut off, I'm missing the last of the Dirigible series (C15) which is very pricey. It would also be great to finish the US offices in China, I'm missing K16 which is also pricey!! They're both on my bucket list of stamps so maybe someday I can post pictures of the complete sets!!
In the airmails I'm also missing 3c but I think I can forget about that!! I think there's still one that is not accounted for so I guess I can always hope it shows up on E-Bay and no one knows what it is!!

re: Who likes complete sets?
I love complete sets, such as this one.

More than that I like the feeling when I have completed a set or page I have long been working on.


re: Who likes complete sets?
Thanks Harvey, yeah I bought these stamps a very long time ago. Q10 and Q12 are the high values of the set. Centering is way off on a few. I think I'm more selective now. Not sure if that's good or bad. Maybe I had more fun being less selective.
Antonio, WOW! those look amazing. All of them look perfect.

re: Who likes complete sets?


re: Who likes complete sets?
"cherry picking dealer"....sounds kinda negative....IMO. Nice sets!
re: Who likes complete sets?
Argentina Sc C30-34,issued in 1931.

re: Who likes complete sets?
Ok I am growing really tired of the partial quotes that somehow always turn out to be a debate of words and wit. The term I used.
Cherry picking as it pertains to philately in no way meant to be a derogatory term. If some of you take it that way? Then I apologize to a point and that point is that I don't mean to offend anyone.
It is a term that is used all of the time to describe what one is doing and in this case I used the term to describe how collectors and some dealers select the most valuable individual piece out of a set to sell. That is exactly what I meant by the use of the term.
More-over I Cherry Pick all of the time and that is to be selective and fill my collections with the best possible stamps. So I am a Cherry Picker too which is why I buy large box lots to find what others miss. This is a treasure hunt of sorts.
I hope that my explanation clears up my position.
Jeremy
Now lets see what you ladies and gentleman have for complete sets.
re: Who likes complete sets?
Set of buses from Malta.


re: Who likes complete sets?
Harvey said, referring to my set of “Hitler Head” Ukraine occupation stamps, “I have the Ukraine set in my Russian BOB area in my Minkus album, I'm not real keen on the subject area but it's an ‘attractive’ set of stamps!”
I’m “keen” on some stamps while others, like the Hitler-head stamps, just are artifacts that help to explain and illustrate the historical events and circumstances that interest me.
Bob
re: Who likes complete sets?
I have been trying to figure out the Nyassa series (two actually) from #81 - #105, the Lisbon and London printings. Each denomination is different and I really got fed up working on it. The Scott album only shows one set so I'm not really that worried about it. It would still be great to figure out exactly what I already have and what I still need to pick up!!

re: Who likes complete sets?
Hey Sarge.....maybe it was "dismantled" that gave me that thought. 
Hell, I "cherry pick " myself from sets, although having spent some time on this Board, I am doing so less, unless there is one stamp that really sticks out value wise.
I just posted this set to my store a bit ago. Not of tremendous vale, but a very nice set IMO.
re: Who likes complete sets?
bigcreekdad,
It isn't a problem. That is a nice set by the way.
I have many more sets that I have completed over the years and 4 US collections going at the same time here. Plus hundreds and hundreds of what many others would consider as duplicates or space fillers. So what is one to do with all of that duplication that I sometimes cant even give away? For me at least I make or try to make complete sets or short sets and as a bonus I get to busy myself chasing EFO's and those difficult to find listed varieties. That is enough of that.
Here is a set of United States War Department Officials that I completed a few years back as an entirely used collection and as you all should be able to see I have begun to slowly work in unused stamps into replace those used ones. Once that happens then I'll have two sets and what is not like about that?

Jeremy
re: Who likes complete sets?
Nice set to see complete!! Thanks for posting Jeremy! I'm still missing O88 and O93 and yours are in a bit better shape than mine. I have quite a few of the officials and just got two nice ones from my local dealer today, O29 and O120 - good prices but still about $350 CD in total. I still have a long ways to go though!! Some are quite pricey and very hard to find.
re: Who likes complete sets?
Start watching your mailbox.
Jeremy

re: Who likes complete sets?
A few more modern sets from the African countries, always colourful favourites.





re: Who likes complete sets?
British Guiana

re: Who likes complete sets?
Bechuanaland Protectorate
re: Who likes complete sets?
I've got a Lindner stockbook full of European colonials, not well organized though. The colonials were nicer looking usually than the countries regular issues. I love just looking at them.

re: Who likes complete sets?
Indonesia "Vienna" issues (complete page not set). Scott listed in 2008 but Gibbons still does not list.

re: Who likes complete sets?
Definitive set from Basutoland.

re: Who likes complete sets?
No US collection is complete without these. I've forgotten how long ago I completed this set. But this page with the set is to my Minkus album that I inherited from my grandmother. It has taken the better part of 30+ years to darn near fill every single space with MNH stamps. Except for those that would be a mortgage payment for the most of us. One day it will be completed.

Jeremy
re: Who likes complete sets?
Here's the same set precancelled Fall River Mills Calif. It's probably a set precancelled by request, not a real large area!

re: Who likes complete sets?
Netherlands Antilles airmail set from 1942.

re: Who likes complete sets?
Bosnia Herzegovina 1879/1901

Biafra 1968

re: Who likes complete sets?
Those are some nice sets Ian. Thank you for sharing.
The same thank you goes out to everyone who is participating with the thread.
Jeremy
re: Who likes complete sets?
The first definitive series from Sabah.

re: Who likes complete sets?
The Falkland Islands

Ascension Island

Jersey

re: Who likes complete sets?
A couple more sets from the Falkland Islands.

re: Who likes complete sets?
Airmail set from Ireland.

re: Who likes complete sets?
In a recent acquisition on eBay to the tune of less than 20 shekels I got not one but 8 complete sets and 3 short sets along with some other stamps in the same lot. Honestly I was only after the Kansas and Nebraska Overprint's and the 5 officials. The overprints are incomplete and so is the Pan American series because one is perf 10 and the rest are perf 12. Not a bad haul if I can say so myself. Here they are.


Jeremy

re: Who likes complete sets?
Awesome!
I have been working hard on getting good prices for my Kans/Nebr.!
Trying for the set mint!
(Thanks ccndd for helping with some of them!)
A nice set sarge!
-Ari
P.S. Will post pictures in a separate thread...

re: Who likes complete sets?

re: Who likes complete sets?
Complete sets of early Ireland overprints.


re: Who likes complete sets?

re: Who likes complete sets?
Three Russia pages with complete sets! I'm not going to mess around with the orientation, it takes time and this seems to fill less space anyway. On this page the unusual stamp is the one in the middle far left, the horizontal overprint was never issued and is a little bit more pricey and hard to find. It's a great looking page!

Again, to me the orientation is not a problem. The missing stamp on this page will always be missing. A value is $10 000+ and according to Scott's "dangerous fakes exist". I've seen them on sale without certificates and wouldn't even consider them!! The inverted overprint, even though it could easily be a forgery is an interesting item. Many of these inverted overprints exist, just don't overpay for them! It is a nice looking page though, even if it is sideways! By the way it is right-side-up in my computer. I know how to fix it but on my old computer it is a real pain!! So, humour me!

The next page is one of my favourite Russian series. It's not real expensive but it does take a while to complete! IMHO you should easily be able to complete the series for under $100. B31 is the hardest to find at a reasonable price!


re: Who likes complete sets?
Astonishing collection Joe, wow.
So that 20r is as rare as the inverted jenny.
re: Who likes complete sets?
"So that 20r is as rare as the inverted jenny.
"

re: Who likes complete sets?
Three homemade album pages:



re: Who likes complete sets?
Hauled this out of the string on precancels - a complete set of the US #300 series with a few varieties and the complete set of precancels. I am pretty sure a precancel was never issued for the $5 stamp. I know my pages are very messy compared to many but I prefer to show my varieties on the same page as the regular series, we're all different and that's fine!


re: Who likes complete sets?
Your collection never ceases to amaze me!!
re: Who likes complete sets?
Remember I've been collecting for over 50 years, it takes a lot of time to accumulate as much stuff as I have!!!!!

re: Who likes complete sets?
Yes, though you seem to have something of everything. Especially great stamps!!
re: Who likes complete sets?
I was brought up by a single parent with very little money. That meant that I treasured everything I had and that turned me into a collector of almost anything - comics, books, glass, china, art and many other things and eventually stamps. Being a part time antique dealer for many years didn't hurt either. I am giving the proceeds from all this "stuff" to charity. Unfortunately this means all the collections will be broken up ... but at least I won't be around to see it!! Ari, you sound like a born collector as well so don't be afraid to experiment with other types of items. I enjoy looking at my 300+ oil lamps almost as much as my stamps, the same as my antique glass and china. Variety is good!!
Now, enough of this, lets get back to talking about complete sets of stamps!!
Here is one more treasure that I bought on my way to choir practice in 1963!! Not in great shape, but RARE!


re: Who likes complete sets?
Yes, I also collect coins a lot, and my mom collects china too! ( I do help her out with categorizing it.)
Joe that comic in your condition is worth 11K~
It is very kind that you are donating the proceeds to charity!
-Ari
re: Who likes complete sets?
The first page shows three series of US officials, Treasury, War and Postal Savings. The second series is only complete due to a gift from Jeremy!
The second page shows a series almost complete. The missing stamp will be picked up eventually!
Again, even though they are right side up on my computer they show up sideways. The only way I can fix it is a procedure that takes a fair bit of time and effort. I don't really see a problem leaving them as they are.



re: Who likes complete sets?
Really nice Classic stamps Harvey!
re: Who likes complete sets?
Thanks Ernie! These series are difficult because many sellers, especially on E-Bay, grossly overprice the stamps. It is especially difficult to find the Shanghai overprints at prices close to Scott's prices. Very frustrating and occasionally I just get fed up and overpay, I really hate doing that!!
re: Who likes complete sets?
Nice sets Joe.
Keep them coming people.
Jeremy
re: Who likes complete sets?
Two complete sets on this page - registered and war tax. Sorry it's a bit messy, just my way of collecting! Sorry sideways again, turn your monitor 90 deg. to the left!!


re: Who likes complete sets?
Joe, I think I have a registered label or two somewhere.
Are there any values to these?
re: Who likes complete sets?
Not sure exactly what you mean Ari. Could you post a scan?

re: Who likes complete sets?
I am not sure where they are, but here is what they look like!
2c and 5c if I recall correctly!

re: Who likes complete sets?
Harvey, they would go with the registered stamps in your photo at least I think they are registered stamps difficult to make out in your photo!
re: Who likes complete sets?
Sorry, but there is nothing wrong with my photo. It is sideways but perfectly readable!!
Note to members: For some reason my computer, possibly because of it's age, prefers to post pictures to this site sideways when they come from one of my two picture takers. Please put up with this since fixing it involves several steps. I find the pictures a bit annoying myself but they are perfectly readable. This only seems to annoy one person so maybe the rest of you could be patient with me! By the way, they are right side up on my computer!

re: Who likes complete sets?
I have no problems with your great photos, Joe... I just download, rotate 90 deg, and zoom in for a fantastic view. I really appreciate the hand written annotations as well. Great stuff!
re: Who likes complete sets?
Thanks Terry! I really appreciate the comment! I know it sometimes messes up the page but I find the comments useful and helps remind me what's happening with the stamps. When the time comes when someone has to break up (
) and dispose of my collection the comments will help the seller!

re: Who likes complete sets?
Finally completed France C8-C14 mint set for my worldwide airmail collection. Missing a couple of minor varieties, but I call it complete. Also, I obtained a VF MNH C15. It's only a single stamp, but that is a "complete" set as well.

I noticed the design which was stated to be a Caudron 635 "Simoun" aircraft flying over a view of Paris. In the set C8-C14, the aircraft is missing its tail fin (rudder)! The engraving appears to have been corrected in the issue of C15.


re: Who likes complete sets?
Terry,
That is a nice set and I'd call that complete too. Now the chase is on for you to find those minor varieties. Good luck with that endeavor. I also like the fact you brought up the difference in the planes on the stamps. That is very interesting. Thank you for sharing with us.
Jeremy

re: Who likes complete sets?
Set of Commemorative Labels produced by the Gravure Institute in Paris for the 1934 Air Post Exhibition held at the RHS Halls in London. The labels have the 'tabs' to the right advertising the paper supplier Samuel Jones & Co. The left side of the sheet (of 25) had 'tabs' describing the production method.




re: Who likes complete sets?
Not to the caliber of many of the other sets shown in this very enjoyable post, but earlier this year I got to visit the Franklin D Roosevelt Presidential Museum and Home in Hyde Park, New York. Combining a post card I bought at the gift shop with this set of FDR Memorial stamps brings back great memories of my most recent visit to New York

re: Who likes complete sets?
I don't really collect Angola but I really couldn't resist these two incredible nature series. What I decided to do is collect the Angola that fits into 1950 - 1955 which is Vol III of Scott's International album! Of course since it was via Tim's camera it shows up sideways!!! There is no easy way to fix this and with these two series it doesn't really matter. The next time I'll get him to do the photo sideways!!
EDIT: I checked Tim's camera and the image was sent right side up but when it showed up in my e-mail it was sideways. I had to reduce the size to make it fit here, turned the image and it shows up properly in my documents. It's when I load it here that it goes sideways again. It is possible to fix using print screens, cut and paste and transferal to a Word document, etc. but IMHO it's not worth the effort. This does not happen with Catherine's camera! So we have to live with it until I pick up a new camera! Life is way too short to let trivial things like this bother me!! Lie down sideways in front of your screen, do a few leg lifts while you're down there and call it exercise!



re: Who likes complete sets?


For Harvey. Nice sets indeed.
re: Who likes complete sets?
Thanks Michael!! Greatly appreciated!!
re: Who likes complete sets?
More stamps from Angola
Coat of Arms,first series issued in 1963

re: Who likes complete sets?
A couple of complete sets. The first is the set of Dutch officials connected the The International Court of Justice at the Hague. I have these because of the fact I collected UN complete to 1988 which led to Swiss Officials connected to UN offices (lots to still find) and this led me to the two sets shown below. The second is UN connected, the first is not. The pictures are not great because of the stock books but they're not too bad!


EDIT: I have some doubles in the lots. You can probably see them as being behind the regular stamp. If anyone wants these let me know and I'll mail them to you. I don't mind sending to the US, I'll just put them in a regular envelope and hope for the best! Send me a message or an email!
re: Who likes complete sets?






I DO! I DO! I DO! (quite partial to planes & trains)
There is magic in complete sets!

re: Who likes complete sets?
Just an FYI. I recently acquired a fairly nice Newfoundland collection. I will be adding half a dozen or more complete sets to my store over the next week.
(Hope it's OK to post this....if not let me know).