Where are all the stamp collectors?

Are any of you stamp collectors? I myself used to collect stamps before I became more involved with coins.

Where are the best discussion forums for philatelics? :computer:

 

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To answer the question in the thread title - probably on a stamp forum!

 

I used to collect stamps too...

 

I still do (nothing like TWO expensive hobbies.)

And I haven't found a stamp room of the same quality as this place.

 

But which forum? I can't locate any decent discussion on stamps! :computer:

 

I used to collect stamps. That the USPS started putting everybody who was anybody on a stamp. They just produced too many stamps with what I would regard as 'junk' topics. I just threw up my hands in frustraction. (and stopped buying).

I just hope the US mint doesnt follow down this path.

 

Do you mean like 5 different dollar coins and 5 different state quarters plus SF mint sets = 50 coins if you collect all the types:rolling: :rolling: Not to mention all the Commens!!!

I was at the post office the other day and while waiting noticed all the different stickers they sell and asked the postal worker if people still collected all these stickers and she said very few people nowadays not like in years past!

 

my dad was really into it when he was a kid, actually, this weekend he found his collection in his dads attic. Now he's thinking about getting back into it.

 

I inherited what I thought was a pretty awesome stamp collection. Alot of 100+ year old stamps, from all over the world. I have alot of stamps from countries that don't exist anymore. After doing a little research though, they don't appear to be worth much at all. Its still a cool collection to look at every once in a while though.

 

I used to collect U.S. and U.N. stamps and still have my old collection.

You might try the "PCGS" Collectors Universe forum HERE

 

i agree with taurus876, usps and foreign post offices treat collectors as cash cows, they issue so many stamps it's impossible to keep up. I gave up in the 80's, I have at least 10 albums, bought lots at auctions

 

Stamps seem so fragile. I'd be afraid to collect 'em because of that reason. Heck, I'm afraid to invest too much money into the paper money portion of my collection for that reason!

 

My nephew has my collection and I'll never get it back... Long story, short version... My mom gave it to my aunt (her sister) in 1990 who gave it to her grandson and she left a nice note explaining what she'd done. Sadly, my aunt was beginning to deal with Alzheimers then and now both (Mom and Aunt) are gone and so is my stamp collection.

It was a pretty good one with stamps from the late 1880's thru 1969 or so...

 

I collect coins and stamps the same way.
US only.
I start at a certain date and go BACKWARDS in time.
For coins, the date is 1964.
For stamps, the date is 1940.
State quarters are my only notable exception, but I only get P & D Uncs. No proofs.

 

I have a BIG cardboard box full of stamps that I have NO idea what any of them are worth.
I picked them up at a coin auction for $12.
It was just on a whim.
I'll probly sell them on eBay.

 

I, too, agree with Taurus876. I have a pretty good US stamp collection, especially for someone my age at the time. I did most of my collecting in the 70s and 80s. But I got married and had children. I couldn't afford the all the stamps coming out or have the time to put into it. I would really like to do it again along with my coins and commemorative Coke bottles, but I just don't have the time or money for it.

 

Nickelman pretty much hit it on the head with this one. The U.S. Mint is seeming to emulate stamps to an extent and that's what's killing stamps.

One of my local coin dealers is also very knowledgable on stamps. He has told me on MANY occasions that stamp collectors are literally dying out. A damn shame too.
Theser are people that picked up new designs as they came out. Of course they didn't have designs like Elvis' dog playing frisbee (just made that one up for dramatic effect).

I buy stamps from him at times. The old "ya gotta lick em" type for 90% face. Talking perfectly good stamps here and I use them on envelopes cuz it's cheaper than the post office. I know a lot of people that do this.

I've sold stamps on occasion and have also bought First Day Covers in bulk for a quarter each. Sell them at times with a starting bid of 99 cents. Depending on theme I may get no bids, one bid or in some cases $15.

Am I knocking stamps? NO WAY! I think they're cool - especially the older stuff. Bottom line is I don't feel the collector base is there and the USPS is VERY much to blame. It's already happening with the U.S. Mint unfortunately.

 

I used to collect stamps when I was a kid and still have the ones I did collect. I stopped like everyone else when they produced a new stamp for just about any and every thing possible. Same thing happened to Beanie Babies, Hot Wheel Cars and just about all hobbies that run thier course. Coins too should be topping out soon with all the excessive different types being pushed on the public.

 

I don't think coins are there yet, but the Mint, in my opinion, is getting dangerously close to wearing out the collector. I like the Statehood quarters, the Presidential dollars and the proposed special designs of the Cents. But, the Mint had better slow down!!! I think they are living dangerously.

 

Exactly. If they continue with the massive varieties, they will loose.