The core of my stamp collection is US plate blocks, which I’ve been filling in from Scott 551 to about the year 2000, and then collect modern US sheets. I really like Forever stamps since 2011 as they increase in value more than dominated stamps. I recently started collecting France pre-world word 2, Germany, including DDR plus I realized I almost have a stamp from every country in the world, so I’m on a mission to filling in those that I’m still missing. I love organizing my stamps in stock books, and dream of someday adding them into more personalized albums. It is a great hobby full of interesting discoveries.
Plate blocks were such a big deal for a while, but they seem to have fallen off in popularity. I bet that works out nicely for you. Oh, and what a range you collect--Forever stamps and classic Germany. I love it. I'm quite curious what countries you're still missing!
@@KensStampCollectioncountries I’m missing are Trieste, North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Slovenia, Moldova, French Guiana, Suriname, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Burkina-Faso, Guinea, Senegal, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Vanuatu, Micronesia, Marshall Island, New Caledonia, Norfolk Islands, Tonga, Niue, Wallis & Futuna, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Kiribati, Samoa, Cook Islands, and finally Pitcairn Islands. A lot of these would not be hard to track down, which makes it a doable collection goal, others might be tricky. I even have some fantasy countries like Republic of Buryatia, Zaragoza, Staffa, and found a Lundy Puffin in a mixed bag. I group countries by geography, so I can see how they changed with time, especially former colonies, rather than using political identity as most catalogues do under colonial powers. Thanks for the wonderful videos and happy collecting!
Oh, you seem so close to completion. Except for the 'stans' I think this should be straight forward. Pop me an email at kenflowers at comcast dot net. I have a bunch of those I'd love to send your way. By the way, another friend of the channel collects Scott #1 from all countries. Hi Ken. Perhaps a new challenge for you.
Terrific gift from Michael. Wow! The way I limit what I collect is, first off...not collecting past 1959 worldwide...nor past the 1980s as far as US. I inherited a couple collections and have been consolidating them in Scott Albums. I often run across "odd" stamps like old Cinderellas/ forgeries/ etc. Those I plop in empty spaces on the pages and write notes about what they are. I wouldn't buy stuff like that. I need the structure the albums provide...but eventually may take the time to put things like that (if there are too many) on an added blank page. I've got a pile of old sheets of US Christmas seals. That is one thing I'm not interested in. A lot about collecting comes down to space. I can't imagine saving all the packaging that more recent sets/ stamps come in. Some people love that, and that's where trading comes in handy. If I had a bunch of stuff that didn't fit in the albums I had, I would trade for things that do. Also, I'm lucky to have an old, BOB Scott album with pages for everything from revenues to cut squares. I find absolute delight in identifying and filling an empty spot in these albums, and revenues are gorgeous, in my opinion. Thanks again for another wonderful video:)
I think a lot of what we collect gets driven by the album pages we happen to have. I first got a Minute Man album, which pushed me to US stamps. But, if the minute man showed a block of 4, I collected the block of four, not the singles. There is at least one set that could legitimately be collected as a block of four or a strip of four. Scott showed a picture of the block, but I had a strip. I didn't know what to do.
This was an excellent episode Ken. I throughly enjoyed your presentation and you pose many interesting questions. What do I collect? Well, I haven’t been very good at narrowing it down but I am OK with that. One long time collector once said to me “You HAVE to specialize.” I disagree and was a little put out by his comment. I collect what I like and what grabs my interest or attention. Europe in general tends to be where I am drawn to but within that, I go in spurts; Iceland is most recent fascination (I just returned from a trip to that magical land). Commemoratives, definitives, BOB, even covers. For a time, I was hooked on African countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, etc. The history is so fascinating. Even topicals: maps on stamps and foxes mainly. So, I guess much like you, the stories the stamps tell and the education they provide are, to me, are endless. Keep the great work.
I feel the same about Iceland and Greenland stamps. I am Michael that send the stamps to Ken. I collect mini or micro states like the Panama Canal Zone, the UN, Andorra, San Marino, The Vatican, Monaco but my majors are Canada, U.S. France, Germany, Japan as well as British and French Empires. I will never have them all. I am going to bee 80 this year and just revived my collecting within the past year Some stamps are too expensive or unavailable so I buy in spurts of interest. I love the very old colonial stamps, overprints of all kinds, airmails, revenue stamps, Special Delivery, law stamps. I recently discovered Aland, a semi-autonomous group of islands between Finland and Sweden which are Swedish-speaking but belong to Finland. I just stumbled over the name while searching for other stamps. They started issuing stamps in 1984. You can fall down a rabbit hole sometimes. I recently watched a TH-cam video from the young South African chap living in the U.S. who runs Exploring Stamps. He is widing down his video making but spoke of an Estonian map stamp where German war maps from the First World War were used by Estonia to print stamps on the back due to a paper shortage. Well I went to online stores and catalogues to see if I could find them and saw all the other Estonian stamps and am quite taken by the designs of most of their stamps going right back to the beginning of the 20th century. I want to collect them now but I will have to buy only a little now and again out of interest in various issues as I only have so much money and I need it for my main 5 (Canada, US, France, Germany, Japan). I reduced my collection and sent it to Ken but I am in danger of climbing back on that horse as I see more deeply into other countries. I guess this is one of the joys of Philately though. Michael
People don't have to specialize--this is a no-rules hobby. If an item delights you, who's to deny that delight. I've never been to Iceland, but want to go. I've been surprised by how rare it is to find Iceland stamps. So far, no topicals for me, but I imagine someday ...
My collecting interests have changed over time. As a child, I would collect any stamp I could get a hold of. When I came back into collecting, I started with US. Then I got a pre-1940 WW collection in an auction - cheap. Then my interests focused on five European countried and then specific series in those countries - like Danish bi-colors or Germania issues. and more recently, I've gotten interested in cancels on stamps - Paris cancellations, numeric cancellations, ambulant cancellations and such. What a long strange trip its been....
I'm a topical collector mostly but I often buy stamps outside my main topics because I am an incurable esthete. This makes the more orthodox philatelist look at me like someone who just rode on the pig to Mecca. "You have to specialize!" I heard few times but I'm an explorer. I'm a guy who sees a rabbit hole and yells "Geronimo!". And I'm perfectly chaotic. The list of my topics and "keys" could considered a collection itself. Narrowing is the toughest thing for me - it's more like slowing the expansion. I have a little ADHD, I'm in my mid-life crisis and I had about 2 decades of living on a shoestring budget and denying myself many treats of life so now, when my financial situation is more or less stable and I can allow myself for a little endulging there is this awfull "I want this!" feeling every now and then. I like old postcards and covers for example and I set the bar on the end of the year 1918. In my pop culture collections (film/comics/literature etc) I'm trying to avoid purely speculative issues from exotic places (not to mention the tons of illegal stamps which, luckily, are so ugly that they don't tempt me at al). Although I'm focused on "real stamps" (the ones that could really be used in postal circulation to frank the mail) I collect the infamous "Disney Stamps" but it's pure sentiment - these are one of the first stamps my father bought me when I was a kid and started collection so it's kind of philatelic "guilty pleasure". I collect both used and mint. Sometimes used ones are just placeholders or, in case those self-adhesive abominations, the only way to get a single stamp that can put in the stock book and look like stamp not a sheet of stickers but the older, pre-WW2, 19th century stamps I prefer canceled - there's this "magic" in it.
Your enthusiasm is delightful. I think there is a bias that topical collecting is for kids, but that's just not right. You have fun with what you like. I love how you have so many diverse focus areas. I expect that will grow as you find more squirrels to chase.
I considered green stamps and other of the savings stamps by companies and not the post office collectible as such. when my mother passed i threw away a box full of s&h stamps and books. telegraph stamps are collectible in most countries since there were produced by post office for use as well as stamps for trains. i have saved the souvenir sheet envelopes. I saved them with the sheets in my album. same with booklet panes. i still have all the year sets until the early 2000's but the newer years sets are more for the books themselves than the stamps. Have been buying the yr sets without the books when possible
25:44 few things can be done with the pane of stamps 1- as you don’t collect you may run a giveaway 2- I personally store them in a separate binder with clear file covers…
I just found your video. Very nice video. I am 60 years old. I started collecting stamps in 1972, age 8.I now collect China and Hong- Kong. I was born in Paris, France so I have french stamps. My mother was born in Israel. I lived there for 29 years. I have a lot of israeli stamps, and lived in LosAngeles, so I have american stamps. I have world stamps. One country I really love is Yugoslavia. I love that collection.I have serb & Croatia stamps. But Yugoslavia is my favorite collection. David
We are the same age--probably started collecting about the same time, but you have so much more world experience than I do. That's great! What got you excited about Yugoslavia stamps? I did a video about them a few back, and have really loved starting that collection. Interesting history.
Hello. Ken. Thanks for answering. To answer your question about Yugoslavian stamps, I never had them, until a friend of my mother who was a professional stamp collector died. She gave me his entire collection, and these stamps, I think, are the most beautiful in the entire collection. But I have other stamps in other countries I love..I will not start to write every one of them, but the list is long. Let's keep in touch. David
@@KensStampCollection I really agree with you. And since 1992 that I lived in Israel to today ( I am back in France since 2 years), I never bought a stamp. Everything was given to me. I bought the albums, tweezers; magnifying glass catalogs, but no stamps. Again, all given to me, to this day. David
Hi Ken! I was struggling with what to do with my Canadian booklets just last week. 😊 I chose to mount them with photo corners, so I could open the booklet and look at the stamps inside. Especially with the earlier booklets like you showed, I'm fascinated with how they made up a normal price, like 8 stamps adding up to 50c or $1. So I wouldn't break the pane apart. I have that Millennium metal box set too. I mount the sheets in my collection and keep the packaging in pouches at the back of the album. And only because you asked, I try to collect postage stamps that reflect the actual country of issue. So no 'foreign' disney stamps, blatant topicals, etc. And I'll keep the forgeries, revenues, cinderellas, etc if I am able to learn the story behind them. For me, it's about writing about the history and culture of the country (including the postal service and design styles) and these if these 'oddballs' add to the story, I'll keep them. And I am getting better about moving on those stamps that don't improve the story I'm trying to tell.
I use photo corners for them too. They work well. Some of the US books seem to be 1 cent more than face. I like the idea of keeping them in a pouch at the back of the album. The older I get the more I appreciate the history in my collection.
I collect, among too many topics and countries, (US, Canada, Mexico, GB, Australia). What I do with the souvenir stamp booklets, regular stamp booklets, philatelic covers, maxim cards that I want to add to my collection is to put in album on a blank page using photo corner mounts, usually just past whatever page had the single/block of the stamp featured with the booklet, cover, etc. Not all are collected - only the ones I like. I gave up years ago trying to be a "completist" Keep material for an issue close together. Too bad that box didn't have a nice bunch of current Canadian postage stamps to ship it.... VERY generous shipment from Michael !
I use photo corners for those kinds of things too--the clear ones. I can never seem to get them on just right though. Oh well. I bet your pages look great!
This is a great episode, Ken. So many questions on which I don't have the answers. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and my head is spinning with so many choices of various philatelic items that are collectible. Wow! Sometimes they come upon your path and you get them without actively seeking them, ... and what to do with them as you asked. As you know, I am a relatively beginner collector who largely bought kiloware, stamp mixes, old collections etc. so far. I haven't come across most of the variety of items you mentioned. They are not really in my interest field yet. The only question that I came across so far is what to do and how to regard CTO stamps, some covers and FDCs, and naturally souvenir sheets which are different from collecting single stamps or variations thereof. I largely focuses on and enjoy "normal" postally used or mint stamps so far, some in souvenir sheets. And so far I am drawn to both mint and postally used stamps, and both of the same stamp. One choice and question I also came across so far, is what to do with different format variations (pairs, rows, blocks etc.) of single stamps. Should I keep all formats, should I break them up????! Do you have an answer for that? I will probably be confronted with other choices as I progress. Thank you again for an excellent episode, and the gift from Michael is so generous and wonderful, and that some stamps included really grow your collection is a huge bonus.
I love your plan for one mint and one used. As for formats, I think you have to find what calls to you. A cop out, I know. I didn’t collect German stamps until I got a huge head start of a collection in a stock book, and they called to me.
Yet again another great vid. I am a "worldie". Been at it for approx 60 years. As such, I am a member of the ISWSC. I try to collect only up to 1940 but that doesn't always work. My secondary limit is up to 1970. I really try to not collect beyond that, with one exception. I am of Scandinavian heritage so I am also a member of the SCC. I try to keep up with that collection as much as possible. It is international in scope but has quite a few chapters in the US, mainly in larger cities. I am also a member of the Rocky Mountain Philatelic Library and the APS. You present interesting questions I don't collect booklets either but I don't throw them away or break them up,. I put them in a glassine, cut to shape and hinge the glassine to facing page of the particular stamp. Saving envelopes, tins, etc is mainly a selling concern if you decide to dispose of your collection. I would mount the stamps or sheets in my album but not throw anything away. When it comes time to sell, original packaging is a must. Just as model train, Barbie Doll, or Superman collectors. WIthout the original box, in mint condition, value is way down. Again, I love your vids. Keep them coming.
As far as the GB issues I have seen or been shown that a lot of GB collectors collect or save everything. Most save every booklet position and whatever that is produced whether sheet or coil and some collect both the used copies and mint as well.
the worse thing is going to a dealer with a collection to sell, seems nothings worth anything and the only value is in the rarities, I think its sad, a world wide album full 50 bucks, a single queen Victoria 100s-1000s, ultimately collect for your own satisfaction or for your own enjoyment. No right or wrong... good video ken keep it up!
Yeah, for the most part, collections are made up of stamps that we all bought for very little money, which means the result sells for very little money. I'd say that most people who spend money for rarities also don't get the ROI they might hope for. For me, it's better to collect for the fun than the value, although I do love stumbling upon something more valuable. Still, nothing in the 1000s in my collection.
Great video Ken! I collect the world and primarily prefer postally used. Somehow in some way I believe a post mark on a stamp completes the stamp. As long as it’s not a killer or a sharpie! Love ❤️ it!
Silk (another stamp TH-cam person) is working on a collection of nice early US cancels. I agree, great cancels can make a stamp. An uncanceled stamp is in some ways just the promise of being a stamp when it grows up.
As always, a great video Ken! As a simple, but admittedly incomplete solution, consider trading the presentation packs with someone who has the bare stamps? Just a thought. Thanks for all your good work Ken. It's truly appreciated!
That's a great question Ken! I started out collecting US in a Scott Minuteman album (I seem to recall you used one as well), then was given the Canadian version during a visit to Vancouver, BC. My dad collected German stamps and Scandinavia, and we worked out a deal where I would soak kiloware in return for some of the stamps. I later took over a 2-volume Scott International and it was worldwide from there. I also have lots of sub-collections like topicals, etc. I prefer postally used stamps so spend my limited budget getting box lots or kiloware that have good used material. If my Minkus Global albums have a place for a "wallpaper" stamp I will put one in the album but won't seek this material; however I do enjoy stamps from certain counties that were mostly made for collectors like the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and DDR. I do limit my collecting to stamps so pass on covers, cinderellas, ration and loyalty book stamps, Christmas seals, stationary, etc. to others who enjoy those things. I also remove stamps from anything they came in so if I get a year set or presentation pack I remove the stamps and discard the materials unless they are really special; unfortunately I have found many damaged stamps within presentation packs that degraded over time. I do preserve intact booklets; ideally opened in a sheet protector so you can see the booklet art and the stamps inside. What a great video Ken - you really identified so many questions that come up as we build our collections!
Good memory -- I do still have (and use) my Minuteman album. It's interesting to remember that packaging may be damaging to the stamps. In those cases, it's no doubt better to get them out of there. I'm also a big fan of sorting through lots. That's probably obvious. In the few times I've bought singles, I'm amazed at how little fun I get from mounting them and setting them in their spaces. "Is that it? Is it over now?"
@@KensStampCollection I recently saw a Minuteman and the Canadian equivalent barely used at my local stamp shop in a box lot... I just about got that lot to re-create my old collection lol but had spent my monthly allowance. I traded most of my US to my dad but so much US stamps end up in every box lot I have a new collection to organize lol
In the past, collectors usually bought a stamp album and tried to fill in the spaces. Now, people often make their own album pages or use a stock book, tailoring everything to their own particular collecting interests. The advantage of the old system is that collectors had more in common with one another. You were seeking the same items and had knowledge of the same stamp subjects. There's more individuality now, and there are a lot of good things about that, but it diminishes the sense of community that once existed.
This is such a great point. I had thought of the album as driving conformity, limiting what people collect. I hadn't thought of its value driving community. Wonderful thought.
I consider my stamps in 2 parts- my collection and my accumulation. Started as a kid... When I got back to collecting I decided worldwide was too much, and focused on US singles. I recently decided to cut that off at 2010 (basically pre-forever). I'm just not that interested in most new issues and would rather use the funds toward classics. I also have a few binders and various US items other than singles. I do have a large accumulation of world and have recently started collecting some topicals. I have sold, traded and given away many things that don't fit in my collection.
How do you manage your accumulation side? Is it just a big pile of loose stamps, or do you have some organization to that? Oh, I can feel my anxiety kicking in--that's a "me" problem. I still have lots of duplicates, and I enjoy when I can give them away.
@@KensStampCollection Well, it's a whole lot more organized than it used to be...I totally get the 'anxiety' part as it can be overwhelming. The accumulation 'happened' over a long time. (Both in stamps and other things} Not like a hoarding thing, but to some it may look that way. LOL. A lot of it was 'circumstantial acquisitions' that I never planned to get, let alone keep, just need to 'rehome'. Was not that long ago that I got the collection vs accumulation thing set in my mind. Have been refining what is really of interest to me in that time. As I do, the separation becomes clearer, and it's easier to part with the rest. I have been focusing on the larger items. Most of the binders and better stuff is now separated. My collection is separate and right at my desk, 'maybe keep' goes on another bookshelf. The 'don't want ' is boxed and work toward getting rid of - not always easy even to give away. I do have lots of loose stamps in big boxes. I am still finding some for my collection in those. So, not quite ready to push them out the door, but I have given away many 1000s.
I mostly collect long running definitives as my core collecting areas, and some topicals as well. Now that you mentioned forgeries, I would want to have a few Sperati stamps, if some would become affordable someday 😄
Hello and bonjour, Ken. I do collect French FDCs, American FDCs (only Artcraft) from 1939 to 1950, 18th, 19th century mail (enveloppe and letter), WWI and WWII era mail, and various philatelic documents. By the way, I love your channel! Greetings from Provence. Laurent
Bonjour--FDC flooded the market for a while, and the fad seems to have faded. I think they are beautiful, but they take up so much space. I think postal history is wonderful, but I haven't gotten the hang of sorting things in boxes like envelope collectors need to do.
@@KensStampCollection They do take up lots of space, but I can't help but being fascinated by them. The cachet designed for the specific stamp tells a story as well. If, by any chance, you do have some 1939-1950 Artcraft FDCs to trade with me in exchange of French stamps, that would be awesome. Wishing you all the very best from sunny Provence.
Hi Ken. My copy of the Canadian Peace souvenir box is split up. I use the box to keep my current usable Canadian stamps for mailing and the souvenir sheets are in my souvenir, miniature sheets albums that have large clear pockets so I can see them. As for the souvenir peace quarter, since I don't collect currency, I'll just spend it. Also the two stamps that appear to be faked overprints, I have had them since a teenager and really had no eye or expertise at checking them out. I have had stamps as I got older that I learned were bogus and I just got rid of them. I suppose there is a place for collectors who want to simply have a curio album of fakes and forgeries as an historical part of the whole philatelic word. In any case, I enjoyed the video and am glad that many of the stamps filled some gaps in your collection.
Oh, hi! Nice to hear from you so soon. I like the idea of using the box to store something else for the collection--that way it still has a stamping life. I've had so much fun with these stamps.
Collect how you want to collect. I have several 'stamp' related items that don't fit on a page, the Millennium Keepsake box being one of them. It's up to what you enjoy. I have, several times, come across stamps that I don't normally collect but they end up in my collection anyway. I normally don't collect US stamps. I have enough trouble with trying to keep things focused on Canada and the rest of the Commonwealth. However I recently purchased a large bag of mixed stamps and now have over 100 US Precancelled stamps, looks like another topic has been added to my collection. BTW, early on you showed a King George V, 1 cent (top left of the page) that's a Canadian Precancelled stamp (couldn't make out the city and province).
Thanks for the information about the precancel. I hadn't recognized it as that. It's says "Montreal Quebec." I'll show it more respect now that I know. US precancels have a strong pull on people, myself included. So far I've resisted collecting them. In fact, you remind me that I have an old booklet full of them that I found in a lot. I put it in a drawer, and of course mostly forgot about it.
Hi Ken, Have you received my package yet, if not let me know.This question that you asked us...To me i collected my country that i lived in [New Zealand] and was part of my ancestors[Greece and Britain]. i then thought of collecting Cook Islands as they were close to NZ and they were beautiful stamps. When i arrived in Greece in 1979 i started collecting Cyprus as well. I make my own pages too with Album Easy.
Hi Roger; not yet. I had one package take two months to arrive, but I haven't lost one yet. Your two focus areas--New Zealand and Greece--have such a wealth of offshoots to keep you busy. I have a few Cypriot stamps that I really enjoy, they are full of history. And, I agree that NZ stamps are lovely.
Yes many of they are quite beautiful stamps especially my # 1 favourite country Czechoslovakia today Czech Republic and Slovakia, I like they ( avant-garde?, contemporary? design ) and printing method ( Engraved? ) and CCCP and other Eastern block propaganda of communist ( Red ) but other large side like Disney stamp style, no! 😜Hope you understand and sorry on my English 😁
For another twist see “ the world of Donald Evans” a book from the 1970s that has extensive amounts of stamps depicted in great detail from a fictional set of countries. I happen to have an edition and have no idea if the idea was emulated in the following decades. Collectible as an album? Just an art book? Tragically Donald lost his life in a fire not long after publishing.
Oh, thanks for the pointer. I hadn't seen that before. Too bad about his passing. I wonder if any of his work has accidentally ended up in a real-life collection.
@@KensStampCollection Don't collect all countries. Collect only proof & rare stamps in a country you like. If you can do that, then, you will have an unique collection unlike other people. Your unique collection will attract international Investors & postal museums !
The core of my stamp collection is US plate blocks, which I’ve been filling in from Scott 551 to about the year 2000, and then collect modern US sheets. I really like Forever stamps since 2011 as they increase in value more than dominated stamps. I recently started collecting France pre-world word 2, Germany, including DDR plus I realized I almost have a stamp from every country in the world, so I’m on a mission to filling in those that I’m still missing. I love organizing my stamps in stock books, and dream of someday adding them into more personalized albums. It is a great hobby full of interesting discoveries.
Plate blocks were such a big deal for a while, but they seem to have fallen off in popularity. I bet that works out nicely for you. Oh, and what a range you collect--Forever stamps and classic Germany. I love it.
I'm quite curious what countries you're still missing!
@@KensStampCollectioncountries I’m missing are Trieste, North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Slovenia, Moldova, French Guiana, Suriname, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Burkina-Faso, Guinea, Senegal, Sudan, South Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Vanuatu, Micronesia, Marshall Island, New Caledonia, Norfolk Islands, Tonga, Niue, Wallis & Futuna, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Kiribati, Samoa, Cook Islands, and finally Pitcairn Islands. A lot of these would not be hard to track down, which makes it a doable collection goal, others might be tricky. I even have some fantasy countries like Republic of Buryatia, Zaragoza, Staffa, and found a Lundy Puffin in a mixed bag. I group countries by geography, so I can see how they changed with time, especially former colonies, rather than using political identity as most catalogues do under colonial powers. Thanks for the wonderful videos and happy collecting!
Oh, you seem so close to completion. Except for the 'stans' I think this should be straight forward. Pop me an email at kenflowers at comcast dot net. I have a bunch of those I'd love to send your way.
By the way, another friend of the channel collects Scott #1 from all countries. Hi Ken. Perhaps a new challenge for you.
Terrific gift from Michael. Wow! The way I limit what I collect is, first off...not collecting past 1959 worldwide...nor past the 1980s as far as US. I inherited a couple collections and have been consolidating them in Scott Albums. I often run across "odd" stamps like old Cinderellas/ forgeries/ etc. Those I plop in empty spaces on the pages and write notes about what they are. I wouldn't buy stuff like that. I need the structure the albums provide...but eventually may take the time to put things like that (if there are too many) on an added blank page.
I've got a pile of old sheets of US Christmas seals. That is one thing I'm not interested in. A lot about collecting comes down to space. I can't imagine saving all the packaging that more recent sets/ stamps come in. Some people love that, and that's where trading comes in handy. If I had a bunch of stuff that didn't fit in the albums I had, I would trade for things that do.
Also, I'm lucky to have an old, BOB Scott album with pages for everything from revenues to cut squares. I find absolute delight in identifying and filling an empty spot in these albums, and revenues are gorgeous, in my opinion. Thanks again for another wonderful video:)
I think a lot of what we collect gets driven by the album pages we happen to have. I first got a Minute Man album, which pushed me to US stamps. But, if the minute man showed a block of 4, I collected the block of four, not the singles. There is at least one set that could legitimately be collected as a block of four or a strip of four. Scott showed a picture of the block, but I had a strip. I didn't know what to do.
This was an excellent episode Ken. I throughly enjoyed your presentation and you pose many interesting questions. What do I collect? Well, I haven’t been very good at narrowing it down but I am OK with that. One long time collector once said to me “You HAVE to specialize.” I disagree and was a little put out by his comment. I collect what I like and what grabs my interest or attention. Europe in general tends to be where I am drawn to but within that, I go in spurts; Iceland is most recent fascination (I just returned from a trip to that magical land). Commemoratives, definitives, BOB, even covers. For a time, I was hooked on African countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, etc. The history is so fascinating. Even topicals: maps on stamps and foxes mainly.
So, I guess much like you, the stories the stamps tell and the education they provide are, to me, are endless. Keep the great work.
I feel the same about Iceland and Greenland stamps. I am Michael that send the stamps to Ken. I collect mini or micro states like the Panama Canal Zone, the UN, Andorra, San Marino, The Vatican, Monaco but my majors are Canada, U.S. France, Germany, Japan as well as British and French Empires. I will never have them all. I am going to bee 80 this year and just revived my collecting within the past year Some stamps are too expensive or unavailable so I buy in spurts of interest. I love the very old colonial stamps, overprints of all kinds, airmails, revenue stamps, Special Delivery, law stamps. I recently discovered Aland, a semi-autonomous group of islands between Finland and Sweden which are Swedish-speaking but belong to Finland. I just stumbled over the name while searching for other stamps. They started issuing stamps in 1984. You can fall down a rabbit hole sometimes. I recently watched a TH-cam video from the young South African chap living in the U.S. who runs Exploring Stamps. He is widing down his video making but spoke of an Estonian map stamp where German war maps from the First World War were used by Estonia to print stamps on the back due to a paper shortage. Well I went to online stores and catalogues to see if I could find them and saw all the other Estonian stamps and am quite taken by the designs of most of their stamps going right back to the beginning of the 20th century. I want to collect them now but I will have to buy only a little now and again out of interest in various issues as I only have so much money and I need it for my main 5 (Canada, US, France, Germany, Japan). I reduced my collection and sent it to Ken but I am in danger of climbing back on that horse as I see more deeply into other countries. I guess this is one of the joys of Philately though. Michael
People don't have to specialize--this is a no-rules hobby. If an item delights you, who's to deny that delight. I've never been to Iceland, but want to go. I've been surprised by how rare it is to find Iceland stamps. So far, no topicals for me, but I imagine someday ...
"You have to specialize" - been there, seen that...
My collecting interests have changed over time. As a child, I would collect any stamp I could get a hold of. When I came back into collecting, I started with US. Then I got a pre-1940 WW collection in an auction - cheap. Then my interests focused on five European countried and then specific series in those countries - like Danish bi-colors or Germania issues. and more recently, I've gotten interested in cancels on stamps - Paris cancellations, numeric cancellations, ambulant cancellations and such. What a long strange trip its been....
Pretty soon you’re just going to collect variants of one stamp
I'm a topical collector mostly but I often buy stamps outside my main topics because I am an incurable esthete. This makes the more orthodox philatelist look at me like someone who just rode on the pig to Mecca. "You have to specialize!" I heard few times but I'm an explorer. I'm a guy who sees a rabbit hole and yells "Geronimo!". And I'm perfectly chaotic. The list of my topics and "keys" could considered a collection itself.
Narrowing is the toughest thing for me - it's more like slowing the expansion. I have a little ADHD, I'm in my mid-life crisis and I had about 2 decades of living on a shoestring budget and denying myself many treats of life so now, when my financial situation is more or less stable and I can allow myself for a little endulging there is this awfull "I want this!" feeling every now and then.
I like old postcards and covers for example and I set the bar on the end of the year 1918. In my pop culture collections (film/comics/literature etc) I'm trying to avoid purely speculative issues from exotic places (not to mention the tons of illegal stamps which, luckily, are so ugly that they don't tempt me at al). Although I'm focused on "real stamps" (the ones that could really be used in postal circulation to frank the mail) I collect the infamous "Disney Stamps" but it's pure sentiment - these are one of the first stamps my father bought me when I was a kid and started collection so it's kind of philatelic "guilty pleasure".
I collect both used and mint. Sometimes used ones are just placeholders or, in case those self-adhesive abominations, the only way to get a single stamp that can put in the stock book and look like stamp not a sheet of stickers but the older, pre-WW2, 19th century stamps I prefer canceled - there's this "magic" in it.
Your enthusiasm is delightful. I think there is a bias that topical collecting is for kids, but that's just not right. You have fun with what you like. I love how you have so many diverse focus areas. I expect that will grow as you find more squirrels to chase.
I considered green stamps and other of the savings stamps by companies and not the post office collectible as such. when my mother passed i threw away a box full of s&h stamps and books. telegraph stamps are collectible in most countries since there were produced by post office for use as well as stamps for trains. i have saved the souvenir sheet envelopes. I saved them with the sheets in my album. same with booklet panes. i still have all the year sets until the early 2000's but the newer years sets are more for the books themselves than the stamps. Have been buying the yr sets without the books when possible
Produced by the post office -- That's a really useful measure. Although, I agree, those books just waste paper to me. I can't imagine reading them.
25:44 few things can be done with the pane of stamps 1- as you don’t collect you may run a giveaway 2- I personally store them in a separate binder with clear file covers…
Both great ideas.
I just found your video. Very nice video. I am 60 years old. I started collecting stamps in 1972, age 8.I now collect China and Hong- Kong. I was born in Paris, France so I have french stamps. My mother was born in Israel. I lived there for 29 years. I have a lot of israeli stamps, and lived in LosAngeles, so I have american stamps. I have world stamps. One country I really love is Yugoslavia. I love that collection.I have serb & Croatia stamps. But Yugoslavia is my favorite collection. David
We are the same age--probably started collecting about the same time, but you have so much more world experience than I do. That's great! What got you excited about Yugoslavia stamps? I did a video about them a few back, and have really loved starting that collection. Interesting history.
Hello. Ken. Thanks for answering. To answer your question about Yugoslavian stamps, I never had them, until a friend of my mother who was a professional stamp collector died. She gave me his entire collection, and these stamps, I think, are the most beautiful in the entire collection. But I have other stamps in other countries I love..I will not start to write every one of them, but the list is long. Let's keep in touch. David
What a nice way to expand your collection!
@@KensStampCollection I really agree with you. And since 1992 that I lived in Israel to today ( I am back in France since 2 years), I never bought a stamp. Everything was given to me. I bought the albums, tweezers; magnifying glass catalogs, but no stamps. Again, all given to me, to this day. David
That's an amazing thing--the stamp collector who never bought a stamp. I love that.
I enjoy collecting the classic era.
My favorite too
Hi Ken! I was struggling with what to do with my Canadian booklets just last week. 😊 I chose to mount them with photo corners, so I could open the booklet and look at the stamps inside. Especially with the earlier booklets like you showed, I'm fascinated with how they made up a normal price, like 8 stamps adding up to 50c or $1. So I wouldn't break the pane apart. I have that Millennium metal box set too. I mount the sheets in my collection and keep the packaging in pouches at the back of the album.
And only because you asked, I try to collect postage stamps that reflect the actual country of issue. So no 'foreign' disney stamps, blatant topicals, etc. And I'll keep the forgeries, revenues, cinderellas, etc if I am able to learn the story behind them. For me, it's about writing about the history and culture of the country (including the postal service and design styles) and these if these 'oddballs' add to the story, I'll keep them. And I am getting better about moving on those stamps that don't improve the story I'm trying to tell.
I use photo corners for them too. They work well. Some of the US books seem to be 1 cent more than face. I like the idea of keeping them in a pouch at the back of the album. The older I get the more I appreciate the history in my collection.
I collect, among too many topics and countries, (US, Canada, Mexico, GB, Australia). What I do with the souvenir stamp booklets, regular stamp booklets, philatelic covers, maxim cards that I want to add to my collection is to put in album on a blank page using photo corner mounts, usually just past whatever page had the single/block of the stamp featured with the booklet, cover, etc. Not all are collected - only the ones I like. I gave up years ago trying to be a "completist"
Keep material for an issue close together. Too bad that box didn't have a nice bunch of current Canadian postage stamps to ship it.... VERY generous shipment from Michael !
I use photo corners for those kinds of things too--the clear ones. I can never seem to get them on just right though. Oh well. I bet your pages look great!
This is a great episode, Ken. So many questions on which I don't have the answers. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and my head is spinning with so many choices of various philatelic items that are collectible. Wow! Sometimes they come upon your path and you get them without actively seeking them, ... and what to do with them as you asked. As you know, I am a relatively beginner collector who largely bought kiloware, stamp mixes, old collections etc. so far. I haven't come across most of the variety of items you mentioned. They are not really in my interest field yet. The only question that I came across so far is what to do and how to regard CTO stamps, some covers and FDCs, and naturally souvenir sheets which are different from collecting single stamps or variations thereof. I largely focuses on and enjoy "normal" postally used or mint stamps so far, some in souvenir sheets. And so far I am drawn to both mint and postally used stamps, and both of the same stamp. One choice and question I also came across so far, is what to do with different format variations (pairs, rows, blocks etc.) of single stamps. Should I keep all formats, should I break them up????! Do you have an answer for that? I will probably be confronted with other choices as I progress. Thank you again for an excellent episode, and the gift from Michael is so generous and wonderful, and that some stamps included really grow your collection is a huge bonus.
I love your plan for one mint and one used. As for formats, I think you have to find what calls to you. A cop out, I know. I didn’t collect German stamps until I got a huge head start of a collection in a stock book, and they called to me.
@@KensStampCollection Yes, I think one can follow your gut. It talks to you. Thanks again for that excellent video!!!
I have these yugolavian stamps and Montenegro stamps. I love them.
Such nice designs.
@@KensStampCollection Very nice, indeed!
Yet again another great vid. I am a "worldie". Been at it for approx 60 years. As such, I am a member of the ISWSC. I try to collect only up to 1940 but that doesn't always work. My secondary limit is up to 1970. I really try to not collect beyond that, with one exception. I am of Scandinavian heritage so I am also a member of the SCC. I try to keep up with that collection as much as possible. It is international in scope but has quite a few chapters in the US, mainly in larger cities. I am also a member of the Rocky Mountain Philatelic Library and the APS. You present interesting questions I don't collect booklets either but I don't throw them away or break them up,. I put them in a glassine, cut to shape and hinge the glassine to facing page of the particular stamp. Saving envelopes, tins, etc is mainly a selling concern if you decide to dispose of your collection. I would mount the stamps or sheets in my album but not throw anything away. When it comes time to sell, original packaging is a must. Just as model train, Barbie Doll, or Superman collectors. WIthout the original box, in mint condition, value is way down. Again, I love your vids. Keep them coming.
Thanks Jeff! I like your date limits, and your willingness to make exceptions. I like making your own mounts out of glassines. Good call!
As far as the GB issues I have seen or been shown that a lot of GB collectors collect or save everything. Most save every booklet position and whatever that is produced whether sheet or coil and some collect both the used copies and mint as well.
I've seen that too, especially with the Victoria issues.
the worse thing is going to a dealer with a collection to sell, seems nothings worth anything and the only value is in the rarities, I think its sad, a world wide album full 50 bucks, a single queen Victoria 100s-1000s, ultimately collect for your own satisfaction or for your own enjoyment. No right or wrong... good video ken keep it up!
Yeah, for the most part, collections are made up of stamps that we all bought for very little money, which means the result sells for very little money. I'd say that most people who spend money for rarities also don't get the ROI they might hope for. For me, it's better to collect for the fun than the value, although I do love stumbling upon something more valuable. Still, nothing in the 1000s in my collection.
Great video Ken! I collect the world and primarily prefer postally used. Somehow in some way I believe a post mark on a stamp completes the stamp. As long as it’s not a killer or a sharpie! Love ❤️ it!
Silk (another stamp TH-cam person) is working on a collection of nice early US cancels. I agree, great cancels can make a stamp. An uncanceled stamp is in some ways just the promise of being a stamp when it grows up.
I like postage dues, back of book stuff worldwide. Anything 1940 and earlier
I've always liked the look of those stamps, but haven't gotten into collecting them. What a nice collection.
As always, a great video Ken! As a simple, but admittedly incomplete solution, consider trading the presentation packs with someone who has the bare stamps? Just a thought. Thanks for all your good work Ken. It's truly appreciated!
I think that's a great idea
I collect Japanese stamps,birds,butterflies,lighthouses.
Those are some solid focus areas. Some of the nicest stamps have birds, butterflies and lighthouses. And I love the colors on Japanese stamps!
That's a great question Ken! I started out collecting US in a Scott Minuteman album (I seem to recall you used one as well), then was given the Canadian version during a visit to Vancouver, BC. My dad collected German stamps and Scandinavia, and we worked out a deal where I would soak kiloware in return for some of the stamps. I later took over a 2-volume Scott International and it was worldwide from there. I also have lots of sub-collections like topicals, etc. I prefer postally used stamps so spend my limited budget getting box lots or kiloware that have good used material. If my Minkus Global albums have a place for a "wallpaper" stamp I will put one in the album but won't seek this material; however I do enjoy stamps from certain counties that were mostly made for collectors like the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and DDR. I do limit my collecting to stamps so pass on covers, cinderellas, ration and loyalty book stamps, Christmas seals, stationary, etc. to others who enjoy those things. I also remove stamps from anything they came in so if I get a year set or presentation pack I remove the stamps and discard the materials unless they are really special; unfortunately I have found many damaged stamps within presentation packs that degraded over time. I do preserve intact booklets; ideally opened in a sheet protector so you can see the booklet art and the stamps inside. What a great video Ken - you really identified so many questions that come up as we build our collections!
Good memory -- I do still have (and use) my Minuteman album.
It's interesting to remember that packaging may be damaging to the stamps. In those cases, it's no doubt better to get them out of there.
I'm also a big fan of sorting through lots. That's probably obvious. In the few times I've bought singles, I'm amazed at how little fun I get from mounting them and setting them in their spaces. "Is that it? Is it over now?"
@@KensStampCollection I recently saw a Minuteman and the Canadian equivalent barely used at my local stamp shop in a box lot... I just about got that lot to re-create my old collection lol but had spent my monthly allowance. I traded most of my US to my dad but so much US stamps end up in every box lot I have a new collection to organize lol
Tempting, I'm sure.
In the past, collectors usually bought a stamp album and tried to fill in the spaces. Now, people often make their own album pages or use a stock book, tailoring everything to their own particular collecting interests. The advantage of the old system is that collectors had more in common with one another. You were seeking the same items and had knowledge of the same stamp subjects. There's more individuality now, and there are a lot of good things about that, but it diminishes the sense of community that once existed.
This is such a great point. I had thought of the album as driving conformity, limiting what people collect. I hadn't thought of its value driving community. Wonderful thought.
I consider my stamps in 2 parts- my collection and my accumulation. Started as a kid... When I got back to collecting I decided worldwide was too much, and focused on US singles. I recently decided to cut that off at 2010 (basically pre-forever). I'm just not that interested in most new issues and would rather use the funds toward classics. I also have a few binders and various US items other than singles. I do have a large accumulation of world and have recently started collecting some topicals. I have sold, traded and given away many things that don't fit in my collection.
How do you manage your accumulation side? Is it just a big pile of loose stamps, or do you have some organization to that? Oh, I can feel my anxiety kicking in--that's a "me" problem. I still have lots of duplicates, and I enjoy when I can give them away.
@@KensStampCollection Well, it's a whole lot more organized than it used to be...I totally get the 'anxiety' part as it can be overwhelming. The accumulation 'happened' over a long time. (Both in stamps and other things} Not like a hoarding thing, but to some it may look that way. LOL. A lot of it was 'circumstantial acquisitions' that I never planned to get, let alone keep, just need to 'rehome'. Was not that long ago that I got the collection vs accumulation thing set in my mind. Have been refining what is really of interest to me in that time. As I do, the separation becomes clearer, and it's easier to part with the rest.
I have been focusing on the larger items. Most of the binders and better stuff is now separated. My collection is separate and right at my desk, 'maybe keep' goes on another bookshelf. The 'don't want ' is boxed and work toward getting rid of - not always easy even to give away. I do have lots of loose stamps in big boxes. I am still finding some for my collection in those. So, not quite ready to push them out the door, but I have given away many 1000s.
Okay, I feel better. Keep, maybe keep, and give away. I agree. It's not always easy to give away stamps.
I mostly collect long running definitives as my core collecting areas, and some topicals as well. Now that you mentioned forgeries, I would want to have a few Sperati stamps, if some would become affordable someday 😄
I’m interested in named forgeries too
Hello and bonjour, Ken. I do collect French FDCs, American FDCs (only Artcraft) from 1939 to 1950, 18th, 19th century mail (enveloppe and letter), WWI and WWII era mail, and various philatelic documents. By the way, I love your channel! Greetings from Provence. Laurent
Bonjour--FDC flooded the market for a while, and the fad seems to have faded. I think they are beautiful, but they take up so much space. I think postal history is wonderful, but I haven't gotten the hang of sorting things in boxes like envelope collectors need to do.
@@KensStampCollection They do take up lots of space, but I can't help but being fascinated by them. The cachet designed for the specific stamp tells a story as well. If, by any chance, you do have some 1939-1950 Artcraft FDCs to trade with me in exchange of French stamps, that would be awesome. Wishing you all the very best from sunny Provence.
I'll take a look -- I have some first day covers, but I'm not sure the source.
@@KensStampCollection Thank you and merci beaucoup, Ken !
@@KensStampCollection Also, let me know what you are looking for in French stamps.
Hi Ken. My copy of the Canadian Peace souvenir box is split up. I use the box to keep my current usable Canadian stamps for mailing and the souvenir sheets are in my souvenir, miniature sheets albums that have large clear pockets so I can see them. As for the souvenir peace quarter, since I don't collect currency, I'll just spend it. Also the two stamps that appear to be faked overprints, I have had them since a teenager and really had no eye or expertise at checking them out. I have had stamps as I got older that I learned were bogus and I just got rid of them. I suppose there is a place for collectors who want to simply have a curio album of fakes and forgeries as an historical part of the whole philatelic word. In any case, I enjoyed the video and am glad that many of the stamps filled some gaps in your collection.
Oh, hi! Nice to hear from you so soon. I like the idea of using the box to store something else for the collection--that way it still has a stamping life. I've had so much fun with these stamps.
Collect how you want to collect. I have several 'stamp' related items that don't fit on a page, the Millennium Keepsake box being one of them. It's up to what you enjoy. I have, several times, come across stamps that I don't normally collect but they end up in my collection anyway. I normally don't collect US stamps. I have enough trouble with trying to keep things focused on Canada and the rest of the Commonwealth. However I recently purchased a large bag of mixed stamps and now have over 100 US Precancelled stamps, looks like another topic has been added to my collection. BTW, early on you showed a King George V, 1 cent (top left of the page) that's a Canadian Precancelled stamp (couldn't make out the city and province).
Thanks for the information about the precancel. I hadn't recognized it as that. It's says "Montreal Quebec." I'll show it more respect now that I know. US precancels have a strong pull on people, myself included. So far I've resisted collecting them. In fact, you remind me that I have an old booklet full of them that I found in a lot. I put it in a drawer, and of course mostly forgot about it.
👍👍👍
your stamps in the box I would place in a picture frame to have on show
That a good idea
Hi Ken, Have you received my package yet, if not let me know.This question that you asked us...To me i collected my country that i lived in [New Zealand] and was part of my ancestors[Greece and Britain]. i then thought of collecting Cook Islands as they were close to NZ and they were beautiful stamps. When i arrived in Greece in 1979 i started collecting Cyprus as well. I make my own pages too with Album Easy.
Hi Roger; not yet. I had one package take two months to arrive, but I haven't lost one yet.
Your two focus areas--New Zealand and Greece--have such a wealth of offshoots to keep you busy. I have a few Cypriot stamps that I really enjoy, they are full of history. And, I agree that NZ stamps are lovely.
24:47 I would keep the coin inside the box and took the sheets to store in the relevant album
I’m leaning that way
Good video Ken 👋👋👋and million dollar question on the metal box 😳last I collect W/W used some CTO ( not the large one )😝
Those CTOs from eastern bloc countries can be quite beautiful. I'm interested why you don't collect the large ones? Space? Mount size?
Yes many of they are quite beautiful stamps especially my # 1 favourite country Czechoslovakia today Czech Republic and Slovakia, I like they ( avant-garde?, contemporary? design ) and printing method ( Engraved? ) and CCCP and other Eastern block propaganda of communist ( Red ) but other large side like Disney stamp style, no! 😜Hope you understand and sorry on my English 😁
The Czech and Slovakia, oh, and Romania designs are wonderful
US mint after 1940 and cartoon stamps are the stamps I mostly collect.
Fun. What a nice topical
For another twist see “ the world of Donald Evans” a book from the 1970s that has extensive amounts of stamps depicted in great detail from a fictional set of countries. I happen to have an edition and have no idea if the idea was emulated in the following decades. Collectible as an album? Just an art book? Tragically Donald lost his life in a fire not long after publishing.
Oh, thanks for the pointer. I hadn't seen that before. Too bad about his passing. I wonder if any of his work has accidentally ended up in a real-life collection.
collect proof only - very expensive & hard to find
That's so interesting. All countries?
@@KensStampCollection Don't collect all countries. Collect only proof & rare stamps in a country you like. If you can do that, then, you will have an unique collection unlike other people. Your unique collection will attract international Investors & postal museums !
@@lanuiiohu That sounds exciting and fun
BTW: if you need animated intro for you videos for free just let me know.
That's sounds interesting. Tell me more -- pop me an email at kenflowers at comcast dot net.