Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
 

On another thread, Ron (Mr Boggler) wrote:



This sentiment has been expressed many times by many people on the Boards.

Well, it is not too hard. and I honestly believe that this is one of the more discouraging statements often put to potential new collectors than most anything else except "invest in stamps - you will make money" (No. 1 on my hate list)

Everyone who is familiar with my history in this Board knows that I collect world A - Z, and that is what I do.

In the past week or so, I have purchased specifically Cayman Islands, (traded) Belgium, purchased bulk Monaco, and who knows what I will get from the Chain letter thread.

I am just as excited when this stuff turns up as I was when my 5/- Bridge turned up and as I was when a 10 cent Portugal stamp turned up in a junk lot to complete a definitive set.

Yes, Virginia, you can be a world Stamp Collector! A simplified Catalogue and a heap of Stockbooks can provide thousands of hours of enjoyment.

To tell people that "World" cannot be collected suggests to me a form of snobbery, and a bit of elitism - "you must specialise and learn everything about a very limited area"

It also smacks of speculation that if you get good enough in your specific area, you can make money, and that is what is important.

I would even suggest that the tiny stockbook of 200 Sri Lanka (or whatever) would sell more quickly if world collecting was encouraged rather than saying that "it can't be done"

I have nothing at all against anybody who does specialise, and I admire people who devote time and effort to this end. but please leave generalists alone, and stop telling others that A - Z World collections are not a good idea.

Sorry guys and guyesses. I collect whole world and will continue to do so.

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

Hear hear - fully concur

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Global warming is indeed a scam, perpetrated by scientists with vested interests, but in need of crash courses in geology, logic and the philosophy of science. MARTIN KEELEY

It's a tough job but someone has to do it

I actually Thought of You Norm,, as I wrote those few words,,then deleted them ,,then typed them again,

I guess I should not discourage whole world collectors,,from collecting all the World,,
same as I would not discourage anyone from collecting Rubbers,Bottle Tops,or Barbed wire,, what ever floats your boat,

The main thing is just start collecting,,,you can always trim it back later,if you find it too overpowering to handle,

So go for it .. do not listen to the Ramblings of a Flinty Eyed Retired Stamp Dealer from Scotland,
There we are,,,,,, gives everyone a target or two to aim for now,,

Sorry Norm I did not really mean to get you all upset,

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Nunawading Stamp Fair
Last Sunday of Every Month - Jaycees Hall Silver Grove - Nunawading.

Don't worry Ron, your post did not upset me at all. It was just a trigger for something I have been meaning to say here for years.

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

I also collect Whole World, and always have.

Dollars, Sterling, Yen, Zloty, Roubles, Euros, Kip, Chat, Rupees, Rand, Kroner etc ... and see nothing wrong with it.

I too collect the whole world in stamps although I do not have near enough knowledge to suffice. I think it is because I am part packrat and that the Scotish in my ancestry would hate to see something of value wasted.
I also agree with mrboggler that you can always trim back and am now at the stage where I can do that selectively. The trick I think is to share with other enthusiasts or specialists as you see fit and pass on the wealth.
That is why I was overjoyed to find this tremendous stampboard with so many knowledgable people who care about the hobby and thier fellow hobbyists. I think that the world should take lessons from here!
I've seen the "knowledge is power" stated here but I've also seen that that power is shared freely. What better way is there? It is said that the truly great teacher only wishes for the student to surpass him. Thank you to all of the GREAT TEACHERS here!

Drew

Me too!

Have yet to work out what fascinates me. (The lot I think)

Thought Roos and KGV 1d

Then thought Old Covers Worldwide

Then Roo Varieties

Then Modern GB High Value Commemoratives on Covers - is that how you spell it?

Love the engraveds - such skill

Bu**er - anything that passes my eyes is of interest!

I can only say "hear hear" to Norm's excellent rant... There's nothing difficult in collecting worldwide stamps. Just lots of fun and surprises.

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See pics of my latest stamp findings at Stamp Collecting Blog.

I don't collect the whole world...yet; but I know that is the way I am fast heading. I have thought of specializing in a specific area but just can't give up all the rest!

As a new collector I felt that specializing was the way to go if you wanted to be a serious philatelist, and it is very liberating to find this thread.. so I too want to 'come-out of the cupboard' and admit it: I want to collect the whole world!



Drew - I agree with all you said:



...except for the bit about being Scottish...but I like Malt Whiskey, short bread and smoked salmon so that will count in my favour, right? Ron will agree, I am sure of it!



Mc Alex

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Focus on the positive

I too collect the whole world but my interest mainly lies in small definitives, these tend to be overlooked by a lot of collectors and dealers and can be picked up cheaply in most cases from numerous sources.

Some may say they are boring but any one of them can be delved into as deeply as you want to go.

I have found a couple of other forums that have a specific area just for definitive stamps of the World, some great info can be obtained if you can read or get a decent translation of German and Italian.

I tend to find the Europeans have a greater interest in "basic" or "regular" stamps as they like to call them, don't know why this is but it suits me.

As with bazza4338 I also try to collect GB Commems used on cover In period but this is increasingly hard to do.

.. and of course nicely engraved items

.. and just Worldwide issues I find interesting.

I also get very annoyed when I read articles in the Stamp press that intimate that only collectors who specialize are "serious" collectors, anyone collecting the World or just putting together a general collection is referred to as a "junior" collector.

You see adverts that say "material would suit a serious collector" or some such nonsense, I collect for fun but still take it seriously.

Interesting that Mr Boggler (Ron) posted this. I saw him and a couple of the GOM at his shop on Sat, and not once did he mention this sentiment when I discussed what I was doing to get back into the hobby. But I think Norm's response sums up the feelings about WW collecting that have been detailed at other threads.

Laurence

I have booked my ticket for Libya and shall be leaving in a couple of Days.
I think it may be safer for me there.

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Nunawading Stamp Fair
Last Sunday of Every Month - Jaycees Hall Silver Grove - Nunawading.

That's the beauty of the hobby, what you collect is totally down to you, no reference has to be made to anybody else.

One of the Stamp mags in the UK has a regular article written by a collector documenting their collection, one from a few months ago was from a 12 year old who collects one set exclusively, stamps, postal history etc.

The article this month is from a collector who collects frogs on stamps.

No two collectors will ever be the same.

/vote for worldwide collecting

It suits those of us with ADD. We can jump from one thing to another. I am lucky to have lots of time to spend on stamps, and I like to spend some of it on areas that are relatively new to me. Some of them end up fascinating me, and some of them don't.

It also suits those of us with the other ADD: Account Deficiency Disorder. There aren't many single stamps missing from my key country areas that can be had for $500 -- and for $500 I can buy an auction lot worth many many hours of fun and even (sometimes) worth what I paid for it.

Hello Everyone.

An excellent post by Mr. Norm.

I am very new to this hobby, as I have stated on a number of occasions, and I do collect the world.

When I was just starting out, getting the feel for things, I spoke with a dealer about collecting the world.

Being new I thought that he was going to give me some advice. Like, where I can get large inexpensive lots for my world collection, what I can do with duplicates, etc...

But he told me that, "it`s a lost cause" and that I would be, "wasting my time" if I collect the world as I would never be able to complete it. Also, that I should just pick a topic or area and collect that.
So my questions remain unanswered.

After that conversation I was just second guessing myself. I did not know what to do. So I did what I do most of the time in similar situations. The hell with what he said, I want to collect the world because that is what I want to do.

Cheers!

It takes more effort for (most) dealers to make money off a non-specialized collector. If you are highly specialized, you are more willing to pay a premium for an item that fits your interest. There are obviously exceptions, of course: dealers that fairly price bulk lots and focus on turnover rather than margin.

Best place to find those lots is at auctions though, in the "junk box" section.

If you are quick (very quick!), you can get some covers of the Qaddafi and post-Qaddafi periods in a single visit.

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

I agree with Norm..........who wants to eat everyday pasta?

Cheers

Peter

Hi Norm,

I agree with you 100%. The average dealer will not want the AWC (all world collector). He will usually sell specialised material because that is where the bigger margins are. Just as when you walk into a car showroom and the dealer will try and talk you into buying a more expensive model with a bigger profit margin.

We also don't fall for fads such as the MUH premium, common stamps sold for a premium on 'fragments' or even the overhyped Australian one dealer led 'buy these rare Australian covers with ordinary stamps on them' fantasy. Particulary when they are spruiked as 'you can't lose as they are onwards and upward investments'.

If we all knew of a secure investment we none of us would work, we would all loll about beaches in Byron Bay or the Bahamas being served drinks by georgeous females/males (delete to taste) and playing (mainly) with stamps at night.

Too many people on this Board are too concerned with 'investment' rather than the joy of collecting. I will never sell my collection (unless I go gaga!) and as I've collected since the age of 8 (and am now 54) I've had my value many times over even prior to any sale. I have friend who are movie tragics and have spent a lot of money seeing maybe 1,000 movies in their life. They have some good memories but get nothing back on their hobby. Same as restaurant habituees.

I did not always collect AW. I collected Australia, Austria and GB quite seriously but got to a point where everything I needed to be a 'completist' was too expensive. So in a philatelic sense I let myself off the leash and I roamed and roamed.

Another group who ridicule us are the 'exhibition snobs' the ones who walk about exhibitions with their platinum Visacard round their hairy chests and look down their nose at you because unlike them you don't have the worlds best collection of Outer Ozguristan in mint, used, error, specimen, correct rate paid on cover, multiple perforation, forged and watermark form.

There are the same people who bitch to each other about only getting a silver medal at Tashkent 2011 when they got a gold in Timbuktu 2010. I've heard them, I'm not making this up (Well, Taskent 2011 and Timbuktu 2010 I am)

Sad anoraks the lot of them.

Such people will say correctly, why bother, you can't collect every stamp (even the greatest collector Ferrary couldn't do that) but born collectors never have finite or complete collections. Long live the generalist and All World Collector!

Still a couple of days before I disappear to Libya,for a long rest,,and I thought it best to keep a low profile here before I go.

BUT there are a couple of little things that NEED to be set straight before this becomes another Dealer Bashing Thread,,

1st at no stage did I say Not To collect all world,,just thats its too hard,,,,major Difference there.

2nd a Couple of Posters here are saying things like "the Average Dealer would not want the AWC,"as the Margins would be better with a Specialized Collector and they will pay more,,etc,,

WRONG WRONG WRONG,,,,The Average Dealer really LOVES the World collector,, as this is where he makes MUCH bigger Margins,than the Specialized Collector,,who sometimes is only after Fly Spot material, and can spend HOURS going through BOOKS of Stock,to find one Stamp,for 50 cents,

When I buy at Auctions,I buy BULK lots that I break Down,,I.E. if I pay $500.00.at an Auction for a lot,,by the time I have finished with it,that lot may return me $1500.00. and that will be mainly mixed world stamps,

On the other hand if I buy one Stamp at an Auction,for $500.00. generally there is NO WAY I could turn around and resell the stamp for anywhere NEAR $1500.00.

So the BETTER Profits are in the bottom end of the market,also the happier customers, give me a World Collector every time,

The LAST person I want to see walk in the door is a PHILATALIST.who is looking for specialized material

WAS that the last call for Flight F.A. 1657 to Tripoli ???? tell them I am coming.

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Nunawading Stamp Fair
Last Sunday of Every Month - Jaycees Hall Silver Grove - Nunawading.

Mr Boggler,

Agreed that dealers such as yourself do like the general collector. It's the "I flew in with a few choice covers/stamps from my London/New York dealership and they are sitting here under glass at this Australian philatelic show and BTW I have nothing here for sales less than $1,000 US you pleb" types that we have no common ground with as much as the more in between specialist dealer.

There must be some very cheap flights to Tripoli now. Your Scottish heritage is betraying you!

Say hello to Mr Ghadaffi in his precious white tent.

If you're nice to him he might invite you to a 'bunga bunga' party. According to Silvio B and the Italians, Ghadaffi invented them. Mind you, he's more likely to hold a 'bungle bungle' party which would be far less fun I imagine.

Rabbit

Please let's not be unkind to my Uncle Gaddy, who I visited last year.

There were discreet little billboards around reminding you who he has.

And his venerable "Little Green Book" was widely on sale.

Interestingly the Allied War Grave Cemetary in central Tripoli was beautifully manicured, and yet we were the only visitors for the month the caretaker said.

I would say you don't need to defend yourself as an AWC.

Don't we always say "collect whatever you like, there are no rules"?

It might be 'hard' to cover the world, and for sure you'll have a lot of gaps, unless you start young and have a lot of spare time, plus set cut-off dates, since with 10,000 new issues a year WW you'll be hard-pressed keeping up.

Collecting all-world exposes you to so many cultures, styles and images, it gives lots of variety, and you can always find something at a dealer shop/fair/auction that will pique your interest.

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Collecting Mongolia; Thailand; Indo-China; Mourning Covers; OHMS.
My online 'store': http://stampsfromaethelwulf.blogspot.com/

I don't think that bashing people whose collecting habits are
different than yours is called for. Philately is a "big tent" and
can be thoroughly enjoyed at many different levels,

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Jay Carrigan
http://www.jaypex.com

You put quite a bit of your own labor into turning that $500
into $1500. And you deserve what you get. But if you bought
that single stamp for $500, would you turn down an offer of
$600 for virtually no effort on your part?

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Jay Carrigan
http://www.jaypex.com

Which is the true beauty of being an AWC. You always have gaps, so you are always looking for stuff. And gaps don't matter all that much (well except in my New Zealand stuff of course)

When I returned to collecting in (I think) 1991, my intention was to form a complete collection of FU pre-decimal Australia, semi specialised including perforation, watermark and OS varieties. And apart from the very high value 'Roos, and the risky high priced perf OS stamps, that took about 5 minutes.

So I expanded to decimals, which took another 10 minutes, the prices being about 20% of what they were when I stopped collecting for a few years.

So I decided to collect Mint as well, which took a little longer, but left me unsatisfied, and since, as a junior collector, I had collected whole world I thought...why not...

Twenty years later, I have lost none of my enthusiasm, and having gaps does not matter - there are always gaps to fill, and with every lot I purchase, always something to look forward to.

I am partially a stamp snob though. I do not consider people who only buy year books from Australia Post and stick them on a shelf unopened as collectors in any sense. "Failed Investors" or "Hoarders" springs to mind here.

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

There are just so many interesting areas to collect, you only have to look through the Stamp magazines each month to find another area or subject that interests you.

I have a few little specialist areas among my definitive collection, any of which could keep me going for a year or two, but as someone else has said it is impossible to decide and ignore other things that interest you.

Should I specialize in GB Machins (a lifes work)
or the French Sower
or the Italian Women in Art ...posthorn ...etc etc

I have the starts of over 180 series and could not drop any if asked.

I prefer the middle way, general collecting with a little specialization in some areas but nothing too deep.

I agree with Mr Blogger, in any field it is the cheaper items that make the profit because work has to be put into them so the dealer deserves a good profit and so they should.

If I had the funds I, like a lot of collectors would love to buy big accumulations, but with limited funds I "let the dealer do the work" breaking them down and pay him for his work buying the items I require.

I don't have any thought for investment I just buy what I like when I can afford it, the investment is in the pleasure I get out of the hobby.

How is it too hard though Ron? How hard is it to have a full set of Gibbons Simplified, and put the stamps in Stockbooks in order of issue, by country? That pretty much sums me up.

Unless somebody is a completionist, it is not an issue at all. It simply means that I can add something to my collection every day, without worrying if there are still gaps in there. I am currently having a lot of fun with modern Belgium, but am quite happy to switch to something else if this becomes boring to me. I am still collecting, and maybe I will get back to my Tokelau project, or start getting serious about Bechuanland (which I have been contemplating for 10 years now, but have never got around to it).

But I will probably just catch up on last years New Zealand.

Have a great holiday, and enjoy. Come back refreshed, and ready to argue. I'll be here to disagree.

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

By the time I did the Imputs credit and the GST. then allow for Overheads,I,E, Rent, Wages, Phone, Electrics, Internet, Postage ,Depreciation Etc Etc,
I would be loosing on that deal I am afraid,

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Nunawading Stamp Fair
Last Sunday of Every Month - Jaycees Hall Silver Grove - Nunawading.

Jay,

I'm not 'bashing' anyone as you quaintly put it.

Yes, I am critical of exhibitors who adopt a holier than thou attitude to other in the hobby.

I know what I am talking about as I have exhibited and judged as well.

Most exhibitors do not fall into the category I am criticising. Many of the majority are friends of mine.

Unfortunately I know of an ultracompetitive and exclusionist minority who adopt the position I criticised.

Personally it does not worry me, but I have had others come to me to complain of their arrogant attitude to them and others within the hobby which belittles their collecting interests.

That saddens me.

I see no reason to defend that minority.

Rabbit

The Airline just rang to say they have cancelled all flights into Libya..
said something about Uncle Gaddy being a bit Miffed at the moment,
they said I could have a refund,or could swap the flight to Morrocco instead,
What do you guys think.

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Nunawading Stamp Fair
Last Sunday of Every Month - Jaycees Hall Silver Grove - Nunawading.

In defense of Mr Boggler,
Does anyone seriously collect current modern all world?

Or did you stop at a certain year?

Surely today's all world from say 2000 would be hard, not in the sense of trying but in the sense of succeeding.

I don't mind either way. At my point in life I collect everything, even bags of kiloware.


My attitude to anyone who denegrates the areas I collect or is snobbish toward those who don't have a certain impossible cover etc is to simply laugh in their snooty nose faces and happily walk away as I'm a philatelist who also has a life.
(It's as bad as ballroom dancing!)


I don't know if I could be bothered entering a competition only to be ridiculed by people I don't respect and wouldn't really want to know on a first name basis. It usually just comes across as elitist.

Which gives me a bit of a paradox as I have seen some stunning exhibits from humble, knowledgable collectors and I enjoy the exhibitions - I just don't talk to anybody!

Ottawamikes exhibit on another thread comes to mind.

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Greg - Looking for Goulburn Australia Cancels and Grangemouth Scotland Cancels and Covers
Member of the S.T.A.M.P Club for Slightly Twisted And Mad Philatelists - Motto: "Bring back the lick!"

Hang all all world collectors! Specialists rule OK!

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'First I'll steal all the money, then I'll kill everybody, and then I'll go away', Père Ubu

LOL Tony! I'm thinking that with your area of expertise you might not be too harsh on the rest of us. )

Tony just wondering if you have been to Libya recently.

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Nunawading Stamp Fair
Last Sunday of Every Month - Jaycees Hall Silver Grove - Nunawading.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission does a magnificent job across the world. The same beautiful condition can be observed at the war cemeteries in Singapore and France, in fact anywhere where Commonwealth forces fought (in every war of the Twentieth Century).

Not so many any more, we (and the Brits and others) bring our dead home and bury them here.

As to the topic, I am not a world collector. I like to get too deep into what I collect and so would probably go mad (madder?) if I didn't restrict myself to Australia and precursor Colonies.

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Peter
Hawthorn - AFL Premiers 1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008.

Hi Norm still here,,have not yet decided where to go,,,it seems the world is not a safe place to be right now,so it may be safer to stay put,

So getting back to this post and my comments that made you start it,,
I just want it to go on record, that they were made with that POSTER IN MIND,with a young family
And I, in no way think that World Collectors are MAD,in Fact they are most likely the Happiest collectors around,and I can think of at least 6 shop customers that fall into that group.

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Nunawading Stamp Fair
Last Sunday of Every Month - Jaycees Hall Silver Grove - Nunawading.

If someone (such as myself), chooses specialty collecting, that is perfectly fine. I have enough to collect (and spend!), just within the Philippines, India Feudatory States, and my Christmas OFDCs / stamps.

Now having said that ...

If someone (such as another individual), chooses to collect all the world, that also is perfectly fine.

Whatever makes you happy.

Whatever keeps you off the streets.

Whatever floats your boat.

I was a worldwide collector that wanted to specialize in a certain area. I felt like time and money wouldn't allow me to do both, so I went the way of specialization. I'm guessing that many on this board have a similar history.

Way down deep though - well maybe not so deep - lurks a worldwide collector. A world collection is like a large history book with endless possibilities. I applaud Norm for his philosophy on how he goes about it. As far as those empty spaces go, I thought that we all have empty spaces to fill and that it's all about the hunt anyway.

Keep it up worldwide collectors.

Morgan

I started collecting stamps as a youngster in 1950 with a World Wide Album and I have just continued in this vein. World wide to me is best and less involved than specialising.

I'm a completist by nature, even if it is on a simplified basis. I do have a small field that I collect so all world wouldn't be for me.

But all world, general, simplified or specialised, there is NOTHING better than the thrill of the chase

As a family man with young children - two of them still in diapers - I know how scarce time and money can be for collecting stamps let alone the WHOLE WORLD.

The internet makes it possible for a person like myself to have the opportunity to add to my knowledge and collections quickly and cheaply.

General collectors have never had it so good. There are plenty of country collections selling for "peanuts" on the internet allowing for huge gaps in one's collection to be filled at once. Of course, the real fun is filling the remainder of the gaps.

I do try to limit myself to worldwide, pre-1950, but have numerous semi-specialized collections of stamps and covers that run through the modern era including very recent issues.

Can collecting all the world be difficult or challenging? Sure, sometimes. But if it were always easy, it would not be as fun and would not attract me.

David

Hi Norm. How can I find Victoria's posting? I'm sure I read it and there was something else that I meant to comment on. Maybe I'm getting mixed up - someone suggested washing stamps in hot water !!

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Bazza reckons that the old 'uns are the best !!

I collect whole world, and will continue to do so. If I like the look of something, I'll have it, whether it be stamps or covers!

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My blog, if you're interested: petitmondemoi.blogspot.com

I don't know what you mean by "Victoria's posting"

However I do not soak stamps in hot water. I soak them in boiling water, straight out of the kettle. (Unless I know them to have fugitive ink, or they are backed onto coloured paper). Use the search function here and key "soaking stamps". There are heaps of threads which have discussed this.

Norm

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Geelong, VFA Premiers 1878, 1879, 1800, 1882, 1883, 1884, 1886, AFL Premiers 1925, 1931, 1937, 1951, 1952, 1963, 2007, 2009, 2011, .

My own collecting area is limited, by I'm always amused by my mother. She doesn't collect whole world --- oh! No!

Just British Commonwealth countries through to KG V1, U.S.A., Japan, Belgium and dependencies, Netherlands and dependencies, and UPU.

For her, world-wide collecting would be too hard

I always thought collecting was a hobby, and I don't know many hobbies which have hard and fast rules

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FORESTS OLD, PASTURES NEW
(An expert is one who knows more and more, about less and less)

Many of you collect worldwide or have seen w.w. collections .How big in size have you seen these collections get ...........150,000 or 200,000 or do they get bigger ?

I know three private collections that are in the range of 400-500,000 different worldwide stamps. All have been collected with patience and low budget.

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See pics of my latest stamp findings at Stamp Collecting Blog.