Philately

[poliphilo]

I collected stamps when I was a boy. I think most boys did. Later, in the 1970s, I started collecting US commemoratives. In the 1980s, strapped for cash, I took my collection to a dealer and he told me it was worthless.

I was never a serious collector. I didn't concern myself with misprints and rarities and all that stuff. Serious collectors despise modern commemoratives and think too many are issued in too great numbers. My attitude is we're talking about little coloured labels you stick on envelopes.

Comments

[huskyteer.livejournal.com]

callmemadam has revived her interest in stamps but mostly collects pretty ones. I pick up the occasional example if it ties in with one of my interests - I have husky stamps, biplane stamps, and a Dick Tracy stamp a kind friend in the USA sent me. I might pick up some of the Dr Who ones!

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I'm tempted by the Dr Who stamps. You can buy them framed. If I had the money I might well splash out...

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

The attraction for me is that stamps have already served their purpose when they reach you. A letter arrives, and there's - as you say - a little coloured label on the envelope, which you can tear off and keep if you want to. All the pretty design is gratuitous, only there for the fun of creating a miniature picture.

The minute you turn that around, and start issuing stamps for collection rather than for use, I lose interest.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yes, they become like those stickers that are sold in sealed packages that kids swap among themselves.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Only in this case he didn't. I took it home. It's probably in the attic.

[lblanchard.livejournal.com]

[Edited to correct typo. Why do I never see them until I press "post"?]

I'm a random collector, not a philatelist of any sort. I collect a few stamps when I think they're really striking. Like these, just issued last week:

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Those are pretty.

[kishenehn.livejournal.com]

I have three big hardbound stamp albums that belonged to my great-grandfather, who died in 1941. Though I've done some collecting on my own, that ancient collection of his is far more poignant than anything I could ever possibly assemble ... and for me, that symbolizes what's interesting about the hobby.