I’ve had a couple of discussions lately with newer philatelists, wondering what the point of the APS actually is. What do you get for being a member that’s actually useful?
To be honest, I don’t think there are any, at least for me.
Cephus' Corner
A Place for my Geeky Side
Tag Archives: philately
Finally Got my Collection Updated
So let me tell you a story. Way back when I was about 7, this is more than 50 years ago, I started collecting U.S. stamps. It wasn’t really a conscious choice, more one of availability. I lived where there were tons of U.S. stamps, so I collected what was readily available. Most people start that way.
This last weekend, I finally got tired of looking at a lot of holes so I did something about it. Mostly, I am now complete from about 1916 to 1993 where I stopped. It kind of feels good, to be honest.
I’m Not a Philatelist
There was an article in the latest issue of American Philatelist, called “The Faux Philatelist” which I agree with almost entirely. In it, Barry White says that he is a stamp collector, not a philatelist.
I am also a stamp collector, not a philatelist. It’s nice to see people out there pointing out the differences. Therefore, here’s why I do what I do.
Where Most Stamp Channels Go Wrong!
I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. I really try to like some of the stamp-related channels on YouTube, but most of them are just… pointless, at least from my perspective. They aren’t doing what I want to see. Therefore, I figured I’d explain it in a short post and point out the two examples that actually are doing it right, at least in my opinion.
Unpopular Opinions about Stamps (and coins)
This has been rolling around in my head for a very long time and now and then, it pops up. I suppose I’ve covered some of it in my discussions on stamp NFTs, but two recent things happened and I wanted to talk about it in more detail.
First, a discussion on a stamp forum about the USPS just packing it in because they provide terrible service, which I absolutely agree with, and secondly, I’ve started watching a UK-based coin channel, mostly because I get bored, called Christopher Collects. He’s the YouTube face for a UK coin dealership and in a lot of those videos, they bring up what I have a problem with.
However, we’ll get into both of those things in more detail below. See you there.
I Don’t Care about Your “Investment”
I know this is just going on and on, but it keeps evolving. I got into a discussion over “investing” in coins vs. just investing elsewhere and, as expected, they really weren’t impressed with my take.
That’s fine. All the down votes in the world don’t bother me. Imaginary buttons online mean nothing. So here’s what I had to say and why I said it.
I’m Not a Goddamn Investor!
I know I’m yelling at the clouds here, but I am ever so sick and tired of this. It seems like every single “hobby” out there is just a haven for people trying to make a buck and this one is more so than any other, it seems.
What the hell ever happened to just collecting things for the joy of collecting things? That’s all I want to do!
Not How I Collect
Love Alan Turing but the coin is a complete waste of time.
It doesn’t really matter, but I had a discussion recently with a friend who does YouTube videos. He collects coins primarily, although he also collects some stamps and we were talking about our individual interests. I knew it would cause consternation, but I said it anyhow.
I’m really not impressed with the way a lot of people collect coins.
Can’t Give It Up
One person doing that in the stamp world is The Digital Philatelist. So let’s see where he keeps making such a fool of himself.
You Have to Acknowledge the Problem!
This is a sad state of affairs, when people can’t even come to grips with the problem at hand. It came up earlier today when, in a discussion, I brought up the fact that it is virtually impossible to get modern worldwide stamps from dealers anymore. Nearly the past 30 years of stamps are a gigantic black hole with very few exceptions. If we can’t count on stamp dealers to keep supplying collectors, this hobby is going nowhere but down.
And I was surprised how many people got upset at the idea!
