Philatelic clutter

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The ultimate field problem....how to organize these two totes.
Most, but not all, of my collection
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  • 43 Comments sorted by Votes Date Added
  • Hazard of the hobby.
  • ... a comfortable chair, a big table, a large trashcan, a pair of scissors and a pen and paper.... AWAY from a open window
  • . . . and cats.
  • Yes...cats...20230312_131547
  • If this is clutter, I'm in the middle of a CATastrophe!
  • Collectors
    Now this is a real mess! A few weeks ago, I asked about cleaning envelopes (and stamps generally). But the thread of Philatelic Clutter brought out my cell phone camera.
    My grandfather was Postmaster (some of this I wrote earlier) in Atlanta, Georgia from about 1924 to 1933, and he started me collecting stamps, from which I took a 50+ year pause. He was an intense collector, and he was all about mint, NH, VF++, and USA. I also have several signed (pilot and himself) first flight letters as he was a leader in advancing airmail between Atlanta and many east coast cities.
    But my late wife’s Great Aunt was a stamp “accumulator” and I now have about 5 kilos of stamps in shoeboxes from roughly 1915 to 1945, and I am attaching some photos, about 5% of the accumulation. They are from everywhere, and they are not “all about mint, NH, VF++, and USA”.
    I plan to soak most of these, and when I mentioned this to my new wife and that we could use soapy water followed by clean water, or we could use lighter fluid. She suggested the latter and went to get some matches!!!
    I truly do not know how to begin; Scott gave me some thoughtful encouragement and I offered a plan ticket for Japan to Oklahoma.
    On the other hand, I know that this challenge is very close to my early days of stamp collecting, when I would buy stamp packages from Rich’s Department store or from the one stamp dealer in Atlanta that I would haunt. Interestingly, apparently our great aunt also bought several packages from I know not where (see one of the photos).
    Actually, my wife is being very supportive of this enterprise and is rethinking the soapy water.
    Suggestions and advice and mentorship will be deeply appreciated. I just hope to be able to use Scott’s W/F matrix to get me to a retirement plan!!!
    Again, thoughts welcome
    Best
    Berrien

    PS. The Hindenburg cover has some curious medical/revenue (I think) small stamps on the reverse side and note that it was going to a medical facility in Atlanta. Knowledge??

    GF_Stamp_One
    GF_Package
    GF_Envelope
    GF Envelope_Reverse
  • Anyone know how to add my APS number to my profile?
    I just got my APS number the Day After my club meeting...

    APS#236424
  • You still have to be approved by the APS and the members that joined in January are in the latest issue and if there is no reason set forth they will be approved for membership after the first of April.
    You still have a ways to go until you are official, probably a couple of months. At that point you should be able to have a badge on your listings.

    Bill O'Malley
    APS # 169743
  • edited March 2023 0 LikesVote Down
    A couple MONTHS!!!!???

    Do they have to do a background check with the CIA or something????
    My credit card has already been charged....and my club is supposed to get a small donation for me joining
  • edited March 2023 2 LikesVote Down
    Kris

    You just commented "there are some people on here I'd like to block" on another thread.

    The APS publishes the names of applicants to allow time for existing members in good standing to state their objections to the application in a timely manner and give the APS time to investigate the objection.

    That way when dealing with an APS member you have a right to expect that you are doing business with someone who is legitimate and ethical. They do expel /suspend members when a complaint of serious misconduct is found to have merit.

    Your statement regarding the ability to "block" indicates your wish to avoid the "snake oil salesmen" selling stamps - that is the goal of the APS. (Member since 1985)
  • Boy Henry....you're quite the online stalker aren't you
  • Any way, I'm gonna give that number to my club Secretary at the next meeting in two weeks...or maybe just forward her the email
  • It is still going to take a couple of months for you to be approved.
  • Henry is correct, and framed it accurately.
  • Well, I forwarded the number I got to the club brain trust. They had told me the club gets something like $5 for every new member that joins.

    Or is that wrong??? Enquiring minds want to know
  • An APS member will receive a $5 spiff to their account for referring a new member. I put an APS membership business reply card in each of my sold orders. Five dollars here and there is nice and will often pay for my APS dues after a year. An APS member can get them from APS for free upon request. They also act as an additional stiffener in the order.
  • Greg,

    I do that also except the guy from Mystic keeps on getting the most.
  • Bill, when you have the APS print hundreds of thousands of them (and he may pay for them...I hope he does but I do not know) every year to be put in every Mystic order sold and every philatelic journal or magazine that will take them, sure, he will always top the list.
  • Mystic is too aggressive in their marketing; as well as being overpriced.
  • Overpriced and underqualitied.
  • Mystic and Overpriced are pretty much the same.
  • Greg,

    I know it used to cost to have your imprint put on the card and I assume it is still the same.
  • No sir, no cost to have my name and APS# printed on them.
  • Greg: I did not know that. I might consider doing the same.
  • Yessir. Might as well put our dues to work eh?
  • I do have plans for three displays at Wilpex on April 15.
    I don't know if I'll get them all done though.
  • I think there's a minimum order before they'll print your name on the cards (200?). Regardless, there's no cost.
  • Just out of curiosity, how long does one have to wait before shipment arrives? Or notification that said order has been shipped?
  • George is correct. I think 250 is the minimum.
    Luree, I usually get them in about a week or so.
  • You can always print your own cards, yaknow
This discussion has been closed.