[edshuck]

Stamp collecting is kind of a strange duck.

It is a fantastic way to learn geography, history, customs, crime, etc.

For a long time NZ took care of the posts for Cook Islands? I am asking with a bit of a statement.

When the British Commonwealth went to decimals, there was certainly "dirty dealin'" afoot in the Cook Islands.

That would have been '65 or '66. I had a standing order for new issues of the Commonwealth. Had to stop it cost about a thousand a year.

Anyway, my dealer calls and says he has some stamps for me and if I could pick them up immediately, the new Cook Island decimals would be included. If not, I lose them to someone else.

They were all overprint with the ink on the right on some, top, bottom, left. Just whereever.

I don't know what they are worth. I paid $10 for the mint set. Includes air mail.

Later, the postal person was accused of creating rarity. (Mine I hope!)

[Penny]

Well I'm going to save ya some stamps there Ed, even if you don't really collect you might be interested in them. My brother collected stamps when he was young, not sure about the rarity though.

[edshuck]

I have a family of friends who collect stamps. The Vignola's. They have perhaps one of the most complete Nepal collections in the world. Many are scarce, some are rare. But most would have cost pennies when purchased over the years.

Frank exhibited a set of sheets of the Sri Pahapati (spelling) at one show and was awarded international gold. Now he is very much a collector emeritus. But his reasons have always been.

"The value is that they tell a story. And the story is the thing."

Thanks penny.

[jeni2004]

edshuck if you want i can send you some american stamps

[edshuck]

Originally Posted by jeni2004

edshuck if you want i can send you some american stamps

Hi Jeni

I live in San Francisco.

New Hampshire must be beautiful this time of year. The leaves beginning to change to red and gold. Or is that next month.

Have you read where the post office is going to allow us to make our own stamps with our photo?

I heard about it but have not read anything that would tie it to reality yet.

More....
Jeni, next trip to the local library, check out "Scotts Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue". In the US, that is the most complete.

For British Commonwealth, Stanley Gibbons provides a really solid listing.

More....
www.Linns.com is the newspaper often chosen by collectors. In the classifieds there are packet sales. This is where many collectors begin. Stamps by the pound. And I am not joking. This is where I began and so did many many others.

[jeni2004]

next month is when it starts to become pretty.

[Penny]

hey Ed,

you can get some info here, on NZ Stamps

http://www.nzstamps.co.nz/nzstamps/index.html

[edshuck]

That is a great link.

Over time it has become a staple of postal departments to provide an effective phatelic service. When they do, it is like printing cash. Many if not most of the items will never be used on postage.

Thanks again.

[NiteFenix]

My dad and I have found a similiar hobby. Collecting coins and paper money from the different countries of the world. A friend of mine from Australia just sent a whole set of Australian Dollars a couple of months ago.

Anyways, just thought I'd share

[edshuck]

Hi Nite Fenix

Our mint site is at

http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/

For a few years we were getting the mint sets when they came out. (My son was putting them in a drawer).

The difference is the triple polished dies that they are stamped from. They really are perfect.

For a long while a year set would cost 11.00 but now the price is through the roof. Something between 22 and 23.

Over the years, there have been coins minted in differnet cities. Currently, Denver and Philadelphia make the coins for circulation. The San Francisco mint makes the proof coins and on some occasions there are a few made in West Point (Near NYC). The W mint mark was only for like one year.

[NiteFenix]

Interesting to know.

Thanks Ed