Stamp Collecting 2024

[steve B]

Originally Posted by Michael B

Check out this company:

https://www.noblespirit.com/

One of the largest sellers on ebay. They have very interesting stamp auctions. They also do videos talking to collectors and others. They support the Spellman (Philatelic) Museum on the campus of Regis College in Weston, MA and are heavily involved in the Stamp Market Index.

I don't collect anymore. I still go to stamp shows to look for interesting covers and souvenir sheets to get autographed by Olympians. An acquaintance of mine and member of my Olympic collecting club is the president of SPI (Sports Philatelists International). I talk with him occasionally about sports stamps.

The Springfield Stamp Club has a show at the high school a half mile from me in April. I found some nice Olympic pc's last year and there is usually a dealer selling sheets of older commens below face value.

The World Stamp Expo/Show will be in Boston in 2026. I went to the one in Washington, D.C. in 2006 and had a good time. It was easy for me to attend as I took the subway from work

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I went to Washington in 2006 too. My wifes family lived in the area so I could also take the train/subway from the suburbs.

I'm close to Boston, so I'll probably be a volunteer at the Boston show.

And oddly enough, I've sort of decided to work on Olympic stamps in general. Not signed, but the stamps and covers.

[gonefishin]

I kind of got interested a couple of years ago when I purchased a big collection of First Day Covers, several autographed and several pretty rare. The previous owner was really into it and was super organized. I've attached a few photos from his college basketball album - which is pretty amazing and has some great autographs; Valvano, Pat Summitt, Wooden, Bob Knight, etc. There are probably 40+ autographed examples - that's a lot of dedication!

There was also a binder for college football and MLB.

Then I noticed the uptick in stamps. I purchased a stamp collection, small but amazing, that I'm waiting to arrive. I spent a substantial amount of money for it, but I think it has some really valuable stamps - so I'm on edge a little. Regardless, I find them interesting and that's why I solicited you guy's input which I appreciate. I'll share pictures, etc. when it arrives.

[philliesfan]

Someone brought three large binders of stamps to my friends card store today. I am going to make an offer when I go to look at them this week. I expect nothing but common stamps but who knows? Mybe there will be a diamond in the rough.
Bob

[gonefishin]

Good luck Bob and let us know what you find. Jim

Here are a few of my stamps and Postage Currency with initials WL from when I was a kid back in the 60's & 70's

[Exhibitman]

I run across massive stamp collections at flea markets but only buy when they are super-cheap and have sports subjects. Last one I picked up was a book with hundreds of foreign stamps for a buck for the whole book.

The only other stamp items I buy are the various commemorative ones of boxers, again, if they are really cheap. I have a bunch of Ali, Frazier, etc. Here is a 1964 Slania Clay



This is a knock-off 'Slania' Clay which, ironically, is much harder to find than the genuine article:



Probably the most I spent was under $10 each for a pair of Olympic sheets of Zou Shiming, the first Chinese boxer to turn pro. Terrific amateur who turned pro relatively late but had a nice run until an eye injury took him out.

Those signed covers are really nice. Definitely something to keep an eye out for.