eBay chatboard archive: Dec-10-07 to Dec-16-07 week

Posted by jaywild   ( 1030 ) on Dec-16-07 at 21:35:35 PST   Listings
Bookmark...
Posted by knuden   ( 2401 ) on Dec-16-07 at 15:25:46 PST   Listings
Bjormu - Not by email but a link I stumbled over. It promise to get you back on ebay, if you are kicked out and I just wondered, if this was legal. By the way, none of my projctions warned me by this link but I only looked at the link and did not click on any of the links of the page.

K.E  I'm a catalog king, expert and philatelist - whoopee!!


Posted by bjornmu   ( 959 ) on Dec-16-07 at 11:39:39 PST   Listings
Knuden, wow, just $10 to learn how to open an eBay account. Hmm how much did I pay to learn that back in '96? Oh, now I remember, it was exactly $0.00...

BTW, the owner may now have seen you accessing the site lots of times, since you posted an URL which included some extra stuff. Did you get this in email?

I wonder what eBay says about their logo being used...
Posted by knuden   ( 2401 ) on Dec-16-07 at 07:00:47 PST   Listings
Huh??

Iomoon - Congratulation with your daughter and hav a nice holyday. :O)

K.E  I'm a catalog king, expert and philatelist - whoopee!!


Posted by iomoon   ( 1056 ) on Dec-16-07 at 06:40:48 PST   Listings
Thank you Paul.



Posted by stamps12345   ( 225 ) on Dec-16-07 at 02:20:42 PST   Listings
IOMOON/JIM Congratulations on your daughter, and have a safe trip .
Posted by mini*lindy   ( 552 ) on Dec-15-07 at 20:38:10 PST   Listings
Dave thats correct. what your eBay auction shows is the Andale data.
watchers=bidders.... not always, unfortunately, quite often watchers=sellers with similar items waiting to see if or for how much your item sells so they can list theirs.

Probably not the best week of the year to have auctions running, but good luck. I'm finishing all mine up tonight until after Christmas.
Posted by philatarium   ( 241 ) on Dec-15-07 at 20:27:35 PST   Listings
Balkania05: Thanks for your post, but am I missing something? -- among the possible columns in the customized display, there isn't one that captures "hits" or "visitors", right? Yet that information appears on the eBay auction listing, so that's why I was hoping to get it pulled together onto that "selling" page. Do let me know if I'm missing something -- it's always possible that I'm overlooking the obvious.

Linda: Thanks also for your reply. Good point about wanting buyers. I'm hoping that a good number of watchers (and preceding that, hits) is an indicator of good sniping activity at the end. (I can dream, can't I?!)

You're right, I remember Andale. I see it's now Vendio. Actually, I had signed up a few months ago with, but had not yet used, Auctiva, and I expected to see the # of hits there, but it never showed up there ... until just a few minutes ago! (Must have taken them a while to sync up the account.)

So, it turns out, I now do have this information via Auctiva (which I didn't until a little while ago), and that's certainly good enough. Also, while I'm writing this, I'm thinking that maybe the "visitor" data that shows on the individual auction page is actually fed from Auctiva, so maybe the eBay seller control panel can't (or eBay chooses not to) pull than information in.

I suppose this is a long way of saying, "Never mind ..."
Posted by balkania05   ( 616 ) on Dec-15-07 at 19:20:45 PST   Listings
philatarium

Go the the "selling" page and right corner is a link "Customize Display". You have 2 columns , one Available Columns and second Columns to Display. Just add what do you want from first one to the second one, refresh page and should work. balkania05
Posted by mini*lindy   ( 552 ) on Dec-15-07 at 19:17:01 PST   Listings
philatarium Dave, I think to get that information you have to subscribe to such a service, Andale used to be one. I have not used them for years. I don't need watchers or lookers, or such, I only want BUYERS. Bids are all that count for me.
However, check out andale see what they have to recommend.

Linda
Posted by philatarium   ( 241 ) on Dec-15-07 at 19:07:14 PST   Listings
I have what I'm sure is a really basic question.

For the first time in years, I've put some items up for sale, and I can't figure out something in eBay's seller's control panel. (My term, not theirs: I'm referring to the information you get when you click on the "Selling" link from "My eBay".)

That "Selling" control panel has a lot of information, but it's missing one thing I would like to know: how many hits or visits each auction is getting.

I can see this information when I'm logged in as the seller and look at each individual lot, but I can't find a way to report that information back to the Selling page (where it seems to want to tell me everything but that, including something about "Classified Ads", which I don't understand at all).

Anyway, is there a way to get the number of hits without having to open up and look at each auction?

Thanks in advance for any light anyone can shed on this.

-- Dave
Posted by jim_lawler   ( 1447 ) on Dec-15-07 at 18:04:14 PST   Listings
member
Posted by jaywild   ( 1030 ) on Dec-15-07 at 17:50:02 PST   Listings
stamphick… Yeah, I know. Just a joke.

balkania... Your stamps could be either Scott 7 or 9. CVs for a very fine strip of three, $450-$550. But yours are pen cancelled, which automatically drops the value in half, and then the real killer is that all the stamps have been drastically cut into at the top and the rightmost two at the bottom as well. For this strip, the CV is not a useful guide. I wouldn’t be able to put a value on these myself; the only thing to do is try to sell them on eBay and see what they fetch.

Jim
Posted by iomoon   ( 1056 ) on Dec-15-07 at 17:38:24 PST   Listings
David

Congratulations to your youngest daughter.

She must be pretty darned good to get that level of scholarship.
Posted by balkania05   ( 616 ) on Dec-15-07 at 17:35:12 PST   Listings
JAYWILD....
How about now?
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/7296/50154984re7.jpg
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/6213/13904669se5.jpg
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/8895/90138149sg1.jpg
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/8577/52257692fw8.jpg
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/9615/33168172rw9.jpg
http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/4290/22002257sa5.jpg
Posted by stamphick!   ( 338 ) on Dec-15-07 at 17:12:10 PST   Listings
jaywild...A liberal education does not necessarily a liberal make, as I'm sure you know. She actually has not made up her mind where she is going. For a long while she has pretty much assumed it would be UC Davis which is still in the running. The scholarship is from Univ. of Portland, a catholic university in Oregon. Final decision is months away but this offer bodes well for what else may come.
Posted by jaywild   ( 1030 ) on Dec-15-07 at 17:05:36 PST   Listings
stamphick… She’s going to a liberal arts college, eh. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with us.



Seriously, your daughter must be whip-smart to get that kind of scholarship. Congratulations again.

Io... Marketing is where the big bucks are. I have a feeling your daughter will do just fine wherever she takes a job.

Linda... Well I guess someone must know how the upper crust lives. I would have no way of knowing.



Jim
Posted by mini*lindy   ( 552 ) on Dec-15-07 at 16:39:12 PST   Listings
djs David and others, that is why you have your Butler Iron / Press the Newspaper before you read it.
Once pressed with a hot iron, the newsprint does not rub off on your hands!

No kidding, you see the old movies where the Lord asks his Butler to press The Times... thats why!!
Posted by djs127   ( 635 ) on Dec-15-07 at 16:30:54 PST   Listings
I like the new Linn's format. BUt I do admit with bifocals some of the smaller type is hard to read. I read that Linn's is looking into changing some of the type to be larger or use more familiar fonts. But overall the smaller size is easier to store and looks more like a magazine. Also no more black hands from the old newspaper print!!!
David Snyder
Posted by stamphick!   ( 338 ) on Dec-15-07 at 15:25:06 PST   Listings
Speaking of college, I can hardly type straight. In the mail today came a $44,000 no-strings-attached scholarship from a very good liberal arts college where my daughter had applied.
Posted by iomoon   ( 1056 ) on Dec-15-07 at 13:08:31 PST   Listings
Jim

Nope, her degree is in marketing.

She has been offered a job at Caesars Palace in Vegas which I hope she takes so I can visit.
Posted by jaywild   ( 1030 ) on Dec-15-07 at 12:46:42 PST   Listings
balkania… If you bought those stamps on eBay in a lot advertised as containing a 476A, you should return it to get your money back.

Jim
Posted by jaywild   ( 1030 ) on Dec-15-07 at 12:37:02 PST   Listings
Iomoon… Congratulations to your daughter! Did she get her degree in geology, perchance?

Congrats to you too stamphick, for your daughter’s choice to take the same path.

Jim
Posted by jaywild   ( 1030 ) on Dec-15-07 at 12:32:27 PST   Listings
balkania… Your first image is too blurry to see what type the 3 Franklin stamps are. However they are badly cut into along the top.

Second image, used block of 6 imperf Hardings—for a block like that to qualify as used it must have nice, readable and tidy cancels. Unfortunately yours just has smudges, so its value is probably not very much. Certainly less than a mint block.

The 30¢ Franklin perf 10 cannot be a 476A, because none are known used, according to the catalog. (Also, they are all “fine”, meaning the perforations cut into the design on one side.) Yours has to be a 439, which is also perf 10 but watermarked single-line USPS. It has a very common perfin from the General Electric company and a smudgy cancel, both of which lower the value, which for a very fine specimen is only $16 anyway. (Please note that you will never get full CV for low value stamps on eBay.)

Sorry for the bad news…

Jim
Posted by balkania05   ( 616 ) on Dec-15-07 at 12:08:47 PST   Listings
Hello every one !

Need help please. 1)In Scott catalog ( the one I have) #476A used does not have a price. What is the meaning of that perforation?
2)In case of early strips , ex. scott #9, strip of 3 stamps imp., what's the algorithm to calculate the value ( lets say strip of 4, 5 or 6).
3) Scott # 611 used plate block of 6 is not listed in scott. How I know what's the minim or catalog value? Thank you very much. balkania05

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/2974/76268287pn2.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/9955/51105226nn4.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/9983/71602226aj6.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/1378/34748077pn5.jpg
http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/2219/66128325pv3.jpg
Posted by stamphick!   ( 338 ) on Dec-15-07 at 10:57:06 PST   Listings
IO...Congratulations to your daughter. I envy you. My youngest will just enter university in the fall so I have a long way to go.
Posted by iomoon   ( 1056 ) on Dec-15-07 at 10:35:26 PST   Listings
Good day all.

Commencement now over in Texas.

Off to NY in the morn for my daughter's commencement.

Milenko

Thank you for the Christmas present.

Likewise Sheryll, for the card and gift.
Posted by 1covers   ( 1372 ) on Dec-15-07 at 10:00:31 PST   Listings
Dunc - I can't run my trains outdoors today - over 1' of snow covers everything. So, running a little O-gauge Christmas tree circle indoors. Your post reminds me to update that site. Thanks.
Posted by duncan_doenitz   ( 129 ) on Dec-15-07 at 09:32:27 PST   Listings
Typo: "collector"value.

Found the train link after all...

http://www.rfrajola.com/trains/trainlinks.htm

-Dunc
Posted by duncan_doenitz   ( 129 ) on Dec-15-07 at 09:24:14 PST   Listings
Lindy, great little card, one of those scans that get filed away for future use, for sure!

1covers, the zepps (and the Columbians) appear to be in a special category, almost like currency instead of stamps. That is, because they are looked at as a measure of the quality of a collection, by their presence, absence, and condition, so they seem to be priced beyond their rarity. Not that such values are wrong, the demand is certainly real.

It's just that as a result, they are monitored more carefully in the marketplace and quite frequently traded, with a smaller margin between buy and sell prices, perhaps in part due to the ease with which they can be bought and sold, and also due to the internet marketplace which allows collectors to sell directly to collectors.

Of course that narrow margin then tends to encourage more trades, a continuous cycle that feeds itself.

That's just an observation from a modest collector, of course, and it's great just to be able to interact with philatelists of your stature here.

Coins can be even more fun. Back when the Hunts were manipulating silver prices by taking delivery, I was selling common date silver dollars and then buying those that were more scarce, almost as an even trade. A common silver dollar that had traded at little over face had its bullion value pushed up so that it was "equal" to one that previously sold for 20, 30 or 40 times as much. A perfect hedge for a silver dollar collector! If the price declined (as it did of course) the collecot value was still maintained.

I like to think I got a piece of "Bunky" Hunt on those deals.

By the way, Richard do your trains run in winter? And do you have photos permanently online? If so, I seem to have lost the link.

-Dunc
Posted by greenwave4u   ( 83 ) on Dec-15-07 at 08:51:45 PST   Listings
Finally back in UK and recovering from jet lag and catching up on the board. Seems like it has been swamped by global freezing more than global warming with pictures of freezing rain etc.
I agree more philatelic topics and less hot air.

Anyone got any ideas for a topic over the Xmas period for show and tell?
Peter
Posted by sayasan   ( 734 ) on Dec-15-07 at 08:49:15 PST   Listings
OS - thanks for the comments.
Posted by postalhysteria   ( 3835 ) on Dec-15-07 at 08:01:46 PST   Listings

yep

Posted by 1covers   ( 1372 ) on Dec-15-07 at 07:56:02 PST   Listings
Jeff - scarcer, as in more scarce than most of the other 20th century non regular issue stuff, not rare.

If I had to rank investment potential of the various collectible fields, it would be nearly in inverse proportion to the number of investors. The more investors in the filed, the less investment potential over the long run. And the number of investors relates to accessability.

Posted by jaywild   ( 1030 ) on Dec-15-07 at 07:52:29 PST   Listings
Lindy… Poor horsy! I remember seeing that DEAD ANIMALS card in my category trolling. It’s one thing to deal in dead animals—after all, they must be dealt with in some fashion or other—but to illustrate it seems excessive somehow.



dcderoo... Good! Glad to help. It’s always a pain in the brain fiddling with a disk drive in order to look up something in a catalog.

Jim
Posted by postalhysteria   ( 3835 ) on Dec-15-07 at 07:49:03 PST   Listings

Richard - I am not sure I would consider the US Zepps scarce, they are pricey and price volatile, and there certainly is no shortage of them. But your other comments are dead on.

Jeff-raff

Posted by dcderoo   ( 1713 ) on Dec-15-07 at 07:41:08 PST   Listings
Thanks goes out to jaywild for describing to me how to transfer the Scott catalogue on CDs to my hard drive.
Works well.

jaywild, if you can't remember doing this, it's no surprise.
You gave me the process back in Aug '06.
Just took me a while to get around to it.

Posted by 1covers   ( 1372 ) on Dec-15-07 at 07:29:00 PST   Listings
The last post is similar to one I posted recently elsewhere in reference to US garded stamps as an investment.:

There are many layers to stamp collecting. Some more accessable than others to beginners (I sincerely hope that some of the problems relating to that aspect of the hobby can be mitigated with a new catalog numbering system. To that end, I have worked with others in the simplified numbering system shown here).

Certain US stamps have long been the target of market manipulation partially because they can be easily be understood by novices. These are usually the easier 20th century stamps (non regular issue) where there are fewer problem regarding authenticity, re-perforating, and quality and some exist in limited numbers. Scarcer stamps such as the Zeppelins are high on the list of stamps that have historically been held to a greater degree by investors, dealers, and those collectors who rank investment potential high on their list of reasons for collecting. As a result, when the prices go up, people holding those stamps tend to sell.

The strength of the underlying stamp market has always been that the majority of items are held by collectors who are not sensitive to market considerations. That is, they don't sell just because the prices increase dramatically. Many collectible markets have the same strength. In general, most sectors of the US coin market do not have this strength. As a result the market for Zepps appeals to those who like the adrenalin rush of the trade - buying and selling. It makes those collectors who want to build a collection for the long haul crazy.

So, as I said in a earlier post, enjoy the roller-coaster ride if that is your preference. You won't find very many long-haul stamp collectors in the next car.
Posted by 1covers   ( 1372 ) on Dec-15-07 at 07:23:00 PST   Listings
Every collecting area requires a degree of connoisseurship to appreciate the field. I don't understand modern art and don't much care to spend the time needed to understand it. Some fields are easily assessable and connoisseurship readily gained while others, like postal history, are not.

That is both a strength and weakness of postal history. Most of those interested in investment, thankfully, are seldom willing to invest the time required to invest prudently.
Posted by claghorn1p   ( 414 ) on Dec-15-07 at 07:19:21 PST   Listings
Welcome to the eBay Stamps Chat Board!

It would be greatly appreciated if chat board participants
provide LINKS to pictures
rather than posting them directly to this board.

Here's how to post a LINK. Thanks.



Yellow Boxes
Philatelic Links and Other Resources
You're new to stamp trading?
You've acquired a stamp collection you want to sell on eBay?
Check out these links:
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This is a community creation by eBay Stamp Board users. Thanks to all who contribute!
Click here for board code download.


06/28/07

Posted by postalhysteria   ( 3835 ) on Dec-15-07 at 07:15:37 PST   Listings

Re "OS" perfins - Canada used a similar perfin, OH/MS, that is OH over MS, On His (Her) Majesty's Service. They come first in a 5-holes tall, then 4 holes. Both are now listed in Scott, the 5-hole commanding hi prices both in the catalog and in real life.

The provincial government of Saskatchewan used a PS perfin.

jay-jim: I like the grape cuttings

rio-lindy: liked the horse card. Until it faded away we had an advertising thermometer on our front porch from a rendering company, alas no graphics like your card.

jeff-raff

Posted by infla-alec   ( 565 ) on Dec-15-07 at 06:47:21 PST   Listings
Linda Many thanks for the LS cancel information. Much appreciated and I'll be sure to keep an eye out for the book you mention. Not because I collect GB but simply because I do come across a lot of GB and I like to know about cancels in general.
Which reminds me does a QE II 15 1/2 pence postal stationery envelope cancelled ,"Putney 17 Jan 1983 SW 15" hold any interest for you or Vic ? If so you are welcome to a freebie just need your mailing address.

Alex My interest is also more inclined towards postal history as is that of many others here. For me at least a cover tells an interesting story and provides a lot of scope for research. But I agree postal history is not everyone's cup of tea and each to their own. But I think everyone would just like to see the topics here kept mainly to philately in general.

For those that do prefer pure stamps to be discussed then it is down to you the "stamp collector" to start off those threads here on the board. Show items, ask questions, or explain to others here how you have developed a particular country or set of stamps. I'm sure the postal historians amongst us will enjoy the thread just as much. End of the day though we are all philatelists and so should enjoy to it's fullest extent this great fascinating hobby we all share.

This board is very much an International one with many experts in many areas. Yes English is not the native tongue for quite a few but everyone here can make the board a success and most importantly an enjoyable experience for everyone.
Posted by stamps12345   ( 225 ) on Dec-15-07 at 05:57:00 PST   Listings
JIMBO----You spoiled it
Posted by stamps12345   ( 225 ) on Dec-15-07 at 05:55:52 PST   Listings
themorestore ------It was worth a lot of money between 1929 and 1940 . Then with the war and all, prices fell. Then after the fat guy died of a drug overdose the stamp value fell . Now only drug users and dealers use the stamp to mail in their bail money to the court house. So its worth only 29 cents .
Posted by jimbo   ( 424 ) on Dec-15-07 at 05:51:56 PST   Listings
themorestore1742,
Here's what a recent full sheet of that stamp sold for: Elvis sheet. As you can see, it didn't bring even face value of $11.60. BTW, it was issued in 1993.

jimbo
Posted by themorestore1742   ( 6 ) on Dec-15-07 at 05:40:40 PST   Listings
What do you think the Elvis Presley 29 cent United States Postage stamp is worth today. I believe it was put out in 1929?
Posted by wrd3   ( 100 ) on Dec-15-07 at 05:35:22 PST   Listings
22028 you may already have found the information you wanted about RFD, but here are two web articles with info:
Wikipedia
Dane County Newsletter.

Bill D.
Posted by stampmad   ( 1089 ) on Dec-15-07 at 03:55:55 PST   Listings
Richard OS = Official Stamp. Although many other countries used perfins I am unaware of which countries other than Australian states, Commonwealth or dependencies that used "OS".
Marius
Posted by jim_lawler   ( 1447 ) on Dec-15-07 at 03:11:43 PST   Listings
Greetings
and an Indiana "Good Morning"
to you all

Jim L.

member
Posted by sayasan   ( 734 ) on Dec-15-07 at 01:11:18 PST   Listings
NOIP To save me trawling through the catalogue (Heaven forbid), am I right in thinking that the use of "OS" on official stamps, overprinted or perfinned, was primarily in Australia? I notice it also in New Guinea. Anywhere else?

Do we take this as short for "on service" or "official service"?

Ta. Richard W.

Posted by mini*lindy   ( 552 ) on Dec-15-07 at 00:29:03 PST   Listings
Dunc, maybe time for this piece of Postal Stationery?

Thanks to the chat member that brought that one to my attention several months ago, unfortunately, after the auction closed. I would have LOVED to have purchased it!

Linda
Posted by duncan_doenitz   ( 129 ) on Dec-14-07 at 23:21:02 PST   Listings
Don't feed the troll.
Posted by afeht   ( 1198 ) on Dec-14-07 at 22:42:48 PST   Listings
infla-alec,

Talking about stamps would be nice. Unfortunately, most talkative personalities here are interested mostly in covers. As much as old stamps and their varieties excite me, postal history and excessive specialization bore me to death.

Dem jedem das seine, I know. Still, for me philately is more about subjects of stamps -- and about their financial value (I see nothing wrong in making money). I don't care who overpaid what for a third-rate turd-crate from Honolulu to Rio Linda.
Posted by thebriguy1   ( 64 ) on Dec-14-07 at 22:02:13 PST   Listings
addu I can certainly help you on the rough estimated real value of the envelope/stamp (known in the trade as a "cover"). I can also tell you if the cancel is rare or common. The entire unit has as a component of value, what is in the letter, who its from, and info like any particualr war news, etc. Of course condition is paramount.

If possible can you link a scan of those items?
Posted by jaywild   ( 1030 ) on Dec-14-07 at 21:54:45 PST   Listings
Rainer… At one time there was no free mail delivery for people who lived on farms, or anywhere that did not have a post office. That was changed in the 1890s (I think) when regular mail service was extended to essentially everyone.

I think if you Google “Rural Free Delivery” you might find more exact information, I’m too tired to do it myself. I spent the afternoon in the woodshop, and I’m beat.

Jim
Posted by jaywild   ( 1030 ) on Dec-14-07 at 21:51:02 PST   Listings
NOIP… I have a couple items to show in the “materials for planting” category.

First example is this solo 7¢ prexy. I can’t say for sure this was material for planting, but this tag was attached to a bag (see left side where it was detached.)

Second item was “grape cuttings”, but since there is no date on the item it could be one of two rates. Here is the address side of the card.

(Be sure to enlarge the images to see all detail.)

Jim
Posted by oggilby   ( 1244 ) on Dec-14-07 at 21:39:13 PST   Listings
try again here! (used an : instead of a =)
Posted by oggilby   ( 1244 ) on Dec-14-07 at 21:36:37 PST   Listings
Here's an aquisition made by my dad after raiding a German post office sometime during May 1945. These stamps were part of his war booty that made it back to the US. Social commentary was added by dad.
Posted by mini*lindy   ( 552 ) on Dec-14-07 at 21:15:53 PST   Listings
alec the only L.S. in Maltese Cross type postmark I can find quickly has L.S. top and bottom of the Cross, was from 1829 and is a Branch Office Handstamp [L.S. for Lombard St, V.S. for Vere St, B for Borough and CX or CH for Charing Cross].

That was just after a quick look thru Dr. Whitney's Collect British Postmarks.

Linda
Posted by 22028   ( 1669 ) on Dec-14-07 at 21:14:11 PST   Listings
Thanks for the explanation about RFD cancels but what kind of postal service is this?
Posted by postalhysteria   ( 3835 ) on Dec-14-07 at 21:14:09 PST   Listings

RFD cancel of Ballston Spa NY on a 1c Pan-Pac commem franked PPC

Tonite has been a real treat, just eBaying, listening to Townes, and watching my wife paint. Lately I have been hitting the sack around 7 pm, still rebuilding a bathroom for a customer which involved taking the room down to the dirt underneath. Lots of advil and benedril. I finished my last tile cuts today before tomorrow's supposed snow. Aa wet saw is much more enjoyable in July than December. Now for a good sleep-in.

tiredout-raff

Posted by addu3b0b1   ( 84 ) on Dec-14-07 at 21:09:24 PST   Listings
I have a 1861 Jeff Davis - 5 Cent Stamp on the Orginal Envelope, with Original hand written letter from a Civil War Soldier, who wrote home on March 12, 1862, still in the envelope. All of this is in a clear display cover. The Stamp has the PostMasters' Cancellation Mark.
The pageall this is attached to has some Letters (HNWKD) and Scott Cat. # 1-A written next to the letter.
Can anyone help me with those letters?
I have no idea if all this is worth anything or not.
Thanks, Bill
Posted by stamps12345   ( 225 ) on Dec-14-07 at 20:57:11 PST   Listings
New collectors and overseas friends here is the stamp for the 100 yr. annv. of RFD RURAL FREE DELIVERY from my collection .....paul
Posted by stamps12345   ( 225 ) on Dec-14-07 at 20:44:45 PST   Listings
LLUEHHHB-----What was in that sack was meal corn {finely ground corn ---for human consumption } as to regular corn or feed corn which is too expensive to ship from Chile to Germany for livestock feed .
Posted by postalhysteria   ( 3835 ) on Dec-14-07 at 20:44:28 PST   Listings

correction noted, I obviously ain't the tamale cook in the family.

Posted by stamps12345   ( 225 ) on Dec-14-07 at 20:40:13 PST   Listings
rural free delivery
Posted by 22028   ( 1669 ) on Dec-14-07 at 20:35:11 PST   Listings
When i do my regular searchings on ebay I run across so-called "RFD" cancels. What are they? They are generally found on US-items.
Posted by stamps12345   ( 225 ) on Dec-14-07 at 20:35:05 PST   Listings
minor correction to a minor correction It would be more accurate to say masa harina is finely ground corn and not flour . We think of flour as wheat not as corn in the English language . ...hope this helps
Posted by postalhysteria   ( 3835 ) on Dec-14-07 at 20:27:41 PST   Listings

Another US cover interest of mine is 20th Century commemoratives on cover.

I try to start each one with an interesting FDC, and just snagged this one on a Buy-it-Now sale, 3c Soo Locks commem FDC, missent to....

Posted by infla-alec   ( 565 ) on Dec-14-07 at 20:13:11 PST   Listings
Board behaviour Glad to see so many make the effort to show some very interesting items. I have no particular favourite as I simply love to see and hear stamps being talked about.

To keep my post stamp related the only item I have found so far is not for myself but a cover for a friend who has started a collection of pre-philatelic covers. Now I must admit I have very little knowledge about such mail but I do admire those that can decipher the many transit cancels found on such items and how and why the postal rates at that time were calculated. Does anyone happen to know what the ,"LS" on the upper cover in the Maltese Cross cancel means? Also the Bruxelles transit cancel in green was that the normal cancel colour at the time or something better ?
Posted by afeht   ( 1198 ) on Dec-14-07 at 20:08:22 PST   Listings
j,

Whatever, dude.
Posted by postalhysteria   ( 3835 ) on Dec-14-07 at 20:02:49 PST   Listings
Lindy - re the postal card/pvi item, I frequently use older postal cards for address labels. They show up in bulk cover lots and that's about all they are good for.

cheap-raff

Posted by postalhysteria   ( 3835 ) on Dec-14-07 at 19:58:21 PST   Listings

lindy - I had no inkling! (grin) I missed the one you sold. Should you offer the other one when you find it, gimme a heads-up por favor.

Jeff-raff

Posted by mini*lindy   ( 552 ) on Dec-14-07 at 19:35:15 PST   Listings
oh, Jeff I have had 2 blotters that were posted as postcards, the reverse showed the weekly Sugar Prices! (I think I still have one and I sold one on eBay!!)...

advertising blotters postally used.

L.
Posted by postalhysteria   ( 3835 ) on Dec-14-07 at 19:26:57 PST   Listings

lluehhhb - nice sack. We frequently purchase a bag of masa harina for making tamales. Yum.

I have one with a mailing tag sending a sample of sand from a Florida beach, and I have seen a similar item mailing salt from the Salt Lake in Utah.

I also have one with a solo US 13c Fourth Bureau issue mailing a bag of seeds, an orchard mailing. I have been accumulating whatever I come across that fits into a specially designated "seeds and materials for planting" third class rate structure.

A minor correction to your otherwise excellent English, your bag contained flour not floor. (I had to chuckle as we recently watched again RETURN OF THE PINK PANTHER and I amused myself as Clusseau (sp?) doing a flour/floor routine)

Somewhere I have a sample piece of wood (flooring ?) that was mailed as a sample with address label and postage on the wood itself.

jay-raff: 3 cheers, and 3 more

A-R Mitch - if you have your generator going, my wife and I were sitting here in silence and she suggested some music. She asked to put that "Townsend guy's" CD on! She really loves him even if she hasn't got his name down.

Lindy - in my third class items I have only 1 blotter that was addressed and mailed without envelope. I have looked in vain for others.

jeff-raff

Posted by jim_lawler   ( 1447 ) on Dec-14-07 at 19:26:06 PST   Listings
member
Posted by jaywild   ( 1030 ) on Dec-14-07 at 19:25:11 PST   Listings
NOIP… Now for something completely different—

Here is a recent acquisition, a cover postmarked the day Grover Cleveland was inaugurated for his first term as president.

Jim
Posted by mini*lindy   ( 552 ) on Dec-14-07 at 19:08:15 PST   Listings
IOJim this is the latest PVI/combo cover I received!
It's from Clancy MT with a cut out 15c postal card and a $1.65 pvi !! long brown envelope about 6 x 12 inches

Linda
from RioMelbourne not RioAnywhere else!
Posted by jaywild   ( 1030 ) on Dec-14-07 at 19:06:41 PST   Listings
For those embittered about paying taxes in the US, this shows where the money goes. As can be seen, more than half goes to military and related expenses. So for those opposed to paying taxes, your primary beef is with the American military. I for one feel that it is money well spent, but it may look different to someone unaccustomed to thinking deeply about anything.

The 32% spent on Human Resources includes all the funds spent to bring ingrate bums here from other countries.

Hope this helps…

Jim
Posted by lluehhhb   ( 325 ) on Dec-14-07 at 18:55:54 PST   Listings
iomoon

About PVIs, some time ago I stopped to receive PVIs with the country code and returned to the classic style of type II labels. I can't tell you the date of the change now (I have to collect all the covers I have scattered through the house first).

postalhysteria
Nice examples of unusual mailings.
I recently won an interesting item:
"front" and "back"

This is a small sack used to send a sample of floor ("Harina" in spanish) from Chile to Germany in the early 50's. The rate is right for a registered merchandise sample (UPU destinations) in the 450g-500g range.
It was opened in the customs office in Kiel and then sealed with a label.
Honestly I wonder why someone would want a sample of floor... unless it's made from a special grain or something like that.

Far as I remember it's the most unusual mailing I've seen from Chile. All the curious items were mailed under the parcels category and the contents weren't revealed.

I collect postal history with the definitive issue used in the sack. And certainly it will be the best item in the collection for a long time!

Posted by jaywild   ( 1030 ) on Dec-14-07 at 18:48:42 PST   Listings
Russians who were brought to this country in the 1980s were leapfrogged far ahead of all other potential immigrants, who had to wait years and years for a chance to come here. And despite bluster to the contrary from some quarters, an enormous amount of benefits were provided to all people brought over here from the USSR. The purpose, alas, was not noble—accelerated immigration from the USSR was seen as an exceptionally effective way to tweak the noses of the Soviets. As with the Mariel Boatlift from Cuba, sometimes this resulted in undesirable elements coming here, that the Russians saw a golden opportunity to get rid of.

It seems to me one earns true citizenship in this country when he stops complaining about how unfair it is live here, and learns to pay his share to support our way of life without acting like a crybaby. (Kind of like Zhook, eh?)

Jim Fowler... Sorry to hear you no longer want to visit the board, but as has been pointed out, your post didn’t contribute anything either.

Jeff... Nice third class items!

Jim
Posted by postalhysteria   ( 3835 ) on Dec-14-07 at 18:12:09 PST   Listings

arafat - quite touching. sniffle.

Posted by afeht   ( 1198 ) on Dec-14-07 at 17:57:24 PST   Listings
infla_alec,

Look what I got yesterday. Hope it will help me to find out, finally, all about those pairs and printings of classic South Africa.

hysteria,

You remind me of a Russian I met once in Brooklyn, NY, who called all South Americans "Cubans" just because he couldn't name any other country or region of that vast and diverse continent. For your information, not all Russians are Moscovites; actually, the place in Western Siberia, where I happened to be born, is as far from Moscow to the east as New York is to the west. And, if I were you, I would remember that all Americans are descendants of immigrants. I earned my freedom and American citizenship; you are an American by chance, and exchanged your freedom for security.
Posted by mini*lindy   ( 552 ) on Dec-14-07 at 17:43:57 PST   Listings
Recently I have been putting together a couple of albums of Ink Advertising Ephemera, not from a philatelic viewpoint, but simply items that advertised Writing Ink or Steel Pen Nibs. I have several blotters, some German Poster Stamps and several USA postal stationery items, and another, similar.
One would think that on a blotter was the obvious place to advertise Ink products, but not so. More blotters advertise Bread, Salt, Shoes, Insurance Companies, Banks, and Motor Oil than Ink!!
Linda
Posted by postalhysteria   ( 3835 ) on Dec-14-07 at 17:22:35 PST   Listings

Another third class item, this with a 4c Third Bureau Issue on a small box which once contained a metal printing engraving. I have similar items with 4c 4th Bureau and 3c Prexie frankings including the metal cuts.

third class raff

Posted by postalhysteria   ( 3835 ) on Dec-14-07 at 17:15:11 PST   Listings

One of my philatelic interests is US 20th century third class mail, especially with unusual contents. This is a recent acquisition, 1-1/2c Martha coil on cover, rather ordinary without the contents, a oversize book of matches mailed is a specially designed foil lined envelope.

I doubt including such an item in an exhibit would receive favor from an exhibit chairman or adjacent exhibitors.

I have seen only one other, an envelope only from Canada.

matchless-raff

Posted by iomoon   ( 1056 ) on Dec-14-07 at 15:52:42 PST   Listings
It is also in part because 2007 is the International Polar Year.

To make it stamp-related.
Posted by infla-alec   ( 565<