Stampchat+

David B: Thanks for doing the reporting. You're right, it is fortunate that in the case of these types of forgeries (the so-called "signed forgeries") that it is very easy to document, if at least one of the characters is visible.

It is also fortunate that the person who I believe is the Japan person on the SWC is also one of the people who created the CD-ROM and the website! (That person would be able to not only identify it as a forgery, but also who the forger was, which plate, and what state of the plate! -- (sigh...) I would love to get that accomplished in this field.)

Please do let me know if you hear anything.

I am tempted to write the seller a nice note commending them for lowering the price, but also asking if they can indicate in the description that it is a forgery.

I should add that this is one of those situations where the requirement of stamping "forgery" on the reverse may be problematic. As we've mentioned before, this is an example of a "classic forgery", where the forgeries are studied and collected with as much enthusiasm as would be a genuine copy. It would diminish its collectible value to have it stamped on the reverse. I'm not sure if that's even required anymore, or enforced, but this is a case where it would be not be desirable solely on the basis of detracting from its collectibility (as opposed to the cases of the recently produced forgeries).

Could someone let me know if the stamps of British Indian Ocean Dependencies are valid for postage in the UK. I am scratching around trying to find some mint stamps to help pay for postage for a lot from the UK.
Marius

Marius
You can only use British regionals.
Guernsey and Jersey don't work.Let alone BIOT.
Ask them if they'll take mint Australian.
I've got bunches of them.

Thanks Jim

Marius
On the other hand, Id' take mint Cocos and Keeling or Christmas Island over regular Australia.

Here's an interesting offering on eBay...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 5564824075

It's a full pane of the Confederate States of America #11 with a very fresh PSE certificate.

It's a bit optimistically described, "staining on a couple stamps", since the entire upper half of the pane appears stained to some degree, but perhaps some buyer will still be getting a bargain due to the circumstances of the sale. The seller currently has a feedback of 22 (and rising) but the feedback is as a buyer of inexpensive jewelry, no sales and no involvement with stamps. There is mention of a long term APS membership, but it looks as if this seller is acting as an agent for the actual owner of the stamps.

I don't have a clue what the item is worth. If the bidding hasn't already climbed too high, it might be worth asking the seller about an escrow sale.

Dunc

Trout season opens March 27th!! ----------->{{{*>

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My, haven't we slowed down here lately.

still nothing from Ebay about the fake Japanese item or about the other 4 items I reported last week.

Are you sure the SWC are still active or in hibernation for the winter,

David B.

Anyone have any experience with these guys? They're in Huntington Station, NY. They've got a hard-to-get minor variant that I'm interested in picking up.

They're okay. I've bought a few things from them. Like almost every dealer and auction house they overrate their stamps in their descriptions; XF is really VF, VF is really F-VF, etc. You can usually see that in the scan. Be sure to ask about their policy on certs and undisclosed faults. It's been awhile, but I think they responded positively to me on both counts. My view derives solely from the fact I collect only early US classics, so really top-notch stuff is very expensive and hard to get.

I remember when this board was starting up and it seemed there was a serious amount of interest. The old board had a huge following. Lately there seem to be fewer contributors and less discussion. Is it just the season? Frajola's board is going strong. Is it lack of things to talk about? I don't know. I was very busy for some time and I didn't have the opportunity to watch the board much from the time it started. But when my post made yesterday at 6:07 PM is followed by this post nearly 27 hours later without any other posts in between, well ... It seems something not too good is happening. What?

Alright, let's see if someone alive is out there. I have a question of ethics and eBay tactics. The items for sale are not stamps, or stamp related, except an occasional post card. Rather, it concerns my other hobby, caving, or spelunking to those of you who aren't cavers. (We never use that word.) eBay sellers offer tons of cave related souvenir items, post cards, carte de visits, 19th century photos, books and a whole host of tourist trash offered in the gift stores. Some items are quite rare and desirable. There are many of us who collect items in the field, or did until GS came along.

For many years all the collectors got a piece of the pie and were able to buy cave-related items. Numerous good collections were growing rapidly thanks to the availability of goods through eBay. However, GS, a very rich cave owner and a member of the commercial cave association, began to pervert the entire field and is destroying the field of collecting of cave history. (There is a much smaller supply of artifacts than in philately.) He uses his vast amount of money, gathered from dues of the commercial cave owners in the US, to buy and buy and buy everything related to caves, ostensibly for a "cave museum". No such museum exists, nor is one every likely to exist. I believe this person has that mental illness associated with those who incessantly hoard everything forever, even if it is junk.

The problem is this. If there is a cave photo on eBay with a real street value of $100, he will place a proxy bid of $1000 or $2000 on it, guaranteeing a win no matter who bids against him. He will do this on the smallest, cheapest item even if he has already purchased ten of the same item in the last year. He essentially wants no one else to own anything relating to caving history.

Cavers have been complaining; many of us know the man personally; few like him or ever have because he's a rude and disrespectful man to most everyone. The commercial cave association gives him money just to keep him out of their hair.

So here is the ethical question. A few weeks back some friends of mine and I spiked his bids. On items worth a couple of hundred dollars, we ran his bids up to $1200 and $950 respectively without exceeding his already established proxy. The items still were only worth a couple hundred dollars each. In one day we cost him over $2500 extra. We even took $5 post cards and ran them over $75. We repeated this a couple of weeks later and did the same amount of damage. He became more gun-shy because even his bloated budget had a hard time absorbing these hits, but he did not change his habits of extreme proxy bidding. He did bid on fewer items. We certainly made some sellers very happy.

Now, a whole network of cavers who have been driven from collecting by this man are ready to wreak havoc on him by driving all his bids sky high. Of course, you must bear in mind, he already set his proxy that high. So, is it fair, is it ethical, to drive him nuts with this tactic? We can break his bank. None of us know the sellers, so no shilling is taking place. He may have to resort to sniping, but if he consistently snipes high, he will still be nailed.

What do you think?

Hello Ken.

It sounds to me as though "GS" has tried to discourage competitive bidding, driving off other bidders so he can actually get the items cheaply when they "cave in" and quit bidding on the auction items.

Nobody has forced him to place high bids, and nobody prevents other bidders from doing the same thing.

Do you think he is trying to artificially drive up the value of his existing holdings? You know, like the Hunts when they drove up the value of silver years ago by buying aggressively.

Dunc

How many philatelists around here are also coin collectors?

Or collectors of other stuff?

Dunc

..........................><{{{*>

Coins and books mainly.

Hi, Ken!

Thanks for posting a few days ago, and then again today. I saw your post then and had hoped to issue a welcome, but I have been deeply involved in the illness of a good friend, and it's kept me from spending more than a minimal amount of time on the board recently. (I've basically been out of town dealing with this since Thanksgiving.)

This board seems very much affected by the posting climate on the eBay board. For the present, the eBay board is quite lenient, allowing all sorts of posts that, during its stricter regimes, are removed immediately. I think the need for this board becomes somewhat diminished during those lenient periods. However, it becomes the refuge for those posters when the eBay pendulum swings back the other way.

My view is that we should maintain this board for all climates, hopefully nurturing it through the slow times, and enjoying its usefulness during the busy times. (It is sometimes a bit difficult to see friends and familiar faces who once offered support by posting here to only post now on eBay and/or Richard Frajola's board, but I try not to take it personally.)

Also, the level of argumentativeness here is down significantly from earlier times, and Mauro and I have agreed that we would rather have a slower, more civilized board, rather than the roughhousing that once went on here. The upside of the old style was that, although rough, it drew a lot of attention and involvement.

Mauro and I have in mind some additional ways this board may be able to serve the community, but I am not in a position to do much to develop this until the illness situation is a bit more improved.

In the meantime, I would encourage anyone who might ordinarily be reluctant to post on any of the boards to take this opportunity to introduce yourself, describe your collecting interests, or just ask a question that you thought might have been "too easy" or "too general" for this or the other boards.

Also, please feel free to post your collecting interests, want lists, and items offered for sale on our Marketplace forum.

Each person's participation is what will help make this a better resource for everyone, and that's our goal!

Ken, thanks for your remarks. I'd been thinking about this issue for a while, but hadn't yet posted on it.

Thanks!

Here is a small "show and tell" about the first Danish Postal wrapper.

This 2 Skilling wrapper is the first wrapper issued in Denmark. It was in use 1872-75 and only 16 is recorded used. The interesting part is, that this is sent locally in Copenhagen and canceled with the circular cancel of Copenhagen Footpost. It's the only recorded locally used wrapper of this type.
The "Birth" certificate of this wrapper can be seen on my pages here.
It's my goal to tell the complete story of the Danish Postal wrappers on these pages but so far I have only made 2.

In 1872-75 mail was only distributed in the larges cities.
This wrapper, sent from Copenhagen to Randers, was one of these.
This wrapper was sent from Veile to a rural farm (Vennegaard) but as there weren't any delivery, it was adressed to the nearby inn (Hjortballe Kro), where the reciever could pick up the wrapper.
The last wrapper is in my opinion the most interesting 2 skilling wrapper I have. This wrapper was sent as Cash on Delivery - it's sent from Veile to Eltang Holdeplads, which was a place where the mail diligence could change there horses. Again a rural sending, which had to be picked up by the reciever. The sum to be collected was 34 skilling and for this the sender paid 6 skilling (probably 2 x 3 skilling bicolored stamps) but unfortunately the stamps has disaperred. The labels is interesting too. The small label was to be put on the adress part (here the wrapper) and the large label on the packet (if any) but here the "packet" was inside the wrapper hence both labels on the wrapper. The "684" is the number, which the mailman in Veile wrote on the list over the registered or COD mail each day (What is the US expression of this number and/or the list??) The "34s" is an reminder to the mail collector to collect the 34 Skilling from the reciever.
As English isn't my first language, I would be happy to get the correct postal/philatelic expressions - please help. :O)

K.E.

My other collections are: Mechanical watches, Fountain Pens, Maps and Shares (old ones )

Nice items! But surely you mean Fodpost=Footpost, not Foodpost.

Bjorn - You are correct!
I wonder what a Foodpost" is!!

K.E.

I'm with Mauro on other collections, at least a bit -- my other active "collection" is watches [I have 10 -- 5 pocket, 5 wrist]. But I think most of us have other collections. I do have coins (currently not active), postcards, and even some stock certificates.

Duncan-Doenitz On that ethical issue, no GS is not trying to drive up the value of cave-related items. He is just plain greedy, perhaps obsessed. Most cavers just don't bid anymore because they know they cannot win. In some cases it has depressed prices. I've always felt people like him are harmful to all types of collectors. For instance, in postal history, there are several ultra-wealthy acquisitors who have their buyers bid ten times the value of an item just so they, and they alone, own it. This is all the GSs—an anathema to collectors everywhere. In his particular case, he has an Achilles heel.

Dave F Thanks for the response and I will keep your friend in my thoughts and hope all will be well. I've never posted on eBay's board because I always thought they were nazis, and being a German, I have a strong dislike of the type. I'll probably still stay away. I feel big brother is a lurker.

I'm sure this board will live and perhaps a gadfly will be good—so when I can, I'll throw my two gadflies in.

I love the work of SCADS. Thank you.

Ethical question To all the rest of the board, please take the time to read my posting about the ethical/tactical question. I truly would like some feedback. I'm not sure whther it is a technical violation of eBay's rule against bid manipulation but since they make more money, we know where their ethics will lie. You probably already know where I stand because I did it, but I don't mind hearing opposing views if I'm wrong. My revolutionary roots go back to the 60's so I'm always willing to stick a pin in a balloon, but age has given me the wisdom to question whether it's the right balloon.

As to my collecting, my signature lists my philatelic interests, but I also collect and restore a few old cars and love genuine 19th century furniture, hardware, etc. I love Art Deco pieces, stained glass and old bottles I dig up in the mountains of Colorado. Postcards, old photographs and stereoscopes; stereo pictures, I want a nice victrola with a big horn, old telephones and radios, old letters and if you give me another idea I'll want one or two!

BTW, I'm new to collecting German States and if there is anyone out there who collects this area, I'd love to hear from you.

I'm not sure this is the correct timing or a welcome post - but...if the question is whether or not this board should survive because it was born out of dissatisfaction with the ebay board, and that has become more pleasant since - then I would vote an emphatic "yes". (Please don't let "Grammar Jim" read this last 'sentence'.)


Although I rarely post on this board, I read it pretty much daily, or at least as frequently as I do Richard's and ebay's board. I do post substantive messages here with equal frequency as to the other two boards. My greetings on the ebay board daily are obviously a thinly veiled bookmark, due to the profusion of posts on that board. I think this board and Richard's are the two that deal with true stamp collecting interests, and the occasional questions about collecting trends and friendly barbs bewteen friends about life in general. The ebay board is simply that. A board for all of ebay to post whatever. If anything, the latest spate of attempts to answer a simple question from someone who obviously doesn't want the answer is an example why it is more general in scope than a true stamp chat board. I think if I asked a favor and question of strangers, I would tend to be more understanding and thankful, then to becoming accusatory, as the asker has become. It is unlikely that something like that would happen here since it is more of a closed system.


Certainly, especilly during significant world times, subjects other than collecting have entered into this board, as well as the others, but those times are infrequent, thankfully. As I see Richard's board as the place to ask Philatelic related US issues, I see this board as the equivalent for foreign (to me) Philatelic questions. It very much so has it's place and necessity in the collecting community. Temporary slowness does not imply it has lost it usefulness.


Once again, I do not know if my post is welcome, or if it is an answer to a question which has not been posed. But, I truly enjoy reading this board, and hope it stays.

Vic
You're out of luck, I read everything written here.

Furshur
Nice to read of another spelunker.
I was more or less forced into the pasttime.
Having been a rock climber in Keele, I moved to Lancaster where my "skills" were "roped in" to the cave rescue unit. At that time we had one of the most active clubs in Britain, if not the world, with expeditions to Venezuela etc.

I would say that your tactics against GS would be laudatory if performed on a singular occasion to make him "learn his lesson". However, to repeat such tactics when they are of no avail, seems to be somewhat pointless and unethical. Except that you are (unwillingly) driving up the price of his and your own collections.

On the bright side I'd like to acknowledge this seller for pulling his auction after reasoned emails. Especially considering his location.

Dave, I think I'm like a number of others. I read all three boards semi-regularly, and participate when I has something I want to ask or say, and in reply to other postings. So while I may seem an infrequent visitor, I'm always lurking, ready to jump in. I'd be upset to see this board disappear -- there have been so many times when it was a necessary alternative to the eBay board.

I realize this board is about the hobby of stamp collecting and for philatelists, but I suggest that we all chime in regularly with something even if it's not about stamps just to maintain a rhythm. The focus should be on stamps; let's share some of our collections with each other. I'd love to see what other collectors have. I don't know if space is an issue, but if it is I can set up a public area on one of my domains to post scans and make it available to all. And when someone feels like sharing something else, do it. Most of all, all of you out there who only watch or lurk, chime in. I'm basically shy, but if we each decide to only act as gentlemen/gentlewomen, we should never have a problem. If things drift too far off topic too long, it only takes one person to add a post about a stamp or cover.

Jim Whitford-Stark I remember a post from me (Ken K) to you on RF's board about our both having long hair, but now I find out you are a caver as well! I too started with climbing around Boulder, but gave it up because I wasn't that great and there was too much ego around the Boulder area. I started caving in '68; it was my first love anyway.

As for GS, one time won't teach him a lesson, but since he is funded by the association of commercial cave owners they will have to foot the bill. If he suddenly goes from a $50,000 budget to a $150,000 budget, they will shut him off. Basically it would take breaking the bank. The prices of cave-related material will drop rapidly after he is forced to rethink his extreme bidding—there isn't tons of stuff, but even fewer people collect it. Plus, cavers are basically cheap.

furshur
Unfortunately, in my advancing years I do not have the same desire to go plunging into dark holes, as I did in my youth.
(next sentance removed by censor).
Likewise, since most of it required bringing up dead bodies, it did not make it a pleasant pasttime.
In west Texas,apart from the commercial caves at Carlsbad NM, and adjacent valleys, the biggest problem is rattlers.
Which I don't like meeting face to face.

This board not survive? Perish the thought!

I don't have as much time as I used to to read and post here, but consider my philatelic life richer for its existence.

Thanks to Mauro and Dave F for providing this forum.


Anne

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Greetings
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I'm glad to see more posts this weekend. I've been keeping my plate more than full for the past few years. Hoping that I'll be able to remove a few items in the near future. That should give me more time for stamps and research.

While Stamps are my main collecting area, I'm a collector in general. Books, Music, antiques (mostly "smalls), and "usable" stuff that ends up taking more time that it's worth.

Jim W-S: I must agree that in my advancing years I, too, have less inclination of dropping into unfamiliar dark holes. Probably much safer anyway, my wife would kill me otherwise.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to the board. (It turns out the patient this week is me rather than my friend. Not only do I have a bad cold, but I tripped and fell into a fountain while walking from the parking garage to church yesterday. Fortunately just a little banged up, but nothing broken or too seriously bruised. The cold is actually the bigger hurdle to get over.)

Ken: Thanks for your posts and support of this board. The ethics question you posed is a good one. I've been thinking about it, and will post a separate reply to it. I think I'll also ask a couple of people who are highly experienced in real-time auctions for their perspective.

Vic: Your post is absolutely welcome, and thanks for it. And I agree with your analysis about the discussion that was going on on the eBay board yesterday. I, too, see the relationship of the various boards the same way you do as well. And please continue posting whenever you can.

Knud-Erik: Thanks very much for the posting on the Danish postal wrappers! Great job! Please feel free to continue that thread here as you develop more pages. I have a particular fondness for postal stationery.

Thanks also to Dunc, Mauro, Bjorn, Matt, Jim W-S, Greg, Anne & Jim L. for their recent posts as well!

And watch where you're walking.

The latest issue of Linn's reports that Scott has reversed their previous decision regarding the Chinese New Year Monkey stamp. They're now calling it 3895i (and the three that follow it have been shifted to j-l accordingly).

I too read this board daily where possible, but post only when I find it appropriate. I try to post different material here from that posted on the eBay board so that those who read both aren't too bored. Please keep this board alive.

Ken K. - We used to have a GS in the New Hebrides area. One of my colleagues got so sick of being outbid, even after putting what he thought was an outrageous bid on items, that he decided to collect a different country (also a condominium) to get away from this person. The GS has since moved away from active purchasing, and my colleague now has fine collections of both countries.

Thank you for your compliment to SCADS, which I will pass on to members.

Sheryll

Whilst I'm here.....

I am once again culling my possessions and collections in preparation for moving to the US next month. Does anyone here have any experience with transporting stamps and covers through US customs in carry-on luggage? Any advice would be welcome, before I start packing in earnest.

Sheryll

Sheryll, I have no such experience. Mostly, in my experience in coming back to the US through customs, they are looking for drugs, money, and terrorists. The main thing I would do is to have it available for you to easily display to them so that someone inexperienced will not innocently flip through it and let some stamps fly. When I have bought better paintings or books, I just show it to them myself, and handle the item myself. They are usually understanding. In my experience, the old rule of doing it during their busy time, is not correct anymore. They are just as likely to want to look through everything when it is just you and 2 other people, as when there are 500 people in line. Where are you moving to?