Hello from Fredericksburg, Virginia U.S.A.

Hello, everyone I am a 49 year old husband and Father to 2 Daughters (ages 20 and 14). Came back to the hobby one year ago after walking away from it at 14 for the usual reasons (girls, cars etc.). After doing some internet lurking and finding some very well done blogs (Big Blue, filling spaces, stamp collecting blog etc.) seeing what people where doing and getting an idea of the different collecting goals and methods in use these days I decided to collect the world utalizing the reprint Minkus Supreme Global pages. My initial cut off was 1953, but that already feels a bit limiting so I have decided to expand out to 1970. This allows me to incorporate stamps of the latter cold war, and the various "new" Nations which arose as the colonial empires began to give way to various national movements. It will take a while for me to buy everything needed to expand out to 1970 so for now 1840 to 1953 will have to do. My preferred method of adding to my stamp hoard is buying collections, albums, pages, and accumilations. Low value stamps are mounted with vintage Dennison hinges (expensive but worth it to me) high value stamps are mounted with Hawid mounts (48mm sheets cut to size). I am greatly enjoying my return to the hobby and look forward to meeting and interacting with everyone on the site.

Mike K "toyempire"