Mint or Used stamps??

paris Super Stamp Bear Stamp Bears Supporter Posts: 918 Location (Country): Texas, USA	Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 9:24:56 GMT -5 via mobile Bee likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by paris on Mar 13, 2014 9:24:56 GMT -5 Hello my friends Today one of my friends called me and asked ..... What is the best to collect mint or used stamps And today am asking here my friend What's the best mint or used stamps?
	Paris

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Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 11:43:34 GMT -5 Bee likes this

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Post by alyn on Mar 13, 2014 11:43:34 GMT -5

Hello paris,

That is a very tough question to provide an answer for. The answer is purely subjective to the person answering it. I personally prefer used stamps my reasons to be brief are that is the reason for the stamps existence, and as we have more and more metered mail, postally used stamps will be harder and harder to come by. Those who collect mint will tell you otherwise.

Alyn

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Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 11:57:40 GMT -5 Bee likes this

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Post by khj on Mar 13, 2014 11:57:40 GMT -5

I agree with Alyn.

The answer lies with the individual collector. If you like stamps with no markings on it so you can see the design unobstructed, then you will probably want to collect mint stamps. If you like stamps that have been through an adventure and want to see the documentation, then you will likely want to collect used stamps.

Of course, I can't make up my mind, so I collect both mint and used.

If you want to know which one is better investment-wise, then you probably should be investing in something else. My opinion.

Collect what you like, the way you want. Because in the end, it's YOUR collection. Don't allow a commercial catalog or commercial album page to dictate they way you collect.

k

Last Edit: Mar 13, 2014 11:58:52 GMT -5 by khj

Admin Bear Administrator Stamp Bears Supporter Loving Member Appreciation Month!! Posts: 7,335 Location (Country): USA	Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 12:24:50 GMT -5 Bee likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Admin Bear on Mar 13, 2014 12:24:50 GMT -5 i agree with the statements above.. it is really a personal thing.. i keep mint if i get them but i rather seek out a used copy.. as khj stated if its all about investemnt - buy bonds ...
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Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 12:36:42 GMT -5 Bee likes this

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Post by MikeC99 on Mar 13, 2014 12:36:42 GMT -5

As stated above collecting mint vs used is a personal preference. I collect mint and used for Canada, US and Germany. For the other 4 countries I collect, I primarily go for used stamps. As far as my topical collections, I don't care if they are mint, used or CTO.
Mike

Collecting Canada, US, UK, Ireland, Germany, France & Austria. Also collecting some classic era stamps of some British Commonwealth Island countries and topicals like WW2, Capt. Cook, Horatio Nelson.

RossTO Stamp Bears Posting Guru Stamp Bears Supporter Posts: 2,466 Location (Country): Toronto, Ontario, Canada	Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 12:39:20 GMT -5 Bee likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by RossTO on Mar 13, 2014 12:39:20 GMT -5 Some of my collections are best copy (Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland) and others are separated into a mint and used collection (Canada, UK, Australia, NZ). It is all a personal choice.

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Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 12:47:03 GMT -5 Bee likes this

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Post by FairyFoot on Mar 13, 2014 12:47:03 GMT -5

I like postally used stamps, however, I will leave those on the nice Postcrossing postcards on the postcard (just checking today's post - one postcard with Houdini, Peanuts, Flash Gordon and a Common Buckeye

also one from Finland with yummy blackberries.... ), and those on letters I receive.

However, I do have a "mint collection" of Royal Mail stamps to use eventually for postage.... though sometimes I don't want to let go of them (especially those in my avatar)!!

Is the used vs mint choice easier to decide than choosing themes/countries to collect?!!

I am a letter writer, snailmail addict. I send therefore I receive. I also manage a letter writing/correspondence forum called A World of Snail Mail. I sometimes post pictures on Instagram (username morgaine_does_snail_mail)
Stamp themes - science, nature, postal history, maps, nice stamps.

khj Administrator Stamp Bears Supporter Posts: 9,892 Location (Country): USA	Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 12:47:22 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by khj on Mar 13, 2014 12:47:22 GMT -5 If you collect gum, you have to collect mint stamps. 8_4_140 Well, I guess there are plenty of CTOs out there that still have gum.

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Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 12:49:10 GMT -5 zepherusbane and Bee like this

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Post by khj on Mar 13, 2014 12:49:10 GMT -5

Is the used vs mint choice easier to decide than choosing themes/countries to collect?!!

I find both difficult to decide.

Which is why I have gone back to collecting worldwide, mint and used.

That way I don't have to choose, and have everything covered in case I do make a choice in the future!!!

1860999253

k

FairyFoot
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Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 12:52:36 GMT -5

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Post by FairyFoot on Mar 13, 2014 12:52:36 GMT -5

Mar 13, 2014 12:47:22 GMT -5 khj said:

If you collect gum, you have to collect mint stamps.

8_4_140

Well, I guess there are plenty of CTOs out there that still have gum.

When I started stamps as a child, I remember enjoying licking the gummed stamps for sticking in my world builder album (much easier than those hinges)..... However, I did also enjoy soaking stamps in the bath with me in the bath too !!! (last took a bath with stamps maybe over 25 years ago!)

I am a letter writer, snailmail addict. I send therefore I receive. I also manage a letter writing/correspondence forum called A World of Snail Mail. I sometimes post pictures on Instagram (username morgaine_does_snail_mail)
Stamp themes - science, nature, postal history, maps, nice stamps.

khj
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Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 12:56:48 GMT -5

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Post by khj on Mar 13, 2014 12:56:48 GMT -5

I do a lot of mailing. The taste of the gum does reflect the type of gum and changes in the formulation. There are a couple of US issues of the late 1970s and early 1980s that have a very unusually sweet tasting gum. There was actually a study done on the "calories" in gum, so I guess they did away with the sweet gum.

I have to confess, one of the things I hate in stamp collecting is soaking stamps off paper.

1662019374

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Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 13:04:17 GMT -5 kacyds and Bee like this

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Post by RossTO on Mar 13, 2014 13:04:17 GMT -5

I haven't soaked a stamp off paper in almost 2 years, John does that for me, mind you I may have lost a few stamps to him that way... icon_scratch

Again, it what to collect is a matter of personal choice and anyone that tries to tell you that you have to collect one or the other, or collect for value should go jump in a lake.

kannik
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Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 13:49:34 GMT -5

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Post by kannik on Mar 13, 2014 13:49:34 GMT -5

I collect both used and mint. I collect
used because of what alyn said above, and
mint also because I like to see them clean and
neat. But lately, I`m seeing a lot more
mint ones and find it harder to find used
ones (as alyn said) because people are trying
to sell off all those mint sheets they invested
in as singles and blocks, usually much more
cheaply than used ones might be, because not so
many people are impressed with mint sheets any
more. (At least that`s the impression I get.)

But I`m uncomfortable with mint ones because I
see them basically as sheets of sticky perforated
paper. These are sometimes called "wallpaper"
especially if issued with NO intention of ever
using them for postage, just of making money!
Those ones are often "canceled to order" so that
they CAN`T be used as postage, and often have
cartoons and other (often beautiful!) pictures
on them.

So I can`t be of much help to your friend
either, so perhaps he or she should try some
of each for a while, and do some reading on the
subject as well. Mint ones from your own country
can, of course, always be used as postage, though
it might take a sheet of them to send something
in the mail!

Collecting Australia, New Zealand, Channel Islands, Canada, U.S., St-Pierre et Miquelon, Faroe Islands
Topical - Seahorses, Paleophilately, Machins (limited), kingfishers, trees, horoscope & zodiac, O`Higgins (Chile), Lake Baikal.

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Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 15:38:11 GMT -5 Admin Bear, zepherusbane, and 1 more like this

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Post by greaden on Mar 13, 2014 15:38:11 GMT -5

I prefer used stamps because they bring in an extra layer of history. Also, for countries I use albums for, it is more convenient to use a hinge than bother with finding the right-sized mount.

For topical accumulations, I don't care. Mint is sometimes even better because it defeats the purpose if a postmark is interfering with the part of the design most relevant for the collection.

If mint stamps are cheaper (especially for older Germany), I will go for the mint. This is not just a matter of keeping costs down. Generally, if used stamps are more valuable then the postmarks are more likely to be forged. If the mint stamps are more valuable, then postmarks may have been deleted and gum added. The cheaper version of the stamp therefor is more likely to be authentic.

Semi-postals tend to have the same cost, mint or used. Their designs tend to be of higher quality so I am happy to get them unused.

I collect each country, dead or alive, but focus on France, French African colonies, older German area, allegorical men, carnivorous plants, Vikings, rock art, engraved pictorials.

Craig
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Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 16:45:10 GMT -5

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Post by Craig on Mar 13, 2014 16:45:10 GMT -5

To me, it depends. I have both used and mint country collections, but for some, I mix 'em up catch as catch can. With topicals, I prefer mint (LH or even H are okay if it's a stamp I want). Used are more challenging. Either a corner cancel if you are into stamp designs, or a smash-on-face if you're into fancy cancels, or perfectly centered circular date stamps if you're into SONs. When I was dealing, I had to cater to all tastes, so that influenced how I collected. But when I first started, I didn't much care.

zepherusbane Stamp Bears Posting Guru Posts: 2,984 Location (Country): United States	Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 16:53:14 GMT -5 Bee likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by zepherusbane on Mar 13, 2014 16:53:14 GMT -5 I liked the posts of the two that most resembled my views on this subject. I too collect both used and mint, I am indecisive.
	Worldwide collector of stamps and covers! I gave up on limiting to only certain countries.

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Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 16:55:36 GMT -5 Bee likes this

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Post by JanetC on Mar 13, 2014 16:55:36 GMT -5

For the US stamps I prefer mint over used. And if I have no mint and several used I will use the one with the least markings on it. I like to see the picture.
For WW it doesn't matter to me as long as it's in my album.
If going for dollar value, check the catalog as some used are worth more than mints.

WW Collector - Almost anything and everything

khj Administrator Stamp Bears Supporter Posts: 9,892 Location (Country): USA	Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 13, 2014 17:00:12 GMT -5 Admin Bear and kacyds like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by khj on Mar 13, 2014 17:00:12 GMT -5 Mar 13, 2014 16:53:14 GMT -5 zepherusbane said: I am indecisive. Are you sure? k

kannik
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Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 14, 2014 15:46:34 GMT -5

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Post by kannik on Mar 14, 2014 15:46:34 GMT -5

Mar 13, 2014 15:38:11 GMT -5 greaden said:

If mint stamps are cheaper (especially for older Germany), I will go for the mint. This is not just a matter of keeping costs down. Generally, if used stamps are more valuable then the postmarks are more likely to be forged. If the mint stamps are more valuable, then postmarks may have been deleted and gum added. The cheaper version of the stamp therefor is more likely to be authentic.

Semi-postals tend to have the same cost, mint or used. Their designs tend to be of higher quality so I am happy to get them unused.

I never knew all this stuff, greaden, and it is very interesting.
I have particularly recently bought some older-looking U.S.
stamps that are quite curly and supposedly mint, but they
have yellowish shiny glue on their backs and I wonder if
maybe THEY have been cleaned up and gum added!

Collecting Australia, New Zealand, Channel Islands, Canada, U.S., St-Pierre et Miquelon, Faroe Islands
Topical - Seahorses, Paleophilately, Machins (limited), kingfishers, trees, horoscope & zodiac, O`Higgins (Chile), Lake Baikal.

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Mint or Used stamps?? Mar 14, 2014 17:23:37 GMT -5

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Post by Bee on Mar 14, 2014 17:23:37 GMT -5

Mar 13, 2014 16:45:10 GMT -5 Craig said:

To me, it depends. I have both used and mint country collections, but for some, I mix 'em up catch as catch can. With topicals, I prefer mint (LH or even H are okay if it's a stamp I want). Used are more challenging. Either a corner cancel if you are into stamp designs, or a smash-on-face if you're into fancy cancels, or perfectly centered circular date stamps if you're into SONs. When I was dealing, I had to cater to all tastes, so that influenced how I collected. But when I first started, I didn't much care.

Craig please explain to me the terms you used " LH or even H"...

I am still new and learning .... icon_study

Last Edit: Mar 14, 2014 17:24:15 GMT -5 by Bee

Bee >i<

Mint or Used stamps??

Post by paris on Mar 13, 2014 9:24:56 GMT -5

Post by alyn on Mar 13, 2014 11:43:34 GMT -5

Post by khj on Mar 13, 2014 11:57:40 GMT -5

Post by Admin Bear on Mar 13, 2014 12:24:50 GMT -5

Post by MikeC99 on Mar 13, 2014 12:36:42 GMT -5

Post by RossTO on Mar 13, 2014 12:39:20 GMT -5

Post by FairyFoot on Mar 13, 2014 12:47:03 GMT -5

Post by khj on Mar 13, 2014 12:47:22 GMT -5

Post by khj on Mar 13, 2014 12:49:10 GMT -5

Post by FairyFoot on Mar 13, 2014 12:52:36 GMT -5

Post by khj on Mar 13, 2014 12:56:48 GMT -5

Post by RossTO on Mar 13, 2014 13:04:17 GMT -5

Post by kannik on Mar 13, 2014 13:49:34 GMT -5

Post by greaden on Mar 13, 2014 15:38:11 GMT -5

Post by Craig on Mar 13, 2014 16:45:10 GMT -5

Post by zepherusbane on Mar 13, 2014 16:53:14 GMT -5

Post by JanetC on Mar 13, 2014 16:55:36 GMT -5

Post by khj on Mar 13, 2014 17:00:12 GMT -5

Post by kannik on Mar 14, 2014 15:46:34 GMT -5

Post by Bee on Mar 14, 2014 17:23:37 GMT -5

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