How to get started?

[Skip]

Hi,
I'd be interested in starting to collect Irish
Stamps. I've never collected stamps before
but it looks fascinating. How would I get started?
Any pointers?

skip

[robert@nospam]

In article <e393ff49.01082...@posting.google.com>,
robert....@gallaudet.edu says...

You can look into buying/borrwing a book on stamp collection. Also you
would need a scott stamp catalog to show you the stamps issued, etc...

The internet have huge amount of info also, use a search engine and visit
many stamps websites.

[Victor Manta]

Often it is very useful: try to locate a stamp club in proximity and talk to
real collectors there.

Regards,
Victor Manta
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"Skip" <robert....@gallaudet.edu> wrote

[Neil S. Hawk]

Hi Skip;

Welcome to stamp collecting.

FTR, Scott will not be the final word on Irish stamps, most of their listings
even the US ones are simplified. You will find more about Irish stamps from SG
(Stanley Gibbons) a UK catalog publisher, among other things. I believe that
there is also a specialized catalog published in Ireland.

The following link, although emanating from Germany, is probably exactly what
you need to get a feel about stamp collecting and Irish philately in
particular.

Click here: I collect Ireland

http://members.aol.com/irlandphil/faixxxen.htm

Good luck!

Neil Hawk

VIVA LA SNA

[Stan Challis]

If you are interested in Irish you might like to have a look at the
specialist society pages

in the UK Irish Philatelic Society

and in the US Eire Philatelic Assoc

both easily reached via Google

there is also a German society with a quite unpronouncable name!

Best wishes
Stan Challis
Guernsey

Skip wrote in message ...

[Bob Ingraham]

> From: robert....@gallaudet.edu (Skip)
> Organization: http://groups.google.com/
> Newsgroups: rec.collecting.stamps.discuss
> Date: 25 Aug 2001 16:49:34 -0700
> Subject: How to get started?

Welcome to a great hobby, Skip. Here are some more thoughts to help you
along!

I would suggest first buying a good stockbook with transparent strips to
hold the stamps. Lighthouse is a good brand to start with. These can
sometimes be found in hobby shops and bookstores, and of course in stamp
shops in most large cities. There are many sources for collecting supplies
on the web.

You'll need a good (read "comfortable") pair of stamp tongs, a supply of
glassine envelopes, and a stamp catalogue. For starters, I would search for
a used Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue (the volume containing
Ireland, of course; the volume number changes from year to year).

Some people on this newsgroup may be able to direct you to good sources of
Irish stamps. You could probably pick up some lots on eBay for reasonable
prices. Dealers who specialize in making packets of stamps by country could
supply you with good selections to help you become familiar with what is
available (and, in combination with the catalogue, what is *not* readily
available).

At first, I wouldn't worry about albums (although a specialized Irish stamp
album would teach you a lot). In the beginning stages, I think it's
important

There are many web sites which offer adviced to beginning collectors; I
would suggest that by reading those carefully, and reading the posts to this
newsgroup, and by buying stamp publications such as Linn's, you'll soon
begin to get the hang of collecting. And you'll learn that it can easily
become a lifetime avocation.

Bob

[David J. Snyder]

In article <20010826181445...@mb-fu.aol.com>, neil...@aol.com
(Neil S. Hawk) writes:

>http://members.aol.com/irlandphil/faixxxen.htm
>
>Good luck!
>
>Neil Hawk
>
>VIVA LA SNA
>

Neil,
that URL does not seem correct. I got no web site.
David Snyder
David J. Snyder
127 Joseph Avenue
Staten Island, New York 10314-5054
USA
Web Site : http://members.aol.com/djs127

[Bob Ingraham]

I tried the web site; it worked fine for me.

Bob

[Neil S. Hawk]

Hello David,

Worked fine a few minutes ago, here is text part!

Neil

I collect Ireland - by Klaus Stange

Germans collect. What else would you expect? Collecting means searching and
finding, to assigning, classifying and putting in order. Since Germans are
known for precision and order, it's natural that they would take to collecting.
I, too, am a collector - with passion. And that is where schizophrenia begins.
Passion and order - how do they go together? But "I collect Ireland" - that is
what Germans say when we collect stamps of a single country. So I don't think I
have to explain the splitting of my consciousness.

I collect Ireland! I collect Irish stamps, Irish postmarks, Irish letters,
Irish postal history, Irish phonecards, and everything else that is connected
with it. Those "stern" philatelists often smile at us. "Ireland, that is no
field for true philatelists. It has only issued stamps since 1922. This country
has no classic philately and postal history!" They all forget that Ireland is
the country of the first adhesive postage stamp in the world and, as such, the
mother-country of philately. The first postage stamps were issued on the 6th of
May, 1840, not only in London, Edinburgh and Manchester but also in Dublin,
Belfast and Cork.

And that's not all. As early as 1774, the Dublin librarian, John Bourke, put
together all known "impressed stamps" of the green isle for the Royal Irish
Academy. This might have been the first stamp collection in the whole world.
And there were postal handstamps already in use in Ireland since 1667. They
were rather simple, showing a "W" in a circle - probably the abbreviation of
the name "Warburton", who at that time was postmaster for Ireland - but they
were a beginning.

And the years that followed provide all those things for the "Irish" collector
that "classic" postal history has for the "British" collector. There are the
mileage marks in which the distance between the post towns and Dublin is shown
in miles, as postage to be paid depended on this distance. There are the
wonderful Maltese Cross cancellations, several of which can be distinguished as
to the towns in which they were used in though they do not show the town name.
Then there are the Numeral cancels, which are distinct from the English,
Scottish and Welsh ones in that they are encased in the form of a diamond.
Better yet, there are handstamps that you don't find elsewhere in the world,
especially those lovely "Mermaids". And many more.

The period beginning in 1922, when the first Irish postage stamps were
introduced, is exiting and in many respects unique. In this "Transition Period"
in 1922, Ireland had its own first stamps in the form of overprints on British
stamps. But stocks of normal British stamps were still being sold and could be
used. Where else in the world could stamps of two independent postal
authorities be used on a single envelope? Only in recent German history this
was possible. In Ireland, this period ran for six weeks from 17 February to 31
March 1922. At the same time, it was possible to use Irish stamps in the United
Kingdom. It is really thrilling to look for such items, especially as many
dealers are not aware of this speciality (non-Irish dealers in particular).

Then there is the first definitive series of the young Republic that shows the
"Sword of Light", the map of Ireland, the Celtic Cross, the Coats of Arms of
the four provinces and St. Patrick. This series began rather small with a
single 2d stamp on 6 December 1922. The series wasn't replaced with a new
series until 1968. As might be expected for this long a period stamps were not
printed on the same paper, watermarks changed, as did the printing process. And
it would have been a real miracle if, in such a long term, the printers had not
made any mistake. So one may find inverted watermarks, reversed watermarks,
watermarks both reversed and inverted, etc.

The next definitive series had as its theme "Early Irish Art" and was designed
by the German artist Heinrich Gerl of Munich. This series ran for "only" 14
years (the first series had a 46-year run!!). The new series holds an Irish
record: 70 different denominations compared to 20 of the old one! But one
should not forget that during the time of this series, the currency changed to
the decimal system (on 15 February 1971. Didn't you know?). Furthermore, the
progress of technology kept us on the move. Once security paper was introduced,
watermarks were no longer needed. The paper had to "glow" so that stamp
canceling machines could "see" them. Various papers were tested. Even the good
old gum arabic was abolished. New gums were tested. And all that with the same
stamps. A vast field for discoveries. And most of these stamps are not really
expensive. Pretty much the same thing will probably happen to the more recent
series on Irish Architecture (1982 - 1990) and Irish Heritage and Treasures
(since 1990).

Then there are the Irish commemorative stamps. They deal nearly exclusively
with typical Irish events, native Fauna and Flora, Irish personalities, art and
culture. Pandit Nehru and the Pope - okay, there is no rule without an
exception. Or the Slogan cancellations. This term used world-wide, had its
origins in Ireland. It is an Anglo-Irish corruption of the Gaelic sluaigh gairm
- literally "a Cry of the People", denoting the battlecry of the clans as they
charged into battle. Appropriately, therefore, the first slogans were inspired
by the exigencies of war like "Feed The Guns With War Bonds".

Postal stationery - these are items where stamps are already imprinted as on
postcards. In Ireland we find registered envelopes, airmail letters, normal
envelopes, Greetings postcards and the well known St. Patrick's Day cards and
much more.

"I collect Ireland." It's obvious that Ireland is a rich field for the
enthusiast in philately or postal history. You cannot collect everything but
even if you specialize in any part of the vast offerings, it can give you much
pleasure. If you need more information or help, do not hesitate to contact me.

Klaus Stange

Back to homepage I need more information

[roger]

Neil, I really liked your lengthy description of your passion for collecting
Ireland. I can see why you have specialized into such an interesting area. May I
ask where in the world do you find this great variety of material for your
collection? I haven't as yet specialized.
Roger Henrie

[Marek Zyskowski]

Neil, you seem to be an expert on the subject of Irish Stamps. I was
wondering if there is a catalogue published in Ireland that specilizes
in Irish First Day Covers. I collect covers but my Irish collection is
rather disorganized and I don't have any good background of First Day
Covers for Ireland.

Thanks in advance.
Marek Zyskowski
marek_z...@videotron.ca
http://www.marek.qc.ca/

[Neil S. Hawk]

Hello Marek.

Unfortunately, I can't offer any help. I am quite a "purist" and collect
nothing created for collectors!

My interest in Irish postal history is limited to GB used in Ireland on cover,
preferably with much more "going for it" than an Irish town mark!

Regards,

Neil Hawk

VIVA LA SNA!