Sociable Stamp Society

This is our blog for current stamp news and views of interest to the philatelist and beginner. Daily updates provide items on shows, new issues, events, what's selling, and timely facts.

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Silent Stamp Swap

Construction Zone

The roar of 'dozers and the smell of dirt is upon me as I scrape away the old website and install something new. Bear with me. I started this week by taking stock and drawing up some ideas. (I wound up with more questions than solutions.) Then I began culling away some old files and streamlining the all-important but here to fore hidden inner workings. (I'll admit that at times I just walked away from the screen wondering what it all had to do with philately!)

Work is continuing, but remember that this site is all handmade. (And I'm beginning to think I should have been wearing a hard hat all these years because I must have hit me in the head to get into this.)

Silent Stamp Swap

I am reminded of the two collectors who met at a silent stamp swap. The next day one of them told his friend, "That US specialist is an amazing fellow. I have much to learn. At first, I held up one finger, representing a US#1. So, he held up two fingers, saying he already had two of them! Then I held up three fingers because I have a strip of three on cover. And then he shook his fist at me to show that his strip of three had a sock-on-the-nose cancel. So, I left because he obviously is a greater collector than I."

Later, one of his friends, met the US specialist and asked him about the swap meet. "Yes, it was a helluva thing, and I'm going to beat him up if I see him again! As soon as I sat down he held up a finger because he only wanted to swap one-to-one. I held up two fingers meaning I had two requirements: grading and condition. Then he put up three fingers because he wanted everything on three-day approval! I was about to get him when he ran out!"

(and now I must depart... your attention is appreciated!)

St. Rowlands School of Hinge Sticking

The answer to yesterday's stamp question:
Q: What is "tagging?"

A: To speed up handling of letters, many stamps are printed (are "tagged") with an invisible layer of phosphor. When a ultraviolet light shines on the stamp, the phosphor glows, and the handling machines record that the letter has a proper first class stamp affixed to it and sorts it accordingly. Many stamps, especially definitives, are cataloged with tagged varieties, and there are also varieties of different types of tagging.

Sociable Stamp Society

Silent Stamp Swap

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