Re: British Postmark identification
Thanks again Deano :)
Oddly enough, whilst sorting which to list as postmarks I have set to one side those that have a link either to the stamp or the postcard picture or both.
I have also got around 600 German Maxicards with that sort of postmark to list!
I will let you know when I have started to list the postmarks, it's going to take me at least to the weekend to sort and organise the ones I will sell. Then I have to scan and list, Luckily I have lots of time on my hands since I closed my shop and retired last year.
I think I need to stock up on coffee before I start listing http://yoursmiles.org/msmile/compgame/m03129.gif
Re: British Postmark identification
Well you will be up and running before me. I have been sorting and sifting and am planning to have a postmark shop with an initial 600+ items opening on January 1st. It has been a real wake up call sorting through some stuff especially when finding, in a 'throw away' pile, postmarks that will be listed for £60 and £35-45.
No need to thank me: more listings = more keywords and more to purchase = more newbies and more regular buyer interaction = more sales for all of us. So if this buyer does purchase off you then immediately there is more reason for him to return to search on eBid more often - that is good for me.
Re: British Postmark identification
Wow deano, that's fantastic, I didn't realise that some postmarks could be so valuable, doubt if mine are up to that standard.
I have my shop for postmarks set up but not populated yet, logo is done for both my postcard and postmark shops.
Looks like we are the Postmark Pioneers, you specialising in British, me specialising in German :)
Should get more visits to the site from a relatively untapped collector base.
Here is an example of a Collector Card ..pictorial front, plain back, postmarks from 2 different countries!
Attachment 47449
and a Briefmarkensammler (Postmark Collector Card)
Front view
Attachment 47450
Reverse view
Attachment 47452
1 Attachment(s)
Re: British Postmark identification
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Poscar
Wow deano, that's fantastic, I didn't realise that some postmarks could be so valuable, doubt if mine are up to that standard.
I have my shop for postmarks set up but not populated yet, logo is done for both my postcard and postmark shops.
Looks like we are the Postmark Pioneers, you specialising in British, me specialising in German :)
Should get more visits to the site from a relatively untapped collector base.
Here is an example of a Collector Card ..pictorial front, plain back, postmarks from 2 different countries!
The good thing with those items is that you are not going to be short of keywords! Having a lot of items means you can mix it up a bit and get real good keyword coverage.
Well I have a more limited quantity to list but I hope it may drag in a few more postal history sellers as well as buyers. Such a niche market as this and eBid's platform is a good mix. Having had a look around at other postal history sellers on other sites I am not exactly impressed. It is also the first time that I have really had a search through other sellers postcards on eBid having a look for ignored postmarks, found a few - nothing spectacular but missed opportunities nevertheless. To give an example a 35p postcard which would sell more readily for a pound or two if they sold what was on the back rather than the front. Another one from the same seller may sell for double the price if the same process was applied. I don't think the seller has ever posted on the forum (fairly new) but I know they will read this.
But it is a minefield and it is not just postmarks - here is an example of a rare cachet mark I have:
Attachment 47461
So it was posted on board the SS Fairy Queen steamer on Loch Eck - one recently sold at an auction house for £110.00 (that one was a much clearer struck cachet).
Re: British Postmark identification
A minefield indeed, but interesting once you start.
If you go to a stamp fair, Postal History is available with every glance around - be it on postcard, covers, or just plain envelopes - there is lots to choose from at all price levels.
Price is usually reflected by the clarity of the strike and the particular usage of the item - eg. Expedition Postmarks are harder to come by than say Paddlesteamers cachets because of the numbers produced and the way they were/are used.
I am by no means an expert here, always reluctant to use the word rare; to do so implies particular knowledge that I just don't have.
To help me find out more, there exists a society for British Postmarks which include slogans - check them out on Google - they also have some very useful links.
With postcards, I use a volume which they originally published named 'Collect British Postmarks' by Dr J T Whitney : an invaluable guide which I believe it is now out of print.
Stanley Gibbons do one too, but I haven't looked at it myself.
It is not easy sometimes choosing which side of a postcard sells best, but is always worth a look... I often get asked if a postcard is worth more if it has been used or not. I usually say that it depends on the message or the postmark and if it ties in wiith the view - eg: a Lands End lighthouse view with the Lands End cachet, posted from there and dated.
- best luck!
1 Attachment(s)
Re: British Postmark identification
Quote:
Originally Posted by
20sent06
A minefield indeed, but interesting once you start.
If you go to a stamp fair, Postal History is available with every glance around - be it on postcard, covers, or just plain envelopes - there is lots to choose from at all price levels.
Price is usually reflected by the clarity of the strike and the particular usage of the item - eg. Expedition Postmarks are harder to come by than say Paddlesteamers cachets because of the numbers produced and the way they were/are used.
I am by no means an expert here, always reluctant to use the word rare; to do so implies particular knowledge that I just don't have.
To help me find out more, there exists a society for British Postmarks which include slogans - check them out on Google - they also have some very useful links.
With postcards, I use a volume which they originally published named 'Collect British Postmarks' by Dr J T Whitney : an invaluable guide which I believe it is now out of print.
Stanley Gibbons do one too, but I haven't looked at it myself.
It is not easy sometimes choosing which side of a postcard sells best, but is always worth a look... I often get asked if a postcard is worth more if it has been used or not. I usually say that it depends on the message or the postmark and if it ties in wiith the view - eg: a Lands End lighthouse view with the Lands End cachet, posted from there and dated.
- best luck!
The Gibbons book is worth getting - very informative.
I think the point with postal history postmarks is that you are absolutely right - they are everywhere but for the postmark buyer it is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Even fairly common duplex or squared circle postmarks have no keyword presence on any auction/listing site. I have seen the postmark collectors go through my listings and it gets to the stage where I feel sorry for them - they flip through 100's of listings trying to find the impossible.
The expedition mark's are interesting, classic example - based on the front view this was in my throw away pile.
Attachment 47480
It is the first ascent of Nuptse with signatures of the climbers (David Dennis and Chris Bonnington amongst others) and the sherpa thumb print.
Re: British Postmark identification
Quote:
Originally Posted by
deanosaur1972
The Gibbons book is worth getting - very informative.
I think the point with postal history postmarks is that you are absolutely right - they are everywhere but for the postmark buyer it is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Even fairly common duplex or squared circle postmarks have no keyword presence on any auction/listing site. I have seen the postmark collectors go through my listings and it gets to the stage where I feel sorry for them - they flip through 100's of listings trying to find the impossible.
The expedition mark's are interesting, classic example - based on the front view this was in my throw away pile.
Attachment 47480
It is the first ascent of Nuptse with signatures of the climbers (David Dennis and Chris Bonnington amongst others) and the sherpa thumb print.
When I started this thread back in July, little did I know how much interest it would inspire. It looks like Deano and Graham are taking the bull by the horns and attacking the subject of postmark collection to a higher level - pioneers indeed.
I have now listed all the postmarks I had when I started this thread, but have also realised that the pile of postcards (UK and Overseas) I have in a box may hold more postmark interest. Oh dear, what hace I gotten into!
regards to all who have contributed to this thread
Ray
Re: British Postmark identification
Ray, thank you for starting this thread, between you and Dean it has made me look at what I've got in a different light.
I can without doubt confirm that the collection of postcards that I amassed in Germany (plus thousands of covers) is not what I thought I had bought, it is a collection of postmarks.
I have sifted through many thousands of postcards and there is enough to stock a substantial eBid postcards shop and a substantial eBid postmark and stamp shop.
I have found many duplicates of the same postcard each with a different postmark and stamp compilation.
About 90% of the stamp/postmark subjects are linked to the image on the postcard! Albeit a maxicard but with the stamp in the correct place.
It has been a massive job doing the sorting, but the bigger job of listing is going to take me a year or two, good job I am retired!
I've listed a few postmarks and FDC to start with.
Re: British Postmark identification
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Poscar
Ray, thank you for starting this thread, between you and Dean it has made me look at what I've got in a different light.
I can without doubt confirm that the collection of postcards that I amassed in Germany (plus thousands of covers) is not what I thought I had bought, it is a collection of postmarks.
I have sifted through many thousands of postcards and there is enough to stock a substantial eBid postcards shop and a substantial eBid postmark and stamp shop.
I have found many duplicates of the same postcard each with a different postmark and stamp compilation.
About 90% of the stamp/postmark subjects are linked to the image on the postcard! Albeit a maxicard but with the stamp in the correct place.
It has been a massive job doing the sorting, but the bigger job of listing is going to take me a year or two, good job I am retired!
I've listed a few postmarks and FDC to start with.
Graham
It is gratifying to know that my thread has resulted in such a lot of interest, especially as, like yourself and Deano, I did not appreciate the whole wide world of postmarks! Deano has done most of the research, and deserves a lot of credit for that.
Looks like you have a lot of work to do with your thousands of postmarks. Good luck with that.
This is one subject I will keep my eye on.
Seasons greetings to all readers
Ray