On Fri, 30 Jan 2004 18:00:30 -0700, Grandpa jsdebooATcomcast.net
wrote:

I'm curious, as to whether you collect mint or used stamps for your
primary country(s)? I collect used mainly but do snag a few mint ones
here and there if the price is right.

I try to focus on decent used copies, because mint seems heavily
overrated.

Many mint stamps will stay in my collection, mostly because they look
nice -OR- they cannot be found in used condition, such as WWII Vichy
France & colonies. BUT! They cause much more trouble than they're
worth, such as:

[Take with as many grains of salt as you must, it ain't pretty below.]

1) Fingerprints - the infamous "oil" that purists talk about. Ruins a
many MNH stamp. With my used stamps, I truly don't care. (Well, not
all that much anyway.) Because? I can always soak the sucker again.

[For the most part, except for fugitive, aniline or chalky inks /
coatings anyway.]

2) Mounts instead of hinges cost WAY MUCH MORE money. As in
cha-ching! This is money that can be used to buy more stamps or have
a good weekend, instead of mounting some obscure country that will
never increase in value. (Aside form aesthetic value...) (One reason
I haven't mounted much yet.)

[When hinges become more expensive than mounts, I'll switch over.]

3) Hinged mint stamps stink. They ______ dead bears. (Don't ask,
mountain boy language.) You always have to decide whether to soak the
suckers or keep the nasty wasty ugly wugly (stupidly ingnorantly
multiple massively hinge and almost damaged type) crap on the back of
the stamp, for fear of ruining OG.

[Read- U-G-L-Y]

4) Some of these suckers will curl. And I mean C-U-R-L. Sometimes
this curl will try the patience of a saint.

[Boing!]

5) Stuck downs - even with mounts. If you're not truly blessed with
mounts and mounting abilities, you'll achieve the beautiful mint stamp
with stuck down corners. I think you all know what I mean.

[I'll get you suckers off that album page, you watch and see!!!]

6) Used stamps are not mounted gum up. :^P

[Nuff Said.]

7) Some gum on mint stamps has an acidic base. This will eventually
destroy the stamp.

[As per our recent discussion.]

8) Toning / foxing / mold will love to inhabit a mint stamp
collection. Yum, yum. Once you soak the gum, the poor beasties will
still have remnants of said "stamp / paper disease", albeit will be a
bit more lenient in having an effect on the other stamps nearby.

[Especially tropical gums.]

9) Folds / creases / breakage. Akin to curling above. Some gum is so
nasty wasty that when you touch them, they may crease and create a
situation where you stamp may truly break apart.

[Always happens to the best stamp of the set.]

10) Mint stamps have not done postal duty.

[Nuff Said.]

Well, I think I've beaten up mint stamps for today, Grandpa. 10-4,
for sure, good buddy. Come back?

Tracy Barber