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#11
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Make that 52,575 - I just subscribed todayG.
Dakota wrote: Hey all: There was an article in the November 24th issue of Linn's - not really an article, rather a disclosure, giving their subscription statistics. All publications are required by law (here in the US) to publish this information once yearly. Many newspapers publish it in every issue - but, I digress. The information given states that Linn's has a subscription total of 52,574. this comes out to one collector per 6032 individuals (assuming a total population of about 280 million in the US). I'm sure that some of these are 'international subscriptions' so the total would be even more meagre. I've not done a 'headcount', but I've a feeling that there are more dealers in the U.S. than there are subscribers to Linn's. Ok, there may be some collectors who do not subscribe to Linn's (or any of the other publications) - but how many out there are able to add to their collections without having some trade magazine at hand? A few (very few) may be blessed with several dealers in their locale. This discounts those of us in places like Dog Trot, Texas or Chilblains, Montana. I'm not discounting the power of the net - most, well many, dealers do have a web presence. I wonder how many collectors depend solely upon that venue to add to their collections. I believe the subject of dimishing collectors has been broached here previously so I may be trodding a well worn path. My thoughts are that considering the (probably) negative growth of the hobby, then how can the value (per dealers and the various catalogs) of stamps keep expanding to obscene levels? I don't beleive all the good stamps are being snapped up by those "Nigerian Interests"! Or, perhaps, maybe, just could be - I missed something very obvious. If so, I'd sure as heck appreciate someone filling me in on this 'unknown' (to me anyway) factor so that I could better understand it. Handshakes, Dakota |
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#12
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Dear Rein,
I have never questioned the necessity and importance of philatelic printed magazines, which I sometimes read with interest. My points rather we - the decrease of the number of collectors, that is a fact - also the fact that if the association membership fees go higher, the number of members is at risk to go in the opposite direction Just to mention that some months ago the SBZ has cancelled (for savings reasons, as they told me in a letter) the pages related to new issues, which were the most interesting for me, an unscientific, intuitive and childish stamp collector. :-) I'm quite sure that even with higher membership fees (foreseen for the journal) these pages won't be restored anymore. Interestingly enough, the redaction of the SBZ (remainder: the associations magazine) sent me several pieces of BBZ (Zumstein) magazine, and told me that I can find there what I'm searching for. And indeed, I have found there what I needed, so now I'm asking myself which money is better spent, that for the association (which I don't need, excepting for the journal and for the participation in the FIP webmasters contests -- which probably won't anyway take place ) and its less interesting journal or for the BBZ (which is not only more interesting for me, but also less expensive)... Victor Manta --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Philatelic Webmasters Organization: http://pwmo.org Art on Stamps: http://values.ch Romania Shown by Its Stamps: http://marci-postale.com Communism on Stamps: http://www.values.ch/Communism/ Spanish Africa: http://www.values.ch/sna-site/ Remove "um" from the e-mail address to reply --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Rein Bakhuizen van den Brink" wrote in message ... dear Victor, the philatelic magazines may serve different purposes. Some rather ephemeral like publishing society meetings, obituaries, etc; advertising; new world issues; and so on... But avery important role of the magazines is their content as it goes for articles that reflect research being done - rather more in-depth stuff that won't reach anybody and won't get preserved for future generations. I'm writing a monthly column in a Dutch magazine and I realize that the way I'm describing new Dutch stamps [and Begian as well] will be more or less the only manner in which the history of modern stamps will be documented as now all Postal Authorities like to forget to write their history, dont' think it's even necessary and throw away everything what's more than a year old. The Belgian Postal authorities had to base their new policy on the parcel post upon the article I wrote in June 2003 aobut their 'Kilopost'. I think it's vital that the contemporary history of the stamp is written down and published in a magazine that has a thorough base and can be re-read in a few years time. There is no guarantee that web-based publications will last for more than a few years.. On paper publications may survive us all. gtx, Rein On 20 Nov 2003 08:56:59 , "Victor Manta" wrote: To directly answer the question asked in the Subject line: the existing ones are slowly but surely passing by, and the influx (of young and old) is smaller than the loss. The Swiss philatelic association has recently raised the fees paid by its members, in order to finance its own journal, SBZ (or, like they said, to maintain and even improve its quality). SBZ is distributed to each of its members. The reason for raising fees is, obviously, the reduction of the number of stamp collectors. The method is, of course, controversial... Victor Manta |
#13
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"Tracy Barber" wrote in message
... On Thu, 20 Nov 2003 08:56:59 +0100, "Victor Manta" wrote: To directly answer the question asked in the Subject line: the existing ones are slowly but surely passing by, and the influx (of young and old) is smaller than the loss. And you know this how? Do tell! ... Tracy Barber With pleasure (anything for you, Tracy) - The very important reduction of the number of those who buy the new Swiss stamps (I have already written about this on rcsd), with the perverse result that the quality of new stamps isn't increasing, to say so... - The permanent loss of members by the stamp collectors association, due to passing away and to less new members. I know that a minority of collectors are members, but there is a proportionality here. - What write the philatelic magazines from other Western countries about the tendencies in our King of hobbies. - My personal observation at exhibitions in what concerns the number and the age of visitors. - The interest in stamps of my own daughter, who played with stamps as a child, but who then switched to Internet and computer games (and who learned from them more and more useful things than she could ever learn from stamps, for example the English language and the use of computers, both her daily "tools" now). Do you need more? Maybe other participants will tell you. BTW, how much time do you spend (for non-professional reasons) on your computer(s)? Probably like me, which means much too much. But why, because this time is obviously subtracted from that dedicated to philately? Victor Manta --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Philatelic Webmasters Organization: http://pwmo.org Art on Stamps: http://values.ch Romania Shown by Its Stamps: http://marci-postale.com Communism on Stamps: http://www.values.ch/Communism/ Spanish Africa: http://www.values.ch/sna-site/ Remove "um" from the e-mail address to reply --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
#14
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On Thu, 20 Nov 2003 20:00:24 +0100, "Victor Manta"
wrote: "Tracy Barber" wrote in message .. . On Thu, 20 Nov 2003 08:56:59 +0100, "Victor Manta" wrote: To directly answer the question asked in the Subject line: the existing ones are slowly but surely passing by, and the influx (of young and old) is smaller than the loss. And you know this how? Do tell! ... Tracy Barber With pleasure (anything for you, Tracy) Thank you, kind sir! - The very important reduction of the number of those who buy the new Swiss stamps (I have already written about this on rcsd), with the perverse result that the quality of new stamps isn't increasing, to say so... Let's look at Switzerland for a collecting country, by itself. Other than the classics, how many people (here) are collecting Swiss stamps as a matter of course? Compared to other countries, Switzerland is quite small - on the collecting scale? - The permanent loss of members by the stamp collectors association, due to passing away and to less new members. I know that a minority of collectors are members, but there is a proportionality here. In the clubs I hav joined, there aren't that many members anyway. One has 1000 (numbered) and the other I don't know the count. APS was moaning about membership, but remember - advertisement has shifted a lot from paper to TV / 'Net. I have yet to see an APS commercial on TV. - What write the philatelic magazines from other Western countries about the tendencies in our King of hobbies. Yes, yes - the old ways of counting. It seems, though, that few have attempted to correlate info from the past 15 years regarding 'Net usage of said collectors and how they get their stamps. Not all is coming from the trade mags and more. - My personal observation at exhibitions in what concerns the number and the age of visitors. We have discussed this. Taking kids to these expos is almost sadistic in nature! Most old farts (I'm getting there soon enough) would rather look at exhibits and hawk with dealers rather than bring the kiddies to the show. There, are, though, some exceptions as we have seen written about here. Just because the "new guard" hasn't been seen heavily - don't discount the hen's output before the eggs are layed. The "new" guard" will come around and do the shows in due time. If not, a new way - like the 'Net, will provide expo enough capabilities for many. It's no longer necessary - except to get the obligatory medals and prizes - to show off one's goodies LIVE. - The interest in stamps of my own daughter, who played with stamps as a child, but who then switched to Internet and computer games (and who learned from them more and more useful things than she could ever learn from stamps, for example the English language and the use of computers, both her daily "tools" now). Ahhh, the old bait and switch routine! They'll get ya every time! :^) Not every kid is going to want to collect stamps. I keep showing Spike my stamps, especially cat stamps and other critters. All he does is sniff and look at them. Once in a while he tries to play with them, with thos tong-like claws he has, but he's like some of our spear-tong collectors who've not mastered the touch yet. :^P Do you need more? Maybe other participants will tell you. Yes, I do. I am FIRMLY NOT CONVINCED that stamp collecting is "dying" as so many pundits keep tossing our way as they seem to espouse "abandon hope, all ye who enter here" and do nothing to further the cause. As you well know, I recycle stamps in all forms. This keeps the hobby going. If all of the pundits who writhe with fear over the hobby dying out would do the same, then there'd be no fear of losing the base that's out there and even increasing it. Subscription to the mags / rags does not always a collector make! Subscription to the new issues from specific govts. does not always a collector make! Subscription and joining every society out there does not always a collector make! Ad nauseum... BTW, how much time do you spend (for non-professional reasons) on your computer(s)? Probably like me, which means much too much. Not as much as one would think. I get off my PC and interact with a lot more real people more times than not. It's not the novelty it once was. It's a tool to get something done. But why, because this time is obviously subtracted from that dedicated to philately? Because we can't be devoted to it 24 / 7. That would be foolish. A healthy life has a healthy balance of "things" in it. Too much of something may take away from other "things" we may be missing. After a while, many people get a focus on their PC and do the "things" that interest them instead of wandering around aimlessly in cyberspace. Of course, there are addicts out there that can't put down the mouse. I am not one of them. I have to get away. It makes me physically uncomfortable after a while. 20+ years in front of a PC will do that to some of us! (Programming, etc.) I usually sort stamps while a TV show is on. I get the background noise / some interest and then get a LOT done with my philatelic interests. I do believe that stamp collectors have a future out there. I also believe that most of them have a life and don't tweak every second with a stamp album. I guess, if you ask "Where did all the collectors go?" then you just haven't looked hard enough to answer your own question. Tracy Barber |
#15
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"Tracy Barber" wrote in message
... snip I do believe that stamp collectors have a future out there. I also believe that most of them have a life and don't tweak every second with a stamp album. Me too, if not then I wouldn't do all what I'm trying to do for stamp collecting. I guess, if you ask "Where did all the collectors go?" then you just haven't looked hard enough to answer your own question. Tracy Barber Sorry, here you mistake me for Dakota :-) Anyway, I will be able to definitively answer the question only after I will be together with those who are already gone, which, I hope, will take some time from now. Victor Manta --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Philatelic Webmasters Organization: http://pwmo.org Art on Stamps: http://values.ch Romania Shown by Its Stamps: http://marci-postale.com Communism on Stamps: http://www.values.ch/Communism/ Spanish Africa: http://www.values.ch/sna-site/ Remove "um" from the e-mail address to reply --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
#16
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"Grandpa" jsdebooATcomcast.net wrote in message ... Make that 52,575 - I just subscribed todayG. Congrats! I'll bet you stay with them for a good long time. (Now if I could just find the time to start catching up on that stack I've got of the past five issues...........) Mike |
#17
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| I think it's vital that the contemporary history of the stamp is written down
| and published in a magazine that has a thorough base and can be re-read in a few | years time. There is no guarantee that web-based publications will last for more than | a few years.. On paper publications may survive us all. | gtx, Rein Yay! heartily agree. As people here would understand, delving through my hundreds of 30 year old mags is very enjoyable. |
#18
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Are there any countries where the number of collectors
is increasing? (Russia, China Afghanistan Iraq....?) |
#19
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The glass is half full Dakota. So long as governments continue to promote
stamps and collecting the hobby will go on. Look at all the people (est. 600,000) in the US that accumulate mint stamps. The collectors are as diverse as ever. The only trend I see is people having fun at collecting without the aid of the big bucks dealer. Some things never change, because this is the way the hobby got it's start. In my collecting area there may be fewer collectors, but the collections are larger. Every year there are more and more articles and the readership is as sophisticated as ever. The only impact I have experienced is a decline in the number of postal history dealers in my immediate area. Still, all I have to do is go to a major show once a year and I seem to find everything I need. I believe that today's hobby favors the specialist. The more knowledgeable the collector, the better the experience. Just last month I found a rare plate variety of the US 1857 Issue in a national auction. This stamp I have been hunting for about 10 years. The only other one I've seen at auction in the intervening period was way over priced because the seller knew how rare it was. This time I was able to bid the garden variety catalog price and won the lot. I think I'm going to have the bragging rights with all my friends for about the next year. Keep stamping. -a "Dakota" wrote in message om... Hey all: There was an article in the November 24th issue of Linn's - not really an article, rather a disclosure, giving their subscription statistics. All publications are required by law (here in the US) to publish this information once yearly. Many newspapers publish it in every issue - but, I digress. The information given states that Linn's has a subscription total of 52,574. this comes out to one collector per 6032 individuals (assuming a total population of about 280 million in the US). I'm sure that some of these are 'international subscriptions' so the total would be even more meagre. I've not done a 'headcount', but I've a feeling that there are more dealers in the U.S. than there are subscribers to Linn's. Ok, there may be some collectors who do not subscribe to Linn's (or any of the other publications) - but how many out there are able to add to their collections without having some trade magazine at hand? A few (very few) may be blessed with several dealers in their locale. This discounts those of us in places like Dog Trot, Texas or Chilblains, Montana. I'm not discounting the power of the net - most, well many, dealers do have a web presence. I wonder how many collectors depend solely upon that venue to add to their collections. I believe the subject of dimishing collectors has been broached here previously so I may be trodding a well worn path. My thoughts are that considering the (probably) negative growth of the hobby, then how can the value (per dealers and the various catalogs) of stamps keep expanding to obscene levels? I don't beleive all the good stamps are being snapped up by those "Nigerian Interests"! Or, perhaps, maybe, just could be - I missed something very obvious. If so, I'd sure as heck appreciate someone filling me in on this 'unknown' (to me anyway) factor so that I could better understand it. Handshakes, Dakota |
#20
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Well, I subscribed to Linns for a few years, and even wrote some
articles for them. I also subscribed to Stamps for a few years and wrote some articles for them. I was a SPA, GPS and APS member at one time or another and wrote for all of their publications. Do you see a pattern here? I only belong to some military groups now (MPHS) etc. I make most of the NY shows, those upstate in Westchester and some of the small ones on LI. I used to drive to NJ for NOJEX but haven't done that in years. I can still hit Nassau Street and the surrounding areas, and of course have Ebay and all the URLs on the Internet (Luft has something like 4000+ doesn't he?). The reason I quit most publications is that in order to survive they must write for a general audience and as I get more and more specialized I can go 4-5 (and more) issues without finding anything of interest. I can find some data on Google, and a lot by writing to other specialists by private correspondence. Most collectors are willing to share as long as you reciprocate. |
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