Stampchat+

Well, the top is now the bottom, but who cares? Migration is never that easy - thanks for doing it!

Yeah, I try to set it to Descending but it won't stick to that, next time I'm in (even if I don't log out) I get the first posts on top.

Edit: even this post show up below the previous one, looks like I can only get a "snapshot" with the newest on top.

Hi all,

it's so good to see so many familiar faces. It's been too long.

Mauro: Sounds like you've definitely been busy. Working full time and going to school is not easy. What's the new career in> ( > is the closest thing I can get to a question mark on my keyboard. I spilled coffee on it awhile back, and it seems wasteful to replace it just because of a couple of keys)

Rfaux: Wish you were closer. We'd definitely be buying from you. Our Whole Paycheck (with which we had a love-hate relationship) just moved out of the neighborhood. Interesting ideas for thematic exhibiting.

Sheryl: What "horrid Oregon winters>" You mean the Silverthaws>>> Enjoy the sun. Are you still planning to move down there permanently>

K-E: Interesting cancels. And congrats on the Vermeil.

Matt: congrats on the approach of number 3.

I've been less phiatelically involved than I would like lately. The stamp room is currently off limits because of a serious mold infestation secondary to a leaky air conditioner. Nothing much in the way of stamps were damaged, but until we can get the room cleaned up, I can't really play with them. I haven't been buying much either.

I'm still teaching, and the semester is winding down. My husband has been semi-retired for a year and a half. Age creeps up.



Anne

Anne: Agribusiness Administration (a cross breed between Business Admin and Agronomy)
So far two years completed, two to go and then an MBA
What can i say... i get bored easily...

found a few things like these recently

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v356/ ... an0007.jpg

Hi Prom,
Nice ones, any earlier dates? any nice postcards?
Regards

Mauro

Yes a few more
some earlier Picture Postcards
i'll dig them out 4 U

the covers were in a large box of stuff i bought
and have not completely gone theu

i just wanted the Pouch mail in it.

Prom
you mean the classic canvas US MAIL bag or you found a Uruguay one?
Regards

Anne,

it is very nice to see you post here. I am sorry to hear that things are preventing the stamp time.

We are justifiably proud of what we do with the farm. It's hard, but honest work. We especially enjoy strong support from our customers. I think a good part of it is the care we take in communicating with them. We don't want them to be surprised in any way other than pleasantly so.... All at the same time, trying to keep ourselves sane and happy with what we are doing. A fine balance.

Mauro,

I get the feeling, with that topic area, that you and I could have some very interesting conversations....

Rob

Rob ... you can bet that...

New find: ideas of market value?
Hi guys, just found this and it's totally out of my normal area of knoweldge

Back with two strikes of Brooksville, Fl Aug 18th 1944 CDS

Mauro,

Bob Hohertz will have a good idea on value, I would think. Any date stamps or indications as to year?

Probably 4 cents for the return receipt (after Mar 26, 1944, 3 cts prior)
3 cents for standard postage
Then, at a guess 15 cents registration + 2 cents for value exceeding indemnity. I'm not really good at reading these rates - but it's good to get a little exercise on it.

That sort of cover pops up with prices any where from $5 US to $50 US - unless there is something else about it that I don't know.

The use of a penalty envelope required postage if mailed outside of Wash DC.

that's what I have for you....not sure it was enough help.

Rob

Thanks Rob,
have updated the cover info with the backside CDS date

Prexie Cover:

I don't agree that postage had to be paid if mailed outside DC. So long as it was government use, it was free. If private use, postage had to be paid. Also, if sent airmail, postage had to be paid, no matter where from or to. And if mailed outside the US, a stamp had to be used - the UPU rules didn't allow penalty envelopes as valid postage.

By March 26, 1944, registry was twenty cents. The remaining four cents was for the return receipt. No postage was paid, as it did not go by air.

I wouldn't look at the cover as anything special except to someone who was particularly interested in either registry use or return receipt use. The stamp combination is not particularly interesting, at least to me.

What I am looking for is a penalty envelope sent from DC, registered, return receipt, sent when, from DC only, registry was free (that may be what you were thinking of, Rob?), but as the return receipt never was free, the only stamp would be a three-center (preferably Prexie.) I've bid on two of these, about $75 each time, and never won.

more US ...
I like the early intl airmail period
Now i am finding my stamp boxes and binders ... just took me 8 months after moving!

Mauro---

Isn't school a b*tch? I'm not sure which is worse--being the student or the teacher. I'm writing a final exam at the moment and am then faced with reading a bunch of mediocre papers. Root canal time.

The first of your covers has some historical interest in addition to the philatelic. A female bank president would have been unusual at that point in time. I googled the addressee and discovered that Margaret Dreier Ro bins was a well-known feminist and labor leader. There are other sites, but here's the Wikipedia link.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Dreier_Robins

A very nice find indeed.


Anne

Mauro,

Happy Hannukah to you and to your family,

David Benson

David, thank you!
Glad to see you around, how's everything "down under"?

Mauro,

all OK here, the weather has been hot, shares have been volatile, stamps are reaching new records at auctions, currency fluctuating every day, daughter passed her high school, uni next year, bought her a car,

My wife tried to send Cesar a Hannakuh Card but the email bounced,

David B.

David,
Glad to hear everything is fine, similar situation here.
Will confirm Cesar email, maybe he changed it.

Anne,
thanks for the info. quite interesting!

Rob, agriculture theme for you
says "Farmers, we are going to win the grain battle"
using a very particular word phrasing, a la "italian fascist" mode

For those who didn't notice, this site was replaced by a commercials link page hosted by the ISP (I presume), begause the registration had expired. Looks like Mauro has fixed it now. I'm off for Xmas in two hours, so let me wish everybody a Merry Christmas! And a Happy New Year too!

Merry Xmas and Happy new year for all of you
Bjorn, things were solved, a small window between domain name expiry and renewal. Nothing major

All the best to all from the warm south

A Merry Christmas and a peacefully New Year full of Joy!

Happy Holidays!

Would post a pic but bbcode is turned off on my account and I don't know how to turn it back on.

Happy Holidays to everyone.

Unfortunately, there is sad news on the eBay board. Bob Lodge, known as Bob in Wa, passed away on the 21st. Those of you who have frequented the eBay board will remember him for his helpfulness, humor and knowledge of philately. RIP Bob.

Mauro - thanks for the ag related cover idea. The political and/or propaganda items are definitely of potential use in some fashion or another.

Anne - regarding Bob Lodge. I always liked that man. :( What a sad thing.

All - Merry Christmas.

Rob

Hello old friends!

It was so sad to read about the death of Bob Lodge, one of the nicest guys online. A true gentleman.

On an off-topic note, Vic if you're out there...

You mentioned collecting ancient coins, and the suspicion that many of them are fakes. I ran across an amazing online site with thousands of images of fakes. There are over 3200 images posted in the Roman Imperial category alone, and hundreds in many other categories too.

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/index.php

That's just the Fakes category of an even larger online site.

-Dunc

Hi Duncan,
Thanks for the coin link, quite interesting! looks like the coin market is even more "deceptive" than the philatelic one

I wish all a happy New Year and hope the new one will be more peaceful than the last.

I just noticed this comment on Virtual Stamp Chat by Ken Lawrence,

" You'll recall that five or so years ago, people on Frick's list were furiously attacking me for defending the APS/eBay collaboration, which I asserted would benefit everyone (and it has). It wasn't perfect; nothing ever is. But it made things a lot better. This latest change is another step toward reducing fraud. I applaud it. ".

It is under a Paypal discussion if anyone has a problem finding it.

David B.

Duncan, sorry for the delay. I have looked at their site and bought from them before. I did not know of that 'fake' section on their website. That is great educational information. Some of the fakes/coins are very obvious, some are very deceptive. I will need to review that in more detail, and probably frequently. Thanks, and hope the new year is treating you well. (I realize it is NOT treating any of us 'well' financially, but I meant other aspects.)