Well, the only BC country I collect is Newfoundland - it was where I began collecting in the 1970s. There are some very easy reasons - it's got an end, in 1947 when Newfoundland threw in its lot with Canada, it includes some very attractive royal portraits (inc Prince John, the only stamp to show him) and some interesting local views. And a lot of these were affordable for a beginner with a limited budget. It also has some rather expensive airs, but it's good to have something to aim for!
And I liked the Newfoundland dogs, the beavers and the seals.
Neville
I recently started collecting 19th century British African Colonies. And that, as it turns out is quite a lot of countries -- some very short lived. One could narrow it down a bit by collecting British South Africa colonies or British East Africa colonies. The history behind the stamps is fascinating, much of it pertaining to the Scramble for Africa. (A period far more entertaining to the European scramblers than to the indigenous people being scrambled upon.)
Hong Kong and Mauritius are intriguing as well.
Eric
Apart from the big ones like New Zealand, Australia and Canada I have selected only a few countries to collect: Mauritius, Falkland islands, Newfoundland, South West Africa and a bunch of Pacific Islands (but not all).
Bermuda seems pretty popular.
I personally collect them all, but probably have Bermuda & the Caribbean colonies most "complete". I am also drawn to postally used British African stamps.
Josh
Newfoundland is far and away my favorite. Besides some others mentioned India and North Borneo are favorites that have large followings.
As you can gather from my user name I collect Bermuda, I also collect Falkland Islands, including Dependencies, as well as Nova Scotia.
David
Another vote for Bermuda (parents have been there twice, stamps are historical AND pleasing to the eye), Gibraltar and Norfolk Island.
I attended a live internet auction (Canadian) this past week, and now the results are making more sense. No-one in my area seems to collect British Caribbean, but typically those lots (Bermuda and others) were going for 15 to 25% of catalogue where Australia/Canada/Great Britain lots were more in the 10% (or lower) range. British Africa and Asia were also selling for 15% up. Aside from Canadian Provinces (Newfoundland, etc.) and the odd specialized collection, former British colonies had the highest realizations as a percentage of catalogue. I guess nearly everyone is collecting something related to British Commonwealth stamps, and the auction prices reflect that.
Eric
Hi
British Commonwealth is perhaps the most popular collecting area among multiple-country collectors, but for most of us it's not possible to put together a BC collection even approaching comprehensive in nature. You pretty much have to pick one or a few countries to focus on.
Myself I am quite attracted to the Atlantic islands (i.e. St. Helena, Ascension, Tristan Da Cunha, and Falklands), simply because of the limited number of stamps to chase and the quality of those that have been issued.
So my question is what British Commonwealth countries (excluding Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) do you focus on and why?
Eric
re: Aside from the obvious ones, what are the most popular British Commonwealth countries to collect?
Well, the only BC country I collect is Newfoundland - it was where I began collecting in the 1970s. There are some very easy reasons - it's got an end, in 1947 when Newfoundland threw in its lot with Canada, it includes some very attractive royal portraits (inc Prince John, the only stamp to show him) and some interesting local views. And a lot of these were affordable for a beginner with a limited budget. It also has some rather expensive airs, but it's good to have something to aim for!
And I liked the Newfoundland dogs, the beavers and the seals.
Neville
re: Aside from the obvious ones, what are the most popular British Commonwealth countries to collect?
I recently started collecting 19th century British African Colonies. And that, as it turns out is quite a lot of countries -- some very short lived. One could narrow it down a bit by collecting British South Africa colonies or British East Africa colonies. The history behind the stamps is fascinating, much of it pertaining to the Scramble for Africa. (A period far more entertaining to the European scramblers than to the indigenous people being scrambled upon.)
Hong Kong and Mauritius are intriguing as well.
Eric
re: Aside from the obvious ones, what are the most popular British Commonwealth countries to collect?
Apart from the big ones like New Zealand, Australia and Canada I have selected only a few countries to collect: Mauritius, Falkland islands, Newfoundland, South West Africa and a bunch of Pacific Islands (but not all).
re: Aside from the obvious ones, what are the most popular British Commonwealth countries to collect?
Bermuda seems pretty popular.
I personally collect them all, but probably have Bermuda & the Caribbean colonies most "complete". I am also drawn to postally used British African stamps.
Josh
re: Aside from the obvious ones, what are the most popular British Commonwealth countries to collect?
Newfoundland is far and away my favorite. Besides some others mentioned India and North Borneo are favorites that have large followings.
re: Aside from the obvious ones, what are the most popular British Commonwealth countries to collect?
As you can gather from my user name I collect Bermuda, I also collect Falkland Islands, including Dependencies, as well as Nova Scotia.
David
re: Aside from the obvious ones, what are the most popular British Commonwealth countries to collect?
Another vote for Bermuda (parents have been there twice, stamps are historical AND pleasing to the eye), Gibraltar and Norfolk Island.
re: Aside from the obvious ones, what are the most popular British Commonwealth countries to collect?
I attended a live internet auction (Canadian) this past week, and now the results are making more sense. No-one in my area seems to collect British Caribbean, but typically those lots (Bermuda and others) were going for 15 to 25% of catalogue where Australia/Canada/Great Britain lots were more in the 10% (or lower) range. British Africa and Asia were also selling for 15% up. Aside from Canadian Provinces (Newfoundland, etc.) and the odd specialized collection, former British colonies had the highest realizations as a percentage of catalogue. I guess nearly everyone is collecting something related to British Commonwealth stamps, and the auction prices reflect that.
Eric