Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Thanks for responding!
Lawrence R. Mead, Ph.D.
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Guilty as charged...
David
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(raising hand)
I have a 'complete' collection (are collections ever truly complete?) of the earliest Schleswig-Holstein stamps. The collection fits on one page of a stockbook. One the one hand, well-centered, neatly cancelled examples can be difficult to find. On the other hand, many sellers do not seem aware of the subtle design distinctions which translate into large differences in rarity (and value). By the way, the Scott numbers for these stamps are chronologically out of order with respect to date of issue.
Here's a teaser (because I like postings with images):
A trio of genuine Type II (Sc 16). Picked these up as a group for a TINY fraction of catalog value. They are seldom seen used.
This collection is an extension of my Denmark collection. The 1920 plebiscite divided this region between Germany and Denmark into two zones - a very interesting historical/political event. I'm also collecting the two plebiscite issues, denominated differently and one overprinted with "ZONE 1". Easy to find mint, not so easy to find genuinely used (not CTO). There are a few high-value (and often forged) varieties in this area, also. What attracts me particularly are the stamps of one zone, cancelled in the other. Have not studied how or why this occurred, and would be interested in others' insights...
-Paul
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I collect postmarks and covers from the member-states of the German Confederation (pre-1867), especially from those that did not issue stamps of their own. Lately I have been hunting down the more far-flung exclaves.
Most of these states used stamps of Thurn and Taxis, but a few latched onto the Prussian, Danish, or Saxon postal systems.
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Beautiful stamps Paul! Most of my early German states Imperfs look like they were cut by sailors with hatchets on New Year’s Day on the high seas. (Not sure I can describe them any better).
If you have any dupes please put them up for sale on SOR to give the rest of us schmucks a chance to “fill” more than one stamp per page (my current average).
(A Very Jealous) David
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I started collecting stamps from the German states listed in the original post to this thread after taking the effort to sort out what was genuine or forged.
There is a lot of legwork one must do before shelling out cash for these stamps.
At a certain point I became curious as to what the numbers were on the postmarks for Thurn and Taxis and for Prussia. That opened a door to the whole historical period of pre-1867 Germany.
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I don't actively collect it, but I will keep every stamp I come across.
In an earlier post in the GERMANY section there were some examples.
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I collect them on cover when I can.
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Thanks to those who responded - and happy collecting.
I am a member of APEX who examines old German states. Should you
have questions, I may be able to answer, but I do not visit this
site very much. My email is: lawrence.mead@usm.edu
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12:04:10pm
I collect Wurttemberg and am also considering officially adding Bavaria since I have a very large selection anyway. Great areas and quite easy to find! With some exceptions most of the stamps from these two areas are affordable.
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Wuerttemberg can get VERY expensive, I been trying to complete it for a while without having to spend an absolute fortune and still get some decent examples. I am nearly there. Just completed the first 30 from Germany.
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01:30:26pm
As I said,there are exceptions. There are about a dozen or so that would be a challenge, but almost every country or area is like that. I only want the basic numbers, I don't really care that much about the expensive pairs and varieties. I doubt if I'll ever get a complete collection for W'berg, but I can live with that. My main country is Canada and over the last 40 years I have put together a very good collection, even though there are about 30 stamps I will never be able to afford. Some of the early Canada and some of the early Nfld., especially some of the airmails are out of reach. It bothers me a little bit, but very few areas can actually be completed. We just have to live with it. I collect US as well and, as far as I know, only one person (Bill Gross?) managed to complete it and he had to trade a block of inverted Jennys to get his Franklin Z-Grill!!! This was 85A worth about $3 000 000, does that mean he already had 85F which is only worth $2 000 000? I doubt if any of us are that rich! What would I do if I ran into something like that in a stock book - that's how the third copy of Canada #32 was found! I think I would have to sell, would you?
Edit: I've done a bit of research! The z-grills, 85A to 85F were always quite rare and were left out in the original Scott's numbering system. When they decided to include them, rather than change the whole numbering system starting from 86, they inserted them as we see them now. So, for example, 85A is to be considered not to be a variety but a regular stamp. Does that mean that Bill Gross has a complete collection of 85A to 85F? That would be quite an accomplishment. I was pleased when I finished my Canada Jubilee Series, how would it feel to finish that set???
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If I had anything that expensive I don't think I could sleep.
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I collect German States!
I've also posted an article on identification of Bergedorf Stamps.
Head to Stamporama "Clothesline Exhibit" Competition #2
Scroll up a bit, and you'll find the article on it.
Give it a like if you found its helped you, and hopefully it will come out well in this fun contest!
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=34507#238547
-Ari 
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05:28:04pm
I collect all German States, I've also got a complete DDR collection, complete West Germany collection and some reunification. Also German colonies and occupations. 3 shelves!
I think with the States, haven't looked at them in a long time, the most complete are Thurn and Taxis but I've also got quite a nice collection of the other States as well. Only a few of some of the harder to find States but I believe I've got at least 1 for each of them, most likely more. If I'm not mistaken my Prussia collection is complete. I may be missing one, I'm not sure, as I said I've not looked at them in a while.
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Your collection sounds very impressive!
A lot better than mine for sure...
Are you open for a trade then?
I have some Higher Value German States I would trade.
I don't have too much, but I have some.
Thanks!
-Ari
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I'm also into "Anything Germany". DDR is painful. I've got all the early and high value. What I'm missing are those pesky one-offs in each set that are a bit more expensive and rarely seen except in sets.
We'll probably get kicked to another topic but ...I have tons of almost everything and am amenable to trading.
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05:57:27am
Hi all. I would like to know who collects German states including the North German Confederation, Thurn & Taxis and Alsace Lorraine. The 16 old German states are: Baden, Bavaria, Bergedorf, Braunschweig, Bremen, Hannover, Hamburg, Helgoland, Lubeck, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Oldenburg, Prussia, Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein and Wurttemberg.
Thanks for responding!
Lawrence R. Mead, Ph.D.
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08:20:59am
re: Who collects German states
Guilty as charged...
David
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08:40:10am
re: Who collects German states
(raising hand)
I have a 'complete' collection (are collections ever truly complete?) of the earliest Schleswig-Holstein stamps. The collection fits on one page of a stockbook. One the one hand, well-centered, neatly cancelled examples can be difficult to find. On the other hand, many sellers do not seem aware of the subtle design distinctions which translate into large differences in rarity (and value). By the way, the Scott numbers for these stamps are chronologically out of order with respect to date of issue.
Here's a teaser (because I like postings with images):
A trio of genuine Type II (Sc 16). Picked these up as a group for a TINY fraction of catalog value. They are seldom seen used.
This collection is an extension of my Denmark collection. The 1920 plebiscite divided this region between Germany and Denmark into two zones - a very interesting historical/political event. I'm also collecting the two plebiscite issues, denominated differently and one overprinted with "ZONE 1". Easy to find mint, not so easy to find genuinely used (not CTO). There are a few high-value (and often forged) varieties in this area, also. What attracts me particularly are the stamps of one zone, cancelled in the other. Have not studied how or why this occurred, and would be interested in others' insights...
-Paul
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11:16:37am
re: Who collects German states
I collect postmarks and covers from the member-states of the German Confederation (pre-1867), especially from those that did not issue stamps of their own. Lately I have been hunting down the more far-flung exclaves.
Most of these states used stamps of Thurn and Taxis, but a few latched onto the Prussian, Danish, or Saxon postal systems.
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01:54:17pm
re: Who collects German states
Beautiful stamps Paul! Most of my early German states Imperfs look like they were cut by sailors with hatchets on New Year’s Day on the high seas. (Not sure I can describe them any better).
If you have any dupes please put them up for sale on SOR to give the rest of us schmucks a chance to “fill” more than one stamp per page (my current average).
(A Very Jealous) David
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04:59:25pm
re: Who collects German states
I started collecting stamps from the German states listed in the original post to this thread after taking the effort to sort out what was genuine or forged.
There is a lot of legwork one must do before shelling out cash for these stamps.
At a certain point I became curious as to what the numbers were on the postmarks for Thurn and Taxis and for Prussia. That opened a door to the whole historical period of pre-1867 Germany.
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re: Who collects German states
I don't actively collect it, but I will keep every stamp I come across.
In an earlier post in the GERMANY section there were some examples.
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re: Who collects German states
I collect them on cover when I can.
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11:26:52am
re: Who collects German states
Thanks to those who responded - and happy collecting.
I am a member of APEX who examines old German states. Should you
have questions, I may be able to answer, but I do not visit this
site very much. My email is: lawrence.mead@usm.edu
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Back when I had a bunch! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
11 May 2021
12:04:10pm
re: Who collects German states
I collect Wurttemberg and am also considering officially adding Bavaria since I have a very large selection anyway. Great areas and quite easy to find! With some exceptions most of the stamps from these two areas are affordable.
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re: Who collects German states
Wuerttemberg can get VERY expensive, I been trying to complete it for a while without having to spend an absolute fortune and still get some decent examples. I am nearly there. Just completed the first 30 from Germany.
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Back when I had a bunch! I think, therefore I am - I think! Descartes, sort of!
11 May 2021
01:30:26pm
re: Who collects German states
As I said,there are exceptions. There are about a dozen or so that would be a challenge, but almost every country or area is like that. I only want the basic numbers, I don't really care that much about the expensive pairs and varieties. I doubt if I'll ever get a complete collection for W'berg, but I can live with that. My main country is Canada and over the last 40 years I have put together a very good collection, even though there are about 30 stamps I will never be able to afford. Some of the early Canada and some of the early Nfld., especially some of the airmails are out of reach. It bothers me a little bit, but very few areas can actually be completed. We just have to live with it. I collect US as well and, as far as I know, only one person (Bill Gross?) managed to complete it and he had to trade a block of inverted Jennys to get his Franklin Z-Grill!!! This was 85A worth about $3 000 000, does that mean he already had 85F which is only worth $2 000 000? I doubt if any of us are that rich! What would I do if I ran into something like that in a stock book - that's how the third copy of Canada #32 was found! I think I would have to sell, would you?
Edit: I've done a bit of research! The z-grills, 85A to 85F were always quite rare and were left out in the original Scott's numbering system. When they decided to include them, rather than change the whole numbering system starting from 86, they inserted them as we see them now. So, for example, 85A is to be considered not to be a variety but a regular stamp. Does that mean that Bill Gross has a complete collection of 85A to 85F? That would be quite an accomplishment. I was pleased when I finished my Canada Jubilee Series, how would it feel to finish that set???
Login to Like
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re: Who collects German states
If I had anything that expensive I don't think I could sleep.
Login to Like
this post
re: Who collects German states
I collect German States!
I've also posted an article on identification of Bergedorf Stamps.
Head to Stamporama "Clothesline Exhibit" Competition #2
Scroll up a bit, and you'll find the article on it.
Give it a like if you found its helped you, and hopefully it will come out well in this fun contest!
https://stamporama.com/discboard/disc_main.php?action=20&id=34507#238547
-Ari
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02 Mar 2025
05:28:04pm
re: Who collects German states
I collect all German States, I've also got a complete DDR collection, complete West Germany collection and some reunification. Also German colonies and occupations. 3 shelves!
I think with the States, haven't looked at them in a long time, the most complete are Thurn and Taxis but I've also got quite a nice collection of the other States as well. Only a few of some of the harder to find States but I believe I've got at least 1 for each of them, most likely more. If I'm not mistaken my Prussia collection is complete. I may be missing one, I'm not sure, as I said I've not looked at them in a while.
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re: Who collects German states
Your collection sounds very impressive!
A lot better than mine for sure...
Are you open for a trade then?
I have some Higher Value German States I would trade.
I don't have too much, but I have some.
Thanks!
-Ari
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09:15:05pm
re: Who collects German states
I'm also into "Anything Germany". DDR is painful. I've got all the early and high value. What I'm missing are those pesky one-offs in each set that are a bit more expensive and rarely seen except in sets.
We'll probably get kicked to another topic but ...I have tons of almost everything and am amenable to trading.
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