Google Books has a good assortment of old literature. Search for "stamp collecting" and you'll get a lot of hits. Some of the old material is just amazing to read. The research that was done fifty or 100 years ago is quite something.
Or, on a lighter note, look for Paper Chase: The Amenities of Stamp Collecting, by Alvin Fay Harlow, also on Google Books. It is full of gossip and anecdotes from the golden age of stamp collecting.
A great book (although US) is The Inverted Jenny: Money, Mystery Mania by George Amick. It tells the story about the Inverted Jenny and then follows every stamp up until about 1986 when the book was published. I think you can get it from Subway Stamps for $5.00.
Bob
Thanks, folks... good suggestions! Best, BG
Pat Herst has a lot of enjoyable casual reading in his books:
Nassau Street
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=herman+herst&bi=0&bx=off&ds=30&recentlyadded=all&sortby=17&sts=t&tn=Nassau+Street&x=69&y=13
and his series of 3 Stories/More Stories/Still More Stories to Collect Stamps By.
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=herman+herst&bi=0&bx=off&ds=30&recentlyadded=all&sortby=17&sts=t&tn=stories+to+collect+stamps&x=65&y=10
Michael Rogers has reprinted a 7 part article on his web site which ran in the most recent issues of The American Stamp Dealer and Collector, entitled "Mike's Reminiscences."
I think Mr. Rogers could be today's Pat Herst.
http://www.michaelrogersinc.com/history.html
Another book to consider: Blue Mauritius: the hunt for the world's most valuable stamps by Helen Morgan, Atlantic Books, 2006
THe best fun book with a stamp collecting theme, although it is really a fun mystery,
is: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I would recommend this to anyone, but it is especially fun for stamp collectors.
http://www.amazon.com/Sweetness-Bottom-Pie-Flavia-Mystery/dp/0385343493/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1328485309&sr=8-3
(Modified by Moderator on 2012-02-06 07:49:47)
Thanks Suzi,
I'll have a read and let you know what I think.
Regards ... Tim.
Thanks, Suzi. You've "kindled" my interest, so to speak. I've downloaded an e-book version to my phone to read at work, tomorrow.
Cheers,
Tedski
I'm so glad you are going to give it a try! My hubby and I both read this and the other 2 Flavia mysteries and loved them. :) The first one is the only one that has a stamp collecting theme, however.
Anyone wanting to understand the way the hobby developed and why some collectors do certain things, such as collect plate blocks, or sometimes seem mor concerned with the gum on the back of their stamps than the stamp itself, should follow Ted's advice and invest in, and read the Pat Hurst books he lists (Above) as well as "Fun and Profit in Stamp Collecting."
The 1930s were a very intresting time for dealers and collectors alike as well as being, until most recently, the most desperate period for the US since 1777 and Hurst's insights into the thinking of the people he dealt with illuminates that time very well.
For the lighter/fiction side - Lawrence Block. His character is a hitman and a stamp collector... Makes sense, doesn't it? Check out his books on Amazon or Chapters-Indigo (in Canada). He's also been featured in the American Philatelist.
Andrew
PS - Wow! I go away for a week and it takes me two hours to go through all of these interesting posts. What a great site!
About books and stamps both are related and have grown with the Internet.A good site is www.shelfari.com....see the site and marvel at the power!
Hi Kiron,
Thanks for that site. I have been looking for a site just like that were people discuss the books that they read.
Regards ... Tim.
Hi Tim,
Thank you for appreciating me.There are books on stamps and there are stamps showing books.Both need literacy.I really feel it should be a national policy of all countries to support Philately to increase the reading habit.
thank you
Kiron Manuel
The Philatelic Foundation publishes a series of books called Opinions. Each book tells the story of about 20 items submitted to the Foundation for expert opinion and how they came to their conclusion as to whether it was genuine or fake.
Bob
In a posting earlier in the this thread, Susan Boyer recommended "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie", as a book for a general light hearted read, at least that is how I took it. Suzi thanks so much for the tip. I downloaded the book and read it on my Nook. A thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery with a precocious eleven year old girl as the heroine who solves the mystery. Add that to a story wound around a philatelic them it is a winner.
http://www.amazon.com/Sweetness-Bottom-Pie-Flavia-Mystery/dp/0385343493/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1328485309&sr=8-3
Regards ... Tim.
"The Romance of Stamp Collecting" by Ernest A. Kehr. I found this in a used book store. Written in 1951, coincidentally my birth year, it gives an interesting and optimistic perspective on stamp collecting in the mid 20th Century.
Steve88: 1951!? no wonder you look so young. and who is that dog with you?
parkinlot: "Opinions" definitely makes good reading. at the Northern Philatelic Library (www.norps.org) in St. Paul, we have copies of several volumes. great stuff!
it is a real stretch to relate this to stamp collecting, but... just now i am reading the personal memoirs of U. S. Grant (found on the shelves of the Northern Phila... see above). i find no mention of postage stamps, but a lot of discussion of the difficulties of war time communication. 1100 pages plus, but it is a fast read, and Grant has about the dryest sense of humor i have ever read.
Androcles: Too many books to read and too little time. The book on Danish stamps I found at Norrphil entitled "Frimærker, Folk og Filateli" is a nice volume. Thanks for your fine work!
Of course, US Grant was on several US issues. Your reading is indeed philatelic.
My dog, Sissel, is named for Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebo who is pictured on Norway #1660.
When people buy my books online, the publisher mails the books to them!
I had a quick look at google books... very interesting indeed!
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=5TADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA66&dq=%22stamp+collecting%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=wp-nT7XpGJHkmAXHl8DhBA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22stamp%20collecting%22&f=false
Cruise Travel, March 1996, it says "Like 20 million other Americans, I'm a philatelist. If you count the advocates from other countries, stamp collecting is probably the most common hobby in the world."
I know that statement was not meant to be taken literally, but from your experiences, do you think that this statement is correct? While many stamp collectors still exist, in my experience the hobby seems to be in decline.
The other thing I noticed was that books even from the 1800s are still under copyright and google books doesn't show them.
(Modified by Moderator on 2012-05-07 20:09:16)
George:
According to "National Geographics" of about a decade or so ago, recreational gardening dwarfs all other hobbies on this planet.
John Derry
You might like The Stamp Atlas by Wellsted, Rossiter & Flower.
It contains stamp history along with maps and border changes of countries.
I just bought this book a few weeks ago. It's really interesting. Lots of good reading.
THE 1959 ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY JOINT ISSUE AND ITS INVERT
(208 pages - 2009)
Author: Charles J.G. Verge, FRPSC, FRPSL
The book was prepared on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the first joint stamp issue of the United States and Canada. The stamps, issued on June 26, 1959, coincided with the Opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway by Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The planning and production of the stamps to commemorate the event took almost as long as the construction of the Seaway itself with proposals coming forward in 1954 in the US and in 1956 in Canada.
The author has looked at all the intricate negotiations needed to meet the requirements of a joint issue and how both Post Offices designed and produced the stamps, dealt with the new realities of first day of issue material and, for the Canadian Post Office, the rarity created by printing a few sheets of the stamps with the lettering inverted.
Hi doodles69ca,
Thanks for posting about the THE 1959 ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY JOINT ISSUE AND ITS INVERT, I collect First Day Covers of all stamps that were issued on June 26th. I never heard of this book before. I have to get my hands on it.
If you click on the following link, it has a little website I created several years ago and have not updated since. It has a few of my favorite FDC's for each issue.
http://home.comcast.net/~parkinlot/
Click on First Day Covers.
Bob
P.S. I cannot get the link to work again. Not sure what I am doing wrong.
P.S.S. Yikes, it's so old, it has the old Stamp Wants Logo on it and the 10 year SOR anniversary logo.
Suziboyer recommended the book, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I very much enjoyed it, and now I'm keeping my eyes open for that special "Penny Black". (Sorry, can't reveal more, except to say that this book is both enjoyable and quite philatelic!)
Now, Suzi and others who have read the book, here's a puzzle for you. Can you find anything in this Red Cross letter form, used to allow Brits at home to communicate with friends and relatives in the Channel Islands, and visa versa, that relates to the book?
Bob
I am currently reading this.
Also found this to be an interesting read.
Hi Folks:
I'd like to find some general books about stamp collecting... not the old "How to start a Stamp Collection" that you find at the used bookstore, but some casual reading about stamps and the stories behind them. Preferably foreign (non-USA)... anyone have any favorites?
Something that could help me straighten out and identify some of these more common... but complicated... issues would be a bonus. (for example, The Ireland Gerl issues)
What (if any) is your favorite?
Thanks
BG
Thanks, BG
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
Google Books has a good assortment of old literature. Search for "stamp collecting" and you'll get a lot of hits. Some of the old material is just amazing to read. The research that was done fifty or 100 years ago is quite something.
Or, on a lighter note, look for Paper Chase: The Amenities of Stamp Collecting, by Alvin Fay Harlow, also on Google Books. It is full of gossip and anecdotes from the golden age of stamp collecting.
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
A great book (although US) is The Inverted Jenny: Money, Mystery Mania by George Amick. It tells the story about the Inverted Jenny and then follows every stamp up until about 1986 when the book was published. I think you can get it from Subway Stamps for $5.00.
Bob
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
Thanks, folks... good suggestions! Best, BG
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
Pat Herst has a lot of enjoyable casual reading in his books:
Nassau Street
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=herman+herst&bi=0&bx=off&ds=30&recentlyadded=all&sortby=17&sts=t&tn=Nassau+Street&x=69&y=13
and his series of 3 Stories/More Stories/Still More Stories to Collect Stamps By.
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=herman+herst&bi=0&bx=off&ds=30&recentlyadded=all&sortby=17&sts=t&tn=stories+to+collect+stamps&x=65&y=10
Michael Rogers has reprinted a 7 part article on his web site which ran in the most recent issues of The American Stamp Dealer and Collector, entitled "Mike's Reminiscences."
I think Mr. Rogers could be today's Pat Herst.
http://www.michaelrogersinc.com/history.html
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
Another book to consider: Blue Mauritius: the hunt for the world's most valuable stamps by Helen Morgan, Atlantic Books, 2006
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
THe best fun book with a stamp collecting theme, although it is really a fun mystery,
is: The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I would recommend this to anyone, but it is especially fun for stamp collectors.
http://www.amazon.com/Sweetness-Bottom-Pie-Flavia-Mystery/dp/0385343493/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1328485309&sr=8-3
(Modified by Moderator on 2012-02-06 07:49:47)
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
Thanks Suzi,
I'll have a read and let you know what I think.
Regards ... Tim.
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
Thanks, Suzi. You've "kindled" my interest, so to speak. I've downloaded an e-book version to my phone to read at work, tomorrow.
Cheers,
Tedski
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
I'm so glad you are going to give it a try! My hubby and I both read this and the other 2 Flavia mysteries and loved them. :) The first one is the only one that has a stamp collecting theme, however.
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
Anyone wanting to understand the way the hobby developed and why some collectors do certain things, such as collect plate blocks, or sometimes seem mor concerned with the gum on the back of their stamps than the stamp itself, should follow Ted's advice and invest in, and read the Pat Hurst books he lists (Above) as well as "Fun and Profit in Stamp Collecting."
The 1930s were a very intresting time for dealers and collectors alike as well as being, until most recently, the most desperate period for the US since 1777 and Hurst's insights into the thinking of the people he dealt with illuminates that time very well.
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
For the lighter/fiction side - Lawrence Block. His character is a hitman and a stamp collector... Makes sense, doesn't it? Check out his books on Amazon or Chapters-Indigo (in Canada). He's also been featured in the American Philatelist.
Andrew
PS - Wow! I go away for a week and it takes me two hours to go through all of these interesting posts. What a great site!
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
About books and stamps both are related and have grown with the Internet.A good site is www.shelfari.com....see the site and marvel at the power!
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
Hi Kiron,
Thanks for that site. I have been looking for a site just like that were people discuss the books that they read.
Regards ... Tim.
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
Hi Tim,
Thank you for appreciating me.There are books on stamps and there are stamps showing books.Both need literacy.I really feel it should be a national policy of all countries to support Philately to increase the reading habit.
thank you
Kiron Manuel
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
The Philatelic Foundation publishes a series of books called Opinions. Each book tells the story of about 20 items submitted to the Foundation for expert opinion and how they came to their conclusion as to whether it was genuine or fake.
Bob
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
In a posting earlier in the this thread, Susan Boyer recommended "The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie", as a book for a general light hearted read, at least that is how I took it. Suzi thanks so much for the tip. I downloaded the book and read it on my Nook. A thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery with a precocious eleven year old girl as the heroine who solves the mystery. Add that to a story wound around a philatelic them it is a winner.
http://www.amazon.com/Sweetness-Bottom-Pie-Flavia-Mystery/dp/0385343493/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1328485309&sr=8-3
Regards ... Tim.
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
"The Romance of Stamp Collecting" by Ernest A. Kehr. I found this in a used book store. Written in 1951, coincidentally my birth year, it gives an interesting and optimistic perspective on stamp collecting in the mid 20th Century.
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
Steve88: 1951!? no wonder you look so young. and who is that dog with you?
parkinlot: "Opinions" definitely makes good reading. at the Northern Philatelic Library (www.norps.org) in St. Paul, we have copies of several volumes. great stuff!
it is a real stretch to relate this to stamp collecting, but... just now i am reading the personal memoirs of U. S. Grant (found on the shelves of the Northern Phila... see above). i find no mention of postage stamps, but a lot of discussion of the difficulties of war time communication. 1100 pages plus, but it is a fast read, and Grant has about the dryest sense of humor i have ever read.
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
Androcles: Too many books to read and too little time. The book on Danish stamps I found at Norrphil entitled "Frimærker, Folk og Filateli" is a nice volume. Thanks for your fine work!
Of course, US Grant was on several US issues. Your reading is indeed philatelic.
My dog, Sissel, is named for Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebo who is pictured on Norway #1660.
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
When people buy my books online, the publisher mails the books to them!
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
I had a quick look at google books... very interesting indeed!
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=5TADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA66&dq=%22stamp+collecting%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=wp-nT7XpGJHkmAXHl8DhBA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22stamp%20collecting%22&f=false
Cruise Travel, March 1996, it says "Like 20 million other Americans, I'm a philatelist. If you count the advocates from other countries, stamp collecting is probably the most common hobby in the world."
I know that statement was not meant to be taken literally, but from your experiences, do you think that this statement is correct? While many stamp collectors still exist, in my experience the hobby seems to be in decline.
The other thing I noticed was that books even from the 1800s are still under copyright and google books doesn't show them.
(Modified by Moderator on 2012-05-07 20:09:16)
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
George:
According to "National Geographics" of about a decade or so ago, recreational gardening dwarfs all other hobbies on this planet.
John Derry
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
You might like The Stamp Atlas by Wellsted, Rossiter & Flower.
It contains stamp history along with maps and border changes of countries.
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
I just bought this book a few weeks ago. It's really interesting. Lots of good reading.
THE 1959 ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY JOINT ISSUE AND ITS INVERT
(208 pages - 2009)
Author: Charles J.G. Verge, FRPSC, FRPSL
The book was prepared on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the first joint stamp issue of the United States and Canada. The stamps, issued on June 26, 1959, coincided with the Opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway by Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The planning and production of the stamps to commemorate the event took almost as long as the construction of the Seaway itself with proposals coming forward in 1954 in the US and in 1956 in Canada.
The author has looked at all the intricate negotiations needed to meet the requirements of a joint issue and how both Post Offices designed and produced the stamps, dealt with the new realities of first day of issue material and, for the Canadian Post Office, the rarity created by printing a few sheets of the stamps with the lettering inverted.
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
Hi doodles69ca,
Thanks for posting about the THE 1959 ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY JOINT ISSUE AND ITS INVERT, I collect First Day Covers of all stamps that were issued on June 26th. I never heard of this book before. I have to get my hands on it.
If you click on the following link, it has a little website I created several years ago and have not updated since. It has a few of my favorite FDC's for each issue.
http://home.comcast.net/~parkinlot/
Click on First Day Covers.
Bob
P.S. I cannot get the link to work again. Not sure what I am doing wrong.
P.S.S. Yikes, it's so old, it has the old Stamp Wants Logo on it and the 10 year SOR anniversary logo.
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
Suziboyer recommended the book, The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie. I very much enjoyed it, and now I'm keeping my eyes open for that special "Penny Black". (Sorry, can't reveal more, except to say that this book is both enjoyable and quite philatelic!)
Now, Suzi and others who have read the book, here's a puzzle for you. Can you find anything in this Red Cross letter form, used to allow Brits at home to communicate with friends and relatives in the Channel Islands, and visa versa, that relates to the book?
Bob
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
I am currently reading this.
re: General books on stamp collecting -- recommendations?
Also found this to be an interesting read.