Most collectors would probably love to specialize in "Inverts of the World". But few have the resources and even among those who might, there is distinct resistance in many people to spending hundreds let alone thousands of dollars for each stamp you put in your collection. But if you have reached the point of no return in your specialized "Inverts of the World" collection or are just now thinking general collecting is a bit too broad, you should know that specialization need not cost your children their college education. Specialization, like hotel rooms, comes in four categories- very expensive, expensive, moderate, and cheap. But unlike hotel rooms (where occasionally price equals quality) all you really get from expensive specialties (such as mint USA) is higher priced stamps, not more fun. Indeed, there are many specialties that a collector can come quite close to completing for a surprisingly modest amount of money. And many of these specialties contain rare and elusive items that will require more time to find than money to buy them.
Used Scandinavia (except Iceland) is a specialty in which you need thousands of stamps to complete. The stamps are beautifully printed, usually neatly cancelled, and nearly always inexpensive. In face, even counting Sweden #1 (which catalogs $3500), out of the thousands of stamps needed for complettion, in Fine condition only about 50 would cost more than $100 and only about another 100 more than $50 with hundreds costing a dime or less.
South America mint or used is another fascinating collecting area and you can almost pick your country and be assured of interesting, hard to find, inexpensive stamps. Try the Argentina Officials for a real challenge. Over a dozen of them we have never seen, and all of those catalog 25 cents or less. There are some very expensive Latin American stamps but most of these were issued before 1880. After that, the expense is incidental to the quest.
Italian and German States provide a fertile field for collectors who want the classics. The Scott catalog values are high but the stamps rarely come perfect and can be secured in most Mail Sales and Auctions at 15-20% of catalog or less. A complete collection of Prussia in such quality would be about $150 and the hundreds of stamps of Bavaria (except #1) a little more.
Italian States in Fine condition sell at an even deeper discount so that a savvy collector bidding at Mail Sale could complete all the States: Modena, Parma, Two Sicilies, Tuscany and Roman States missing about ten stamps for about $1000; and half of those ten could be had for another $1000.
In the United States area, Postal Stationery provides a wonderful specialty, especially if specialized in with regard to envelope knife, die, size and watermark, as indicated in the Thorpe-Bartel specialized catalog. For major Scott stationery numbers, Thorpe often lists twenty or more varieties, and the rarer ones are still priced only moderately more than common ones. Certain other United States areas, such as Telegraph Stamps, Revenues (except the first three issues), Playing Cards and Wine Stamps are rare but generally not pricey.
French Colonies is an area where a collector can get a lot of different stamps for his money. The Nineteenth Century tends to be expensive but the 20th Century to Independence is full of colorful sets of 20 values or more that are quite hard to find. Portuguese Colonies are pretty much the same, though a bit more pricey. In the British Empire area, India & Ceylon are inexpensive. Indian States both Convention and Feudatory are a rich field of specialty with a few very expensive ones. The perforation varieties of New South Wales and New Zealand are tough to locate and though some are costly, most require perseverence and diligence to find, not money.
There are many others too. The important thing to remember in philately is that the untilled field will reap the greatest harvest. Collectors on a budget can find fulfilled and economically rewarding collecting if they are thorough in their search and march to a different drummer.
Used Scandinavia (except Iceland) is a specialty in which you need thousands of stamps to complete. The stamps are beautifully printed, usually neatly cancelled, and nearly always inexpensive. In face, even counting Sweden #1 (which catalogs $3500), out of the thousands of stamps needed for complettion, in Fine condition only about 50 would cost more than $100 and only about another 100 more than $50 with hundreds costing a dime or less.
South America mint or used is another fascinating collecting area and you can almost pick your country and be assured of interesting, hard to find, inexpensive stamps. Try the Argentina Officials for a real challenge. Over a dozen of them we have never seen, and all of those catalog 25 cents or less. There are some very expensive Latin American stamps but most of these were issued before 1880. After that, the expense is incidental to the quest.
Italian and German States provide a fertile field for collectors who want the classics. The Scott catalog values are high but the stamps rarely come perfect and can be secured in most Mail Sales and Auctions at 15-20% of catalog or less. A complete collection of Prussia in such quality would be about $150 and the hundreds of stamps of Bavaria (except #1) a little more.
Italian States in Fine condition sell at an even deeper discount so that a savvy collector bidding at Mail Sale could complete all the States: Modena, Parma, Two Sicilies, Tuscany and Roman States missing about ten stamps for about $1000; and half of those ten could be had for another $1000.
In the United States area, Postal Stationery provides a wonderful specialty, especially if specialized in with regard to envelope knife, die, size and watermark, as indicated in the Thorpe-Bartel specialized catalog. For major Scott stationery numbers, Thorpe often lists twenty or more varieties, and the rarer ones are still priced only moderately more than common ones. Certain other United States areas, such as Telegraph Stamps, Revenues (except the first three issues), Playing Cards and Wine Stamps are rare but generally not pricey.
French Colonies is an area where a collector can get a lot of different stamps for his money. The Nineteenth Century tends to be expensive but the 20th Century to Independence is full of colorful sets of 20 values or more that are quite hard to find. Portuguese Colonies are pretty much the same, though a bit more pricey. In the British Empire area, India & Ceylon are inexpensive. Indian States both Convention and Feudatory are a rich field of specialty with a few very expensive ones. The perforation varieties of New South Wales and New Zealand are tough to locate and though some are costly, most require perseverence and diligence to find, not money.
There are many others too. The important thing to remember in philately is that the untilled field will reap the greatest harvest. Collectors on a budget can find fulfilled and economically rewarding collecting if they are thorough in their search and march to a different drummer.