Article: Did the Internet Kill Stamp Collecting?

I was just reading the thread entitled "How do you see the future of philately?" which seemed strangely "related" to an article I wrote a few days ago (for a NON-philatelic venue) called "Did the Internet Kill Stamp Collecting?"

I'm actually a writer by trade, and one of the things I like to do now and then is write about stamp collection... with the hope of putting my words in front of non-collectors (or former collectors) with the hope of perhaps getting them interested in collecting stamps, or just taking that first step... learning more about it.

Anyway, I thought I'd share my random musings here-- hope that's OK.

~Peter

Did the Internet Kill Stamp Collecting?

 

So you are a creative slacker are you?
I think the internet has devalued the stock of the dealer. The trouble with instant access is that now anyone, can get anything, anytime.
In the case of timbrology that's a real shame.

 

I think it was just okay, for us to have more interesting articles to read.
Nice article and love the stamps featured on it.

 

I think the biggest thing the internet did to collecting in general, Is reduced the local small time operators. Whether it be stamps/coin shops, or any smaller antique shops. There have been a number locally that come and go.
It also has expanded the world of collectors. Since if you didn't know anybody in your circle of friends that would admit to collecting. I have found even some adults still suffer from the idea that collecting things is a childish past time. I have had people come up to me when we were alone and admit to collecting something, that didn't say anything 5 minutes before when there was even one other person talking about the hobby of collecting things. Most claim its so the bad guys don't find out what they have in thier collection and break-in the house. Of course the value in most collectibles is when you buy them not selling them as aeverybody in stamps knows! Great article

 

Yes Circus, I think I agree on every point there.

 

No it simply made it easier for the collector

 

Paeroa - Antique town in NZ ?

It probably is, I have never been there but then I have only been in NZ for 10 Years and priority did not include visiting small towns, though I could vist a stamp collector client there.

Internet killed letter writing hence less stamps, period.
Then take away facebook, twitter and all those that twatter texts and you possible collectors have shrunk even more.
Then remove those collectors for whom it gets too expensive and those oldies that die off.

In 1999 I said to a Philatelic Society in Germany, stamps as we knew it then will disappear and by golly we have 6 years to go and the ball game is for sure different.

Ah well, maybe an Antique Town well sell also Antigue stamps soon.

Erich

 

I don't understand what you mean by 6 years to go?

 

There are still lots of stamps out there to collect. How do you know that
we only have 6 years left?

 

The art and history behind stamps are not killed by the internet. If anything, the only thing that dies or will die is the purpose of using stamps. I would bet that in a few years, nobody will send mails anymore with stamp. There will be better and faster alternatives. Therefore stamps will continue to be made, but more or less it will just for collection or art.

 

Agree that stamps made recently are catered for collectors which is a good thing since the designs are becoming more artistic and meaningful like for the celebrations.

 

I think one aspect we are overlooking is the amount of research material thats available to collectors today, I'm not much into purchasing stamps online and supplies I still buy locally

 

My thoughts is not that the internet killed philately's future, but the world Postal Systems, including the US, did by issuing so many cartoon stamps and huge volumes of insignificant stamps. My collection of US runs to 1964, and world to 1940. When the prices dropped horribly in the 70s and 80s here in the US, I bought some large collections at very nice prices, and they haven't improved much since then in my opinion. But the vices in my head keep saying, stay patient, my son ( heir to be someday) says sell and buy....well that is off subject.

 

I used to work in trading (yes those angry guys in the pit screaming at each other) and the same thing happened. The tough guys got replaced by intelligent computer programmers and were said to have "ruined" trading. I think this is the same thing, it may have ruined the old way to do business, but it also made collecting more accessible.

 

I wouldnt have though the internet would have a negative impact, unless its made it easier to sell counterfeit stamps. With easier access to the trade I would have though that would be a good thing. And being able to read on sites like wikipedia is a good thing.

 

NO, The Internet has helped my stamp collecting. Prices on Ebay are always lower than my 2 local stores, and usually by 50% lower or more. Sure I don't get to inspect them first, but only buy stamps with good photos. PLUS The lots I have been able to purchase would never has happened with out Internet.