So probably everyone here knows from my posts that I'm old and been away from my beloved collection for well over 20 years. But I'm curious to know if there's anyone else that put theirs away for a long time and rediscovered the passion? Honestly, when I opened the box marked "Stamps" in the back of my stuff closet I REALLY didn't expect to be pulled back in like I was! Its fairly obvious by the state of the box that I'd lost all that passion, Stamps were just tossed in. Totally unsorted in anyway. Some folded, torn etc. And it really bothered me! So obviously I care now! I really wish I had paid more attention when I was packing it up way back when. I can't turn back time so no use in dwelling on regrets. I DO have a massive "chore" ahead of me sorting it all out and frankly I'm still not eben sure how I'm going to go about it! I can say this though, this forum will have the answer somewhere! I'm glad I stumbled in here! I think I'll make my goal to work through and organize and show you all when its done(ish)! Which, the way I go at things, could be anywhere between next week and 2017! lol I'd really like to know if anyone else here has gone through the same?
Yes, I collected as a kid and as a teenager, but put the hobby away till I was in my late 30's. This isn't uncommon. People go away to college, get married and start families and their priorities change. When I started up again I had to shake my head at some of the collecting habits I had when I was younger. Though the technology and materials are better today than they were yesterday I recognized some carelessness in my youth that I had some regrets about. I have been going strong now for more than two decades and enjoy the hobby as much today and I did when I restarted it. I'm glad you have also rediscovered the fascination and joy of the hobby tmbits.
I haven't experienced this, but my grandma did. She gave her collection to Mum, but she has started to miss collecting stamps, so she's started doing it again. I have the coolest grandma ever!
I stopped collecting for about a year due to situations in my life that got crazy. During this time I was not able to enjoy collecting. I just started back getting interested in the hobby. I am at a good place right now and I feel like collecting is bring my happiness back.
I collected as a kid. Stamps, coins and baseball cards. By the time I hit my teenage years I had lost interest (probably typical, I was more interested in fast cars, beer and girls, not necessarily in that order). Sadly, all my collections were lost in a house fire, so when I got back into it about a decade ago I was starting from scratch.
Collected from about the age of 8 until going to college in '65 (different focus and a lot less money). Restarted about '85 and been collecting (again) since then. Now able to buy a lot of those stamps I couldn't afford as a poverty stricken college student or paying for the wife's profligate life style.
I started collecting stamps when I was in high school and almost forget about it when I was in college because of being busy on lots of things. When I started to work, I go back to the hobby.
I also started during my teen years. During my university years it stayed on a shelf without me even looking at it. When I got married my wife asked what do I plan to do with this box marked "stamps". She never even saw me open it. I moved the same box to 2 different houses and eventially opened it 15 years after putting it down. Opening the box again was a briliant day! I was immediatly hooked again.
Good to hear I'm not alone! I'm sorry to hear about your lost collection Peter! But glad your here to be able to tell me about it! Thanks for all your input. Its good to be in a place with so many like minds Sounds kind of corny, but I feel like I'm "home" here! As soon as my boy stops rolling his eyes at me every time I ask him to show me how to take better pictures with HIS camera, I'll post more. lol
I imagine a lot of people are similar to myself in that we began collecting stamps when we were young but got sidetracked along the way. When I started to attend post secondary school, I was away from my collection as it was in my parent's home. I had other interests and maintaining a stamp collection was not a priority for me when I was attending school and starting my career. It wasn't until I became more established (and my parents mover into a smaller home) that I reclaimed my collection and started to collect stamps again. While I did take a long hiatus, I still held onto any interesting incoming stamps that I saw. I didn't have my collection with me but I kept them in a couple of envelopes until I got back into it.
I put mine away for about 5 years at one point. I was laid off my from job. So, I just happened to have more time to take up hobbies. I am glad to be back. I really enjoy it.
Well I think the time is not very far off where a postage stamp will cease to be...period. And whoever is holding on to these pieces of memorabilia will be in demand!
I was away from active collecting for years but I would buy box lots and bags when I could and I would pack them away in rubbermaid containers. In 2009 I became disabled and I dove headfirst back into it just for something to occupy time and keep me from going crazy .
Woah! So, you say that when you're in college you actually have less free time than when you're hired? It pretty much sums up my school experience with stamp collecting.
Well, I've been thinking about my collections since reading your posts on this forum. Like you, I collected in the 70s and 80s, then put away the albums till I rediscovered them earlier this year. I've revived two collections, and now think I may be about to revive another, or maybe another two. I did a review of the stuff in my 8 stockbooks this evening. I am currently collecting Laos (used), France (1900-1940), Sweden (King Gustav 5) and a number of engravers from different places. But up in the bedroom, tucked away in the wardrobe, are books with Newfoundland, Sarawak (the Brookes period), lots of Finland, a structured collection of Iceland (1902-1944), some Faroes, Greenland, and Latvia. And also some bits of early USA, modern Austria and modern Sweden, old stuff from the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and some penny reds (GB). And a few Tristan da Cunha. And some bits of GB from the 4 Kings and from QE2. I'm not drawn to GB, or to modern issues, and I like to have defined start and end to a period. So far, the country among these that stands out is Netherlands - maybe the reign of Queen Wilhelmina, who was Queen from 1890 till 1948 or so. There's lots of portrait definitives, and some attractive commems which reflect their period. It would be bold, because there are a lot of stamps. I did consider Latvia 1919-1939 or so, but the stamps are pretty poor quality. I have most of the early defs, including some map stamps - ones printed on the back of maps printed by the German army in WW1, but not used because, well, they lost the war! For the moment, I'm focused on Laos and on filling in the gaps in my France (00-40) and Sweden (KG5) collections. But I can feel the pull from those old stockbooks!
Nice to go back collecting every time we want to. Also nice to know those who are reviving their collections and being active on it again.
About the same with me... when I was collecting, I would buy lots and put them away, always meaning to get them out and sorted. But it wasn't until my divorce that I finally found the time to do so... like you to keep me from going crazy and NOT to go for rebound. Now I am PHYSICALLY separated again from my current wife: she is less than a year from retirement at her current State job (yes, in another State) so we decided we could handle it. Again, stamps to the rescue: I have a few hours at night to sort them again.
