Mint Sheets - My Thoughts After 4 Years of Collecting
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- I have my mint sheet collection on my mind. I talk about how I feel having spent lots of $ on mint sheets early on while we glance through a couple of albums. The short story is I kind of regret buying them for reasons which I explain in the video. Anyways, just wanted to touch on the subject as it isn't mentioned too often.
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WoW!!! Kyle your humble spirit is awesome. You also know that all of us stampers have done something that we're not happy with either weeks months or even yrs after the fact, but you have to also remember that when we were doing it we were happy and that my friend is where I stand with the things I may have done wrong during my collecting experiences. You're a very good person Kyle and thank you for sharing your things with all of us, Kudos my friend. We all live and learn pal, LOL!!! Keep stamping bro.
Very kind of you to say! I do like them for sure but it's hard to abandon the feeling that I totally overpaid for them, lol. I chalk it up to a lesson learned and will continue stamping with a smile😁
Enjoyed your video very much. As a seven decade collector, glad I can still relate to a more beginning collector. I've have many collecting regrets before learning better, which never ends. I've never had the money to be able to collect anything expensive, so started paying more attention to centering and condition early on. You won't be able to get even face value on common stamps when you sell and should not expect to pay anything but a fraction of the face value to buy them, until they become less common. Auctions are how you do that. I have E & D Auction locally, and my monthly Philatelic Society meeting has a small auction. Couple of evolving thoughts after years of collecting: I don't own my collection, I'm a care taker for future collectors. I'm an archivist, my common stamps won't be so common in the far distant future when condition and centering will be very important. I may want to sell, but that urge isn't here yet because I still enjoy collecting, but it's a great eye opener when you regularly check the market place as you have.
That's very wise advice, I appreciate it!
Kyle, love the honesty with this video and I think every collector has their own “mint sheet” stupid tax they’ve paid.
I think the message is a good one and I appreciate you being willing to open up about your “mistake.”
Keep the videos coming!
Thank you!!
Hi Kyle, great video! You are very open and honest about your philatelic journey experience, especially buying stamps. It is an exceptionally useful video for a beginner stamp collector.
I am sure every stamp collector has some regrets or would have done some things differently, looking back at their procuring stamps and other philatelic items. In the beginning one just don't have the knowledge and experience that comes with time, and throw in the excitement and passion, and one has to be on slippery ground. As you said: hindsight is 20/20, and at the time you did what brought joy and which was your best decision at the time. I myself bought a relatively large number of collections in old albums. Although I tried to make "good buys", looking through the albums now, I for the first time notice how severely most of them, for example, have been cherry picked, really probably diminishing their worth significantly. But I was just so eager to get many and a variety of stamps in the beginning, and trying to win auctions at a "bargain" price.
Those mint sheets (panes?) are beautiful, and you still like them. They still bring you joy. Maybe you paid too much for what they were really worth, or bought too many, but that is now done. I am sure if you really wanted to sell them off again, you will get more for some sheets than you think beforehand, due to rarity etc. I think you must not have so much regret. Your financial situation will improve again with time, and then it doesn't matter any more what money has been spent along the line.
But with hindsight you really give a new collector excellent advice and perspective. That is like gold.
As usual I wrote a lot, but said little!!!!! All in all - you are a great stamp collector and a great person, and you grew!
I was absolutely over eager in the beginning, no doubt. I hope you're right that perhaps a new collector will see this and learn from my mistakes! I decided I will hang on to them for now because, like you said, I still like them😋. Thank you for your kind words as always! Sorry it took so long for me to respond, somehow I missed your comment!!! Take care Charnie!
Hey Kyle. Interesting video. And yes...often I watch and listen to your videos while spending time with my own collection. I can partly relate to your story. I have not blown a lot of money but stupid mistakes....yep, done them. But I think it was needed to go where I wanted to go. Learn from your mistakes is a valuable thing. I made big changes the last couple of months. Sold pretty much all my stamps then about 5 months later decided to get back into the hobby. And it feels refreshing. Starting new but with gained knowledge.
Everybody has their own path and story. For some it works to be a world wide collector, some need more of a focus. Some can handle having tons of stamps waiting to be organised luying around, some can't. These were valuable lessons to me and I think not a lot of people could help me with refining my taste and preferences.
Thanks for the video Kyle. I am curious where you take your stamp collecting journey. Thanka for your honesty!
@@chrislovesstamps Interesting that you have restarted.That probably is quite refreshing! I have certainly learned some lessons by now.😄
Kyle as somone who has been watching for a number of years - your growth and self-awareness of spending habits in the early days are commendable! Although I agree that some of the items you bought back then are probably higher than you might make in return - I think you might be surprised what you could recoup from some of the stamps which no longer mean as much to your collecting focus.
You have the power to focus down on the parts of the hobby that really matter - you invested a high amount in these items, but there will likely be others for whom this is their focus and are looking to purchase! In my case, if there is something which doesn't fit in the focus it can be sold and I use that to purchase material which does fit to minimise actually spending my paycheck on new stamps! Best of luck with it whichever way you decide to go with this and a happy future collecting ahead with more sustainable habits!
Well said! Thanks!!
Thanks Kyle!
Sure thing!
A very honest and illuminating video! I'm just restarting my collecting after decades of inaction and definitely keeping my spending to a limit. It sounds like you've learnt a lot and wont make any further purchases you cannot afford. keep up the videos and stamping!
No doubt! Thanks!!
As a beginner to stamp collecting, I will use the same mentality that I've used in collecting other things during my life. I buy things as cheap as I can, but if I love that item, I keep it as a valued item to me, not concerned about whether or not I can sell it for a profit. I invest in the stock market for profit potential. Love your videos!!!
I like that philosophy!
I have to admit that mint sheets look beautiful. Unfortunately they are not worth much. In the late 70's I was buying new mint sheets but fortunately I bought them from the post office so I only paid face value. Like a lot of people I thought that they would increase in value but they did not. Your collection is impressive though. I always watch your videos in the evening so I am enjoying a glass of wine. I always like watching what other people are collecting. My problem is that my collection keeps expanding because I cannot turn down a bargain even if it is something that I do not collect. Two months ago at my local stamp club one of the members was selling off some of his collection. One lot was a bunch of New Jersey precancels. I have never collected precancels except those listed in Scott so it peaked my interest and I won the lot. Turns out it contains about 10% of the New Jersey precancels so I have a lot to add to it and it is now my new fun collection since most precancels arre inexpensive.
@@Robertbrown08049 I bet you have quite the collection by now! Yea, I just feel like I way overpaid but I've learned from it.
Hey Kyle, ive recently started collectimg stamps again and i just love mint sheets. I finally found someone who sees the sheets as beautiful as they are. The other collectors near me dont see the value in sheets. I was wondering how i would get touch with you if i wanted to buy this album from you?
You can reach me at kjepstein11@gmail.com although I have decided to keep this album. I have sunk so much money into making it that I'm not ready to sell it for a loss, at least yet. If I change my mind i will let you know!
Hi Kyle. Merry Xmas when it comes. Best regards from James in Scotland.
Same to you!
Hello Kyle I hope you still enjoy the hobby ( hobby not investment ) lol I enjoy your joy for the hunt . most long time collectors have the same story’s ( I have some sheets I’d sell you ) get off auto pay and start using your extra stamps not just the three cent to pay your bills it costs 73 cents now I’ve Ben using hinged mint for years. Join a stamp club you will probably be the youngest member. I was ( now I’m 60 four younger members now ) you might get postage .30 cents to the 1.00 Don’t give up on our hobby it’s not dead yet the stamp stores are mostly on line now Your truly Lance. ( slave to the album )
P.S. happy hunting and holidays
I do still enjoy the hobby but have slowed down some. I intend it to be a casual lifelong journey :). All the best to you Lance!
I think that all of us have had some regret on some past purchases, but if you enjoy philately in all aspects as long as you can afford them. Of course, there are investment opportunities in don't look at it in that way. My grandmother gave me some Danish stamps and off to the races been collecting for a long time made some mistakes along the way, learning experience would help as a new collector from a long time collector or stamp club.
@@rubysophia1232 I hear ya, it's not a HUGE regret but I do think I totally overpaid for most of them lol.
Kyle. Adding on to my previous comment. The ebay listings you showed had asking prices. We don't know if they actually sold at that level. You were wondering what to do with these sheets. In bulk, they are fairly worthless. As I mentioned earler, selling them will get you maybe 50 - 60 % of face value. May I suggest you donalte them to someone? The Spellman Museum accepts donations. Also the Rocky Mountain Philatelic Library take donations. They would be most appreciative. I have donated thousands of stamps to Boys Town and Stamps for the Wounded. Good luck with whatever you decide.
Thanks for the advice!
I know how you feel - the older ones being very fragile compared to the modern ones. But I store my more modern mint sheet in Vario stocksheets. I find I have to wear gloves to slide out and tongs all very slowly. I will use a bare hand to secure it but lightly touching it.
The self-adhesive mint sheets are easier to handle and the ones that you can sell at face or a small premium are Forever stamps and even those from a few years before the advent of Forever stamps.
I think the old 3 - 5 cent Mint sheet will gain a premium due to their present dislike of them and how many of them are being broken up. But it will be awhile! Likely in two generations.
Interesting thoughts! Thank you!
These sheets are beautiful! I would keep, however collect what gives you joy, sell the rest. You won’t recuperate the investment, but maybe gain some peace with your decision. We have all been there!
I think I will keep them for now!
Hey Kyle / I know you say you have some regrets with those mint sheets of stamps - but as you have pointed out before - stamp collecting is not really about the value - it is about the pleasure of collecting stamps - appreciating the designs and colours of the stamps, the history and also the stories that even recent stamps have! Yes there is some value in stamps but that is way down the list compared to collecting for the joy of it / don’t feel bad at all / I loved looking at these sheets !!!
@@jeffsstamps I definitely do like them but I just feel like I overpaid...oh well. 😆
Not to fret. I've made purchasing mistakes also. I imagine we all have. But when it comes time to sell those 3 cent sheets, don't expect to get more than 50 to 60 % of face value. forget scott cat value. its way off. A sheet of 50 3 centers = face val of $1.50. Hopefully you can get a buck for it.
I assume there's not much of a market for mint sheets as most people spend the bulk of their time collecting other items. I think a lot of us spend our time collecting used or mint singles even though we would like to collect mint sheets eventually. It's definitely a fun thing to collect though, and one could certainly take advantage of the lack of market to get some great deals. I feel like everyone gets ripped off early on in their collecting so don't be too hard on yourself.
Some fair points indeed, thanks!!
I've never understood buying blocks, sheets. 4 or 50 of every stamp instead of just one.
well there's 1 thing that you can do. 1/you can see what that series of stamps that you have on sheets and make series of the stamps and sell them as sets MNH from sheet number?????.
That's true and potentially would bring more money if I were to sell them!
It could be worse , just think if they were grading and slabing them
hah!
The albums of mint blocks and the few sheets I inherited are definitely something I want to part with. I find them boring. I'd much rather fill gaps in worldwide albums and am content with one stamp vs albums of worthless US blocks that take up so much shelf space and collect dust. I'm never going to want to sit down with them and think 'Oooolala! 4 common stamps all together. How unique'. Plllbbbt. I'd rather sell them and use the $ towards a microscope.
Lol! I am inclined to agree with you!