Precancelled US stamps

I collect also the US precancelled stamps and have bought 2 month ago
the Town an Types and the Bureau Precancels catalogues. I try to make
some order in all stamps I have found for more then 10 years and only
put in letters! For this I'll need 2 or three month!

In France it exist a section from a philatelic club (naturaly in
PARIS, and I don't leave in Paris) that should be interested in such
stamps, but the director of this section has decided to win some
money: he'll issue most of sell books and prices are rising up very
quickly last 3 years, now he sells between twice and tens from Town
and Types catalogue 1998, saying it is the price in the States!!

First question: what is really the price of precancelled stamps in US
philatelic clubs and/or dealers.

I think I'll try to keep one stamp of each town, but friends tell me
it should be necessary to keep one stamps of each type of each town
(for locals stamps) and one stamp of each Scott number existing from
each town if bureau precancels.

Second question :What is your opinion about this?

I try also to make an US collection with only precancelled stamps. For
some definitives it is easy to find it, the other I don't know.
Third question: does it exist a list of Scott numbers that exist with
(or without) precancelation and if possible an idea of rarity?

On the Net I have only found Dick Laetsch that sells precancelled
stamps through the net (prices by E-mail).
Fourth question: Do you know some others?


I am sorry I was so long, but it the first time I ask on this list. I
hope you'll understand my bed English and that any precancels is still
on the Net. Best wishes and good week.

I try also to make an US collection with only precancelled stamps. For
some definitives it is easy to find it, the other I don't know.
Third question: does it exist a list of Scott numbers that exist with
(or without) precancelation and if possible an idea of rarity?

On the Net I have only found Dick Laetsch that sells precancelled
stamps through the net (prices by E-mail).
Fourth question: Do you know some others?

I am sorry I was so long, but it the first time I ask on this list. I
hope you'll understand my bed English and that any precancels is still
on the Net. Best wishes and good week.


I once collected pre-cancelled U.S. stamps, and found them readily
available, and dirt-cheap for the most part. Completeness is an
impossibility, which means that you'll never run out of something to look
for in stamp shops! And some pre-cancels are rare enough to make "finds"
possible. There's lots of room for specialization, with many printing
varieties.

Good luck in your search; I don't think it will be long before you have more
stamps than you know what to do with!

By the way, your English is just fine! I don't think any of us English
speakers would have any trouble understanding you.

Bob Ingraham

Greetings Jean-Paul,

Question 1: The 2 catalogs you mention give realistic retail pricing. The
Bureau pricing tends to be a little weaker than the T&T, but they are both
close to US pricing direct from dealers. The Bureau catalog prices each
denomination. The T&T book lists the price for a 'common' stamp with that
type. Sometimes uncommon stamps sell for much more, sometimes uncommon
stamps are factored into the precancel price because they only come on
incommon stamps. it is impossible to genaralize. Observing ebay sales is a
great way to measure the market.

Question 2: I collect T&T with only one of each denomination. Except the
states Alabama, Delaware, & Montana that I collect everything. On Bureau's
collecting one of each denomination is 'normal'.
Collecting only one from each town is another popular way - and simpler -
there being 'only' about 21000 towns.
My recommendation is to save everything, then if you change your mind later
you can specialize.

Question 3: For Bureau prints, the catalog lists all the denominations - so
it is complete for Bureau's and current.
For local prints there is no current catalog for all states. Most states
have had catalogs created over the years, many are out of date as far as
pricing - see this site:
http://www.precancels.com/literature.htm
If you choose to specialize in a state, try to get the catalog - it will be
helpful in organizing your collection.

Question 4: Dick Laetsch is a great source for material. Beginners and
advanced collectors buy from him.
Others can be found he
http://www.precancels.com/dealers.htm
Ebay is a VERY good source for information on precancel pricing and it is
very active.

good hunting!
chas


"DROGER Jean-Paul" wrote in message
om...
I collect also the US precancelled stamps and have bought 2 month ago
the Town an Types and the Bureau Precancels catalogues. I try to make
some order in all stamps I have found for more then 10 years and only
put in letters! For this I'll need 2 or three month!

In France it exist a section from a philatelic club (naturaly in
PARIS, and I don't leave in Paris) that should be interested in such
stamps, but the director of this section has decided to win some
money: he'll issue most of sell books and prices are rising up very
quickly last 3 years, now he sells between twice and tens from Town
and Types catalogue 1998, saying it is the price in the States!!

First question: what is really the price of precancelled stamps in US
philatelic clubs and/or dealers.

I think I'll try to keep one stamp of each town, but friends tell me
it should be necessary to keep one stamps of each type of each town
(for locals stamps) and one stamp of each Scott number existing from
each town if bureau precancels.

Second question :What is your opinion about this?

I try also to make an US collection with only precancelled stamps. For
some definitives it is easy to find it, the other I don't know.
Third question: does it exist a list of Scott numbers that exist with
(or without) precancelation and if possible an idea of rarity?

On the Net I have only found Dick Laetsch that sells precancelled
stamps through the net (prices by E-mail).
Fourth question: Do you know some others?


I am sorry I was so long, but it the first time I ask on this list. I
hope you'll understand my bed English and that any precancels is still
on the Net. Best wishes and good week.