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This FAQ was originally made for the STAMPS mailing list and most of the contributions center around issues discussed by members of that particular mailing list. Now that rec.collecting.stamps seems to be taking off, more input from that side is expected.
The document you're reading now is version 3.0 (generated 13-12-96). As in all discussion groups and mailing lists, the same questions keep popping up. This FAQ tries to answer some and hopefully sometime in the [distant] future most of them. The subjects discussed in the STAMPS list also very frequently lead to `lists', such as list of new issues, stamps, shops, dealers, topics etc. This FAQ will contain some of these lists, most most are available as separate documents either from the LISTSERV or the tiny fileserver run by Gert Bultman.
Most people on the STAMPS list have contributed in some way, by posting interesting messages. Credits are always given for longer pieces --- if you feel you've been left out, please tell me and I'll include your name in the appropriate place. If you want your contribution to be removed or edited, let me know.
For the complete text of the current WELCOME message, send a request to the LISTSERV .
LISTSERV commands +---------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Subscribe to the STAMPS list | SUBSCRIBE STAMPS John Jones | +---------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Unsubscribe | SIGNOFF STAMPS | +---------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Get the list of available files | INDEX STAMPS | +---------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Get logs for June 1992, first week | GET STAMPS LOG9206A STAMPS | +---------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Get logs for Oct. 1994, third week | GET STAMPS LOG9406C STAMPS | +---------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Find out who is subscribed | REVIEW STAMPS | +---------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | Get WELCOME text (very useful!) | GET STAMPS WELCOME STAMPS | +---------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
Some of these files are available from the LISTSERV as well, so use this service only if you're in Europe or definitely want the latest version of lists maintained at this site. (Please note that tfs is case-sensitive)
Don't be afraid to ask questions which you think may seem trivial to more advanced collectors --- someone will be happy to help you.
Post any information about stamps that you may think people will find interesting, but before posting, check the FAQ to check if your question has been answered/asked already.
The following questions are addresses in the next subsections:
RATIONALE:
A philatelic mailing list already exists with 315 subscribers. While volume varies, it is not unusual for ten to fifteen articles a day to be posted to the mailing list. Articles are occasionally posted to rec.collecting inquiring as to the existence of a philatelic news group. Stamp collecting is a hobby which spans national boundaries and the subjects depicted on stamps encompass every topic known. The stamps list has already been used by educators to reinforce the classroom learning experience by inviting people from around the world to send postcards to the class as part of the lesson plan. The American Philatelic Society (APS) is about to launch a major campaign to promote youth philately and the Philatelic Computing Study Group, an affiliate of the APS publishes "The Compulatelist" quarterly.
CHARTER:
rec.collecting.stamps is intended to be an international forum for the dissemination of philatelic information and discussion of all things related to philately. Articles posted would include, but not necessarily be limited to:
- Techniques for handling, mounting, sorting, keeping, displaying, and cataloging stamps. - Advice to beginners. - Help in identifying and appraising stamps. - Information about new issues. - Articles, reprints, and announcements from philatelic societies and clubs. - Announcements of stamp shows. - Solicitations to exhibit. - Philatelic computer clip-art for use in club newsletters. - Offers to trade stamps. - Private party (non-commercial) offers to buy or sell stamps.
A gateway between the stamps list and rec.collecting.stamps might eventually be established.
ABOUT THE STAMP TRADER LIST, A FREE SERVICE FOR
STAMP COLLECTORS WITH ACCESS TO THE INTERNET!!!
The Stamp Trader List (STL) contains the names & e-mail addresses
of stamp collectors & dealers who wish to establish connections &
trade stamps with other people on the Internet. Full updates of
the STL are posted to the Internet twice a month, normally on the
1st and 15th day of the month.
As of August 15TH, 1996, there are 608 STL listings.
It's an introduction service with absolutely NO FEES OR CHARGES
involved. It's up to STL subscribers to get in touch with some-
one who appears to have similar collecting or trading interests.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*********************************************************************
Casbolt, Melvyn [email protected]
Mel Made the following comment on August 9th
"I've had a listing in the Stamp Trader List for a few months now
and have found it to be a remarkably successful way to trade."
***
E-Mail: [email protected] Tom Kemp
Location: Garland, Texas, USA
Tom made the following comment about the STL on May 21st:
"I'm very happy with the STL listings. They are proving more
productive than Stamp Pals International or Linn's "Trading
Post Horn." They are easier to work with since the introduc-
tions and feeling out for fit can be done so quickly and eco-
nomically online. So, my thanks to the STL for providing this
service. I look forward to many months of enjoyable stamp swap-
ping with contacts made through the STL."
***
Keith Radebaugh of Indiana in the USA had the following to say
when he e-mailed a request to delete his STL entry in May, 1996.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the STL. I feel like
the STL & the Internet is one of the best things to have
happened to stamp collecting. I have to leave because it was
so successful that I couldn't keep up and I traded away all of
my duplicates. I'm sure I'll be back."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Collectors MUST provide the STL with an e-mail address, regular
postal mailing address & full name before we will add their
entry to the STL. We appreciate phone & fax numbers as well.
**************ATTENTION STAMP DEALERS****************
If you are a DEALER, part-time or full time, we require the same
information as above. In addition, mention of the fact that you
are a dealer MUST be included in the NOTE portion of your entry,
& we REQUIRE phone numbers and fax numbers as well.
Your hometown & state, or country will be of interest to many.
We won't include street or other forms of addresses for North
America in the entries, nor do we recommend such a practice in
other parts of the world.
The most important things to be included in an STL entry are the
e-mail address, full name, Offers, Wants, Notes, Web Page address
and philatelic society affiliations.
In the note section, it's helpful to provide some info on how you
might like to trade. With common stamps, most traders like to
trade on a 1 for 1 basis in packets of 25, 50, 100 or more.
If you would like to trade stamps with higher values, then it be-
comes important for others to know what catalogue you are using.
In the US & Canada, the Scott catalogue is the one most used.
However, in the rest of the english speaking world, the Gibbons
is usually used. Many other catalogues are used in non-english
speaking nations.
If you are a member of a philatelic society, include that info as
well, as there will always be those who would be much more will-
ing to trade or do business with those who are members of an or-
ganized philatelic group.
If you have a Web Page, add that information to your entry!
The STL WILL NOT post detailed Want Lists or Have Lists. That's
a matter between the prospective trading partners.
Here's an example of a recent STL entry in the present format!
************************************************************************
Hoo, Mark de [email protected]
Location: Bergen (NH), The Netherlands
Offer: Several TOPICALS, Underwaterlive, Holland mint and used. Lots
of European stuff, Australia, Bulgaria
Want: Underwaterlive and the Dutch carribean island ARUBA. (Both mint
and used)
Note: Contact by e-mail. Only trade. One for one, no sell or buy.
UNDERWATERLIVE/ARUBA Havelist available on my web page.
WWW-Page: http://www.tip.nl/users/mdehoo
Societies: Member #50 of RAPC, Radio Amateur Poststamp collectors Club.
It's recommended that you provide as much info of a general
nature as you can! Please try to keep your listing to no more
than 12 lines of text, with a maximum of 72 characters per line.
Please use a format similar to entries that appear on recent
updates of the STL that appear on many places in the stamp
collecting community on the Internet! Don't send us an e-mail
filled with information, and expect us to sort it out into an
entry for you. Our time counts too.
E-mail your entry to Phil Guptill: [email protected]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Only one entry per subscriber will be permitted in any single
update of the STL. Occasional modifications are fine.
Taking the time to have a WANT LIST & a HAVE LIST available to
e-mail or snail mail to other traders will greatly enhance your
chances to become a popular & good trading partner, especially
if you want to trade uncommon stamps.
You might not have anything available for trading purposes, but
that doesn't mean you can't list on the STL. Newcomers and those
who initially only wish to buy stamps are more than welcome to
participate. On the other hand, we don't accept entries from
those who only wish to sell stamps, whether they are dealers or
collectors. It will be helpful if you will indicate that you are
willing to BUY or SELL stamps. Stamp dealers are welcome as
long as they are willing to trade with STL subscribers.
In today's highly mobile society, it's understood that there will
be frequent changes of address or changes of online providers and
e-mail addresses. Please be thoughtful of your fellow traders,
and provide the STL with any change of e-mail address, or a dec-
ision not to participate any longer, in a timely manner.
***A FAST WAY TO GET THE STAMP TRADER LIST BY E-MAIL***
For those who would like to receive the entire Stamp Trader List
by e-mail, the fastest way that we know of is to use a fine pub-
lic service provided by Geert Marien, the STAMPS Listserver. We
must hasten to point out that the full STL is about 308,000
bytes at this writing, a fairly good sized document. It will be
e-mailed to you in several different e-mails.
All one has to do is to send an e-mail to:
[email protected]
Leave the subject line BLANK and on the first line of the
message body, simply type:
GET STL PACKAGE
Most of the time, within just a matter of minutes, the entire
STL will be found in your incoming e-mail box!!!
Geert's list is a public service for collectors on the Internet &
some very interesting discussions take place there. It's a great
place to ask stamp collecting related questions. Give it a try.
For details about subscribing to Geert's service, please send an
e-mail to Geert at:
[email protected] or to: [email protected]
For those with worldwide web access to the 'Net, the STL can be
viewed and downloaded or printed out as this is written, at no
less than the following WWW sites:
Bjoern Munch's original STL site in Norway:
http://www.idt.ntnu.no/~bjornmu/stl.html
Joe Luft's US site, where you'll also find a road map to any-
thing relating to stamp collecting on the Internet:
http://www.execpc.com/~joeluft/resource.html
Thomas Schmidt's Germany site:
http://hp735.cs.uni-magdeburg.de/~tschmidt/stamps.html
Alan Arnold's Australia site:
http://apamac.ch.adfa.oz.au/apa/stamps/default.html
Hans Mortensen's Denmark site: {NEW ADDRESS}
http://www2.dk-online.dk/users/hsmpage/
Jose Rodenas's Spain site:
http://www.upv.es/~jrodenas/stl.html
Hans Karman's Australia site:
http://www.pcug.org.au/~hkarman/stl-main.htm
Matt Matzoll's Australia site:
http://users.hunterlink.net.au/chasta/
Scott Virtes' San Diego, California site:
http://millennianet.com/scv/stl/index.htm
Henry & Phil Stevens' New Hampshire site:
http://www.ebourse.com
*********
Thanks to Patrick Lamastus: [email protected]
THE STL IS NOW AVAILABLE IN THE HTML format for those with
Netscape and other WWW browsers at all "official" STL sites.
Special thanks also to Hans Mortensen, Jose Rodenas, Hans
Karman, Jorge Biera and Giorgio Chianetta for many valuable
contributions to the STL and the stamp collecting community
on the Cyberspace Express.
Hans Karman has put together an html version of the STL that
makes it much easier for those of us with Net Browsers to find
entries for other subscribers with similar trading interests.
It's carried on several sites, and is probably a good view of
a format that many compilers of similar lists will use in the
future. We hope to have full Spanish & Danish language ver-
sions of the STL available soon.
*********
The STL is also available from Ed Jackson's FTP site at the Uni-
versity of Georgia:
ftp.cviog.uga.edu/pub/exchange/jackson/stamptra
Once in the archive, Ed has the STL as a complete file for Macs
and as a complete file for PCs. It's also available in generic
text as a 7 part file.
If all else fails, upon request, the STL can be e-mailed to subscribers
in 7 part text files or 7 part html files. Requests for any speci-
fic parts, including the latest Sneak Preview, will be honored as well.
The most recent 7 part STL is approximately 308,000 bytes in size.
ONE PART ZIPPED FILES FOR THE STL ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN TEXT OR HTML!!!
We now have a one part zipped file, in both the text & html format,
that we will update once a month sometime soon after the 15th. At
this time the zipped files are 102,500 bytes for the text version,
and 111,560 bytes for the html version.
###########################################################
Now that we have the Webbable (html or hypertext) version
available, subscribers, particularly new ones, may wish to
have us send them the complete and most recent STL files in
either the text or Webbable format. For those with world-
wide web browsers such as Mosaic & Netscape, it's a real
time saver to be able to e-mail to those you'd like to try
to trade with directly from their STL entry.
Simply make your request to: [email protected]
###########################################################
All questions, comments & suggestions are welcome. Normally, we are
prompt to respond to STL e-mail. In fact, if you don't hear from us
within 72 hours, chances are that we didn't get your e-mail, or
there's a problem with your e-mail address, or our PC or provider.
##################
Trades should be completed promptly; within 14 days or less from the
time that the front end of a trade is received, the back end of the
trade should be mailed. Unless agreed to by both parties in a trade,
via e-mail, with copies to the custodian of the STL, the back end of
a trade MUST be in the return mail no more than 21 days after receiving
the front end of a trade. STL subscribers must not agree to trade with
anyone for philatelic material that is not in their possession when they
agree to terms of a trade, with the exception of common new issues that
are readily available at a local post office, BUT ONLY FOR THE FRONT
END OF A TRADE, in that case.
##################
************************************************************************
We would all do well to remember that some of us can access the Internet
with little, or no cost. On the other hand, there are many collectors
who pay handsomely to access the r.c.s newsgroup & to send & receive
e-mail on the Internet, especially those who subscribe to some of the
major, regional and local providers who assess extra fees to process
Internet e-mail.
************************************************************************
For those who might wish to access the STAMPS FAQ (frequently
asked questions) with a Net Browser, please check out & visit:
The STAMPS FAQ at the WWW space kindly provided by Joe Luft:
http://www.execpc.com/~joeluft/faq/title.html
If you have any questions about protocol or procedures, or would
like to submit your entry and required info, just e-mail it to:
Phil Guptill..APS#114183..ATA#50965-3
RPSC#19422...PCSG#1044
Internet address: [email protected]
###
August 22, 1996 revision
The news service has no impact on what can be posted on rec.collecting.stamps, where any user can post any message. What the service seeks is an increase in news stories, substantive articles, announcements (e.g., prospectus for an upcoming stamp show exhibition), personal recollections, quizzes, entertainment articles, and so forth. While larger articles are helpful, editors also need for filler [short, one- or two-paragraph material to fill out a column space].
Material may be contributed directly to rec.collecting.stamps, with no moderation, editing, or grouping of articles by subject matter. However, Ed Jackson has agreed to serve as a volunteer editor/modernator. At least once a week, he will post numbered releases of one or more articles specifically intended for newsletter editors. Anyone desiring their articles to be part of these releases can send their article via e-mail to <[email protected]> and he will perform the usual editorial functions (checking spelling, capitalization, and punctuation according to a common style manual) before posting it as a numbered release on rec.collecting.stamps.
In either case, one thing will be important. Do not post copyrighted material (unless permission to reprint has been obtained). In addition to all types of legal hassles, the goal of the philatelic news service is to provide articles and material that editors can use in their newsletters without worrying about copyrights. Also, by posting--at least to the news service--it will be assumed that you (or, if written by someone else, the author) give permission for the article to be reprinted in stamp club newsletters. Requests from other sources (e.g., the commercial philatelic press) to reprint will be referred to the submitter of the article.
There's a list related to coins (and to a lesser extent, paper money). Subscribe by sending mail to <[email protected]>.
Never post want lists or lengthy advertisement of what you're offering to the list.
Always keep in mind that e-mail is a very fast medium and that it is very easy to exchange exact data about what you are going to trade and what you want in return. This may save you a lot of slower and more expensive snailmail messages and/or misunderstandings.
If you are trading more expensive stamps and you are using catalogue values as a basis, make sure to use the same catalogue. Valuations can differ as much as 200% or more between different catalogues.
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