Death of the Hobby (stamp collecting)

I thought I was attending a stamp club meeting. I was attending the Death of the Hobby.

By the way, I stayed 6 minutes.

Links

[dougl]

My neighbor died. He was 95. His huge family swept through the house and removed what they wanted.
They asked me if I wanted any of the remains of house contents before they were tossed into a dumpster.
In his living room, on shelves were a huge set of stamp albums. I asked the son why he didn’t want them. He said stamp collecting is so boring and stupid.
I took them. On the first pages of the Great Britain album are over 50 penny blacks and reds.
One album of over 500 stamps is nothing but Hawaiian, including several missionary stamps, and a cover from 1859.
Nearly every book has the earliest stamps, up to 1920.
Saved from a dumpster.

[stampmoments]

I jumped back into stamp collecting a few years ago (at age 38, I'm 42 now). I hadn't collected stamps in almost 30 years. The story of how I got back into collecting is simple, but fun. I needed some stamps and went to the local post office. The clerk asked if I wanted to see "the book." I said that I'd just take whatever, but she was determined to show me what was available and then showed me the Bioluminescent Life issue. I was convinced I needed them. I walked out of that post office absolutely in awe of those stamps, and that was it. I saved that sheet and immediately jumped back into the hobby I loved as a boy.

[philcollinson]

I left stamp collecting behind aged 12. Aged 50 I returned to the hobby, 56 now, I have just spent 5 wonderful hours filling what was a recently purchased, empty Flying Eagle album. This one was just a fun album for me, a low in value but aesthetically beautiful selection of Lundy and Tongan stamps. My 6th album completed in 6 years. We foster children, 2 of the kids we care for are aged 9 and 10...All of the envelopes I received that contained the stamps the stamp sellers across planet send me have wonderful and interesting modern postage stamps from across the globe. (Stamp sellers are very wise ensuring they post older stamps bought off them, with an interesting selection of modern stamps on the envelope) ...Both kids got my heap of now empty envelopes and avidly shared the stamps on them. So there are younger stamp collectors coming through..

[sunflowercynthia]

I was in primary school when my 60-year old teacher introduced me and other classmates of mine to philately. I'm 28 now and never forgot the fun, wonder, and passion he had for the hobby. I bought an album today and a grab bag of vintage stamps today to start collecting again. I'm so grateful for online communities and for people like you that still make us young people feel welcome 🙏

[AlmightyFerretLord]

I'm 26, and have been an avid collector since age 7. Clubs often cultivate a sense of elitism, especially when they're predominantly elderly, so I just don't even bother.

[nze]

sorry to hear that, I’m in a club in Lithuania as 13 year old and they accepted me just fine and treat me like any other member. That’s mostly the case in Lithuania, collecting here is extremely popular from ~12 year old kids to older people and the older collectors praise young collectors like me and a lot of my friends. In Lithuania collectors are very open in giving their knowledge and experience and thats why theres thousands of collectors

[eliothowell]

Just returned to the hobby recently. Joined "Sussex County Stamp Club" here in Delaware. Very welcoming the meeting had buying/selling, an auction, refreshments and an agenda that was followed. It was a good experience.

[magikclown]

I'm extraordinarily new to this hobby and only just started collecting stamps three months ago. I'm 57 years old and confess I'm delighted to discover, it's a dying pastime. Stamps are four times cheaper than they were forty years ago. I'm assembling a collection at a fraction of the cost it would had I started when younger.

[Robertbrown]

I live in New Jersey and my local club (Merchantville Stamp Club) fortunately is nothing like that. Although our core age group is 60's- 80's we do have some members in their 40's-50's and we happily accept all members whether they are experts or novices. No stamp snobs here!

[thomasalmerini]

I used to go to a club of senior stamp collectors when I was in high school. I felt welcomed and was given reasonable deals on material well outside my budget. There were auctions for beginners as well as advanced collectors. Unfortunately, that was 45 years ago! My current club seems welcoming, but at age 61 I am the youngest member.

[yves]

Stamp collecting is not dying. It is rising because since the pandemy.

[living_the_mac_and_cheese_life]

Hi Bob. I am 47 and just started collecting stamps this week. I am hoping to get the whole family involved. Glad I found your channel. Sorry to hear about your experience. Just subbed and will check out your other videos.

[javipz]

Hi Bob, today you don't need to deal wifh that weird situations... think that you have more than 700 suscribers, we are your club. Also young people dont like to go to meetings with elder people to learn nothimg in the internet era they like twich, tik-tok, you tube. Think that your videos can inspire young people to collect stamps as you just for funny. Now I have 35 but I started as you said with 6 or 8 years... having fun with my CTOs... now I'm more "serious" as you said in other videos... I think that it's important yo inpire childs but you are doing a great job with your videos, today has no sense to merge childs and elders in a monthly meeting. Thanks for your videos and thanks for this club.

[herbedyja]

The same situation here in Upper Silesia. In fact, only very old men meet in such clubs (I'm 43 years old). So I do it my way. I send cards with new Polish stamps to my friends. I write something funny on them. I give the youngest family members some nice postage stamps as gifts... Thanks to this, several people have already become interested in philately :)

[greggerman]

I've since moved, but the club in Champaign, Illinois was outstanding. About 20 to 30 years ago, it met in a public library, and in that same library there was a giant washtub full of thousands of worthless stamps. Worthless unless you were a young collector looking to fill up pages! They kept those stamps in the young adult section. Super nice people.

VERY WELCOMING.

I was the youngest by far, but they were just so nice. Before meetings, the collectors were allowed to put their extras on sale on a table in little envelopes, drastically marked down to get others to share in their happiness. I bet there are good clubs like that still around.

[deborahlee]

I’m so sorry that happened to you. I’ve never lived where a club is available. What I love about the online philatelic community is the diversity!

[jameslove]

Hi Bob. Love your videos and humour. Just bought smithsonian stamp used. To remember me to watch your videos. Hope your well. Best regards from James in Scotland. Keep stamping.

[Eric-rfte]

My kids (3 and 6) are having fun with stamps. I collect them too. I think the concept of a club could be antiquated (not sure). Nowadays you can find like-minded people of all ages online and get together.
Kudos on taking a stand on a silly rule and sharing the experience.

[andrewturngren]

Sad to hear. Finding my local club has been a great experience with great people…while I’m still one of the youngest (I’m 35) by far there are still at least discussions about getting youth involved (e.g. merit badge classes) and a very open and welcoming atmosphere.

Perhaps you could organize a monthly zoom type of meeting? It’s not as good as in person, but might be worthwhile.

[philafuchsberlin-briefmarken]

Hey Bob, sorry you had such an experience. And yes, you are right. Stamp collecting and these clubs will perish like this. But not the philately at all. These clubs are about meeting people (they already know) there, and not about stamps. They already changed whatever was to change and told all stories twice and more. Nothing more to expect and come. It's ok, but they should communicate it that way. What can you do? Well, nowadays many collectors are more specialized than many of the club-organized collectors. Why not find people to exchange ideas in working groups/specialized groups? Yes, unfortunately this usually does not replace personal contact, but it can help to advance yourself and your collection. And then there's the internet. I think it's great to connect with collectors from all over the world, to exchange your collection, experiences and ideas. I myself am also looking for a club in Berlin. Luckily there are quite a few there and so far it has been time that has kept me from joining. Best regards from Potsdam/Germany!