About me
Image of me...
Hi,
I’m Keijo Kortelainen, the “casual stamp collector” behind all the stories of Stamp Collecting Blog.
I’m a 30+ years old family man, small business owner (in B2B consulting & training services) and above all, a stamp collector, from Sumiainen, Finland.
I have collected stamps since the mid 1980’s – sometimes more, sometimes less passionately. Like most collectors I have started with wholeworld, but then specialized to my own country (Finland)… After few years with Finland stamps, I swiched back to wholeworld collecting as it is simply much more fun. And unlike most advanced wholeword collectors, I collect all eras – from classics to modern.
If you want to get in touch with me, just leave a comment / message to some blog entry and I will response you in one way or another… You can also get in touch with me trough StampBoards.com, FaceBook, StumbleUpon, LinkedIn and several other online communities.
About Stamp Collecting Blog
I started Stamp Collecting Blog in late January 2009. It’s my “personal hobby project” without any timelines or goals… I write new posts when (and if) I have the time, or a good story to share.
In April 2010 the site reaches approx. 6,000 monthly unique readers (about 250 of whom subscribe the email newsletter or RSS feed), 270 posts and roughly 800 reader responses/comments.
Hello!
I have the complete collection of stamps from 1961 to 1991. What exactly are you interested in?
Thanks, Alex
Hi Alex,
I took the liberty of editing your message to remove links to your “selling page”… I think I’ve written enough many times that “NO commercials and NO exchange ads (or similar)” to user responses. >:o
But to make this discussion worth something… If you (or anyone else) has a specific interest to promote their personal/business website on this blog, please leave a contact request (with your email) that you’d like to discuss about advertising possibilities.
best,
-keijo-
Dear Keijo,
I was reading your web site about rare Austrian stamps and found something in my collection inherited from my father. It is of a very early Austrian orange embossed oval imperforated 5 Kreuzer, hinged sadly, but appears to be mint although a little grubby… from your pages it is a profile (looking right) of Emporer Franz Joseph. I do not know if it is original, have no certificates etc and am a starting amateur at this so your advice is sought on the best appraoch to selling and realising the maximum potential for this, if indeed it has some value. I also do not have access to a Stanley Gibbons… so my apologies if this is of no worth.
[message edited by admin/keijo]
John Williamson
Hi John,
Without an image, there is no way to tell anything specific. The easiest way to show the item for me (and everyone else reading this blog) is upload it some photosharing site (like Photobucket, Flickr or Google Picasa) and share the URL/address of the image file.
best,
-keijo-
Hi Keijo, good idea! I have loaded it to my flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnpw22/
John
Hi John,
and thank you.
For starters, I can say that is is not a postage stamp. The design, nominal value and color don’t match to anything listed with stamp catalogs. And in addition it is cut to shape (round/oval) with scissors.
Very likely it is cutout from postal stationary (cover). A lot of these were cut to shape by collectors of the old days . If so, then it’s not likely to contain any large value.
best,
-keijo-
I wonder if you could send me your excel template.
Thanks
Hi Paul,
please check your mail for template and instructions.
best,
-keijo-
Hi Keijo,
Great story on how you got started with this blog etc.
I was wondering if there could be a topic on New Zealand Stamps as in over far right on Browse by topic, I would be happy to supply some stamp photo’s and some info if you wish.
Please let me know.
Happy Stamp Collecting,
Gerard Kay.
Hi Gerard,
it’s possible, but I’m not giving out any timelines (or more specific plans). But some day… As for photos, I like to display items from my personal collection. So far I’ve “bend” this rule only twice while referring to “big $$$ worldwide rarities” (like the Austrian Red Mercury).
best,
-keijo-
Hi to you,
I would like to see a Browse by topic for New Zealand Stamps and also Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau and Ross Dependency. Is all of this or some of this possible, I can supply some information on all if you would like, but I am sure that there are many other people who collect these countries, so what can you do for us all.
Kind regards,
Gerard.
Hi Gerard,
please see my above reply for your (previous) wish of same/similar topics on part of NZ.
But small oceanic islands / countries are something that I have none or very few items in my collection. Yes, I’d love to make an article of Tonga’s banana-shaped stamps (or Kings of Tonga), but with one or two stamps in my collection it is pretty hard…So any future articles of these are entirely dependent on IF I manage to get any interesting stamps in used condition to my collection (a very precise hint for anyone willing to try the stamp exchange
)
best,
-keijo-
Question:
I am just a collector, no website. May I submit a photo to your website for help in identifying stamps? If so, how? I find no information on your site explaining how to submit “new” material(with photos)… only to comment on already posted articles. I’m new to blogging & chat rooms.
Hi cba,
The answer to your question depends on what you have.
If the item you have is related to some post/article on this blog, then
a) Take a photo of the item
b) Upload it into some kind of photo sharing website (such as Photobucket, Flickr or Picasa)
c) Write down (or copy) the address (URL) of the image
d) Come back to this blog, and add a comment that contains the image address (but it may contain other text as well). The blog system will automatically convert the URL into a clickable link.
If the item you have that is NOT related to some post/article on this blog, then
a) Make a visit to some stamp related chat room / board (such as StampBoards, StampCommunity or MyPhilately), and follow instructions found on those specific sites. For stamp identification purposes I’d say that StampBoards is by far the best choice.
Keijo,
Thank you for the help. What I have is NOT related to anything posted on your blog. I will acquaint myself with the workings of chat rooms, specifically those you suggested.
Hello Keijo,
I am an Spanish collector and I like also the worldwide collection, but my basic problem is organisation. I have got a big accumulation of stamps and covers but I don’t know what I have neither where place . Can you help me a little? How is your organisation of stamps?
My best wishes
Hi Jesus,
I don’t have any magic method or approach. I just simply sit down and sort what I have stamp by stamp.
But these are some posts where I show how my collection is stored/built:
1) A matter of storage
2) Storage for worldwide stamp collection: stock books
3) Keeping a stamp collection safe from dangers of natural surroundings
Above all, give yourself time to work your way with the stmaps. If you have reached the “state of complete chaos”, then it will very likely take weeks, possibly months to get everything sorted out and stored properly.
We wonder about a stamp that we find on your website.
It will be great if yoy e-mail me.
Kristina/sweden
I would be grateful if you could send me a copy of your Excel template as I am about to embark on a project to list my world collection…..and you may have just saved me a lot of work.
Thankyou,
Gordon.
Hejsan Kristina,
just sent you email. Please check your inbox .
@Gordon… You’ve got mail too…
Good day, Keijo. I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy your blog. I am just now trying to start a worldwide collection so am getting some good information from your blog. Please keep up the good work and have a wonderful day, sir!
Sincerely, Ted
Thanks Ted
Do you interesting exchange from Turkey.
if you .. please reply me.
regards
levent
Hi Levent,
please see my stamp exchange page for details I’m willing to swap some stamps.
Hi Keijo!
I just came across your site while looking for information on how to start a stamp collection. You seem to be an experienced stamp collector. Do you have any advice on stamp collecting for someone who is just starting out?
Thank you.
Mark.
Hi Mark,
nothing specific…
Just collect a bit of this and that, and find out what feels best. Each collector has their somewhat unique taste when it comes to stamps – others prefer single country, classics or specific topics; some (like me) hoard pretty much everything. And remember – these are not exclusive (meaning You can collect both worldwide and build specialized single country collection at same time).
Don’t take any pressures with collecting. It’s supposed to be fun… There are definitely days (sometimes even weeks) when I don’t think stamps at all. And sometimes I could do them 24/7. This is a hobby that might last for a lifetime.
And finally… Educate yourself. Read stamp related literature, magazines and websites. Utilize public libraries – they give access to huge amount of stamp related knowledge.
But that’s pretty much all the advice I’d give…I don’t know if you’ve seen this, but I have a page about how I started collecting stamps. It might add to to above (and give some good laughs as well).
best,
-keijo-
Keijo,
On the main blog the links to comments are not working. The link to ‘read more’ and ‘4 comments’ is the same, and I don’t see any comments.
Thought you’d like to know – software problem, evidently?
regards
Ian
Thanks for the tip Ian,
there was a bug in the code. It should work OK now
I have have been associated with stamps since I was 11 (that was long time ago). Now I only cherish seeing my collection and seeing on net what others are doing. Found your site interesting and informative. You may visit mine where I share news of stamps of Pakistan in particular and others in general.
Thanks Jalal,
Based on quick peek I’ll be spending some time reading / browsing your archived posts, LOL. I’ll be browsing it in more detail in near future.
Hi Keijo,
I am a 27 years old venezuelan woman interested in your excell templates since I am a stamp lover. Would please sent it to me. I will appreciate it.
Thank you Keijo – I have added your blog in mine as one of my favourites.
Thanks
Hi Ale,
you’ve got mail.
Hi Keijo,
I have an interesting situation and am not sure how to proceed. 27 years ago I inherited a stamp collection from my Danish Grandmother. There are thousands of them, most of which date back pre-1940. Most, if not all, are from various European countries like Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belgium etc. 27 years later it still sits in the original briefcase, uncataloged and unorganized. Whether or not I’m sitting on a stamp that may be of value would likely forever elude me as I have no heightened interest in pursuing stamp collecting as a hobby. For someone who wishes to simply have someone (trustfully) access my collection…what would you recommend as a course of action.
Thanks for any help in advance.
Cliff from Ontario, CANADA
Hi Cliff,
The simplest method to get some kind of evaluation is to take the lot to some local stamp dealer, and ask for estimate. These are easily found on yellow pages of phone catalog or from Internet. Never trust a single estimate, but shop around and ask several opinions.
If you are looking for best possible price, then you MUST make some hard homework – you need to sort and catalog the collection, and separate the gems from common “junk”. If you don’t do this, then most dealers will assume that with 99,9% approximaty the lot contains nothing worth their time/effort/money; and will provide you a bulk price.
Hei Keijo!
My name is Chris. I am 59, retired, and live in England. I collect only Finnish stamps.
I am finding your blog an excellent resource. I have also signed up for the newsletter.
As a relative beginner, I am now considering a UV lamp to assist in the identification of certain Finnish stamps. However, I am confused by the information available on the web. Some say that LONG WAVE UV is required, others say SHORT WAVE UV.
Can you – as a Finn yourself! – say which advice is correct?
Best wishes to you, and many thanks for all your efforts.
Hei hei!
Chris
Hi Chris,
for Finnish stamps a 366nm (= long wave) black light is recommended.
As you are starting up with specialization of Finnish stamps, I must warn you that the paper-types of Finnish 1963 definitives have been re-classified very recently. These changes are included with the most recent specialized catalogs, like Norma 2010 which I reviewed in todays post.
PS. Though long wave UV is less harmful than short-wave, I must stress that never ever look directly into UV light source.
Thanks for the quick reply, Keijo. Very useful for me – just like the rest of your site.
Kiitos paljon Englannista!
Chris
It was my pleasure. Very likely I will write up something about Finnish definitives this autumn. They are plenty of fun IMHO.
BTW. That was surprisingly well written finnish sentence from an englishman.
Kesäisin terveisin (”With summer greetings”),
-keijo-
OK Keijo. I shall look forward to the article on definitives.
BTW – Those pre-1930 issues – both Russian era and post-1917 (Eliel Saarinen) – are so beautiful. But a nightmare to identify for a beginner like me!!
As for my Finnish…well, I visit Helsinki often, and I do try hard. I can even understand some of YLE TV-uutiset (I watch every day!). But as for my being able to speak/write the language myself…well, that is another matter! LOL
Thanks again for your support.
Chris
Hello again Keijo
Dell here – quick question. Have you located on the web a good article regarding differentiating paper types?
Thank you and all the best
Dell from California
@Dell… In general or something specific? Here’s a sample of something of more specific: How to tell chalky from ordinary paper.