What are you currently reading? - Page 9

finnbow · #81 01-11-2011, 10:43 AM

I have quite a collection of WWI, Depression era, and WWII German stamps that I collected when I lived there as a kid ('60-'64). As Rob mentions, I have numerous stamps overprinted with phenomenal denominations of hundreds of millions marks. I also have large numbers of the Hitler head profile stamps, both from within the German Reich as well as overprinted for use in conquered lands (Ukraine, for example).

I haven't had these out for a look in well over 10 years. I may need to take another peak. BTW, the town I lived in as a kid (Käfertal on the outskirts of Mannheim) still had all sorts of bombed out buildings and there numerous old pillboxes and bunkers in the farmers fields on the edge of town. We use to crawl through them, playing war. There were also a significant number of fighter planes stuck nose down in some of the fields that hadn't yet been removed throughout Germany and the Benelux countries.

merrylander · #82 01-11-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finnbow

I have quite a collection of WWI, Depression era, and WWII German stamps that I collected when I lived there as a kid ('60-'64). As Rob mentions, I have numerous stamps overprinted with phenomenal denominations of hundreds of millions marks. I also have large numbers of the Hitler head profile stamps, both from within the German Reich as well as overprinted for use in conquered lands (Ukraine, for example).

I haven't had these out for a look in well over 10 years. I may need to take another peak. BTW, the town I lived in as a kid (Käfertal on the outskirts of Mannheim) still had all sorts of bombed out buildings and there numerous old pillboxes and bunkers in the farmers fields on the edge of town. We use to crawl through them, playing war. There were also a significant number of fighter planes stuck nose down in some of the fields that hadn't yet been removed throughout Germany and the Benelux countries.

I can take a quick look through my Scott catalog and see if there is the possibility of some rare ones. Some printings of the occupation Brandenburg Gate stamps are pricey.

My Dutch friends tell me of planes surfacing in the polders, the water content of that ground is quite high. The turn over the dog tags and remains if the pilot was unable to eject.

finnbow · #83 01-11-2011, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merrylander

I can take a quick look through my Scott catalog and see if there is the possibility of some rare ones. Some printings of the occupation Brandenburg Gate stamps are pricey.

My Dutch friends tell me of planes surfacing in the polders, the water content of that ground is quite high. The turn over the dog tags and remains if the pilot was unable to eject.

I ought to shlep some of the more interesting stuff over to your house for you and Florence to take a look at. Most of this stuff was collected by my long deceased aunt who gave it to me when I was a little tike. Lots of very interesting and historical stuff. No real idea of value, however.

Another interesting thing I have is a full set of the the coronation stamps for King George VI (1937). They are first day coronation covers postmarked in every land of the British empire on the day he was crowned. I'm not sure if it's valuable or just cool to look at. I know that one of my stamps (a 80 pfenning von Hindenburg, I think) was worth $80 fifty years ago.

piece-itpete · #84 01-12-2011, 10:28 AM

I'll bet those coronation stamps are indeed worth something. They sound fantastic.

No one else currently reading anything? I'm taking a scifi break, reading Niven and Pournelles' Lucifers Hammer last night sipping decent tequilia while listening to Kraftwerks' Computer World.

If that's not scifi geek heaven I don't want to know, cause everything's relative

Pete

finnbow · #85 01-12-2011, 01:23 PM

My next book is going to be Patti Smith's memoirs, "Just Kids." It just won the National Book Award for nonfiction. I figure it's a good counterpoint to Keith Richard's "Life."

d-ray657 · #86 01-12-2011, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by finnbow

My next book is going to be Patti Smith's memoirs, "Just Kids." It just won the National Book Award for nonfiction. I figure it's a good counterpoint to Keith Richard's "Life."

I'll look forward to hearing about that one. It's on my list.

Regards,

D-Ray

merrylander · #87 01-12-2011, 01:43 PM

Admittedly the 2004 Scott but looking at a couple of British Colonies the Coronation issue used is running around $3.00, a First day cover should add to that. But then a dealer will never pay full catalog.

I have abouut $10,000 full catalog of Australia, Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark and Switzerland but have never been offered more than $3500.

finnbow · #88 01-12-2011, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merrylander

Admittedly the 2004 Scott but looking at a couple of British Colonies the Coronation issue used is running around $3.00, a First day cover should add to that. But then a dealer will never pay full catalog.

I didn't think they were too valuable, being a commemorative that was probably printed and sent all over the place.

piece-itpete · #89 01-13-2011, 09:41 AM

Too bad. Cool as heck though.

Finished the Hammer. I love those guys. Steeped in history and real science.

Many say they should do the Foundation Trilogy as the next Lord of the Rings type movie, but I'm not so certain as I was.

Next, I'm thinking Les Miserables, haven't read it in many years.

Pete

piece-itpete · #90 02-17-2011, 09:11 AM

No The Miserable yet, but I was lucky enough to pick up a copy of 'How the Irish Saved Civilization' by Thomas Cahill.

I'm not quite finished yet, but strongly reccommend it. It's pretty thin and somewhat light for a history, it's nice reading, and what I like best, it has fairly clear and easy to comprehend comparisons between the ancient and modern worldview.

Plus, I'll never look at the Irish the same again. Bravo!

Pete