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Discworld stamps (page1)

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Topic: Discworld stamps (page1)
Posted By: Steve
Subject: Discworld stamps (page1)
Date Posted: 30 March 2010 at 04:43
#1 2010-01-21 05:24:37

Colin Edwards
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-07-21
    Posts: 141

Discworld Stamps

I have never wanted to be the one to actually suggest this myself BUT why has no-one here started a thread to discuss Discworld Stamps?

They are perfectly valid as examples of cinderellas and there are various people here who still regularly collect them.

With the imminent release of the new commons for the new year and the upcoming showing of 'Going Postal' on TV there should be plenty to talk about.

These stamps are regularly advertised in popular magazines, and have been discussed in Club articles too - so why bot discuss them here? It might even help add credibility to get them back into Wikipedia?

We could even give them a section of their own if it proved popular.

Just a thought :-)


#2 2010-01-21 07:06:01

Keith
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-08-30
    Posts: 135

Re: Discworld Stamps

Well maybe none of us wanted to be the one to actually suggest it either.

There is of course already a forum for discussing them although I think it is getting much less active  in the stamp discussion area than it used to be and maybe the folk who are interested in them as cinderellas should migrate to here.

Keith
To see images and more information about stamps discussed here you should visit http://www.askmeaboutstamps.com/
 
#3 2010-01-21 07:13:41

Steve
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-08-27
    Posts: 218

Re: Discworld Stamps

Good point Colin.

Perhaps its because there is already a forum that includes DW stamps as s specific topic. There may be other reasons though. If there is sufficient discussion there should certainly a section for them.

You mentioned the new 'commons'. Did you mean the Ankh-Morpork definitives and their yearly revamp?
If so I will say that this doen't generate as much interest with me as say a totally new issue. Mostly we get a colour change. However there is an exception to this; the $1 Tower of Arts stamp. What new colours will be used and what sports will appear? I got lucky last year. Not only did I get 3 of the sports singly, but also did a trade and got a half sheet with all 5 in a block! I traded 2 of the singles and still have one left for another special trade.
Perhaps now that the 5p and 10p AMs are no longer a single colour there may be some interesting and aesthetically pleasing colour combinations used on these stamps.
 
#4 2010-01-21 07:30:11

Keith
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-08-30
    Posts: 135

Re: Discworld Stamps

    maybe the folk who are interested in them as cinderellas should migrate to here.

See!  They are starting to appear already.

Keith
To see images and more information about stamps discussed here you should visit http://www.askmeaboutstamps.com/
 
#5 2010-01-21 09:05:36

Colin Edwards
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-07-21
    Posts: 141

Re: Discworld Stamps

I realise there is a forum for DW stamps already but it can get a little stilted there when contributors hear stories of posts being edited, withdrawals of threads etc - or calls to forum members at dead of night because of something they have inncoently written...


The definitives might previously have only been a colour change but the recent newsletter from the shop claimed that they had been working on them for two months so a quick colour change sounds out of the question.

Hopefully this year's will be an improvement on last year's efforts bearing in mind they will be the backbone of any LBE sales that might support the publicity for the stamps following the Going Postal movie and DW stamps are in the full focus of the media.

Of course I am slightly biased here so take my comments with a pinch of salt ...
 
#6 2010-01-21 09:12:06

Steve
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-08-27
    Posts: 218

Re: Discworld Stamps

Just a thought, but will there be a blue triangle mention in the film as per the book? That would require a new version of that stamp so as to give new punters the lure of getting one.

 
#7 2010-01-21 09:24:16

Keith
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-08-30
    Posts: 135

Re: Discworld Stamps

    give new punters the lure of getting one.

I was going to lure them with the one in my collection.  I don't want any suggestion of cheap reprints flooding the market!

Keith
To see images and more information about stamps discussed here you should visit http://www.askmeaboutstamps.com/

 
#8 2010-01-21 09:30:34

Colin Edwards
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-07-21
    Posts: 141

Re: Discworld Stamps

I wouldn't have thought a new BT would be a good thing as the effect of upsetting the established collectors iincluding Terry, who recognise what they see as THE Blue Triangle would be much worse than upsetting the newbies.

The Blue Triangle is quite unique for being mentioned in two books iirc - the standard stamp in GP and the sport in Thud!

It appears on the inside cover of the hardback and has become almost an icon of collectability for the stamps so a bit daft to go fiddling with it now.  But dafter things have happened.

About time a new $5 stamp appeared though don't you think?  The old purple stamp still appears on the shop website and no-one seems to have spotted that it is actually a prototype design with the illustration not filling out the background of the stamp frame.  Keen collectors might like to save right click and save the picture for their albums :-)  At least it shows that the shop have copies of classic artwork they can access, even if they seem to have problems recognising the differences between the finished stamp and work in progress.
 
#9 2010-01-21 09:34:21

Colin Edwards
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-07-21
    Posts: 141

Re: Discworld Stamps

Where is the prototype Purple Triangle on the shop website?

Sorry.

Characteristically it is on the page which is supposed to be about LBEs...

Now that I have flagged it up I don't suppose it will be there for long!!
 
#10 2010-01-21 09:39:49

Keith
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-08-30
    Posts: 135

Re: Discworld Stamps

Got it!
To see images and more information about stamps discussed here you should visit http://www.askmeaboutstamps.com/


#11 2010-01-22 06:11:16

Colin Edwards
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-07-21
    Posts: 141

Re: Discworld Stamps

btw - I can't remember if anyone ever made a song and dance about the revised versions we printed of the Blue Triangle and Purple Triangle that included post boxes?

Has anyone spotted those?

I am so out of touch now, must go check on MadFans...
 
#12 2010-01-22 07:11:39

Steve
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-08-27
    Posts: 218

Re: Discworld Stamps

Colin, I was unaware of revised versions with postboxes or anything else. I am virtually certain that this is not on Madfans nor the DWstamplist spreadsheet. I have read much of the Stamps section on the other forum and not read a sausage about reprints yet alone a song and dance made of them.
I would like to see the differences and see whether I have first or revised printings.
 
#13 2010-01-22 07:12:42

Steve
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    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-08-27
    Posts: 218

Re: Discworld Stamps

... and I await further revalations !

 
#14 2010-01-22 08:48:00

Colin Edwards
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-07-21
    Posts: 141

Re: Discworld Stamps

Ok, so probably being a little bit cheeky there, but thought it might be fun. We printed them but they were never perfed or released as actual stamps.  You'll have to look on the Cut Out and Make Post Box pages for them - both the stamps shown have Post Boxes hidden in them.  Also the page shows that the $1 Tower of Art stamp artwork was rehashed to become the souvenir Red Post Box stamp given away with the Cut Out kit. At the time it was the only example of artwork cannibalism from one design to another - although since then it has happened again on the Hogswatch 'Beach Towel' thing.

Happy days!
 
#15 2010-01-23 15:00:45

Steve
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-08-27
    Posts: 218

Re: Discworld Stamps

Nice story Colin, albeit a short one.
I doubt anyone had studied those images carefully enough to notice the additional post boxes. I decided to keep my kit intact so its still in the packet with the sheet with the stamp images unexposed.
Interesting to see you used an original stamp and a craft knife to mock up the post box stamp. I assumed you'd beaver away on your Mac to do that.
 
#16 2010-01-24 16:44:10

Steve
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-08-27
    Posts: 218

Re: Discworld Stamps

If anyone is a fan of old Post Boxes like the cut-out model there is an 1863 model relocated to the Albert Dock in Liverpool. Its in use.

 
#17 2010-01-26 09:08:22

Colin Edwards
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-07-21
    Posts: 141

Re: Discworld Stamps

The Post Box we based the Ankh Morpork collection box on is a mix of one in Norwich opposite the City Hall, and one in Great Yarmouth in the market place.

There are inevitably other links between stampy stuff and East Anglian architecture. The bridge used for the Purple triangle is the Bishops Bridge, Norwich (with additions based on the Bridge Across the Ankh model made by Clarecraft) and the Ankh Morpork Post Office building is based on the Anglia Television building in the city centre - which used to be the central post office.  If I can think of any others I will jot them down.
 
#18 2010-01-26 09:11:48

Colin Edwards
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-07-21
    Posts: 141

Re: Discworld Stamps

So...

Should we start a separate heading for Discworld stamps related discussion or should we just keep this one thread poddling along?  Up to you?!

I know we have lots of lurkers out there from the DW forum - lets hear from you too!
 
#19 2010-01-26 11:13:01

Susanne
    Registered
    From: United States
    Registered: 2009-06-21
    Posts: 46

Re: Discworld Stamps

Perfect timing!  I've spent the last few evenings getting all of my DW stamps sorted out so that they can go safely into an album (albums?) and be easily admired.  I've got most of Y1 in the album and I've sorted through Y3 I think.  I didn't realize what a massive job this would be!  It is amazing how many stamps and how much variety is in that collection.

Never knew about the differences on the triangles on the postbox card!  Definitely there was never a thread on it.  I would have remembered that.  Mine is still in the pack as well.  Never trusted myself to make it without messing it up.  Same goes for the UU book.

I believe I stopped buying right at the beginning of Y5, I won't know for sure until I'm done sorting.  Thank goodness for Martyn and his spreadsheet!  What a lifesaver!  To be honest the designs and quality of the stamps changed dramatically and they just didn't appeal to me anymore.  My husband, who knows nothing about the stamps can easily pick out the newer ones.

Don't know whether we should keep discussing here or have a seperate section.  Most, if not all, of the discussion on the DW stamps site is exclusively about the newest stamps, so there's not really anything for me to contribute there.  I think it would be great to discuss the collection as a whole and learn more of these wonderful, fun things that aren't public knowledge.
 
#20 2010-01-26 11:19:29

Steve
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-08-27
    Posts: 218

Re: Discworld Stamps

At risk of setting a precedent for creating sections for a specific range of stamps I would vote for yes.
If it is poorly used them re-subsume it into Cinderella stamps.
And perhaps use this area for discussions related to the philatelic nature of the subject, which seems to be minority interest 'over there'

Last edited by Steve (2010-01-26 11:19:52)
 
#21 2010-01-26 12:24:59

Keith
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-08-30
    Posts: 135

Re: Discworld Stamps

Go on then.  I'll go along with the additional section idea as well.  Can I also suggest that within there we set up a thread for each issue.  That way it'll be easy to access the bit one wants.

...and Colin has to braindump everything he remembers.    The additional info about the design influences will help everyone flesh out their collections - for instance you could add a photo of the Norwich bridge Colin mentions.

Does anyone know the mail address for David Waskett (majorboodnok of the discworld forum)?  He'd love to join in I'm sure having been instrumental in getting DW stamps into the British Library.  He made it to the status of Roving Reporter for the Stanley Howler journal number 14 but disappeared without trace by number 15.  But I've eaten his e-mail address which I had when we worked together on an article for journal 12.

But I hope a discworld section doesn't swamp the other stuff.  It's been good so far learning about cinderellas in a broad sense and I'd like more of that too - can the lurkers stop lurking and get posting about what they enjoy?  Pretty please!
 
#22 2010-01-26 13:07:26

Steve
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-08-27
    Posts: 218

Re: Discworld Stamps

of course some of the lurkers would have to register to contribute
 
#23 2010-01-26 13:27:18

Susanne
    Registered
    From: United States
    Registered: 2009-06-21
    Posts: 46

Re: Discworld Stamps

    of course some of the lurkers would have to register to contribute


Perhaps if they could only see the DW section by registering? Kidding!!!

#24 2010-01-26 13:28:26

Susanne
    Registered
    From: United States
    Registered: 2009-06-21
    Posts: 46

Re: Discworld Stamps

Keith, put up a thread on the other forum in the KT section.  Someone's bound to have his contact info, or he may even still be lurking there himself.
 
#25 2010-01-26 14:00:51

Steve
    Recorded
    From: United Kingdom
    Registered: 2009-08-27
    Posts: 218

Re: Discworld Stamps

    Keith, put up a thread on the other forum in the KT section.  Someone's bound to have his contact info, or he may even still be lurking there himself.

majorbloodnock last looked in on the feast of Dec 16 2009

not so long ago


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Replies:
Posted By: Murgatroyd
Date Posted: 30 March 2010 at 18:08
I think that a section on Discworld stamps would be an excellent idea. It's got my vote.

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"I've got twenty minutes to save the world and I've got a Post Office, and it's shut." The Raggedy Doctor.


Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 19 April 2010 at 12:29
Originally posted by Murgatroyd Murgatroyd wrote:

I think that a section on Discworld stamps would be an excellent idea. It's got my vote.
 
One of us should start a topic on these, or pose a question. If no posts or threads there can't be a section. I have been trying to think of a topic that is best discussed here and wouldn't be more appropriate somewhere else. And a serious philatelic (as opposed to flatatelic) topic to boot.


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https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Discworld-Stamp-Collector/809424215750892" rel="nofollow - The Discworld Stamp Collector on FaceBook Have a look!


Posted By: wilfred
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 01:27
How about a stamp album topic? I know there are some albums made, and I have just finished the first twenty pages of mine, but there are hardly any pictures and what there is is scattered all over the place. It would be nice to have it all together, and also give other collectors some ideas if they
want to start their own  


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looking for the middle sport of the hogswatch tryptich


Posted By: Murgatroyd
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 03:01
Great Idea... I can testify that Wilfred's album pages are absolutely beautiful, as he's been kind enough to send me some scans of them. I'm sure that the other guys on the board would love to see them.

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"I've got twenty minutes to save the world and I've got a Post Office, and it's shut." The Raggedy Doctor.


Posted By: wilfred
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 12:05

Hi All,put the first pages on photobucket, here: 

http://s735.photobucket.com/albums/ww354/wilfred_01_stamps/discworld%20stamp%20album/ - http://s735.photobucket.com/albums/ww354/wilfred_01_stamps/discworld%20stamp%20album/

hope you like them



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looking for the middle sport of the hogswatch tryptich


Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 27 April 2010 at 12:57
Originally posted by wilfred wilfred wrote:

Hi All,put the first pages on photobucket, here: 

http://s735.photobucket.com/albums/ww354/wilfred_01_stamps/discworld%20stamp%20album/ - http://s735.photobucket.com/albums/ww354/wilfred_01_stamps/discworld%20stamp%20album/

hope you like them



Just had the briefest of looks Wilfred but those pages are really really good. I have done my own pages for much of the DW output but not to that standard. Now you have made me think "do I do it all over again and try to match you". You certainly have added to what were already great stamps and put them in a setting they deserve.

I could try a similar approach to My Welsh Oddities at least. You have inspired me.



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https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Discworld-Stamp-Collector/809424215750892" rel="nofollow - The Discworld Stamp Collector on FaceBook Have a look!


Posted By: Anne
Date Posted: 28 April 2010 at 00:42
Very impressive! I too am tempted to do my Discworld album over, as yours makes mine look very boring.


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 04 June 2010 at 02:08
I am so surprised to find out that this forum was started by the same Colin and Alan who designed and drew the original Discworld Stamps artwork. I have been dipping in to this forum but not noticed this thread before and don't know how I missed it before.  I just hadn't made the link.  And Hilary Daniels from the shop too.
 
Does anyone have a picture of the Blue Triangle with the added post box, or the purple triangle?  I must check the shop website.
 
Wilfred your album pages are amazing.  My stamps are just in a stockbook. Where do you find the time?
 
What talented people there are here!  And its reassuring to see I am not the only person who lost interest around Year 5.


Posted By: gonarain
Date Posted: 11 June 2010 at 13:55
That's the nicest album i have seen so far, very great work.

Smile



Smile

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not so bright, so explain a lot please.


Posted By: Jonty
Date Posted: 11 June 2010 at 18:56
Great Album Wilfred, my stock books pale into insignificance after seeing that 


Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 21 October 2010 at 23:50
Just a thought.
 
Why is that the Discworld commons that were accidentally printed on the gum side are so poorly valued by collectors?
 
I can remember the panic at the shop when I was sent the samples I normally get of each stamp perfed and I was shocked to find that the stamps were glossy not the usual matt - it still took me a while to work it out before I rang the shop to tell them. I also rang the printers straight away and they were just as shocked and sent me some samples just to confirm the situation.
 
By that time the shop had torn up lots of sheets of stamps and separated the 10p and 5p sports. Some whole sheets had been sent out and some singles in LBEs. But apparently only a very few.
 
So these stamps should be rare as hens teeth and yet so few sell well or trade well on the secondary market.
 
You often see the common singles incorrectly described as sports when they are actually 'proper' errors (and one of the few examples of true Discworld errors) and were not actually devised to be available printed on the gum side, so not a 'sport'.  Yet the few 5p and 10p sports of the gum-fronted stamps that appear for sale are not valued highly, selling for the same price as the gumfronted commons. I have seen the true sports sell for less than their commons counterparts described as sports.
 
So why is this? Were more released by the shop than is commonly believed and everyone already has them in their collections?  Are they just not as attractive as the more glamorous Green Susan and Blue Triangle sports?  Do not show up on collector's radar in the same way.  I just don't get it.
 
I do know that the majority of the stamps were sent back to the printers to be destroyed - and were weighed to make sure that the majority of the order had been returned before they reprinted - so there cannot be many (sheets or singles) in circulation.  Yet they remain undervalued - a cinderella of a cinderella!
 
Any thoughts?
 


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My Etsy shop - FarFetchedPhilately - new 'stuff' coming soon...




https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FarFetchedPhilately

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Posted By: gonarain
Date Posted: 21 October 2010 at 23:57
imo probably because people don't consider them as "sport" and don't do the maths so as nobody tell them they are rare they don't realize it.

But may be different reasons too.
Smile


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not so bright, so explain a lot please.


Posted By: Murgatroyd
Date Posted: 22 October 2010 at 00:18
I love them... they embody Murphy's law... 

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"I've got twenty minutes to save the world and I've got a Post Office, and it's shut." The Raggedy Doctor.


Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 22 October 2010 at 01:41
But they are rarer than most of the sports! Why do all the sports get the limelight?
 
When we first started the stamps the sports were just an occasional occurrence, thrown in for fun, and not a given feature of every sheet.
 
Now that every sheet, or every issue, has a compulsory sport, doesn't that detract from the original concept?
 
I thought sports evolved because in Going Postal, Terry's original stamps transformed and morphed through thaumic resonance (I can't remember the exact expression, but that sounds about right!) - and that inspired the addition of the occasional morphed extra on a sheet, which became the sport.
 
Now every stamp released, whether it is LBE only, a shop cinderella or a DW issue, seems to have a sport. 
 
 


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My Etsy shop - FarFetchedPhilately - new 'stuff' coming soon...




https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FarFetchedPhilately

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Posted By: Anne
Date Posted: 22 October 2010 at 01:46
I don't know if anyone knows the exact numbers that were sent out of these. On the Other forum the number 16 of each has been sugested. However, I have a feeling they are a more common than the Blue Triangle and Green Susan sports. Quite a lot of people do seem to have a set. I got one on e-bay earlier this year, and so did at least two other people. The others don't come up anywhere near that much.
 
And even if the number 16 is correct, that is in addition to the ones on the gum fronted sheets that also escaped. Many people, my self included, will consider that they already have a copy of the sport if they have it on the sheet. So although it is still nice to have a "loose" one to put in the album, I would pay a lot less for that than for a sport that is only available as a single from the LBEs.


Posted By: Anne
Date Posted: 22 October 2010 at 01:52
Just saw your post Colin.
I see your point about every issue having a sport. In a way it makes them less special. However, when I open an LBE, the fun part is checking every stamp to see if it is the sport- and remembering all the different ones and what to look for. It's about the hunt. Stamps that don't have a sport (the one that springs to mind is the greengrocers one) are just not as interesting. When you have seen one you have seen them all.


Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 22 October 2010 at 02:04
hi Anne!
 
I understand the joy of the LBE hunt - but isn't it normal for sheets to be released after the LBE that contain the sport anyway.
 
As far as I can see the only benefit of buying the LBE now is that you might also find something else in there - an Igor2Igor message, a sketch in the selvedge, a non-Discworld cinderella - some ephemera. 
 
I can see that it is fun though, particularly being first on the forum to post about the sport.  
 
And for sports, or ordinary stamps for that matter, that aren't available on the sheet then I suppose buying lots of LBEs is the only way to go. And there is always the chance of finding something two sports or something else special to trade, which is then valuable enough to trade for something you wouldn't otherwise be able to trade for.
 
Perhaps the gumfronted stamps just aren't as rare as I thought they were!  Only the shop could possibly know that.


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My Etsy shop - FarFetchedPhilately - new 'stuff' coming soon...




https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FarFetchedPhilately

.


Posted By: Murgatroyd
Date Posted: 22 October 2010 at 02:18
I know that they are rarer than the vast majority of sports. Indeed when I opened a thread about the Gum Fronted variants on the  Cunning Artificers board several people hadn't realised that the 5p and 10P sports also existed in the Gum Fronted format. I can't understand why they don't seem to be as sought after as "regular" sports.   I'm proud of the ones I have in my collection as I consider them to be significant rarities.

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"I've got twenty minutes to save the world and I've got a Post Office, and it's shut." The Raggedy Doctor.


Posted By: Keith
Date Posted: 22 October 2010 at 04:25
As the proud owner of a set of sheets stamped and signed by Colin I am more than happy to argue that they must be as rare as hen's teeth.  I also have a Lawyer's Guild sport on a cover which was also unreasonably cheap for something which must be very rare too. 

I rationalise this by assuming that few Discworld cinderella collectors are stamp collectors.  If stamp collectors are like me then they are drawn to mistakes rather than something that is a deliberate design variation but these mistakes would mean nothing to a non-collector who would just look for the advertised issues.

Keith


Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 23 October 2010 at 04:49
Those sheets on sale have taken off price wise with 2 hours still to go. I suspect that someone has put a not-going-to-be-beaten bid in on them.

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Posted By: Murgatroyd
Date Posted: 23 October 2010 at 05:00
Yes... I'm glad to see that someone out there appreciates their true value. All the items that I wanted to bid on tonight have gone over my limits... I have a set of the gum fronted sheets but I was very interested in the St Hilary sheets and the $5 Merchants Guild sport proof. 

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"I've got twenty minutes to save the world and I've got a Post Office, and it's shut." The Raggedy Doctor.


Posted By: Skaven
Date Posted: 23 October 2010 at 09:53
TBH I was only looking at the sheets to obtain the Sports, but they went way over what I'd want to pay.

I used to get excited about the arrival of new LBE's but I've had such rotten luck at finding the sports and prizes I'm a little underwhelmed  nowadays. Especially when you see the same people getting the prize tickets and sports from each issue time an time again Confused


Posted By: Murgatroyd
Date Posted: 23 October 2010 at 18:13
That's always puzzled me a bit... I guess they buy so many LBE's that they are bound to find a few sports and prizes.

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"I've got twenty minutes to save the world and I've got a Post Office, and it's shut." The Raggedy Doctor.


Posted By: Hilary
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 07:24
Originally posted by Murgatroyd Murgatroyd wrote:

Yes... I'm glad to see that someone out there appreciates their true value. All the items that I wanted to bid on tonight have gone over my limits... I have a set of the gum fronted sheets but I was very interested in the St Hilary sheets and the $5 Merchants Guild sport proof. 


Not even St Hilary has a sheet of St Hilary.  Perhaps I should be demanding a royalty!


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With a memory full of ships, and seas, and perilous headlands, and the shining Pharos, he must apply his long sighted eyes to the petty niceties of drawing. - Robert Louis Stevenson


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 07:41
Demanding? That's not very saintly.
 
Could you demand a royalty from an eBay seller?  You could always try bidding, or just be patient until the prices get lower...  or design a Pharos St. Hilary   Wink


Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 07:50
Originally posted by Colin Colin wrote:

But they are rarer than most of the sports! Why do all the sports get the limelight?
 

When we first started the stamps the sports were just an occasional occurrence, thrown in for fun, and not a given feature of every sheet.

 

Now that every sheet, or every issue, has a compulsory sport, doesn't that detract from the original concept?

 

I thought sports evolved because in Going Postal, Terry's original stamps transformed and morphed through thaumic resonance (I can't remember the exact expression, but that sounds about right!) - and that inspired the addition of the occasional morphed extra on a sheet, which became the sport.

 

Now every stamp released, whether it is LBE only, a shop cinderella or a DW issue, seems to have a sport. 

 

 


I am of divided opinion on this issue of sports Colin. On the one hand I agree that having a sport on each sheet goes against the original intentions. That they were to look like a plate setters error, although we all knew they were an intentional 'error' introduced for a bit of fun and to spice up the hobby.
But as an LBE buyer I would hope to get a sport or two out of the small batch I buy.
Finding a balance between these two viewpoints may be a case of 'ypu can't please anyone any of the time'. However by increasing the number of sports and limited editions in the envelopes has possibly led to over-expectation by the buyers. A tactic that leads buyers to trade more in order to get the stamps missing from their collections would find favour with me.

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Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 07:52
Originally posted by Hilary Hilary wrote:


Originally posted by Murgatroyd Murgatroyd wrote:

Yes... I'm glad to see that someone out there appreciates their true value. All the items that I wanted to bid on tonight have gone over my limits... I have a set of the gum fronted sheets but I was very interested in the St Hilary sheets and the $5 Merchants Guild sport proof. 
Not even St Hilary has a sheet of St Hilary.  Perhaps I should be demanding a royalty!


should I used the P word here?

a word of caution St Hilary. I've looked at my sheet and its full of little errors and inconsistencies. There's even one stamp where your halo has slipped!

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Posted By: Keith
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 08:05
Originally posted by Steve Steve wrote:

a word of caution St Hilary. I've looked at my sheet and its full of little errors and inconsistencies. There's even one stamp where your halo has slipped!
  Don't call her that!  People have been done away with for less.Ouch

Keith


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 08:10
I've just been catching up on threads elsewhere on the forum and another member points out that it is always the same people who seem to get the 'goodies' in LBEs.  But surely it comes down to statistics and the more LBEs you buy the better your chances of finding something.  The people who have the best find rate are often the ones who admit to buying 10 or more LBEs at a time so it is hardly surprising that they find more sports or extras.
 
The way the Discworld stamps are sold dictates their value. Some issues such as the $5 triangles are more restricted than others to increase their rarity, so if sales flag, presumably the shop alter the mix in the LBEs to revive interest.  Has anyone ever found out whether the stamps returned in the GCTS envelopes are destroyed or are they recycled into new LBEs?  With such a turnover of LBEs being bought and returned to the shop perhaps there might be fewer stamps in circulation than we thought.
 
As a stamp collector I would actually like to see some 'used' examples (and I don't mean stamps that have been freshly cancelled) such as stuck to paper, torn off their backing, or a bit blemished or even sticky!  Scratch and sniff? Old pipe tobacco?  Finger printed.
 
When I used to buy kiloware my Mum would make me wash my hands whenever I touched my stamp collection because she thought that something licked years earlier by a stranger housed all sorts of potential ills. Yet something from gruesome Ankh-Morpork arrives fresh and spotlessly clean. My Mum would approve but I don't. 


Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 08:55
The St Hilarys were only produced in tiny numbers as a bit of fun and are not going to be reprinted, so the patience of a saint will be required until they come up for sale. 
 
Maybe next time one comes up on eBay we should all make a pact here not to bid on it so that Hilary can win it.


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Posted By: Skaven
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 10:50
Originally posted by bearstone bearstone wrote:

I've just been catching up on threads elsewhere on the forum and another member points out that it is always the same people who seem to get the 'goodies' in LBEs.  But surely it comes down to statistics and the more LBEs you buy the better your chances of finding something.  The people who have the best find rate are often the ones who admit to buying 10 or more LBEs at a time so it is hardly surprising that they find more sports or extras.
 


I've tried the buy 10+ tactic to no avail, I don't expect to win prizes just the odd sport here and there would be nice. Maybe I don't share the same enthusiasm as other collectors, but after the first 2-3 LBE's opening them becomes a bit of a non event.

Thats why it tends to grate a bit when you do see the same people getting all the goodies over and over. And apparently they've not bought anymore than I have.

I doubt I'll be making any bulk purchases in the future.


Posted By: Daniel
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 10:54

The 1p imperforate St Hilary sheet sold for £31 over the weekend, a reasonable price, the 2p perforated sheet sold for £68.66. I was very pleased to acquire just singles of these stamps recently (thank you to you know who).

My general feeling on sports is that they should be fairly readily available, restricting them would just leave too many disappointed collectors. But I think that a fair balance has been achieved recently with issues such as the Clacks stamps and others only available in limited LBEs thus restricting the sports significantly.
 
On the issue of winning prizes it would take considerably more than purchasing 10 each time to stand a chance of regularly winning a prize. I think that 25 is not uncommon with some (not with me I would add)  but it does depend on the number of prizes. That said I have been quite lucky recently.


Posted By: Skaven
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 12:00
Originally posted by Colin Colin wrote:

The St Hilarys were only produced in tiny numbers as a bit of fun and are not going to be reprinted, so the patience of a saint will be required until they come up for sale. 
 
Maybe next time one comes up on eBay we should all make a pact here not to bid on it so that Hilary can win it.


We have this kind of thing on the another forum I'm on for B.C.Rich Guitars.

If someone sees a guitar on ebay that they want, they post a link to the auction and call dibs on it. Then the other members refrain from bidding unless the person calling dibs comes back before its ended to say they're no longer in the bidding for it.

If we're gong to start this on here I'm calling dibs on the first Blue Triangle sport that shows up WinkLOL


Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 12:14
Originally posted by Skaven Skaven wrote:


Originally posted by Colin Colin wrote:

The St Hilarys were only produced in tiny numbers as a bit of fun and are not going to be reprinted, so the patience of a saint will be required until they come up for sale. 
 

Maybe next time one comes up on eBay we should all make a pact here not to bid on it so that Hilary can win it.
We have this kind of thing on the another forum I'm on for B.C.Rich Guitars. If someone sees a guitar on ebay that they want, they post a link to the auction and call dibs on it. Then the other members refrain from bidding unless the person calling dibs comes back before its ended to say they're no longer in the bidding for it.If we're gong to start this on here I'm calling dibs on the first Blue Triangle sport that shows up WinkLOL


Start saving today

Meanwhile though, what if the trader is also a member of the forum? That tactic could prevent them achieving a good price for their sales

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Posted By: Skaven
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 12:34
Well there inliys a problem, being on a forum such as this (and CA) you'd of thought there would of more of a buddy system, with more trades rather than people just sticking things on straight ebay for a profit.

I understand it's an expensive hobby and ebaying helps to fund it, but I much prefer trading with members of the community than getting into a bidding war.


Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 25 October 2010 at 22:43
It doesn't need to be an expensive hobby, not all the collectors are wealthy people and have to use whatever means they have to support it, whether selling on eBay or swapping with friends.
 
Just for fun take a look back at the earliest threads on the DW forum and you will see that most of these arguments were being run back then, and there were people who blatantly bought LBEs with the sole intention of selling the rarities on eBay to feed the hobby.  Where are those people now - and do they still want their 'old' collections? I wonder if anyone ever contacts them?
 
If I remember rightly there was a collector back then, who is still collecting now, who was never allowed to be in the shop alone because she used to grope the LBEs to feel for the plastic bags containing Zombies to sell on eBay!
 


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Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 29 October 2010 at 02:31
HILARY!
 
If you can email me I have found a copy of the 1p sheet as I have managed to lay my hands on one, originally sent out as an auction prize but not used.
 
All things come to those who wait... eventually!  Thumbs Up
 


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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 12 November 2010 at 01:59
Does anyone agree with me that the latest Blue Triangle stamp and the Ramtops are a return to form for the Discworld stamps?  If they can keep this quality up for another year I could be almost tempted to start collecting them again.  I might even keep an eye on eBay or the forum Trading threads to see if a new BT comes up cheap in about six months when they are more common but I certainly wouldn't buy 20 or more LBEs for one. 


Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 12 November 2010 at 04:42
I certainly think that the two issues you mention are amongst the best of late, and are of merit.
Whether the intention with these was a return to the look of the DW stamps of old, I wouldn't know, but I think there could be more that a few like you who may return if they maintain the standard.

I suspect that they tried a different approach for a year to 18 months (or several approaches) to make a change to the DW stamp style. Think of it as progress or evolution. But did it work in terms of customer satisfaction, new customers or numbers sold? I think perhaps not.

I hink it may all down to attention to detail, putting that bit of DW into each design and anchoring the stamp to an episodein a book or even a paragraph

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Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 12 November 2010 at 06:09
I think they are both very good designs and I hope that whoever designed and illustrated them gets the recognition they deserve - it's such a shame to see artwork produced and  sold without credits - it adds interest for collectors and creates positive rivalry amongst the different team members involved.
 
When good work isn't credited it is left to others to give their best guess and this often leads to incorrect information being laid down and assumed to be correct by all those who follow.  I can understand why some of the designers of previous DW issues might not want to be directly associated with their work, but why not immediately give credit for excellence where it is due?
 
I am now REALLY looking forward to seeing the Christmas/Hogswatch offering - and the new definitives in the new year...


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Posted By: witchfromlancre
Date Posted: 13 November 2010 at 04:22
Due to unforseen circumstances all my Cinderella FDCs + DW stamp items for the last 3-4 years fill more than 2 good sized plastic crates. OK many are still in the envelopes they arrived in but that's just my way of protecting them.
 
I have been on very strong pain killers that have effected my memory for the last 3-4 years and during this time have duplicated orders galore, even buying sports and limited edition FDCs etc. from eBay when I already owned them. Fortunately I did keep copies of all orders and emails but never thought of referring to them except once. I thought I was suffering from dementia and told my GP and was so relieved to discover I certainly was not and he explained my memory loss.
 
I just can't be bothered sending in all the spare stamps I have for the trading stamps. I have done in the past and only used 1 sheet. I still have the other sheets. In the past I would make up year packs for new collectors and send them FOC.
 
I will be sorting through the collections and also will open up the LBEs to see what I have in them. I have never sold anything on eBay despite having a Seller's account.
  
Anything special that is duplicated I would offer on here first if that's OK.


Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 13 November 2010 at 05:01
You make us feel special   

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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 17 November 2010 at 23:03
I stopped collecting Discworld stamps at the end of the fourth year, and although I am tempted to start again if the quality continues to improve,  I think I ought to first fill in some of the gaps in my existing collection. So I will be very interested in anything you have to sell from the first four years and might be able to swap for some of my duplicates.
 
I am looking forward to seeing your list.


Posted By: Murgatroyd
Date Posted: 17 November 2010 at 23:29
Hello Witchfromlancre,
I'd like to thank you for your exceedingly kind offer of giving us the first chance on any duplicates you find amongst your collection. I'm very interested in filling up the gaps in mine.  There are a number of sheets that were fairly common when they were first released that I'd really like to get hold of... 
I have a wants list posted in the Stamps trading area.


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"I've got twenty minutes to save the world and I've got a Post Office, and it's shut." The Raggedy Doctor.


Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 21 November 2010 at 03:12
I said thanks first

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Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 21 November 2010 at 03:12
I also have gaps in my collection as I am trying to set aside two of every DW stamp we designed for my sons. Over the years my archives have been battered and bruised from being moved about and I think I am only now realising just how valuable some of them were.
 
Anyway - I am looking forward to seeing your list of doubles Margaret.
 
Give my best wishes to Gareth  Beer


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Posted By: Kelshandra
Date Posted: 23 November 2010 at 21:28
This seems as good a place as any to wave and say hello.  I'm working on the stamp yearbook (aka stamp albums) and didn't realise this forum existed.  So hello!


Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 23 November 2010 at 21:35
Hi Kel
 
You should also go on up to the Introduce Yourself section at the top of the pagelist and say hi there, you have more chance of being noticed there.
 
Welcome to the forum anyway, how did you find us?
 
 


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Posted By: Hilary
Date Posted: 23 November 2010 at 23:26
Hi Kel!
(Waves back)!


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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 24 November 2010 at 23:42
Hello Kel    Star


Posted By: Jonty
Date Posted: 25 November 2010 at 00:11
Hiya Kel, you still doing the "Stanley Holwer" binders? (note spelling)  


Posted By: Kelshandra
Date Posted: 25 November 2010 at 08:09
I haven't for a while (indeed I have over a year of my own journals sitting sadly on the shelf next to their older bound brethren) but it's one of the things I hope to get back into doing as I am facing pending un-employment (eep).  If all goes according to plan I'll be going back to uni next year so I'll have more free time on my hands.  Same goes for decoupage stamps and the other random crafty bits and bobs I've come up with over the years.

But um, note spelling?  That one whooshed over my head at great speed.  Indeed, I got paranoid enough to go back and check the spelling on my journal binders to the contents to check.


Posted By: Jonty
Date Posted: 25 November 2010 at 19:12
Originally posted by Kelshandra Kelshandra wrote:

I haven't for a while (indeed I have over a year of my own journals sitting sadly on the shelf next to their older bound brethren) but it's one of the things I hope to get back into doing as I am facing pending un-employment (eep).  If all goes according to plan I'll be going back to uni next year so I'll have more free time on my hands.  Same goes for decoupage stamps and the other random crafty bits and bobs I've come up with over the years.

But um, note spelling?  That one whooshed over my head at great speed.  Indeed, I got paranoid enough to go back and check the spelling on my journal binders to the contents to check.

Lol, Many years ago, you made me 3 binders, 1-7a, 9-16 and 17-24. when they arrived I pointed out the mis-spelling of Howler on the spines of all 3 binders, you were mortified and offered to remake them for me................I declined saying that I had the only 3 "sport" journal binders in existence Shift+R improves the quality of this image. Shift+A improves the quality of all images on this page.


Posted By: Kelshandra
Date Posted: 25 November 2010 at 21:23
Ah.  There's the issue.  I can barely remember what I had for breakfast, let alone three years ago!  I do remember that now Embarrassed


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 10 August 2011 at 20:48
I thought I'd revive this thread to say the latest Discworld stamps advertised yesterday suddenly appeal to me again.  I think Colin and Alan should feel flattered, sincerely...
 
 
 


Posted By: Murgatroyd
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 00:09
They do look rather nice.... I'll have to get a sheet of each. 
I understand there's a rather nice new postal sticker as well!


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Posted By: Anne
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 08:46
I also think they look like the nicest DW stamps in a while- look forward to seeing them in real life.
 
As yes, the new sticker is nice too. Arrgh!


Posted By: Admin
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 09:30
Someone should post a piccie of the sticker here otherwise non-DW collectors will wonder what it is all about...
 
And yes those are very nice designs, a complete about-turn in style.  I'm looking forward to the Hogswatch stamp this year  Wink


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Any positive help appreciated!


Posted By: Murgatroyd
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 15:05
Yes,
Please post a picture of the sticker... I don't have one yet.


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Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 20:42
Do you mean this one?



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Posted By: Admin
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 22:08
Fantastic! 

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I began this forum as a place to discuss and share ALL cinderella stamps. It is my first forum and is not perfect BUT I will endeavour to make it the best available.

Any positive help appreciated!


Posted By: Murgatroyd
Date Posted: 11 August 2011 at 22:50
Arrrgh... That'll be she!
Thanks


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"I've got twenty minutes to save the world and I've got a Post Office, and it's shut." The Raggedy Doctor.


Posted By: Murgatroyd
Date Posted: 16 October 2011 at 01:35
I do like the two new "Riverboat Post" stamps that have just appeared in the "New Stamps" section of the Emporium website. I believe that they go on sale next week to celebrate the launch party for Terry's new book "Snuff". The Wonderful Fanny 7P and the Roberta E Biscuit 3P, designed by Peter Dennis and Ian Mitchell who I believe were also responsible for the "Great Inventors of Ankh Morpork" stamps .  I look forward to seeing more of their work which I admire greatly.

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"I've got twenty minutes to save the world and I've got a Post Office, and it's shut." The Raggedy Doctor.


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 17 October 2011 at 05:57

And very nice they are too,  but are they intended to be stamps from Discworld? 

No country of origin featured on the artwork, the shop blurb says they are reminiscent of 19th riverboats, and evocative of Vimes' 'Snuff' adventures but the stamps do not claim to be Discworld.  Perhaps they are avoiding a spoiler, but not like them to miss an opportunity to tie a stamp release into a book? The only link to Discworld is in the Ticket that comes with the Postcard which records the trip as being from the Shire to Quirm.  I expect all will be revealed when Steve James adds it to his website.
 
If the print quality was better these stamps might make me start collecting Discworld stamps again.
 


Posted By: archerinwood
Date Posted: 17 October 2011 at 08:33
both stamps and sticker looking very good indeed, and also the postcard cover on which they both come! Smile

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Posted By: Joolz
Date Posted: 17 October 2011 at 10:30
Originally posted by anewman anewman wrote:

And very nice they are too,  but are they intended to be stamps from Discworld?
 
No country of origin featured on the artwork, the shop blurb says they are reminiscent of 19th riverboats, and evocative of Vimes' 'Snuff' adventures but the stamps do not claim to be Discworld.
 
Perhaps they are avoiding a spoiler, but not like them to miss an opportunity to tie a stamp release into a book? The only link to Discworld is in the Ticket that comes with the Postcard which records the trip as being from the Shire to Quirm.  I expect all will be revealed when Steve James adds it to his website.
 
If the print quality was better these stamps might make me start collecting Discworld stamps again.
"The Wonderful Fanny [and] the Roberta E. Biscuit paddle the brackish waters of Old Treachery to serve communities along its hallowed shore". (Note that this quote corrects the horrible spelling and apostrophical errors of the original.) Such community service includes the provision of the Riverboat Post to transport mail between the said communities.
 
"Old Treachery" is the colloquial name of the Quire, the river which descends from the Ramtops, passes through the Ramkin country estate of Crundells and drains the Octarine Grass Country. According to Lady Sybil Ramkin, the Quire is the principal river of Quirm, passes through the city of Quirm and sustains a thriving river trade. While most of the time, the Quirm is placid and navigable without risk, it apparently has moods which can make it unpredictably dangerous.


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 17 October 2011 at 20:56
Most enlightening Joolz, thank you.
 
I must buy the 'Snuff' hardback while it is still at bargain prices, is there a version with any free merchandise in it?


Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 17 October 2011 at 21:27
I think the freebie this time is an extra story, unpublished in book form though previously available in a magazine.
 
Waterstones have a Gold cover version limited edition, currently half price.
 
I agree with all of the above re the stamp designs - very nice indeed - and the print quality worries might just be down to a poor scan? 
 
 


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Posted By: Joolz
Date Posted: 17 October 2011 at 21:31
Originally posted by anewman anewman wrote:

I must buy the 'Snuff' hardback while it is still at bargain prices, is there a version with any free merchandise in it?
I'm not aware of any giveaways with the Snuff hardback although the http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/8738137/ - Waterstone's Gold Edition includes what they describe as a never-before-published-in-a-book pTerry short story. The story is 'A Collegiate Casting-out of Devilish Devices' which I imagine most people interested in pTerry's writing have in fact already read. However, the gold edition has the benefit of showing off the Paul Kidby cover artwork better than the standard edition and some people have commented favourably on this aspect of its design (e.g. Addengos http://www.discworldstamps.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=631001#p631001 - here and Darren  http://www.discworldstamps.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?p=631010#p631010 - here ).
 
Edit: cross-posted with Colin above with much the same information.


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 17 October 2011 at 22:10
Thanks both.
 
My only reservation about the Waterstones cover pictured is that I don't think Paul Kidby produced the illustration of the porthole and wood surround, which looks computer-generated and a bit cheap next to Paul's drawing. 
 
I keep going back to the new stamps and trying to work out what it is that doesn't look right to me  and I think it is the printing. I remember the Discworld Stamps Journal once made great noises about how moderen technology was not felt appropriate for the Victorian letterpress printing techniques available at Teemer and Spools and yet here are stamps printed with no discernible halftone dots and with very fine transitions in colour which would never have been possible using Victorian technology and techniques. 
 
I like the new stamps but I don't think I like their lack of authenticity. If Otto Shrek is still taking photographs using a plate camera and the Ankh-Morpork Times is still being printed on the Thunderer Press, then full colour continuous tone printing at Teemer and Spools is just wrong. 
 
 


Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 17 October 2011 at 22:42
Andy - you can't let yourself get hung up on the authenticity of the printing of a fantasy stamp.
 
I think the ideas mentioned in the Journal you refer to were very soon dispensed with as the reality of trying to emulate letterpress clearly restricted the creative scope of the stamp designs. 
 
Alan and I produced the Lawyers' Guild stamps (btw - spot the number of inappropriate apostrophes on the shop pages for the Riverboat stamps... ) in full colour, using engraving style artwork but with a very limited colour palette that could have been achieved using available Victorian technology - and nobody seemed worried about that at the time.
 
Indeed the only negative reaction we ever had (on technical grounds, anyway) that I can recall was that we had used a colour graduation in the words 'Sto Helit' on the Susan stamps and I had to send the complainants scans of two contemporary German stamps which used this technique to prove it was actually authentic for the time.
 
Perhaps you could get round your objections about the Riverboat stamps by seeing them as a retrospective, nostalgic, look backwards but reproduced with modern technology? 
 
 


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Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 18 October 2011 at 00:23
Without pointing a finger at this, or any particular stamp issue, I can't entirely agree with you Colin. To some extent producers have a responsibility to make their stamps at least look like what they claim them to be, especially if they are commercial producers. Amateurs show be given more leeway
However they comes a point where something new needs to appear, not only to suggest technology improvements within the fantasy world the stamps are produced, and to provide the punters with something different to hold their attention and no go treading the same old ground.

But I can't help thinking that, as this topic is specifically about one issue, there is a more appropriate forum in which to discuss this, where you could get a broader base of opinion, and may even get the official reply.

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Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 18 October 2011 at 01:11
Don't get me wrong Steve - if it were possible to re-create an authentic letterpress version of a stamp design evey time then I would be a very happy man, but I am all in favour of using whatever technology ancient or modern exists to achieve a professional looking result, and if that pushes the edges of what is considered authentic then that has to be an acceptable risk. 
 
And I don't think any cinderella stampmakers should need worry about tirelessly making their products indistinguishable from something they may be parodying. I remember Terry's original principle behind the DW stamps in 2003 - that they should be tricky for a collector to tell apart from the real thing if mixed up in a box - BUT bearing in mind most DW stamp collectors are not philatelist stamp collectors. 
 
If we were being picky then every stamp printed with a millimetre specification perforator might also be considered to lack Victorian-era authenticity.  Where do we draw  the line?
 
I am all in favour of pushing forward, creating interesting stamps that will grow the collector base back to its old levels, and increase the interest in our hobby.
 
Finally, as with many Discworld stamps, the final printed version might look better than the scans shown on the shop website, so let's not try to judge the printing quality until we have seen it in the sticky paper.
 


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Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 18 October 2011 at 01:15
Originally posted by Steve Steve wrote:

But I can't help thinking that, as this topic is specifically about one issue, there is a more appropriate forum in which to discuss this, where you could get a broader base of opinion, and may even get the official reply.
 
It is unusual to see any discussion about the design, production or content of the stamps on that forum, but I would suggest to Andy that he might get a better consensus of opinion about the stamps there once they have been released and collectors have had the opportunity to take a closer look at them.


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Posted By: Murgatroyd
Date Posted: 18 October 2011 at 02:12
I've ordered my sheets, but I've asked that they hold on to the order until Friday when the souvenir Post card and ticket go on sale so as to save on postage. I'll look forward to seeing them.

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"I've got twenty minutes to save the world and I've got a Post Office, and it's shut." The Raggedy Doctor.


Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 18 October 2011 at 02:50
Is that all orders or just yours?

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Posted By: Murgatroyd
Date Posted: 18 October 2011 at 03:04
Just mine, the sheets are on general sale now, but the post card doesn't go on sale until friday....no sense in my wasting two lots of postage. I just have to exercise the P word!

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"I've got twenty minutes to save the world and I've got a Post Office, and it's shut." The Raggedy Doctor.


Posted By: Joolz
Date Posted: 18 October 2011 at 03:46
Originally posted by Colin Colin wrote:

(btw - spot the number of inappropriate apostrophes on the shop pages for the Riverboat stamps... )
I think they've started including the speling, gramatickle and punkchuachional errors deliberately just to wind me up and see if I'm keeping a beady eye on them. But it won't work, I say, it just won't work!


Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 18 October 2011 at 04:47

I don't suppose many other people are bothered by such things Joolz, as someone said elsewhere on this forum - we are simply showing our age.

 
Just out of interest, while everyone is twiddling their thumbs waiting for their Riverboat stamps to arrive - or indeed for the whole package to be marketed properly - why don't we all make a concerted effort to work out what Leonard de Quirm's morse or braille message (on the Inventor's stamp) is and put poor Ian out of his misery. If he has gone to all the trouble of not only putting the cipher into the stamp, but also hinting to a collector that it existed AND personally dropping in to their forum to tell everyone it is deliberately there  - then surely someone could be good enough to solve the puzzle.
 
Of course - not unlike our Quiz page - I am almost certain some of our members will know the answer but are far too cool to publicise the fact Wink
 
So why not all of us pool our resources and try to work out what the poor chap (Ian or LdQ) is trying to say...
 


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My Etsy shop - FarFetchedPhilately - new 'stuff' coming soon...




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Posted By: Jonty
Date Posted: 18 October 2011 at 06:16
Originally posted by Colin Colin wrote:

Just out of interest, while everyone is twiddling their thumbs waiting for their Riverboat stamps to arrive - or indeed for the whole package to be marketed properly - why don't we all make a concerted effort to work out what Leonard de Quirm's morse or braille message (on the Inventor's stamp) is and put poor Ian out of his misery. If he has gone to all the trouble of not only putting the cipher into the stamp, but also hinting to a collector that it existed AND personally dropping in to their forum to tell everyone it is deliberately there  - then surely someone could be good enough to solve the puzzle.

 
Of course - not unlike our Quiz page - I am almost certain some of our members will know the answer but are far too cool to publicise the fact Wink
 
So why not all of us pool our resources and try to work out what the poor chap (Ian or LdQ) is trying to say...
 

I ran the cipher through my hex editor selecting hex and binary, regrouping the numerals into blocks of 8 etc etc and trying different combinations to no avail, even tried it backwards, but nowt!  as someone had already tried morse I gave up. 


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Life is natures way of keeping meat fresh until it's needed


Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 18 October 2011 at 07:15
Originally posted by Jonty Jonty wrote:



Originally posted by Colin Colin wrote:

Just out of interest, while everyone is twiddling their thumbs waiting for their Riverboat stamps to arrive - or indeed for the whole package to be marketed properly - why don't we all make a concerted effort to work out what Leonard de Quirm's morse or braille message (on the Inventor's stamp) is and put poor Ian out of his misery. If he has gone to all the trouble of not only putting the cipher into the stamp, but also hinting to a collector that it existed AND personally dropping in to their forum to tell everyone it is deliberately there  - then surely someone could be good enough to solve the puzzle.


 

Of course - not unlike our Quiz page - I am almost certain some of our members will know the answer but are far too cool to publicise the fact Wink

 

So why not all of us pool our resources and try to work out what the poor chap (Ian or LdQ) is trying to say...

 


I ran the cipher through my hex editor selecting hex and binary, regrouping the numerals into blocks of 8 etc etc and trying different combinations to no avail, even tried it backwards, but nowt!  as someone had already tried morse I gave up. 



I to have played with this and only got gibberish, again converting binary into decimal or hexadecimal, applying that to morse code, or ASCII code; both forwards and backwards.
However I see Mr Mitchell more of an artist than a techie and am trying to think what sort of a cryptic code an artist may use. But I am stumped.

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Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 18 October 2011 at 19:20
Perhaps then it IS just a trick of the printing, one of those anomalies where a halftone dot decided it wanted to be an oval and not a halfdot and a domino effect occurred that provides an 'object' that shouldn't be there. But then why deliberately mislead a collector AND then personally go to the forum and create further interest. There must be more to it!

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My Etsy shop - FarFetchedPhilately - new 'stuff' coming soon...




https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FarFetchedPhilately

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Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 18 October 2011 at 23:48
Originally posted by Colin Colin wrote:

Perhaps then it IS just a trick of the printing, one of those anomalies where a halftone dot decided it wanted to be an oval and not a halfdot and a domino effect occurred that provides an 'object' that shouldn't be there. But then why deliberately mislead a collector AND then personally go to the forum and create further interest. There must be more to it!


I was thinking this. It occured on a previous issue though that was much less obvious. I think it took over half a year before someone posted about it.

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Posted By: Quilpusha
Date Posted: 19 October 2011 at 20:40
Originally posted by Colin Colin wrote:

Just out of interest, while everyone is twiddling their thumbs waiting for their Riverboat stamps to arrive - or indeed for the whole package to be marketed properly - why don't we all make a concerted effort to work out what Leonard de Quirm's morse or braille message (on the Inventor's stamp) is and put poor Ian out of his misery. If he has gone to all the trouble of not only putting the cipher into the stamp, but also hinting to a collector that it existed AND personally dropping in to their forum to tell everyone it is deliberately there  - then surely someone could be good enough to solve the puzzle.
.
 
 
 . . . I have printed off an enlargement of the image and would appreciate if someone would be so kind as to answer - what morse or Braille message?
If the reference is to those 'dots' below and behind the flying object on the left of the stamp, they could represent stars in the night sky or less attractivly 'bird poo'. If it was Braille, surely it would also be present as dots on on the tail of the 'flying object', and if it was morse it would have dashes as well. Or I am looking in the wrong place.
 
I do have to say that the image of Leonard of Quirm bears a striking resemblance to my own avatar.
 
 
 


Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 19 October 2011 at 20:59
Originally posted by anewman anewman wrote:

And very nice they are too,  but are they intended to be stamps from Discworld? 


No country of origin featured on the artwork, the shop blurb says they are reminiscent of 19th riverboats, and evocative of Vimes' 'Snuff' adventures but the stamps do not claim to be Discworld.  Perhaps they are avoiding a spoiler, but not like them to miss an opportunity to tie a stamp release into a book? The only link to Discworld is in the Ticket that comes with the Postcard which records the trip as being from the Shire to Quirm.  I expect all will be revealed when Steve James adds it to his website.

 

If the print quality was better these stamps might make me start collecting Discworld stamps again.

 


These stamps seem to have changed since first announced! Though still described and illustrated as full colour artwork, when mine arrived the riverboat images were grey scale with a hint of toning with the border colours. Either that or my eyes were deceived by miserable autumnal illumination.

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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 19 October 2011 at 23:54

Is there any chance you could put up some pictures of the discrepancy Steve?

It may be that you have a rare sport or variation  LOL
 
I don't think I will be adding to my old Discworld collection just yet, better to wait until the stamps arrive on eBay where I can see exactly what they look like before buying.
 


Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 20 October 2011 at 01:01
It is possible that Steve just has a poorly printed example, not  a deliberate variation.
 
Although odd that it should affect both stamps, re-reading between the lines of Steve's post. 
 
Perhaps someone should be downloading the pictures from the shop website to show how the stamps were originally intended to look before they are 'updated'  Wink
 


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https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FarFetchedPhilately

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Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 20 October 2011 at 01:10
I have several examples of both values including a sport, and all are the same. Assuming randomness in filling the envelopes I surely must have examples from different sheets even.

Has no-one else received there's and not commented?

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Posted By: Jonty
Date Posted: 20 October 2011 at 07:08
Originally posted by Steve Steve wrote:

I have several examples of both values including a sport, and all are the same. Assuming randomness in filling the envelopes I surely must have examples from different sheets even.

Has no-one else received there's and not commented?

Still waiting for mine, will report back when they arrive


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Life is natures way of keeping meat fresh until it's needed


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 21 October 2011 at 05:47
I think I might buy some just to get some pictures of the stamps on here...  Evil Smile


Posted By: Daniel
Date Posted: 21 October 2011 at 07:25
I've only just ordered these Riverboat Post stamps so I can't specifically comment on the discrepancies but it does put me in mind of the Great Explorers series which actually turned out rather muddy and less colourful than advertised except for the sports which were printed separately. To me this demonstrated the danger of not having the sport on the main sheet. There will always be discrepancies between different printings of the same stamp.

On the question of colour stamps, I would make the following comments. Although full colour British stamps have only been around for about 50 years, full colour poster stamps have been around for at least 100 years. This takes us back to the Ewardian era and that, of course, followed on from the Victorian era. In any case, I don't see that there is anything wrong with colour Discworld stamps as there have been several examples over the years.


Posted By: Daniel
Date Posted: 23 July 2012 at 04:34
Some time ago we were tantalised with the surprising revelation that some of the Discworld stamps exist with more than one sport. At that time no more information was given and I'm not aware that anyone found any. Indeed, where would you begin to look?

Now that one of them has been revealed in all its glory, the Green Susan Sto Helit, I wonder if the others should also be revealed to us. My feeling is that they should be but what do other Discworld stamp collectors think?


Posted By: Marj
Date Posted: 23 July 2012 at 04:49
My feeling is that it is not up to the collectors to put pressure on anyone to divulge any more information than they feel fit to do, when it suits them.
 
 
 


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If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself.


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 14 February 2014 at 00:16
I know there are still a lot of Discworld Stamps collectors on this forum so I wondered if any are Facebook members and are aware of the community page I have just found on the Google search I have set up.

It is:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Discworld-Stamps/809424215750892?fref=ts  or just search Facebook for 'Discworld Stamps' and it is the only page you will linked to.

There are only a dozen or so members so far (not me, I don't have the time for Facebook) but I am sure there will be plenty of others once the word has been spread around.



Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 15 February 2014 at 06:43
Are many members here avid Facebook users?

Do you think we should also have a Facebook page for this forum?


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https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FarFetchedPhilately

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Posted By: Anne
Date Posted: 19 February 2014 at 00:03
I am a pretty avid facebook user- but personally I would rather keep discussions on the forum than split them between here and facebook.
(There isn't so much stamp discussion on the discworld stamp forum anymore, so that's a bit diffeent).


Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 19 September 2017 at 22:27
Originally posted by witchfromlancre witchfromlancre wrote:

Due to unforseen circumstances all my Cinderella FDCs + DW stamp items for the last 3-4 years fill more than 2 good sized plastic crates. OK many are still in the envelopes they arrived in but that's just my way of protecting them.
 
I have been on very strong pain killers that have effected my memory for the last 3-4 years and during this time have duplicated orders galore, even buying sports and limited edition FDCs etc. from eBay when I already owned them. Fortunately I did keep copies of all orders and emails but never thought of referring to them except once. I thought I was suffering from dementia and told my GP and was so relieved to discover I certainly was not and he explained my memory loss.
 
I just can't be bothered sending in all the spare stamps I have for the trading stamps. I have done in the past and only used 1 sheet. I still have the other sheets. In the past I would make up year packs for new collectors and send them FOC.
 
I will be sorting through the collections and also will open up the LBEs to see what I have in them. I have never sold anything on eBay despite having a Seller's account.
  
Anything special that is duplicated I would offer on here first if that's OK.

 

If anyone has any surplus or duplicate stamps from the early years of the Discworld stamps they would like to dispose of (up to 2009) please message me. 

Now that their value has reduced to an all-time low it must be time to fill in the gaps in my collection.

Cheers


Posted By: Steve
Date Posted: 19 September 2017 at 23:17
Except that values have not fallen to any form of low

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Posted By: Colin
Date Posted: 20 September 2017 at 04:39

Prices may go up and down but I'd like to think the early stamps will always be highly-valued as Terry was most involved in those.




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My Etsy shop - FarFetchedPhilately - new 'stuff' coming soon...




https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/FarFetchedPhilately

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