Buying stamps kiloware
Kiloware is a fun and cheap way to build your stamp collection. Kiloware usually refers to stamps on paper being sold by weight. It involves a bit of work since you have to do the soaking and sorting. Kiloware also refers to used stamps off paper, once again being sold by weight. But most of the time, we are talking about on paper used stamps. Many stamps collectors have started their collection by soaking their mail!
Things to look for before buying stamp kilowares
Kilowares are like boxes of chocolates...you never know what you'll find and that is why stamp collectors love kilowares. The thrill of the hunt; the fun of sorting hundreds of stamps from around the world; or, if you are not the only philatelist in your family, the fun of having a "soaking" afternoon in family. Here's a few things you should always consider when buying kiloware:1- Kilowares are sold by weight, so it is important to know if the stamps are on single or double paper...you will of course get much more stamps if the kiloware is on single, close-cut pieces of paper.
2- Do not believe everything you see. Seller can use stock photos for their lots, so the stamps you see may not be the one you will get.
3-Do not take into consideration the estimated catalogue value. To many variable to consider putting a cat. value on a kiloware.
4- Take into consideration the shipping price of your lot. A deal can turn no-deal du to the weight and postal cost.
5- "Unchecked" "Unpicked"..... be wary of the use of this word. You have no proof that the kiloware has not been pick trough for the best stuff. There are honest sellers around with real unpicked lots, but be careful before spending big money.
6- "Handpicked": some seller offer higher quality lot.... handmade/handpicked. Usually they have low duplication, good value stamps. Damaged stamps have been removed. Still sold by weight, but usually in smaller lots (1 or 2 ounces). Much higher price. No surprise there since you pretty much what you will get. If you are into the hunting and surprise side of the kiloware, these are not for you.
7- Mission mixture: usually loaded with small definitive stamps. Low quality. Real mission mixture can have a surprise or two, IF they were not picked before. Do not pay too much for these.
Soaking your stamps
The basics
- First, trim most of the excess paper. Put aside stamps on colored
papers (red, blue and yellow enveloppe are the worst). These stamps should not be soak with the ones on white enveloppes because the dyes will run in the water, staining all your stamps. Same is true with pen ink, hence the importance of trimming excess paper. At this stage you can also remove damaged stamps, no need to waste your time soaking them. Set aside those self-adhesive stamps as well, you should soak them apart because they take much longer to lift off the paper and in some case they are impossible to remove.
- Soak a small amout of stamps in lukewarm water. Let them sit there a few minutes. You can move your hand gently in the water from time to time. The stamps should start peeling off their support and float. Move these into another bowl off lukewarm water to rinse them. That should cleanse them from the glue accumulated in the soaking bowl.
- Put you stamps face down on either a drying book or newspaper. When dry, move them to a stockbook so they flatten out.
- There is no point in filling your sink with water and putting all your stamps in there.
The only thing you'll accomplish in doing that is damaging your stamps. Plus you may get bored before finishing that huge batch of stamps. Do smaller batches, in your sink or a big bowl.
- Don't "force" a stamp off its support, you will damage it. Leave it longer in the water. Some self-adhesive stamps cannot be remove from their support by soaking. You should just keep them like that in your collection. Trim the paper as close as you can and put them in your album.
- For colored paper, used cold water, this will slow down the dye from dissolving and staining the stamp. It is not fool proof of course. You should do very small quantities of stamps at a time.
This little video covers the basis pretty well. Warning, it is almost as exiting as a "Derrick" episode!!
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Searching for stamps kiloware? Here's a few keywords to use on ebay
If you are searching for stamps kiloware (on ebay) you can use this search strand, including the brackets. Just copy and paste in the ebay search box, use the "stamps" category:
(kilo*,oz,ounce*,grams,on paper,pound*,LB)
This search should pick up almost everything that could fit the kiloware description. You will also have some unrelated results as well (mostly due to the "pound" keyword).
You can also use the "mixture" keyword, but that will brings a lot of unrelated results. People use "mixture" on almost anything.
If you are not familiar with the metric system, know that 1 pound = 454 grams.
It is important to search with both weight measures (pounds and kilograms). US sellers use the old system, and other sellers around will use the metric system. Some will use both.
And if you want the maximum results don't forget to tick the "worldwide" box, under the location field. that way you will pickup all kilowares sellers, no matter where they are (unless they don't ship to your country).
You can also use the "mixture" keyword, but that will brings a lot of unrelated results. People use "mixture" on almost anything.
If you are not familiar with the metric system, know that 1 pound = 454 grams.
It is important to search with both weight measures (pounds and kilograms). US sellers use the old system, and other sellers around will use the metric system. Some will use both.
And if you want the maximum results don't forget to tick the "worldwide" box, under the location field. that way you will pickup all kilowares sellers, no matter where they are (unless they don't ship to your country).
Linn's Stamp News
My first kilowares were bought from ads in Linn's. The philatelic newspaper reference. The best small ads available before the internet age. They are still around, as interesting as always. Still pack with small ads for trades, kiloware, approvals and of course all the latest philatelic news you need. A MUST.
- Linn's stamp news online
- Linn's Stamp News, the world's largest newspaper devoted to stamp collecting, is available online!
Kiloware seller with web shops
Please note that I haven't bought from all of them, so please do your homework before buying: check if they sell on EBAY and Delcampe , if they do, look at the feedback. Do a google check for message boards and see if people had bad past experience. You can also post a message on various boards to get feedback from other users.
ALSO very important: EMAIL THEM before buying, see if they respond first.
ALSO very important: EMAIL THEM before buying, see if they respond first.
- Jack and Jill's Kiloware
- Kiloware seller located in the USA. They also sell on ebay
- Glen Stephens
- Kiloware seller located in Australia
- Kosel-Shop
- Located in Austria, price in euros, they sell worldwide
- iHobb
- The Collector's Complete Internet Source
- Philnet
- Selling online since 1997
- Irish stamps
- Specialized in Irish stamps, they have some kiloware offers
- Kadine stamps
- Seller located in New Zealand, prices in US$
- E stamp auctions
- Online stamp auction
- Werner's on-line shop
- Seller located in Germany
Blog posts on kiloware
Fetching RSS feed... please stand bySome popular kilowares
Duplication from these country are always easy to trade at your philatelic club or with online stamps traders. So there is very little loss. Among collector's favorites are: Greenland, Faroe, Aland, Iceland, most of the small pacific islands such as Samoa, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia ...These usually fetch a premium price!
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Do you buy stamps kiloware?
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- BevsPaper BevsPaper Jun 9, 2009 @ 11:58 am
- Quite an interesting lens!
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- Blackpepper Blackpepper Jun 6, 2009 @ 4:39 am
- Very interesting and helpful thank you.
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- fanfreluche fanfreluche May 14, 2009 @ 3:26 am | in reply to CoolFoto
- Yes unfortunatly, most FDC's don't worth a lot of money. But of course there is some exceptions. You can have a quick look at ebay or stampwants to see what they are selling for.
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- CoolFoto CoolFoto May 13, 2009 @ 8:01 pm
- I inherited my dad's extensive stamp first day covers and was told by a dealer that first day covers are almost worthless now. There is no market. :( . This is a very well done lens. 5*
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- Susan52 Susan52 Apr 27, 2009 @ 3:53 pm
- I'm learning so much from your stamp lenses. What a wonderful hobby! So much can be taught through stamps, and they're pretty, too!
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About Lensmaster Fanfreluche
Lensmaster stampslore has been a member since March 8 2007, has rated 574 lenses, favorited 35, and has created 16 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "Buying postage stamps: Philatelic Bureaux and Postal administrations". See all my lenses
My Bio
I'm a stay home mom and an avid stamps collector. I sell stamps, magazines and collectibles online. You will find my offers on EBAY and Delcampe among others. I try to manage a a Blog. I squidoo since 2007, but did not spend a lot of time here lately! I'am back for good now, because squidoo is one of the best website around.
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