CAN YOU MEASURE THE “SMILE” ON THE FACE OF A COLLECTOR WHEN THEY’RE HAVING FUN?
😁
Hello Collectors
Try a carpenter’s tape, a yard stick, a ruler or whatever you deem appropriate to get that exact measurement.
AHA! The challenge for you this week is to measure a “smile” big or small. Try an appraisal and let me (MJR) know your results!
Now, let’s take a few steps back in time, let’s say the early to mid 1980’s.
Mortgage interest rates had skyrocketed to around 21%.
Even the Star Trek Enterprise with Captain Kirk, medal to the pedal couldn’t reach those lofty heights.
Home owners, with mortgages, were walking away from their houses.
I recall my cousin (in commercial real estate) relayed how a client, who could not make his lease payments, had appeared his office; dropped the warehouse keys on his desk and uttered, as he walked out the door:
“Catch me if you can!”
According to my cousin, this individual had a significant investment in a warehouse.
In the 1980’s the purchasing power to invest in your stamp collection was limited to very few. REMEMBER?
As a full time employee with the City of Edmonton and a part time stamp enthusiast, the 80’s was a tough time for this MJR collector. Even so, stamp collecting was fun - with an educational story behind every stamp printed.
The approach I took to acquire a new stamp or two was “cook a deal” with the mail clerk. That accomplished, most stamps obtained were definitives - nothing registered or special delivery. But stamps were stamps and very difficult to part with - if you enjoy the hobby.
I recall one Friday driving home from work, I glanced down on the seat to the small bundle of used envelopes (from the mail room). Well, SON OF A GUN! There was a stamp I hadn’t seen before!!!
Guess what? A great big SMILE appeared on my face 😁. How big? Did I measure it? With what did I measure it?
Well having gone to university in Arizona, I estimate the smile was wider than the Grande Canyon. Yep it’s true!
When times are tough as they were in the 1980’s recession era – massive job loss & high interest rates — a collector doesn’t require abundant cash to have FUN or put a SMILE on their face. The hunt and subsequent discovery of stamps, covers and/or postal history can be virtually FREE!
DISCLAIMER:
THIS CONCEPT DOES NOT APPLY TO MJR STOCK OR PRICES!!
🤩😁😆😃😀🤩
Take care,
John Bucci