It seems at this time every year I remark on how quickly the year has passed. This year is no exception. We thank you all for another very good business year for us. You have kept us busy all year both buying and selling stamps – exactly what we love to do.
We have had another great fall – temperatures in the 60’s and 70’s for the most part and no freezes. I reconstructed my raised garden, added fertilizer and compost to the soil and seeded crops that might grow through the winter. So far all is well – everything came up and growing.
We continue to spend more time updating our offerings on our web site rather than on our printed lists. This is resulting in many more items being listed on our web site than before. Our web site listings are now more detailed than are our printed lists. We do this because most of our sales are on our web site. For December we have added over 300 Austria covers and ganzsachen to our web site. We also added another 100 items throughout our listings. Our website database is getting so large that we had to buy more cloud storage to handle the volume.
AUCTION FEES
I buy at auctions all over the world seeking new material for our customers. Auction houses are excellent sources for collections and better singles and sets. Auctions can also be an expensive way to buy – especially some European auctions. In addition to the cost of the auction lots buyers need to be aware of the additional costs. European auctions charge a 20-22% commission, a per lot flat fee, a check cashing fee or credit card fee (if you pay via bank transfer the fee is usually at least $40 – although Imy bank PNC charges only $5.50) Also shipping fees from Europe to the US are high. Most US auctions charge a 20 per cent fee and some are now charging sales tax even for out of state buyers. US auctions don’t have added fees, payment is easier and postage is cheaper.
NEW ISSUES
We provide a new issue service for those who collect new issues from the four countries we stock.
We are finishing up our 2025 new issue service. Our new issue subscribers will receive the last of the 2024 year issues by year’s end.
If you would like to subscribe to our new issue service now is the perfect time to start service starting with the 2025 issues.
Stamps will be sent with an invoice. You don’t have to pay until you receive the shipments. (Most of our new issue customers though prefer to give us their credit card information and we charge the shipments when we post them – it is also our preferred payment method as it reduces our workload.)
If you would like to start new issue service just let us know what countries you want and we will start the service with the first issues in January of 2025. Our new issue default shipments include all Scott listed primary issues (no sub varieties) but we can provide all new issues that each county’s post offer.
AUSTRIA PHILATELIC SOCIETY US
We will be starting our 25th year of the Austria collectors club in January. The main stay of our club is our quarterly journals and our club auctions held twice a year. (Our auctions contain a lot of better Austria stamps and covers at very attractive prices.)
Now’s a great time to send us your $16 dues for a one year membership in the society. Make your checks out to AUSPS and send them to me.
BUYING NEEDS
Periodically we list the areas that we particularly need to buy. Naturally we buy complete collections too but the items listed below include stamps we especially need.
Deutsches Reich SC 1 through 51 *, ** and also Michel listed varieties **, * and used from 1850 issues through 1923 issues.
Germany setenants 1924-35**
German offices and colonies *, ** and also town cancels.
German states – *, ** F/VF or better.
Danzig & Memel & Saar – *, ** singles and sets and Michel listed varieties *,**,U.
Post WWII locals – Germany and Austria – *,**, U.
German Private post issues – *, **, U.
Contact us
R Schneider
PO Box 978
IOWA Park TX 76367
Office 618 975 2099
FAX 940 213 3596
Email: RschneiderStamps@gmail.com
Our Website:
http:www.RSchneiderStamps.com