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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To have collected stamps in my analogue childhood?

25 replies

wonderstuff · 07/03/2021 22:26

My dd13 thinks it's the funniest thing ever and is of the opinion I was some sort of super nerd. I did live very rurally
So was stamp collecting a reasonable past time in the 80s or is she right?
What did other people do before the digital revolution? Seem to remember I also had a collection of soaps and rubbers..

OP posts:

sometimesamazinggrace · 07/03/2021 22:28

I collected them in the 90s...

Frankinmachine · 07/03/2021 22:30

It was so popular that I even went to Stamp Club at school!

murasaki · 07/03/2021 22:30

I did as a kid in the eighties, those funny stamp hinges to stick them in the album were a pain. My dad used to help me, we had ones from loads of different countries.

I also used to collect small rubbers e.g. my little pony ones. My nieces would now boggle at both these pastimes, I expect.

Sparklingbrook · 07/03/2021 22:30

My older brother had a stamp collection in the 80s it was pretty normal back then wasn’t it?
I remember having a collection of vegetable pencil toppers with faces and little arms and legs and Whimsey (sp) porcelain animals.

Original poster

wonderstuff · 07/03/2021 22:32

I would have had an album late 80s to early 90s. It was a popular pastime right? My uncle was in Zimbabwe and everyone saved the stamps from his letters. I miss letters.

OP posts:

LolaButt · 07/03/2021 22:32

I collect coins as an adult! So I don’t think it’s geeky at all!

allycat4 · 07/03/2021 22:33

I loved my stamp collection. Bought the presentation pack every month!! I can remember lots of the themes: studio pottery, textiles, Christmas magic, natural history

Original poster

wonderstuff · 07/03/2021 22:34

@murasaki

I did as a kid in the eighties, those funny stamp hinges to stick them in the album were a pain. My dad used to help me, we had ones from loads of different countries.

I also used to collect small rubbers e.g. my little pony ones. My nieces would now boggle at both these pastimes, I expect.

Yes, little bags of gummed tape to stick them in the album. Think my mum threw out my album.

OP posts:

Sparklingbrook · 07/03/2021 22:35

I remember my brother would get very excited by a first day cover coming out!

MySoCalledStrife · 07/03/2021 22:35

I'm an 80s baby and I did, right up until I went to secondary in the early 90s. Rediscovered my albums in my parents garage recently and am thinking of taking it up again!

Enorel · 07/03/2021 22:36

I still have my stamp album. I belonged to a club and you could buy them by post I think.

Original poster

wonderstuff · 07/03/2021 22:37

I know someone who trades stamps now, he drives a very nice car!

Think I need to sort out photo albums before I go back to stamps.

OP posts:

Alexindiamondarmour · 07/03/2021 22:37

I collected stamps too OP, it was something my dad and I did together. I loved it, but at the same time, was kind of aware that it was nerdy. So I didn’t tell my friends or kids at school.

Pan2 · 07/03/2021 22:39

I collected stamps as a child, and was reminded of this pleasure on seeing Vatican stamps when in Rome about 18 months ago.

Now have another collection growing, specialising in old Italian stamps (very stylish) and Irish republican stamps, and anything with a 'pull'.

Stamps are miniature works of art, and often things of beauty.
John Lennon and Freddie Mercury were collectors. As is the Queen!!

WomenAreBornNotWorn · 07/03/2021 22:39

DS11 collects coins,crystals and matchbox cars (only the really old ones). A much better pastime than when I was his age. I used to collect the glass balls from fountain pen cartridges.

BlackForestCake · 07/03/2021 22:46

In the 1960s and 70s it was very common. Comics had loads of little adverts from stamp dealers offering 100 free stamps or something if you took their catalogue. You’d get 100 weird novelty stamps all from the United Arab Emirates. And also a few "on approval" that were actually worth a few pence that you had to pay for or send back.

If your DD thinks stamp collecting is nerdy, don't tell her about train spotting.

DramaAlpaca · 07/03/2021 22:48

DH still collects stamps

I did too, back in the 70s and 80s.

MasterBeth · 07/03/2021 22:49

It’s geeky, but it was all we had!

Pan2 · 07/03/2021 22:52

Hi DA !

dd thinks it's seriously nerdy - she just stares at me when it comes up.

idontlikealdi · 07/03/2021 22:55

I'd forgotten until seeing this it yes I did, 80s child, it was competitive!

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 07/03/2021 22:55

What's the matter with collecting stamps, erasers and soaps?

I used to collect those cards you got in packets of cigarettes from my parents friends and colleagues - iirc there was animals ones and historical uniform ones. Also used to collect seashells and sea glass. I'm still a collector hoarder now

bigredkangaroo · 07/03/2021 22:56

Is your son channeling Nelson Muntz from The Simpsons?

Caramelsmadfuzzytail · 07/03/2021 23:03

My sister collected stamps

I collected pin badges.

My parents both collected cigarette cards way back when.

middleager · 07/03/2021 23:20

Yes stamps, rubbers, stickers, Garbage Pail Kids cards.

I still have an album of 'Scratch' N Sniff' stickers. They still smell after 40 years!

TeaAndBrie · 07/03/2021 23:21

I collected stamps too, I’m 39 now. I would spend ages soaking them off the envelopes and drying them on blotting paper. You then has those little sticky hinges to put them in the albums. My grandad used to buy me first day covers.
I also collected rubbers and refused to ever use them and then they would stick together and end up being thrown out anyway!

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