What is this and what should be done with it?
by howard on Feb.06, 2009, under Aerophilately
Sometimes, unexpectedly, a situation pops up out of nowhere that tests me.
I have this cover. It was listed on Ebay. It is not listed there now. At the moment it is not for sale.
Here’s a picture, front and reverse: (Click on the picture itself to make it larger)
I really didn’t think much of it. It is from a group which has a fair amount of Arctic and Antarctic material, among other themed groupings.
Someone questioned it in a way that made me think it was perhaps done later, cancelled to favor perhaps. I still hadn’t looked at it really closely.
Several people wrote me about it, including one who was kind enough to share information. I feel as if I know just enough to be dangerous. The stupid cover feels like a weapon. If you don’t know why, I hope you’ll bear with me, as I’m not going to tell the story today. I don’t think I understand it well enough yet.
If I’m reading everything right, the cover might be fake. And while that might not be a big deal in itself, it apparently might have an effect on other pieces and/or other people. Mind you, these aren’t people I know. I’m not certain who gets hurt and who doesn’t. It sounds like people have an axe to grind here, to tell the truth. But I’m unfamiliar. And I don’t KNOW whether it’s actually fake or not. I have an opinion, yes. And it’s based on an exceptionally limited amount of knowledge. But I guess I’d have to admit that I don’t know for 100% certain.
So what am I supposed to do with it? I was a collector when I was a kid. I’m glad I can do this now, but I guess I’m still a collector at heart. I gave away US commemorative sets today to a dad with a 14 year old. I couldn’t bear to throw them out when some kid might take up stamps because I threw it his way. I don’t want to screw up a good hobby.
I want to do what’s best. I’m in it to make money now too, though. My partners are my family. I won’t do them wrong either.
I think people should see this if they want. That’s why the pictures are up.
I don’t know what we should do with the cover. I’m open to listening. Doesn’t mean I’ll do anything that anyone recommends. Merely means I’ll listen. If you’re just going to ask me what’s odd about it, please just wait a while. But if you have something to add, I’ll listen. And it’s not a forum where the entire world reads it. It’s a form that goes to me. Only to me. Just click on “contact us” at the top of the page.
I don’t like it when people think of stamp dealers as shady. Even if some of them were. I don’t want to be.
howard
Some Current Graf Zeppelin Pieces
by howard on Feb.05, 2009, under Graf Zeppelin Material
We have a few lovely pieces up at the moment.
Click right here for a link to the Ebay listing for a lovely card sent on the final leg of the Graf Zeppelin Weltrundfahrt of 1929. This card was mailed by the Steward Kubis and addressed to his son, on the final, Lakehurst to Friedrichshafen, leg of the flight.
Here’s an interesting and tough to find card carried on the Schwaben, LZ 10, in 1911. Click right here for the Ebay listing.
We’ll have more air mail covers and Graf Zeppelin covers coming up soon. If you have particular items you’re looking for, or if you have pieces you want to sell, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
I will be away during the last week of February (doing some buying, I hope. I’ll certainly be shopping), but I will be back on Monday, March 2. I’ll try not to have much of a gap on Ebay. I should be able to keep listings going, but shipping may get pushed back a few days while I’m away.
I’ll try and get some more links put up. I really do have some good ones. What I need more of is time.
Howard
Mikam Collectibles
by howard on Jan.28, 2009, under Welcome
Hi everyone and Welcome.
We’re Mikam Collectibles, LLC, and we trade in Graf Zeppelin Covers and related material. Aerophilately is a specialty of ours, but we trade in quality Postal History of all types. Covers often include Rocket Mail, Crash Covers, Catapult Mail, and more. We always have a strong stock of Graf Zeppelin Mail and we are always interested in both selling and buying Graf Zeppelin material.
We’ll have a link to our Ebay site and items. We’ll also set up some orderly links to our Graf Zeppelin and air mail pieces that we keep here for private sale. I’ll have a page set up so that everyone can write to us easily. I’ll set up some links to philatelic sites that I think are useful or just fun. I have some good links, some of which have terrific reference material.
I’m Howard Kamil and I work with my family. This is a family endeavor (well the web site is pretty much my endeavor) and we all welcome you. I look forward to meeting collectors and dealers and new friends.
Howard
