Happy New Year,   I do hope everyone is recovered from a wild night of partying and fireworks. We at cddstamps had a good time here in the Philippines.

Oh!  no wild night you say..  never mind there is next year!

But to stamps ...... and I am wondering, do you know about the new Ted Talks Stamps Forum.  A good place to hang out or just visit to  see some  interesting stamps  and ask questions on anything philatelic.     Here is the link    https://tedtalksstamps.proboards.com/

I know there are a few really good Forums out there but Ted  -  of the YouTube video fame - has started this one and he will be using it partly to  answer questions he gets in response to his videos and also for education and fun. All part of the learning curve for collectors.

And talking learning curve for collectors.  I really want to stress how relevant the mantra “Knowlege is Power:  really is.    You all know the expression -    but a quick digression - did you know it came originally from Francis Bacon in 1597 and he was saying, having and sharing knowledge is the cornerstone of reputation and influence and therefore power.  ( PS  No, it was not Jefferson who said it first,  he was a few hundred years later)

I am not looking for power as we use the word in modern language of course  and nor is Ted  but he and I both want to see stamp collectors be well informed and we believe our influence and reputation speaks for that.  

Such that collectors have the power to decide not to buy from the far too many crooks and con artists that are there on the internet marketplaces these days. If  collectors don’t have the knowledge they can  really get  taken for a financial ride, so to speak.  I am going to write more on this in this blog over the coming days and weeks – my new years resolution to do something to try to help collectors.

But for now, as a starter for ten,  why not visit  Ted's Forum and  get on board. All free just a simple sign up process.

See you there     Michael cddstamps.com  … wanting to see collectors enjoy their hobby and not be held hostage to the buyer beware principle!

commemorative definitive decimal stamps.com