The Timeless Writings of Earl Apfelbaum

During Earl’s many decades in the stamp business, he estimated there were between 50 and 100 thousand stamp collectors he met and invariably liked well enough that, had there been the time, he would have kept in contact. Apfelbaum’s Corner was the nearest thing to letters that he had been able to devise. Earl felt that through the column he was able to reach thousands of collectors, many he may have even met. Earl depicted, with great clarity and humor, the life and times of collectors, their collections and the world around them. Thousands eagerly awaited the weekly perspective brought to them by philately’s leading authority.

Today, you can enjoy the timelessness of these writings as we bring the most popular ones back for your reading pleasure. We hope you enjoy them as much as the tens of thousands of philatelists world wide have.

Apfelbaum’s Corner – Volume 25

It is now close to twenty years since any United States stamp issue of this century became even semi-scarce. In most cases the stamps of this time period are available from dealers for little more than face value. Dealers have the continual problem of liquidating huge amounts of the material to busi …

Apfelbaum’s Corner – Volume 24

In news reports of auction prices realized, we rarely learn what percentage of overall catalog value a collection has brought. Certain prime pieces are selected for reporting. But what is really important to the owner, “how much it all came to,” is ignored. Any good stamp auction house c …

Apfelbaum’s Corner – Volume 23

A comic once said, “People have more fun than anybody!” We think stamp dealers have more fun than anybody. The dealer not only has unlimited hours for his hobby, he also has the opportunity to meet and make friends with many collectors. He sees their collections under conditions that are …

Apfelbaum’s Corner – Volume 22

Nicaragua, Bolivia and Paraguay are not the most popular countries, philatelically. They take place far to the rear of France,Germany and Great Britain. This comes about naturally because few collectors have an either ancestral tie to these lands or are concerned with, or have an economic interest i …

Apfelbaum’s Corner – Volume 21

Copying Bill Veeck’s theory that baseball is for the “Little guy,” I think that stamp collecting is millions of little guys having fun, getting thrills and hoping for the extra enjoyment in life that we all seek. By little guys I don’t mean men of small stature, kids, or peop …

Apfelbaum’s Corner – Volume 20

In reviewing and examining the many hundreds of stamp collections throughout a year, we are often struck with the high frequency of “sameness” of collections. This is not to find fault with those who like to patronize the Post Office, be it Uncle Sam’s or those of other nations. It …

Apfelbaum’s Corner – Volume 19

How far is it from an initial collecting effort to a full experience of the pleasures of stamp collecting? No distance at all. Unlike most other hobbies, a stamp collector experiences all the thrills and pleasures right from the beginning. True, the enjoyment continues for as long as he collects, bu …

Apfelbaum’s Corner – Volume 18

Almost every hobby depends for its major support on the middle-income class. Even in the United States, the upper-income level is too small numerically to provide an active market for such lively pursuits as philately, numismatics and other popular avocations. For example, Mexico is a country with a …

Apfelbaum’s Corner – Volume 17

Do you have trouble getting the stamps you want? I think it’s good if you do. When stamp collecting becomes too easy it loses its hold on its followers. That is why those who buy only new issues drop by the wayside in such large numbers. There must be some difficulty and a little delay between …

Apfelbaum’s Corner – Volume 16

When I asked a fine elderly gentleman in Wisconsin the price he expected for his collection he said $7,861.42. Somewhat surprised at such exact figures, I inquired how he had decided on it. His answer was, “I kept an accurate account of what I spent for them and this is exactly what I want bac …