The "Oh Snow You Didn't" Stamp Show Report

I decided to go to the MSDA show this weekend in Indianapolis. We're getting ready to hunker down for the impending snowstorm scheduled to hit the midwest, but luckily it's not support to start until mid-day Sunday (as I found out upon arrival, day 2 of the show has been cancelled; it was only held today, as several of the dealers are from Michigan and Wisconsin with lengthy drives, and if they weren't to start until late Sunday afternoon, that could get ugly).

It was about 14 degrees when I set out at 6:30AM, but at least it was bright and clear. Cold weather is absolute hell on the batteries of hybrid vehicles. During the spring, summer, and fall, my drive to Indy typically yields 53-55 miles to the gallon, given my driving habits, but in this cold: 39 mpg. Ugh.

I got there at 9:30AM (8:30 my time, so only a 2-hour drive), about a half hour before the show started. I chatted with another collector who drove in from Cincinnati, Ohio. By the time the show opened there were 8-10 people waiting.

I had told myself that I would be a "good boy" and limit my purchases to a few hundred dollars max, since my bank account and credit cards are still in traction from Chicagopex (foreshadowing: he was NOT, in fact, a good boy).

Ran into Rusty Shoaf, who's lost a ton of weight, he looks really good. He rarely has anything for me, but he's always fun to chat with; great guy.

Of course, Denny Peoples came up to me in line and said "hey, you have to look at this revenue document collection I bought this morning"... that sound you hear is my checkbook whimpering.

Of course, that was the first thing I looked at, and by the time I was half way through it, I knew I would be buying it. Eight 3-ring binders with just over 400 U.S. revenue documents of all types and sizes, virtually all 1st issue material. He also had a few envelopes and pages of revenue kiloware that I'll sort through looking for cancels and plate varieties, and turn the remainder into packet material. I haven't listed packets of revenues on eBay for 9+ months now because I ran out and haven't taken the time to put together more. They always sold well, so back to work we go...

Karl @ Michigan Street Antiques had a pair of oddball printing anomalies that I picked up inexpensively, as well as a few very cool cancels on proprietary battleships that were also quite cheap. He also had some revenue bulkware that I picked up.

I stopped by and said hello to Mark @ Sterling Stamps. I had emailed him prior to the show, in case he had anything for me. No such luck, but it was nice to say hi.

The vast majority of my time at the show was spent looking through Brad Houser's material (Village Stamp and Coin). For the longest time he didn't have any U.S. revenue material, but the last few shows he has had some incredible material, from revenue collections to accumulations of high-value proofs, most of it well beyond my means. Today, he had a counter book of high dollar material, not just keys, but also unusual EFO material, especially imperf-between pairs of documentaries and reds. I went back and forth trying to figure out what I wanted to get, as I had already overspent dramatically, but I could have easily spent several thousand $, if I had it, given the quality of the material, especially as the prices were (comparatively) reasonable. Ultimately, I decided to upgrade a few pieces I already owned, pickup up uncanceled and uncut examples of the 25c and 50c 2nd issue sewing machine perfs, just beautiful pieces... the 50c notable in that it appears to exhibit a 3rd variety of the sewing machine perf types, one I'd not seen before. I also picked up an upgrade example of the 25c perf 8, a fairly tough stamp in its own regard.

I spent some time chatting with Eric Scott @ The Stamp Shop, one of the most pleasant people you'll ever encounter. I had emailed him prior to the show and he had a small "junk box" for me.

I then went back to Denny's table and looked for a few minutes, but had to stop myself, or I would have found more material. After discussing with Denny some documents I had seen at Michigan Street Antiques, I decided to go back and buy them, as they were a type I'd not seen before: a grouping of "bond for grocery license" documents, with 1st through 3rd issue revenues affixed. I'd seen plenty of adminstrative bond documents, as well as warehousing bonds, and liquor retailer bonds, but never for a grocery license. *shrug*

So with budget firmly in tatters, I schlepped my acquisitions to my car, decided to forgo the other shopping in Indianapolis I had planned prior to decimating my wallet, and made the trek home.

Now we hole up for the anticipated snow, with plenty of revenue material to sort through...

If you find anything interesting in the bulk material you can always let me know. I hope you don't get buried by the storm.