It's true that there's a general tendency for stamps being more valuable unused, however there are numerous exceptions to this tendency. There are cases where used (stamped) stamps are significantly more valuable than unused ones (for example if the stamp was only valid for a limited period of time).

The general valuation difference between unused and used stamps is not so huge that a statement like "used stamps are worth almost nothing" is warranted. The overall difference actually tends to be smaller with more modern stamps - presumably because collector's services emerged, where every collector can easily order unused stamps via subscription.

Besides that, the per-stamp-price for this auction is fairly low. (Personally I prefer to collect used stamps, because it is a sign of their historical significance as an object of utility. It makes no sense to me to collect things that were only produced for collectors and did not see real world use.) I will put up auctions with unused stamps as well when I had the time to wade through my collection again... so if you're only interested in unused stamps you can check back later.

To get this running and to help Bitcoin starting its engines again I'm throwing in another set for the first bidder :



Upon successful completion of the auction (i.e. the winning bidder has paid and received the stamps) the first bidder will receive this set for free, regardless if he/she won the auction or not. (Obviously, if the first bidder is also the winning bidder, he/she will receive this set for free together with the other sets.)


In addition, the winning bidder of this auction will receive one free set of my Cold War coins from Eastern Germany: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=1876762.0

By order I'm offering beautiful original jewelry from Stella & Dot:


Pics - click to enlarge

I. Earrings (incl. original box) - 0.00275 0.005 BTC (price adjustment due to very low BTC prices)


https://abload.de/img/stella_and_dot-2xms32.jpg

II. Bracelet (incl. original box) - 0.0035 0.0075 BTC (price adjustment due to very low BTC prices)

https://abload.de/img/stella_and_dot-3t9s7m.jpg


I. + II. nicely fit together:

https://abload.de/img/stella_and_dot-0z3slk.jpg

III. Necklace (adjustable length; incl. original box) - 0.005 BTC


IV. Earrings - 0.0025 BTC


Special Offer
Grab all for 0.0125 BTC.


Condition
Great, rarely been worn.

No longer available for purchase from Stella & Dot!


Shipping
International Shipping Cost:
0.0005 0.001 BTC without tracking  (price adjustment due to very low BTC prices)
0.001 0.0025 BTC with tracking; tracking and insurance not available for all countries (positive impact on shipping security questionable anyway)  (price adjustment due to very low BTC prices)

General Shipping Conditions:
Members from Europe, North America, Australia, NZ:
   - Hero members or above with no negative trust and no red flags: I ship first.
   - Others: prepayment or escrow (fees paid by the buyer).
Members from South America, Africa and Asia:
   - Prepayment required. (Because of higher postal risk and mostly lack of tracked shipping options.)

- Exceptions from these conditions for certain countries may apply. Please ask in advance. -

Up for auction from my own collection:

A total of 15 sets of attractive stamps from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Germany, German Empire, German Democratic Republic, Brazil, UK, Belgium, France, Switzerland.

Pictures - click to enlarge


















Condition
Used, variable, see pictures.

Auction Rules
Starting bid: 0.01 BTC for everything
Bid increments: 0.0025 BTC

Bids by members with negative trust or ranked below Full Member can be rejected or may only be accepted if credible proof of funds is presented. Bids can also be rejected for other trust and reliability related reasons.

End time: Sunday, 18th of February 2018, 11:59:59 PM forum time; auction remains open for 15 minutes after the last bid even if this results in an extension of the end time.

Shipping
International Shipping Cost:
0.0005 BTC without tracking (tracking not available for all countries; more expensive and doesn't really increase security - still available on request)

General Shipping Conditions:
Members from Europe, North America, Australia, NZ:
   - Hero members or above with no negative trust and no red flags: I ship first.
   - Others: prepayment or escrow (fees paid by the buyer).
Members from South America, Africa and Asia:
   - Prepayment required. (Because of higher postal risk and mostly lack of tracked shipping options.)

- Exceptions from these conditions for certain countries may apply. Please ask in advance. -

By order I'm offering two used horse saddles (leather):


1st Saddle:

High-Quality versatility riding saddle of German company "Stübben" (costs ~ 2400,- EUR new).

Seating size: 18 in. = 46 cm
Gullet width: 31 = 15 cm

Condition: Used, but overall very good, one step-belt could need repair (simple sewing); see pictures.

Price: 0.0275 BTC + shipping (ships internationally from Germany)


--------------------------------------


2nd Saddle:

Versatilty leather saddle, good quality (unknown brand).

Seating size: 17.5 in. = 44 cm
Gullet width: 16 cm

Condition: Used, overall good, re-stuffing recommended; see pictures.

Price: 0.0125 BTC + shipping (ships internationally from Germany)


--------------------------------------


Offer

Both saddles 0.035 BTC + international shipping.

--------------------------------------

I don't recall we exchanged any argument about "right" and "wrong" in relation to the artwork or my intention of offering it here. But I'm glad you feel like you are "right", if this feeling is important to you.



Thank you for your good intentions, but I can not accept this conditional bid. The whole point in selling my artwork is (1) showcasing my work and (2) maybe finding someone who appreciates it and is willing to pay to own it for him/herself because of that. If there is nobody in this forum who does, then the artwork won't be sold. That's no problem.

(Besides I already had a request for the artwork from one of my friends. So I will either keep it for myself or gift it to my friend.)

4 hours left.

SCAM

Um das zu wissen braucht man keinen der Links anzuklicken.

Thanks for the clarification.


This must be the case, because hilariousandco is not on the donator's list. Maybe all moderators?

I don't think so at all.

The USD is in a longterm downtrend and has most recently devalued against the EUR and other currencies despite the prospect of rising interest rates. Calling the USD a safe haven is totally misguided. the most important traditional safe haven is gold - which during the last few months has increased in value against the USD as well.

The influence of interest rates on crypto valuation is close to zero. The most probable real reasons behind the current correction are:

1. Normalization of an overheated market (more than 10x increase in USD valuation during 2017)

2. US banks restricting credit card purchases of cryptos

You posted what I already know. The other link does by no means indicate that there is no gold membership.

I recently noticed some members having an additional Copper / Gold member status.

While I found out that copper membership is an option for Newbies to pay a small fee for certain privileges (esp. posting images) I still have no clue what a gold member is. Maybe there exists a silver membership as well?

It would be very nice to have this information added to one of the stickied threads dealing with ranks here.

Du zahlst also Bestechungsgelder für Merits (siehe Deine Signatur)? Lass das besser einige Mods hier nicht sehen, sonst ist Dein Trust schnell dunkelrot....

Grundsätzlich eine gute Sache und das Leid der Bevölkerung in Venezuela ist mit Sicherheit groß. Nur habe ich bei der Aktion deutliche Bedenken wegen der Legitimität, da überhaupt nicht nachprüfbar ist, was mit dem Geld passiert. Kann auch sein, dass es teilweise ehrlich ist, nur mit dem Schönheitsfehler, dass ausschließlich Freunde und Verwandte des Spendensammlers profitieren...

Davon abgesehen dürfte eine nachhaltige Linderung der humanitären Lage in Venezuela nur durch eine Beseitigung der Maduro-Diktatur möglich sein.

Sollte es das schon gewesen sein mit der Korrektur? Richtige Panik hat es ja bisher nicht gegeben...

Thank you! I'm well aware that this doesn't fit the expectations of the majority of the collector folk here. But I head a great time creating it - so there's no reason not to share it.


Hehe, so you're definitely not into abstract art...



Nice that you like the backside as well. But this is not a merit begging thread...

I think it's a great accomplishment of my artwork that you feel that the collectors here are insulted by offering it.

Edit: Updated the thread title to reflect this.

Thank you. Actually it is not really important for me if it sells or for what amount - as I have stated in my previous auction thread, the act of creating an artwork alone is enjoyable for me. And if it is able to evoke whatever kind of emotions when shared it's even better.

Then go ahead and do it.

Having "skin in the game" is an idiom used by parts of the financial community.