There are few stamp dealers of old school that don’t care for pairs or blocks. It has been a real misfortune to philately of Lithuania because some rare and very fine blocks and even full sheets had been separated to sell individually.
An old stamp collector once said ”We are really only custodians of these for a brief period of time, so we should keep them intact and in the best condition we can for future generations of collectors”.
This blog was created to combat such tactics by sellers of Lithuania stamps, primarily in online auctions such as eBay. Below are sacrilegious examples of philatelic vandalism we personally came across. If you see a questionable philatelic practice on eBay or other auction sites, or you have any criticisms of stamp dealers, we’d like to hear from you. You can reach us by email.
eBay seller “sangavicius”
Dec 2011
The block of 4x Mi 17 of Kaunas Second Issue of 1919 imperforate is offered for sale on eBay (item # 180775959915) eBay seller sangavicius. A corner block of four stamps (upper right) is cut out from the partial sheet of 16 stamps as illustrated below.
eBay seller “mykiev”
June 2010
The block of 6x Mi #43U of Berlin III Issue imperforate double thick paper from the Hermann Logsch collection was last sold on eBay in December 2008. A strip of three stamps has been separated by eBay seller mykiev and offered for sale on eBay (item # 260569202596, relisted #350366176756). Damage to such rare block is a pure philatelic vandalism driven by personal greed of Mr. Bruce Girdauskas
eBay seller “lietuva-stamps” (also as “mykiev”)
July 2009
The block of 9x Mi #61B of Kaunas Colored Issue of 1920 imperforate from the Hermann Logsch collection was last sold on eBay in December 2008. A pair has been separated by eBay seller “lietuva-stamps” and offered for sale on eBay (item # 270422690378). Damage to such rare block is a pure philatelic vandalism driven by personal greed.
eBay seller “litlew”
November 2008 – April 2009
This stamp dealer was selling on eBay strips and blocks of Lithuania Mi #8 after breaking up a full sheet of 20 (4×5) stamps. Full sheets of Vilnius Second (provisional) Issue of 1919 are very rare as totally 885 sheets (17,770 stamps) were printed. It is a travesty to break up anything that is in any way rare or unusual.
