Mr Edet Akpan is one of the biggest stamp collectors in Nigeria. Here he gives account of the journey in his hobby as a atamp Collector.
How I Became A Nigerian Stamp Collector
Dear friend,
I am so thrilled by your article on Nigerian collections because it's my area of specialty though with less knowledge as you have of the field.
I cannot narrate much about how I ventured into collecting Nigerian stamps as a Nigerian except that something drove my interest into it.
In July 1991 The Nigerian Philatelic Club was inaugurated nationwide and I happened to be in the opening ceremony. From that day I got hooked to the hobby of stamp collecting.
I started collecting worldwide stamps for about 15years and at a point I almost lost interest in the hobby since I never really discovered the joy of collecting a restricted areas of stamps. Hence could not make a detail study of what I was collecting.
In 2005 I came in contact with Allan Counter, a South African collector/one time stamp dealer who happened to work on contract with Ibom Power Plant in a neighbouring state of Akwa Ibom in Nigeria.
He visited the Calabar post office and requested for pre-colonial Nigerian stamps which no body could assist him until he was directed to me somewhere in the city.
After series of meeting together I gave 22 of such stamps to him but more than 15 were between 1960-1970's (mostly Nigerian 1963 republic stamps and the 1965 definitive). He was so happy and gave me more than 500 South African stamps (not Republic of SA) and a standard stock book.
When he left I started thinking what is in Nigerian stamps that he could so admired and appreciate while I was still not taking the collections of Nigerian stamp serious. But I change my stance henceforth and began to source for Nigerian stamps day and night worldwide.
I went online and requested for Nigerian stamps especially the colonial series in exchange for anything I could afford including my more than 10,000 ww stamps, Nigerian coins and Banknotes, Postcards, Phonecards, Crown caps and all you can ever think of. The result after 6 years was great. I also started reading so much on Nigerian stamps both offline and online. There I discovered the wealth embedded in Nigerian stamps particularly from 1874 to 1979 being the limit of Stanley Gibbons.
About four years after I met Allan, I came across another Nigerian collector who boost my interested also in Nigerian collection and this one happened to be more wonderful than Allan. He is Dr. Simon Heap (Oxford). A member of WASC and Royal Philatelic Society of Britain (England). His story with me and all is exploit to established my interest in this field as much as assisting in stepping down stamp collecting hobby in Nigerian secondary is immeasurable. The site below gives a slight hint on the role of Dr. Simon in Philatelic Development in Nigeria. Check it out;
http://www.eddysstampresort.org/calabar-stamp-club.php
Just a little on Dr. Heap. When Dr. Heap Arrived He asked for Nigerian colonial stamps especially those on covers and clear cancellation marks. Another field of interest opened for me.
Presently I'm searching for every Nigerian colonial stamps canceled in any post office which existed in Nigeria before independent. Quite an interesting world to explore.
http://www.eddysstampresort.org/
http://nigeriastampresort.webs.com/
Above are my website and blog on Nigerian and World philatelic items. I have a general postings on
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.189374777753612.46767.100000432733828
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.100579029966521.1139.100000432733828
Nigerian stamps are worth collecting and studying. Thank you for your great work on them. Please send all info regarding your research on Nigerian stamp collection to me at all times.
God bless you.
Thank you,
Eddy
Edet Akpan,
I am so thrilled by your article on Nigerian collections because it's my area of specialty though with less knowledge as you have of the field.
I cannot narrate much about how I ventured into collecting Nigerian stamps as a Nigerian except that something drove my interest into it.
In July 1991 The Nigerian Philatelic Club was inaugurated nationwide and I happened to be in the opening ceremony. From that day I got hooked to the hobby of stamp collecting.
I started collecting worldwide stamps for about 15years and at a point I almost lost interest in the hobby since I never really discovered the joy of collecting a restricted areas of stamps. Hence could not make a detail study of what I was collecting.
In 2005 I came in contact with Allan Counter, a South African collector/one time stamp dealer who happened to work on contract with Ibom Power Plant in a neighbouring state of Akwa Ibom in Nigeria.
He visited the Calabar post office and requested for pre-colonial Nigerian stamps which no body could assist him until he was directed to me somewhere in the city.
After series of meeting together I gave 22 of such stamps to him but more than 15 were between 1960-1970's (mostly Nigerian 1963 republic stamps and the 1965 definitive). He was so happy and gave me more than 500 South African stamps (not Republic of SA) and a standard stock book.
When he left I started thinking what is in Nigerian stamps that he could so admired and appreciate while I was still not taking the collections of Nigerian stamp serious. But I change my stance henceforth and began to source for Nigerian stamps day and night worldwide.
I went online and requested for Nigerian stamps especially the colonial series in exchange for anything I could afford including my more than 10,000 ww stamps, Nigerian coins and Banknotes, Postcards, Phonecards, Crown caps and all you can ever think of. The result after 6 years was great. I also started reading so much on Nigerian stamps both offline and online. There I discovered the wealth embedded in Nigerian stamps particularly from 1874 to 1979 being the limit of Stanley Gibbons.
About four years after I met Allan, I came across another Nigerian collector who boost my interested also in Nigerian collection and this one happened to be more wonderful than Allan. He is Dr. Simon Heap (Oxford). A member of WASC and Royal Philatelic Society of Britain (England). His story with me and all is exploit to established my interest in this field as much as assisting in stepping down stamp collecting hobby in Nigerian secondary is immeasurable. The site below gives a slight hint on the role of Dr. Simon in Philatelic Development in Nigeria. Check it out;
http://www.eddysstampresort.org/calabar-stamp-club.php
Just a little on Dr. Heap. When Dr. Heap Arrived He asked for Nigerian colonial stamps especially those on covers and clear cancellation marks. Another field of interest opened for me.
Presently I'm searching for every Nigerian colonial stamps canceled in any post office which existed in Nigeria before independent. Quite an interesting world to explore.
http://www.eddysstampresort.org/
http://nigeriastampresort.webs.com/
Above are my website and blog on Nigerian and World philatelic items. I have a general postings on
face book
below.http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.189374777753612.46767.100000432733828
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.100579029966521.1139.100000432733828
Nigerian stamps are worth collecting and studying. Thank you for your great work on them. Please send all info regarding your research on Nigerian stamp collection to me at all times.
God bless you.
Thank you,
Eddy
Edet Akpan,
P.O.Box 3542,
Calabar,
Cross River State,
Nigeria. 540001
+2348033950108
+2348033950108
eddycool2002@yahoo.com
calstampclub@yahoo.com
www.eddysstampresort.org
www.eddysstampresort.org
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