~ Early Web Links ~

Stamp Shows Worldwide has been the premier online resource for philatelists since 1996, listing hundreds of stamp shows, fairs, bourses, and exhibitions across the globe with dates, locations, and directions. The site also hosts the Stamp Yellow Pages Directory, a comprehensive guide to dealers, clubs, societies, and postal history resources for collectors worldwide.

The California Zephyr Museum Online preserves the history, artifacts, and photographs related to the iconic California Zephyr passenger train, covering railroads like the Denver & Rio Grande Western, Western Pacific, and Chicago Burlington & Quincy. With exhibits, a photo archive, a resource library, and historical information about Zephyrettes, this site is a dedicated online museum for railroad enthusiasts and train history buffs.

Antique Radio Classified is the long-running international publication connecting buyers and sellers of vintage electronics, antique radios, audio equipment, televisions, and test equipment. The site features a bookstore with over 70 titles, a calendar of radio swap meets and auctions across the US, radio club listings, and photo galleries for serious collectors.

Elmhurst Coins & Collectibles, a coin shop in Elmhurst, Illinois, maintains this curated links page pointing collectors to major numismatic organizations, regional coin clubs, grading services, and publications. It serves as a handy reference hub for anyone serious about coins, paper money, tokens, and medals, connecting visitors to resources like the ANA, ANS, and numerous local coin clubs across the Midwest.

Stampforgeries of the World is an exhaustive reference archive documenting stamp forgeries from countries across the globe, featuring over 6000 high-resolution images comparing genuine stamps side-by-side with known fakes. Covering notorious forgers like Fournier, Sperati, and Spiro alongside digitized classic references such as Album Weeds and the Spud Papers, this site is an indispensable tool for philatelists and postal history researchers.

Geared Steam Locomotive Works is a dedicated reference site preserving and promoting information on North American geared steam locomotives, covering types such as the Shay, Heisler, Climax, Willamette, and many more obscure variants. Online since 1998, it offers detailed documentation, plans, books, videos, and comparison resources for historians and railroad enthusiasts alike.

A massive curated link directory of model train resources hosted by Staple Bench Computers, featuring hundreds of links to DCC suppliers, layout builders, rail photography sites, club pages, and hobbyist showcases from around the world. The sheer volume of categorized links makes it a useful jumping-off point for model railroad enthusiasts seeking online communities and vendors.

Mark Crawley's MovieProp.com is a comprehensive resource dedicated to collecting production-used Hollywood memorabilia, including celebrity wardrobe, sci-fi props, and replicas from films and TV shows. The site also features in-depth coverage of specific franchises like Aliens, Terminator, and Battlestar Galactica, plus movie reviews organized by genre and subcategory.

BJ's World maintains a curated directory of sites offering collectible cards that can be obtained without needing a pick-up number, making card collecting more accessible. The page links to card sites where visitors can click directly to receive cards, bypassing the usual in-store pickup requirement.

Mine Direct (operated by Intimate Gems) is an online retailer and resource for faceting and cabbing rough gemstones, cut gems, and mineral specimens sourced directly from international mining regions including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kenya, and Tanzania. The site offers an extensive catalog spanning dozens of rare and collector-grade stones like Afghanite, Hackmanite, Kornerupine, and Tanzanite, alongside buying trip adventures, gemstone treatment education, and client cut galleries.