A sampling of the Notes coming for auction the week of 12/09

     FINALLY, To answer all those questions about who I am, what I do, and what this is all about. I am an active duty US Navy Sailor with over ten years of service. I am also a lifetime coin, stamp and gem collector, turned "vest pocket" dealer. Since I am in the service, I don't get the opportunity to deal year round, but once I do retire, I plan on making a full time career of this mess.

     My areas of interest are primarily world currency, focusing on the US-Philippine Issues of 1903-1944,  US Possession's stamps (Guam and the Philippines) and Australian opals. I am however very well versed in all aspects of US coins and currency, and US Stamps. I do deals from time to time in world coins, gemstone other than opals, and stocks,  bonds, engraved exonumia pieces and other collectibles of a syngraphic nature (Look that word up for your SAT's!).

I am also a big believer in the power of knowledge in this field. I have amassed a very valuable collection of rare and out of print numismatic literature. The most valuable (informationally) are Essays Proofs, and Specimen Notes Editions 1 and 2 by Gene Hessler. Philippine Guerilla Currency of World War II (the book alone sells for over $300 at used book stores) and Whitman's guide to Philippine Currency by Neil Schafer. The Standard Catalog of Hawaiian Money by my personal friend Don Medcalf. Anything by Q. David Bowers, or David L. Ganz, old editions of the Numismatist, and the singular humor of Donn Pearlman (A numismatic humorist, yes you read that correctly)

And for opals, the Cutting and Valuation guides written by Dr. Paul B. Downing, Anything written by Len Cram, and the best book I have ever read on the subject; Rediscovering Opals in Australia by Stephen Aracic.

     I am originally from Georgia and I currently live in central California. However,  I have spent 95% of my adult life in Hawaii and Guam, and have a deep love for all things Polynesian and Micronesian. Additionally I have a permanent residence in the Republic of the Philippines. My favorite books are the irreverent Sex Lives of Cannibals and Getting Stoned With Savages both by J. Maarten Troost. If you have ever wondered what life is like in tropical Micronesian, these books are a must.

     I am married to a very patient and understanding woman, a former Sailor herself, who introduced me to the world of the Philippines and Asia. Because of her I speak passable Spanish and conversational Tagalog  and it really does help when I am dealing with buyers from all around the world.

    Many people wonder about my user name and how it relates to what I'm selling. It doesn't. UFOMECHANIX is the very first item I ever bought on ebay, It was an LP of UFO's 1983 album MECHANIX. For those of you who enjoy the guilty pleaures of Ozzy, Led Zeppelin, Night ranger, Deep purple, Boston, Journey or any good album oriented rock. UFO is a Hard Rock band from Englnd,  that is not well known the USA (something about US versus British licensing laws) that has been around for 40 years and beats any of those band previously mentioned. Try them out, and then shop here on ebay for more great items from UFOMECHANIX.