I handle everything from certificate descriptions to web site design to programming. I may not answer right away. But I WILL answer.

And because this is a one-man operation, I am often SWAMPED.

Most weeks, I receive 150 e-mails with additions and corrections to the database. To accomplish as much as I can. I use a priority system.

I work for myself. But I must work.

I appreciate any way you can help me save time. Short letters. Single subjects. No e-mail jokes. No chain letters.

If I have not done something as quickly as imagined, I might not have yet found the time.

If I have forgotten something from an earlier correspondence, please remind me.

I do not make a cent from this web site.

I will NOT knowingly promote deception of ANYsort

Do not tell me about certificates if you want to keep them secret.

Do not tell me about serial numbers if you think keeping them secret is going to make your certificates more valuable.

Do not try to convince me to arbitrarily raise prices to make certificates appear more valuable. The market determines prices. Not me. And believe me, the market always wins. (I DO change many prices, however, when you show me actual sale values!)

The old, one-of-a-kind argument does not work very well with me, either. The world is full of one-of-a-kind items! Just because something is rare does not mean it is valuable. And just because something is valuable does not mean it is rare.

My philosophy is very, very simple.

It is my firm belief that we are direct beneficiaries of every collector who has gone before us. I consider it our duty to help the collectors who will follow us.

Amazingly, there are quite a few people from all over the world who agree! If you want to join us in this thankless task, then WELCOME!!!

Consistent with that view, my contributors and I choose to help future collectors by giving away all the information we get. I will keep your name private, but I will consider your information public. If you do not want something divulged, do not tell me.

I do not buy collections.

Yes, I collect a few certificates, mainly those I buy at non-typical venues like flea markets, antique stores, and rail fairs. And mainly because they are things I have never seen before. I own very few certificates. I am primarily a cataloger.

For a while, back in the early 1990s, I sold railroad certificates as a dealer. In fact, it was because I needed pricing information that I started this database. But I have been out of the market for a long, long time.

There are about a hundred excellent English-speaking dealers out there who sell railroad certificates. (And an equal or greater number of German-speaking dealers!) If you want to buy or sell, please contact them. I list all the dealers I know about on my dealers' page.

I actively solicit images of certificates. By having good images on my computer, I can look at certificates faster. Ultimately, I plan put all the images on the web.

I am fairly good at improving terrible images. I can correct colors and straighten images, even images with severe lens distortion. I can patch together parts of images very quickly. But I can not rescue, or keep, all the images I get. The images I keep meet these standards:

I don't like adding new errors, so I (generally) do not add any new certificates to the database unless I have seen them.

I already show many autographs samples on my web site. Like certificates, autograph images must meet a certain minimum standard. But with autograph samples, the standard is easier: collectors must be able to see details.

The easiest way to help with serial numbers is to either send copies of certificates or lists of serial numbers.

If you send lists, they can be in text form, Excel files, or Lotus 1-2-3 files. Whatever is easiest for you.

You do not need to send a lot of information. Just tell me:

If you do not supply an indication of issue/cancellation, then I will assume your certificate is the most common.

Adding serial numbers is a long-time goal. Unfortunately, lack of time forces it to be a low priority. And it is very, very time consuming.