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Breaking Barriers.

The Stamp Collecting Report, I'm Lloyd de Vries.

We're seeing more African-American collectors, but it's still unusual to see an
African-American DEALER. Still…

"I've been doing this personally probably for about 15 years. My dad started 50 years
ago." RUNS :05

Kevin Custis of New Jersey owns Stampmen, which has booths at stamp collecting shows.

"He used to tell me a long time ago we were pretty much the only ones out here.  I
guess it's just me now." RUNS :04

Custis says he hasn't really run into prejudice on the show circuit.

"Most of the dealers and customers are pretty friendly." RUNS :02

Stampmen doesn't just cater to African-Americans, but to all stamp collectors.

"I specialize in the world, I do some U.S., I do topics, I do pretty much everything."
RUNS :05

Custis doesn't see many African-Americans in the hobby. What does he think it would
take to bring more in?

"I guess they would have to introduce it to them in the schools. I guess their parents
would have to introduce it to them. I mean, we're having a hard time in general just
getting more youths involved with stamp collecting." RUNS :10

Custis is a part-time dealer and a full-time physician. He personally collects
African-American memorabilia, postcards and documents.

I’m Lloyd de Vries of The Virtual Stamp Club. For more on stamps and stamp collecting,
visit virtual-stamp-club-dot-com.
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NOTE: Kevin Custis was one of four doctors indicted in early December on charges of
defrauding Medicaid,Medicare and other other publicly funded insurance providers of
millions of dollars. You can read more about the story here.

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