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Collecting is not the same as Philately , which is the study of stamps. A philatelist often does, but need not, collect the objects of study, nor is it necessary to closely study what one collects. Many casual collectors enjoy accumulating stamps without worrying about the tiny details, but the creation of a large or comprehensive collection generally requires some philatelic knowledge. from 1925 depicts a Giraffe and Palm Tree s]] Stamp collectors are an important source of revenue for some small countries who create limited runs of elaborate stamps designed mainly to be bought by stamp collectors. The stamps produced by these countries far exceed the postal needs of the countries. Some collectors, observing the generally rising prices of rare stamps, have taken to Philatelic Investment . Rare stamps are among the most portable of tangible investments, and are easy to store. They offer an attractive alternative to art, other collectible investments, and precious metals. COLLECTING SPECIALTIES Many collectors specialize their collecting interest to narrow the number of possible stamps to collect. This happens mainly because the total number of postage stamps issued is in the hundreds of thousands. Some of the more popular collecting areas include:
HISTORY The first postage stamp, the One Penny Black , was issued by Britain in 1840. It pictured a young Queen Victoria, was produced without perforations (imperforate), and consequently had to be cut from the sheet with scissors in order to be used. While unused examples of the "Penny Black" are quite scarce, used examples are common, and may be purchased for $25 to $150, depending upon condition. Children and teenagers were early collectors of stamps in the 1860s and 1870s . Many adults dismissed it as a childish pursuit. ; here on a half-penny of the Falkland Islands , 1891.]] During the late 1800s many of those collectors, now adults, began to systematically study the available postage stamps and published research works on their production, Plate Flaw s, etc. Some stamps such as the triangular issues of the Cape of Good Hope became legendary. (See Stamps of the Cape of Good Hope ). It was not until the 1920s that publicity about valuable stamps encouraged a large increase in the number of stamp collectors. This rapid increase in postage stamp values was largely due to very few of the older stamps being saved in good condition. Especially difficult to find were pairs, triples, and large blocks of older stamps. Because many U.S. stamp issues of the 1920s rose rapidly in value, during the 1930s many American collectors stockpiled mint U.S. stamps with the hopes of selling them for a sizeable profit in a few years' time. This never materialized. Even today, more than 60 years later, one can find many 1930s U.S. issues in mint condition for close to face value, and many stamp dealers and collectors still use stamps issued as far back as the 1930s for postage when mailing letters. Most U.S. postage stamps issued since the 1930s are easy to obtain and have minimal value. Some high face value stamps, such as the $2.60 United States Graf Zeppelin issued in 1930, are worth substantial amounts of money. Other stamps issued since 1930 that are usually worth something are Souvenir Sheet s from popular countries, hard to find Plate Number Coil s, and errors in printing. FUTURE OF STAMP COLLECTING It has become commonplace to declare that the future of stamp collecting is bleak, due to the increasing popularity of E-mail , other electronic forms of communication, and Custom-made Stamps . However, both the Telegraph and Telephone were revolutionary alternatives to physical mail when introduced in the 19th century, yet did not spell the end of stamps on mail. Also, collectors tend to be just as interested in old stamps as new ones, and they would not stop collecting just because no new stamps were being introduced; on the contrary, in forums such as the letters page of '' Linn's Stamp News '', many collectors complain that there are too many new types of stamps to keep up with each year, and that the flood seems to be increasing rather than decreasing. ORGANIZATIONS There are thousands of organizations for collectors, ranging from local Stamp Club s, to special-interest groups, to national organizations. Most nations of the world have a national collectors' organization of some sort; the American Philatelic Society in the United States is an example. The Internet has greatly expanded the availablity of stamp collecting information and has also made it easier for starting and intermediate stamp collectors to obtain stamps, covers and other philatelic material. CATALOGUES Stamp Catalog s are the primary tool used by serious collectors to organize their collection, identification and valuation of stamps. Most stamp shops have stamp catalogues available for purchase. There are hundreds of different catalogs, most specialized to particular countries or periods. Several major catalogs have worldwide coverage:
KEEPING STAMPS SAFELY To keep Stamps safely they should be kept in an album or stock sheet, or even in a Clean Containers . Don't leave stamps lying around the House . Most collectors, when working with their stamps, handle them with Stamp Tongs . While resembling tweezers, they do not have the sharp tip, and, if used properly, will not damage a stamp. The use of tongs prevents damage to the stamp from skin oils or rough handling. Stamp tongs are available from most stamp dealers. DUPLICATE STAMPS Duplicate Stamps are the stamps you have or you don't want. If you spot any duplicate stamps you can sell them to a stamp shop or perhaps a stationery shop. You can even exchange duplicate Stamps to a fellow stamp collector. TYPES OF STAMPS
STAMP DEALERS Stamp dealers can answer any questions you may have about stamps including valuations of your collection. FOR BEGINNER STAMPS COLLECTOR If you are new at collecting stamps, one of the best ways to start is to ask family and friends. Grandparents tend to save mementoes from the past, especially letters and postcards from loved ones. If you have friends that work in high traffic areas, i.e., places where mail from different parts of the world either crosses their desk or is sent to their department, that is a wonderful opportunity to increase or start your collection. Another effective way is to buy packets of stamps. Very few people when first starting immediately go for the expensive and rare stamps. Stamps bought in this way can be themed (for example stamps from all around the world depicting things such as animals, national parks or ships) or on a country-by-country basis. |
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