| Home | Collectibles | Collecting Stamps |

Collecting Stamps

Getting Started

Stamps were first issued in England in the 1840's. The Penny Black stamp on the right was the first postage stamp ever printed.

Before postage stamps were introduced, the recipient had to pay to receive a letter. Stamps were a method of pre-paying postage.

Stamps are now issued by governments throughout the world. They are miniature works of art.

Of course, some stamps are quite rare and expensive. Rarity can be due to age or scarcity of a certain issue or can be attributed to misprints - the "Inverted Jenny" airmail stamp of 1918 is one of the most famous misprints.

(The US Postal System lately has been either trying to pull misprints off the market when they are discovered or will print more of them to less their value to collectors.)

Stamp collecting is an easy hobby to get into. The post office makes it even easier by periodically issuing new collectible stamps and first day covers.

You can collect stamps from a specific country - many of which make fancy collectibles as a way to raise money - or specific themes from English monarchs, to Monarch butterflies, to rock and roll stars, to fruits, birds, dogs, etc.

You can also collect based on postmarks. For example only stamps postmarked in the city or state in which you were born or now live.

Rare stamp collecting requires a lot of knowledge. These stamps are easy to fake, So if you are interested in more expensive stamps take some time to educate yourself on the subject. Then find a knowledge dealer you can trust.

A good starting point would be The World Encyclopedia of Stamps and Stamp Collecting

Also join the American Philatelic Society, founded in 1886, for information about stamp collecting, reputable stamp dealers and stamp collecting clubs and societies.

The Society web site also has a stamp store allowing members to buy, sell or trade collectible stamps. It has over 300,000 items in its database.

Of course, you can find stamps for sale on eBay although not nearly as many as you might expect.

Getting Started Stamp Collecting

One of the nice things about stamp collecting is the ease with which you can get started.

You can buy stamp albums based on themes that interest you, They will be printed with photos of stamps. You can then buy bags of stamps very cheaply and look for stamps that match the photos.

If you do start collecting stamps, let your friends and family know about it. You'll be suprised at how many stamps and partially completed albums you can amass that way.

As you do this you might absorb some of the history behind stamps as well as being introduced to countries around the world.

It is an excellent hobby for children.

Many a child has started this way and ended up with extensive and valuable stamp collections.

  | Top | Collectibles | Home |