How to Join a Stamp Collecting Club

Joining a stamp collecting club can greatly enhance your stamp collecting experience by allowing you to meet and exchange information with other stamp collectors. Learning how to join a stamp collecting club will allow you to select the club that is right for you.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Understand What Stamp Clubs Offer

1. Meet like-minded people in a stamp collecting club. If you are a stamp collector, you will most likely enjoy getting to know and developing friendships with other stamp collectors who share your interests.

2. Benefit from the experience and knowledge of other stamp collectors at a stamp club meeting. Get advice on a wide-range of topics, like stamp identification, stamp albums, mounting and storage. Members can tell you where to buy, sell and trade stamps, and share insight into how to build your stamp collection or new areas of interest with which you may be unfamiliar.

3. Trade stamps with other stamp club members and enjoy building your collection and interacting with collectors in a time-honored pastime.

4. Experience interesting stamp displays and exhibits, presented by speakers from your own club or outside clubs as well. Displays can have a few or many items and cover a wide range of topics.

5. Get access to stamp catalogs through membership to a stamp club. Stamp catalogs are often expensive to purchase and many stamp clubs have full sets which they provide for members' use.

6. Receive a newsletter or magazine from your stamp club that will help you keep apprised of stamp happenings in your area. Many of these publications have very high quality articles, written by renowned philatelists and well-regarded stamp experts.

7. Participate in special sales, sales circuits and auctions that are held by many stamp clubs. Generally, only members have access to these events.

Locate and Join a Stamp Club

8. Search for stamp clubs in your area. Often, clubs themselves maintain their own websites, which provide useful information for persons looking to join. The American Philatelic Society Web site maintains a comprehensive listing.

9. Visit a stamp store and ask about stamp clubs in the area. Many stores have bulletin boards with postings about stamp club meetings and events.

10. Contact your local stamp club and inquire about the process for joining. Be sure to ask about meeting days and times, dues and benefits that the club offers.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose the club that is best for you and your interests. Certain clubs exist for specialized collectors of groupings such as airmail, postal history and topical themes.