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The hobby of stamp collecting is not just the accumulation of postage stamps but also other related items. It might also include the packages and envelopes that have been sent through the mail, with stamps attached to them. Stamps are an added source of revenue for the postal service through collectors. It's estimated that there are... more »
Perhaps you first became interested in stamp collecting as a child, but never knew how to get started. Or maybe you have a drawer full of stamps that you've stashed away in a desk and now you'd really like to get into the hobby of stamp collecting. With a few tips and ideas for stamp collecting for beginners, you can start your new hobby. more »
Free stamp collecting software is an important tool for any stamp collector, whether beginner or seasoned professional. This type of software helps you organize and keep track of your stamp collection without paying more than you have to. Read the following tips to learn how to get free stamp collecting software. more »
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. more »
If you collect stamps and want to take the envelope backing off of the stamps you save from the mail, this is the way to do it without ripping the stamp and ruining it completely. Then you can press and save the stamps in your stamp collecting album without messy envelope edges sticking out. You'll also avoid having to cut off part of... more »
Around the world thousands of people collect stamps. While this was once viewed as a boring or uninteresting hobby, that belief no longer holds... more »
Used stamps are ones that have already been stamped by the post office and can't be used again to mail letters. Sometimes, a used stamp with a... more »
Stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and related objects, such as covers (envelopes or packages with stamps on them). It is one of the worlds most popular hobbies, with estimates of the number of collectors ranging up to 20 million in the United States alone.
Collecting
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. The creation of a large or comprehensive collection, however, may require some philatelic knowledge.
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 have taken to philatelic investment, whereby stamps are acquired for the primary objective of earning future profits as opposed to building ones personal collection.
History
The first postage stamp, the Penny Black, was issued by Britain in 1840 and pictured a young Queen Victoria. It 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 $20 to $200, depending upon their condition.
Children and teenagers were early collectors of stamps in the 1860s and 1870s. Many adults dismissed it as a childish pursuit.
During the late 1800s many of those collectors, as adults, began to systematically study the available postage stamps and published research works on their production, plate flaws, etc.
Some stamps such as the triangular issues of the Cape of Good Hope became legendary. (See ).
read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamp+collecting
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