Begin a Stamp Collection

Collect postage stamps - a great hobby

Whether you are a full-time stamp collector or a philatelist part time or a keen hobbyist you will have a love of Postage Stamps. In my Stamp Collection I collect beautiful stamps from all countries and my favourites are sporting stamps depicting athletes or Olympic events and venues from around the world. I also have separate stamp albums for figurative or artistic stamps. I have many shape types and apart from the regular rectangular shaped stamps I have circular, oval, triangular and pentagonal, octagonal and other multi sided varieties. Other shaped stamps are rare but fruit shapes and tree shapes have been used.

Paper Postage Stamps

Paperless postage options

Paper is normal medium for a stamp but several other materials have been used like silver foil and gold foil and nowadays very fine plastics or lace are used. The adhesive used must be fit for human consumption because they are licked and any impurities or poisons could be transferred to the person.

Stamp Reference Books

First Day Cover information

There are some wonderful books on the stamp market today and most countries will supply information on First Day Covers. A set of stamps can be purchased on the first day of issue and attached to an envelope celebrating the subject matter or the issue of commemoration. A commemorative postmark or frank is used on this First Day Cover.

Different types of postage stamps

Stamps depicting individuals who have died are common, like Kings, Queens, Monarchs, World Leaders as well as Elvis and John Lennon stamps and former presidents. Some countries will not allow images of living persons on stamps. Cartoon characters like ‘The Simpsons’ and ‘Marvel’ Super Heroes have featured on USA stamps. Picture stamps and Christmas stamps are particularly collectable. The most famous stamp is the Penny Black which was issued in the United Kingdom and could be used send a letter anywhere in the UK in the 1840s. The image of the King or Queen’s head is used on British stamps to this day but the country of origin is not shown. Practically every other country in the world shows the country name or origin on its stamps.

Lithography in philately

Stamp printing techniques are usually by lithography. Air mail stickers can be attached to the envelope to identify post destined for other countries. New stamps are dispensed on a roll or in blocks of 100 or on a sheet from a local postal office or in smaller quantities from a vending machine. Buying online is possible too.

Historic people on postage stamps

From Michael Jackson to Judy Garland to John Lennon Stamps

Stamps document the history of the world and famous events have been commemorated. The Landing of the Pilgrims, California Gold Rush, World Wars, Moon Landing, Olympic Games and other sporting events are all celebrated. Stamps featuring famous people from the entertainment sphere like Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, James Dean and Judy Garland have all been issued, to name just a few. They are usually beautifully illustrated as finished pieces of miniature artwork. Some artists are commissioned to design a nations stamp and it is a great honour to be chosen to do so.

Miniature souvenir stamp sheets

Contacting a local business to keep their used stamps is a very good way of starting off your collection but equally you can ask all your friends and relatives to send you a postcard of places of interest they visit or even write to you from where they live. Postal stamps are sometimes issued in small quantities or miniature souvenir sheets but it is not necessary for the amateur collector to spend money on a collection because most people throw away used envelopes and unwanted mail (including its stamps) Occasionally a set of 4 stamps will make up a bigger picture somewhat like a jig-saw and it is best to buy these as a unit but otherwise it is a cheap hobby.

National Postal Museum

In the video featured opposite, Wilson Hulme, former curator at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, talks about stamp collecting.

Items needed to begin a stamp collection

• Long nosed tweezers
• Gloves
• Adhesive or gum
• Scissors
• Mounting plates or boxes
• Stamp Album
• Hinges
• Drying rack

Famous people stamps

USA presidents are often featured on postal stamps. A sample of other famous people commemorated on stamps:

PASCAL

ARCHIMEDES

BABBAGE

TURING

DESCARTES

EUCLID

HAMILTON

LASKER

NEWTON

Start collecting postage stamps today. You can join an association or stamp club forum or even an exchange group. Classify them any way you wish as there is so many criteria and so much choice be it subject matter, country of origin, beauty, shape or color, franked or unfranked the choice is completely yours. Stamp collecting is great fun and really enjoyable and there are no rules, just gather the stamp collection that you want in any make, shape or form.