Stamps -> Books and Manuscripts -> Back of Book
United States stamps are fun to collect and you will have many different varieties from which to choose. If you are looking for a hobby for your kids, or you are just interested in US history, these stamps are a great link to our past and a valuable way to learn more about this country. If you want to collect United States stamps, there are a few things to remember. These tips will help you build up a very valuable collection.
1. Consider the Era
Stamps have been produced in America from the colonial period and there are numerous stamps from this time period that can still be found today. Colonial United States stamps are rare finds indeed, as are Confederate stamps. Whether you are interested in collecting for a specific year, or you just need to know which ones to look for, the older the better is true in the majority of cases. Keep your eyes open, you never know what you may find.
2. Think outside the book
There are many valuable United States stamps that were never actually used as stamps. These back of the book stamps, such as Duck Stamps are still quite rare and many of them will bring in thousands of dollars at auction. Although it is always nice to find stamps that were meant for circulation, you should also consider collecting at least a few back of book stamps as well.
3. Special Events Matter
Stamps that are designed to commemorate special events are always quite valuable. For example, the first flight United States stamps are highly sought after and commemorate the Wright Brothers and their contributions to the aviation industry. There are also United States stamps that were printed in honor of certain presidents as well as other public figures and important events that occurred throughout the history of this country. Learning about these stamps can be quite an education.
4. Condition Matters
By far the most valuable United States stamps are the ones that are in pristine condition and were never actually circulated. However, these are rare and may be priced out of reach of the average collector. You can still find some great stamps however if you keep your eyes open. In fact, in many cases, you can get a collection or lot of stamps at auction and discover a rare find right inside.
5. Errors Aren’t a Bad Thing
Although you would think that a United States stamp that was printed poorly or had an error would be worthless, the opposite is actually quite true. There is a huge market for oddity stamps, stamps with errors on them and what collectors refer to as “freaks.” Keep an eye out for stamps that may not look just right – you may have a gold mine on your hands.
FDCs are also very popular stamps and there are literally thousands of United States stamps that are considered to be collectible. Start building your collection today and see what rare finds you can come across.
Photo Credits: Svadilfari
Originally posted 2008-09-25 14:00:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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