January 19th, 2012 — European Stamps, Old Postage Stamps, Queen Victoria Stamps, US Postage Stamps
One of the best ways to get interested in stamp collecting is to take a look at some old postage stamps. These are truly unique items and although they may not be as glitzy or as useful as today’s stamps, there are some that are truly unique and very valuable. When you’re looking for collectible old postage stamps, there are a few things to look for to see whether or not you have a truly valuable stamp in front of you.
1. Ink Color
Typically, old postage stamps used either red, brown, green or blue ink. The colors should be a bit faded, especially if the stamp was made in the late 1800’s. During this time more intricate designs were put into circulation but for the most part, the colors stayed the same. There is no real theory behind why these ink colors were used, but it does make it easier to find old postage stamps and authenticate them.
2. Designs
Old postage stamps will typically contain historical events or figures that were popular during that time. Just as we have celebrity stamps today, old postage stamps commemorated special events and people as well. In countries where there was a monarch, that would typically be the person that would adorn the majority of stamp designs. In republics, symbols of freedom were commonly used. Very old stamps will generally be less intricate, but towards the 19th century, design capability improved and many stamps produced during this time period are very ornate.
3. The Adhesive
Stamps that were produced before the late 1800’s typically did not have any form of adhesive. They were usually glued into place by the send of the mail or the post office. However, in the 1880’s, special adhesives were introduced that allowed people to easily attach their stamps to their mail on their own. Old postage stamps will usually have what is referred to as “gum” on the back. This “gum” will typically be brown or yellow in color due to age. If you can find an old postage stamp that still has the “gum” intact, you have a very rare find indeed.
4. The Condition
The condition of old postage stamps will have a large bearing on their value. Collectors usually try to find stamps that were never circulated, and that are still intact and free of rips or tears. While there are few old postage stamps that are incredibly valuable no matter what condition they may be in, it is important to try to find the best possible stamps if you are collecting with an eye of amassing valuable old postage stamps. One or two flaws are generally acceptable, but collectible stamps should be free of any major damage.
5. Demand
There are many old postage stamps that are in high demand and at times, you will see new ones that suddenly come into vogue. If you are trying to save money, you can collect old postage stamps that may not yet be popular. If they are still in good condition, you may just have a future winner on your hands.
Originally posted 2008-09-02 05:00:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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December 12th, 2011 — Stamp Collecting
With the creation of the postage stamp came the birth of the concept of postage stamp collecting. This occurred just shortly after the first postage stamps were introduced in the year 1840 by Great Britain. Plilately, the study of postage stamp collecting has been derived from phileo, the Greek word for “I love” and the word ateleia, which means “free of charges”.
As individuals first began to experience postage stamp collecting, these intriguing little pieces of paper were not perceived to be very valuable at all. The first time an advertisement was released to collectors, women were beginning to place ads looking for stamp collections so that they could paper their walls with the intriguing designs. With such a wide variety of different postage stamps being made available during the 1860s, children all over the world began postage stamp collecting right out of the mail that their parents received. These children then quickly grew to become adults, and during this growth they continued postage stamp collecting until it became a serious hobby for them.
The grandson of the Queen even began postage stamp collecting as he received help from servants that were responsible for handling the mail in Buckingham Palace. He was so fascinated by postage stamp collecting, in fact, that it became a passion for him in life. When he grew to become an adult, he has become one of the leading philatelists in the entire world, and he was also asked to join the Philatelic Society, which was in London. He became so passionate about this society that he eventually grew to become the president. He went on to become the King of England and even gave the society a new name, and so it became the Royal Philatelic Society in London. He assembled, through his years of postage stamp collecting, what would become one of the greatest collections of postage stamps in the entire world.
The hobby of postage stamp collecting became increasingly popular when commemorative stamps began to be released. The first stamps in the United States were issued in remembrance of the New World’s discovery by Christopher Columbus. Some of these commemorative stamps are still available today, and they happen to be extremely valuable as a result.
As postage stamp collecting became more popular, postage stamp values began to increase. With these increases in the value of stamps, the number of stamp collectors also grew. During the 1930s, for example, many collectors in America were stockpiling stamps that had been issued ten years prior in the 1920s, and these stamps quickly climbed in value. These particular stamps can even still be found in mint condition today.
Collectors are always seeking out souvenir sheets from countries all over the world as well as coins of stamps with hard to find plate numbers. Stamps that possess errors in printing also tend to be extremely popular as well. In beginning your own stamp collecting hobby, it is important to figure out what theme or what type of stamps you would like to collect, and then simply begin your collection however you like.
Photo Credits: Thomas Hawk
Originally posted 2009-12-16 03:25:09. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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