Stamp Collecting

Knowing the meanings of certain stamp terms is an important part of stamp collecting because it means you have a thorough understanding of what you are doing. Here are some of the stamp terms that are well worth knowing:

Adhesive – This is, in actuality, exactly what a stamp is. A stamp is simply a piece of paper that pays for postage when it is applied to a piece of mail. A stamp is a piece of paper that has a pressure sensitive or gummed back.

Airmail Stamps – These are postage stamps that are used to pay postage rates for airmail. The United States stopped issuing airmail-specific stamps during the 1970s, which was when they began to send all mail via air.

As Is - This is a term that is often used in auctions, denoting that a stamp is being sold without any additional guarantees attached to it.

Authentication Mark – This is a tiny mark appearing on many rare and older postage stamps. What it is meant to do is to denote that the stamp has been examined by an expert, and that its authenticity has been approved.

Backstamp – This is a postmark that is applied to a cover’s reverse, indicating the transit or the receipt of mail.

Block - This is an un-separated, even numbered selection of stamps, such as a block of four stamps, six stamps, twelve stamps or so on.

Bogus - This is a fictitious label that appears like a stamp, but that is created specifically for being sold to collectors. Bogus stamps are not used for postage, but simply for displaying and collecting.

Cancel - This is a marking that indicates that a postage stamp has already been used.

Catalog - This is a comprehensive listing of revenue and postage stamps, including their illustrations and their current price valuations as well.

Catalog Value – This is the value of a particular stamp as given or indicated by a particular stamp catalog.

Centering – This is the position of the design of the stamp in relation to the margins that surround it. Centering is particularly important in the determination of a value on a stamp.

Classic Stamp – This is an early stamp issue that has the connotation of rarity.

Coil - These are stamps that are prepared in rolls from between 100 and 1000 stamps that are inserted into vending machines.

Commemorative – These are stamps that are issued for the purpose of honoring a person, a place or an event.

Condition - This is the stamp’s overall state, including the state of the gum, the centering of the stamp, the presence of damage on the stamp and so on.

Counterfeit - This describes a stamp or a cover or a cancellation that was created in order to deceive.

Crease – This is a fold indicating a weakening of the stamp’s paper.

Photo credits: karen horton

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• Air Mail Back of Book United States Stamps

The art of collecting collectible postage stamps is a hobby that has become popular with several millions of Americans as well as people all throughout the world, including young and old alike. Many people that are just beginning with collectible postage stamps enjoy the thrill and the challenge that comes with finding stamps that come from a variety of different time periods. There are also sophisticated hobbyists collecting collectible postage stamps that are rare or particularly valuable because their primary focus is placed on increasing the financial value of the collection that they are putting together. In other words, collectible postage stamps are capable of appealing to a wide variety of different people including young and old, serious or beginner, and for a variety of different reasons as well.

It should definitely be noted that the collection of collectible postage stamps differs greatly from the formal study of collectible postage stamps, which is a concept known as philately. Therefore, not all postage stamp collectors are philatelists, and not every philatelist is a postage stamp collector.

The History of Collectible Postage Stamps

The first ever postage stamp was issued back in the year 1840 in Britain. The stamp, which is known as the Penny Black, pictured an image of Queen Victoria, and it was printed without any perforations, which meant that it needed to be cut out from a single sheet in order to be used by the owner of the stamp.

Postage stamp collecting finally became a hobby in around 1860, and then around the 1920s is when the hobby really began to pick up steam. Stamps that were issued during this period of time do not generally carry very much value because they are still quite widely available today.

Collecting Facts for Collectible Postage Stamps

There are errors that are made when stamps are printed, and this will result in stamp images that are upside down or off center for example, and these collectible postage stamps tend to be the ones that greatly increase the value of the stamp. There are many collectors out there that are specifically looking for collectible postage stamps that contain these types of printing errors since they are rare and likely to fetch a higher price.

Many people that collect collectible postage stamps tend to focus on one specific type of stamp, like those issued by a certain nation for example. Some of the most popular collectible postage stamps are European stamps and Asian stamps for example because they feature stunning artistic qualities. There are other types of collectible postage stamps as well including commemorative stamps, revenue stamps and pictorial collectible postage stamps for example.

Photo Credits: aldo c zavala

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• Postage Stamp Collecting Terms There are a number of terms that are specific to postage stamp collecting within philatelic circles. These postage stamp collecting terms are especially important when it comes to grading stamps and evaluating stamps for their value, rarity and collectability. The more that you know when it comes to postage stamp......

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• Postage United States Stamps
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Many people do not think of collecting postage stamps as a suitable collection, because collecting small sticky images and placing them in plastic sheets in a binder or book does not appear to be the most exciting past time in the world. The truth is, however, that collecting stamps can be a truly enjoyable past time for many people, because it is something like a treasure hunt. There are so many different stamps to find and collect, and stamp collectors are constantly looking for more. You can also specialize in certain types of stamps, such as foreign stamps, United States stamps, stamps from a certain year or era, collecting postage stamps in certain colors and so on and so forth. What this means is that no two stamp collections will ever be alike.

Many people like collecting postage stamps because of the process by which stamps are created. Although different stamps are created using different manufacturing methods, the process of creating a print from which a stamp will be made is long, tedious and extremely detailed, which is attractive to many people. When you realize how much work went into the creation of the stamps that you are collecting, that is when you can really and truly appreciate your stamp collection and the origin of each stamp that you have.

Collecting postage stamps is also capable of being a lucrative hobby or past time because you can get your hands on some truly old and difficult to find stamps, and this will allow you to make some money if you ever decide to sell your collection. Nobody really knows which stamps are going to end up being rare, difficult to find or costly in the future, so many collectors simply work to get their hands on as many stamps as they can find, hoping someday that their collection will be worth some money.

Collecting postage stamps is not always easy, but it can be enjoyable and extremely fun if you are willing to be diligent in your hunt for treasure. You can buy stamps online or through antique stores and collectibles stores or you can trade stamps with other stamp collectors like trading cards until you find the stamps that you are looking for. You do not only have to collect antique stamps, though, as today’s stamps will be antiques someday, and you can begin building your collection now if you intend to continue collecting stamps for many years. You may even consider collecting recent stamps now so that your children may have “older stamps” when they have grown.

If you are not yet collecting postage stamps, but you are looking for a hobby that you will find enjoyable and beneficial to your mental health, then you may want to consider giving it a try. You can find a lot of information about buying, selling and collecting stamps online in order to jump start your collection today.

Photo Credits: Wisconsin Historical …

Originally posted 2009-05-28 05:15:28. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Important Stamp Terms Knowing the meanings of certain stamp terms is an important part of stamp collecting because it means you have a thorough understanding of what you are doing. Here are some of the stamp terms that are well worth knowing: Adhesive - This is, in actuality, exactly what a stamp is.......
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With the wide availability of different stamps from all over the world, there is an enormous selection from you to take from when it comes to buying postage stamps online. The following tips should help you when it comes to expanding your stamp hobby by purchasing and even selling your postage stamps online.

- Choosing recent stamps when you buy postage stamps online tends to make it easier for you to get your hobby started. This is because more recent stamps are generally more readily available as well as less expensive, and they can also generally still be found in high quality condition as well.

- You are going to want to decide when buying postage stamps online if you are interested in collecting cancelled stamps or mint stamps. Mint stamps are pristine stamps that have never been used, and they are generally capable of earning you more money when you sell them. Cancelled stamps on the other hand have been used and have been stamped already by the post office have already served their purpose, which is something that some collectors are going to prefer.

- When you buy postage stamps online, you are only going to want to buy a complete stamp. If you find that one particular stamp is proving to be difficult to find, then you are going to risk having to buy another complete set later on in order to get the single rare stamp that you are looking for.

- You should be aiming to focus on one particular type of stamps when you are buying postage stamps online. Some collectors begin their collections by buying only a specific type of stamp, such as stamps that feature planes or birds. Other collectors decide to find stamps that come from a specific country or a specific state. Some collectors on the other hand only collect stamps that come from a particular time period.

Regardless of whatever types of stamps you decide that you want to collect, it is important that you know that stamp collecting should be about enjoyment first and foremost. You should enjoy collecting your stamps rather than thinking purely about making any money on this particular hobby. Stamp collecting can certainly be profitable, but it should be enjoyable first and foremost and only profitable after the fact. When it comes to buying postage stamps online, you should focus on finding the stamps that you enjoy first and foremost, before you focus on the stamps that will earn you a serious profit. This is going to ensure that you always get enjoyment out of the hobby, even if it does not always turn a profit for you.

Photo Credits: yorkville

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Stamps -> Stamps -> Asia

The first India stamps were called Scinde District Dawk, getting their name from the place of their first use in the Sindh district of India. Typically the paper stamps were on some shade of white paper with the design stamped in blue ink, and the wax discs were usually made from red wax. The Scinde District Dawk stamps were only used for about 2 years before the British Eash India Company suppressed them, so these early stamps are the most valuable.

These early India stamps were used for the first time in 1852, when India was attempting to reform its postal system. Messages had been carried on foot for centuries by runners, but over the previous year the use of horses and camels to transport messengers more quickly had become the standard. With the postage reform, the stamps were used to show that postage had been paid, an innovation that was set to allow the British East India Company to earn more profits because messages would be delivered more quickly.

Anything that would speed the delivery of messages and goods would benefit the ruling power in India at the time, the East India Company. While deliveries were still snail-slow by today’s standards, they did improve with the new postal system allowing a message to be delivered in a month or two, rather than 5 or 6. In 1854 the East India Company attempted to make a new stamp the standard postage, but the citizens wouldn’t embrace the new design. A later India stamps design featured Queen Victoria as well as the East India marking and was used until 1858 when India rebelled against the company.

In 1931, India stamps began features other things besides monarchs and profiles, instead bearing images of fortresses and even animals. Another exciting facet for stamp collectors are India’s commemorate stamps, like the stamp commemorating the 1950 inauguration of India, and stamps that honor Mahatma Gandhi.

India stamps are popular with world stamp collectors because the earliest stamps produced in this country typically cost less than the first stamps produced by most other countries. And the early hand-embossed stamps are not so rare that you’ll likely never find one. In fact, early stamps are still discovered from time to time even by the most casual collector, making a great addition to any comprehensive stamp collection. Later India stamps bear some of the most beautiful stamps designs in the world.

As when buying any stamps, be sure the India stamps seller is knowledgeable about the stamps, whether you’re buying from a shop or an online auction on eBay or other auction site. If the picture on the stamp isn’t clear, ask the seller to provide another, clearer picture. Be sure to ask questions about the condition of the stamp, like whether it’s been damaged, whether the back is gummed and what condition the gumming is in, if the stamp has been canceled and if there are any imperfections or creases of which the seller is aware.

Originally posted 2008-11-18 14:00:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Stamps -> United States -> Collections, Lots

When it comes to finding stamps of great value, US postage stamps are usually the most popular. In fact, many of these stamps may be worth more than $100k, and frequently will go well above that. When you are shopping for collectible US postage stamps, it helps to know what to look for so that you can make a good purchase. Here are some signs that you have a winner on your hands.

1. The gum is still intact.

For stamps made after the last part of the 19th century, there should be gum attached to the back. Adhesives were introduced in US postage stamps during this time period and if you can find one that still has the original gum, that is quite a feat indeed. This can make a difference of several thousand dollars in terms of overall value.

2. The stamp was never used.

While some highly collectible US postage stamps may still have value if they are used, you should always look for stamps that are still in their original books, or were never actually used. If you can find uncirculated US postage stamps, they are worth even more money.

3. The overall condition is very good.

Used or not, the US postage stamp you are trying to collect should be in the best possible condition. Stay away from stamps that are torn, missing pieces or in general bad condition. It is better to have a postmark on one than it is to have half a stamp. Always try to buy the stamps that are in the best condition first since they will generally be worth much more money.

4. The hinge is still intact.

The small piece of paper that was used to connect US postage stamps together is known as a hinge. If you can find a stamp that still has its hinge, it is generally worth more money than those that don’t. However, the hinge should be firmly attached and not hanging lose. If that occurs, the value will go down.

5. The historical figure depicted on the stamp.

This can be a big determiner in the overall value of a US postage stamp. For example, stamps depicting famous presidents such as Abraham Lincoln are generally more valuable. The same is true for famous founding fathers, like Benjamin Franklin, or even present day celebrities.

6. The stamp has a mistake.

This is actually a good thing, as long as it occurred when the stamp was manufactured. Error stamps are actually worth quite a bit of money and many collectors will limit their collections to only these odd creations. If you find a stamp that just looks a little wrong, do a little research on it. It may be a very valuable US postage stamp.

Whenever you are collecting US postage stamps, the overall condition should be your guide. While damaged stamps may be cheaper to collect, they just don’t have the same value as those that are in perfect shape.

Originally posted 2008-08-26 14:00:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Stamps -> United States -> 1901: to Now: Used

If you are interested in getting into stamp collecting, but the brand new, mint condition and rare stamps are a little out of your price range, canceled postage stamps make a great alternative. While these are still quite valuable, especially depending on the type of stamp that you have, the entry costs are much lower and they are much easier to find. When you’re ready to get started collecting canceled postage stamps, there are a few tips you’ll need to keep in mind.

1. What is the overall condition of the stamp?

Just because a stamp has been canceled, doesn’t mean that it needs to be in rough shape. Ideally, the entire canceled postage stamp should be intact and should not have any tears or rips. In most cases, these stamps will have the backing of the envelope that they were once affixed on, but this should not affect their value overall and is to be expected. The main thing to focus on is the whole condition, and whether or not the actual stamp has been damaged. This is quite common since many people try to peel off a canceled postage stamp, instead of just cutting it out of the old envelope.

2. What year was the stamp made?

This will be one of the biggest determiners of overall value. If you can find a very old canceled postage stamp from the early 1900’s, or one that was created for a specific promotion since then, chances are it will be pretty valuable. Look for old stamps whenever possible, but keep in mind that even newer ones can be collectible.

3. Is the stamp in demand?

Stamps that are in demand will sell for more money, even if they are canceled postage stamps. Try to keep an eye on the market demand, through either a collector’s magazine or online. This will help you learn which stamps you need to be shopping for and which ones will be more expensive. This also works by providing you with an idea of overall value if you try to purchase a canceled postage stamp from a retailer or seller.

4. How badly marred by the postmark is the stamp?

This is an issue that is grounded more in aesthetics than actual value, but it can be important. Try to find canceled postage stamps that do not have large postmarks obscuring their overall design. However, if you can find one that has a great postmark from a town that is no longer in existence, or if the stamp was canceled on a specific important date, they may actually be worth more money.

No matter what kind of canceled postage stamps you decide to buy, it is important to keep everything organized and in good shape. Once you find the perfect stamps, don’t forget to take care of them and place them in a special book or display case to prevent further aging. It is best to seal these stamps away from air if at all possible.

Originally posted 2008-09-16 05:00:06. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Stamps -> Europe -> Ireland

When postage stamps were first issued in 1840, Ireland was still a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Ireland used the stamps created by Britain until the Irish government took power in Ireland in 1922. Then they printed Irish text over the British stamps until the first original designs of Ireland stamps were issued in December. These first stamps shows a map of Ireland, excluding Northern Ireland, which was still part of the UK.

These first Ireland stamps were designed for everyday mailing. The first commemorative stamps from Ireland appeared in 1929, and are now released many times in a year featuring a wide variety of scenes from Irish life. Irish anniversaries and events, culture, and famous Irish citizens often grace these commemorative stamps. Irish stamps are released in miniature sheet, common sheet, coil and booklet form. The Irish Post Office, known as Oifig an Phoist, issued all Ireland stamps until 1984. Then another part of the Department of Posts and Telegraphs, known as An Post, took over the issuance of stamps and all other postal services.

When purchasing Ireland stamps, online auctions like eBay are a great place to find new items for your collection. You can often find stamps in lots cheaper than you could buy them at a specialty store or from a private collector. And while the monetary value of most stamps continues to fall, the different designs and the history represented by the stamps themselves can make them just as valuable to a collector as their price tag.

To distinguish which period Ireland stamps were from when purchasing, look carefully at the postmark. During the period when Ireland used Great Britain stamps, 1840 to 1922, if the stamp’s postmark is from an Irish town, the stamp is known as a Great Britain Used in Ireland stamp. To further distinguish, the Penny Black (Great Britain’s first stamp) and other stamps issued from 1840 to 1844, were postmarked with the Maltese Cross. After 1844, the postmark used words or numbers to identify the town where the stamp was canceled. For those looking for stamps from certain Irish towns, those still affixed to the envelope are more clearly identifiable because the entire postmark is intact.

Most countries’ “forerunners” are the stamps that are issued before a region issues a stamp of its own. It’s a term commonly used among stamp collectors. But Ireland’s forerunners aren’t true Ireland stamps at all, and weren’t designed for postage. They were usually just union propaganda and nationalist sentiment printed into stamp form.

For collectors, overprints provide a challenge as it’s often difficult to tell when the stamp was used and from where it was canceled. Some Ireland stamps were released in small numbers and are more valuable to collectors, and the early stamps, both definitive and commemorative, are always in high demand. First day covers, particularly those with commemorative sets, are fairly valuable because they were created in such low numbers. Stamps from the 70s onward are abundant, but good for creating a comprehensive collection.

Originally posted 2008-10-17 05:00:36. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Stamps -> Europe -> Spain & Colonies

When looking for old Spain stamps, online auctions like eBay are a great place to search. Often, auctions are in lots so you get several stamps to add to your collection, often from many different countries and time periods. Some stamps can also be purchased individually, with or without ready-made displays. With a little research and some time spent browsing the auctions, you can find an excellent deal on the stamps you want to buy.

Queen Isabella II, the Queen of Spain, issued a decree in 1849 for the use of postage stamps on correspondence. After watching England first embrace the use of the postage stamp, starting in 1840, and then seeing that use spread to France, the Queen of Spain decided after 9 years that it was a good idea, so she got her country on board by approving the first Spain stamps.

In the two months between the decree and the actual issuance of stamps in early 1850, many rules were handed down about their use. In this time is was decreed that they were to go on the top left corner of the letter, and they could only be used to mail pre-paid letters within Spain, and to Italy. The two original designs on Spain stamps were reproduced 100 years later, in 1950, to celebrate 100 years of stamps, and then in 1964 for International Stamp Day

The Spanish Penny Black, named after the first postage stamp in Great Britain, bears an image of the queen, just as most Spain stamps did until she abdicated the throne in 1868. During the time when here face graced these stamps, a special postmark was used that wold not deface the image of the stamp, but rather frame her face respectfully, by her own request. She didn’t want the image of her face on each stamp to be marked over by a “demeaning” cancel mark. Metallic ink was first used on Spain stamps in 1853 when reduced cost stamps bearing Madrid’s coat of arms were printed for letters delivered within the city.

Spain stamps were changed yearly because officials were afraid of forgery. This resulted in Spain’s high creation of stamps—285 different stamps in 20 years, making them less than sought after by early collectors. In 1966 on the anniversary of the first postage stamp in the world, the Penny Black, Spain issued 3 commemorative stamps for International Stamp Day, in which the covers and postmarks were reproduced, something not yet done in stamp design, so these are interesting for collectors based on that alone.

When shopping for Spain stamps, note how the auction lists the condition of the stamp, whether or not gumming remains on the back, whether or not it’s alone or in a sheet or coil, and the general condition of the stamp. Also, if it’s in a lot, clarify if the lot is all Spain stamps, or if they’re from a variety of sources. And don’t discount lots of mixed stamps, sometimes you’ll find an unexpected treasure in them.

Originally posted 2008-10-15 05:00:12. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Stamps -> WorldWide

The first Cuba stamps were made available in April of 1855, 15 years after the first postage stamps were printed in Great Britain. Before the advent of the postage stamp in Cuba, letters were often delivered to the addressee requiring him or her to pay the postage. Even though stamps were not yet used, in the early 1800s letters were often marked with a postmark, an ink stamp signifying they had been through the postal system. Many collectors enjoy collecting envelopes and letters marked with these early postmarks as much as they enjoy collecting the stamps.

Some of the postmarks used before and after Cuba stamps were also used could read Mantanza, Esperanza, Puerto Principe, Batabano, Guines and Habana. International mail during the 1830s can often be identified by things like slits in the front of envelope that were placed there so that the letter could be fumigated. Cholera was rampant at the time and no one knew exactly how it was spread—many believed it to be airborne. So letters were taken to disinfectant stations before their departure where either slitting and fumigation, soaking in vinegar or other crude methods were used that were believed to kill dangerous germs.

The earliest Cuba stamps were sometimes placed at the bottom left-hand corner of the envelopes, rather than the upper right as we place stamps today. The stamps and markings decreased on most envelopes shortly after the advent of postage stamps because all postage was prepaid, so there was no need for postage due stamps and markings. Many letters that made it to different countries without postage stamps did so because they were given directly to captains of ships to take with them on their travels.

Collecting Cuba stamps was difficult during the 20th century because of the US embargo against all things Cuban that was put in place in 1963. Cigars, stamps and every product from the island of Cuba could not be imported legally into the United States, because that would mean Cuba profited from the sale, and the US at the time was interested in stripping power from Cuba on the world stage.

It wasn’t until 2001 when the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, declared that used and cancelled Cuba stamps were informational materials and began allowing them to be imported and sold. OFAC also agreed to grant certain licenses to collectors to import new and unused stamps from Cuba as long as they were for personal use and not for resale.

Soon after, used Cuba stamps began being sold and traded among stamp collectors, but because of the long embargo, many collectors have few if any stamps from Cuba. The stamps show the country’s history, and sometimes its rebellion against US power in the world, and can provide an insight to Cuban events and culture. Auctions like eBay are a great place to find Cuban stamps. Most will be cancelled, so ask about the gumming on the back and the general condition of the stamp.

Originally posted 2008-12-12 05:00:51. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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