Stamps -> Worldwide -> Collections, Lots
Few types of collectors get more excited and enthusiastic about a new acquisition than a stamp collector. Stamp collecting is one of the most popular hobbies in the world, enjoyed by young children, the elderly, and every age in between. Over 20 million people in the United States collect stamps, with some of them enjoying the hobby very casually without much in depth knowledge of the individual stamps and their histories. But some enjoy the study of stamps, also known as philately, and use that detailed knowledge to amass a large and comprehensive collection of stamps from all over the world.
Stamp collecting is so popular that some small countries produce beautiful stamps in limited editions of far more than necessary for their country’s postal needs because collectors buy them and increase their revenue. Stamp collectors interested in collecting, not just for the satisfaction of acquiring certain stamps but as an investment, go in search of rare and valuable stamps.
A young Queen Victoria graced the first postage stamp issued in Britain in 1840. Called the Penny Black, one had to cut it from a sheet of stamps with scissors. Mint and unused Penny Blacks are scarce and valuable, but even a casual collector could find used Penny Blacks in online auctions for affordable prices. Those that are in the worst condition can even be purchased for $20-$40 dollars, and those in the best condition are usually available for less than $200—a very affordable price when you consider you’d be owning the first stamp ever created, with a value that’s only likely to rise.
Most stamps, even very old ones, can be found and collected affordably, making it a great hobby for children and people from any walk of life. While the advent of email and electronic bill paying have greatly reduced the need for stamps, decreased stamp production could put a damper on those who collect modern stamps. But a stamp collector with a collection of older stamps would do well to maintain the collection as the value will likely rise even as stamps become less necessary to our society.
A stamp collector has a variety of choices when choosing which stamps to collect. Some only collect stamps from one country, but aim to acquire one of each type. Others choose only certain types of stamps, like commemorative stamps, stamps in other shapes like circles or triangles, or stamps bearing images of certain things like celebrities or a type of animal. Other collectors choose to collect in general, gathering stamps from all over the world with no real rhyme or reason, just choosing the ones that appeal to them. There’s no wrong way to collect stamps because it’s a very individual hobby.
When purchasing stamps, a stamp collector should ask a few key questions. Is the stamp uncirculated or used, and is it damaged? Also find out if it’s an irregular stamp or one with an error, both of which can sometimes make the stamp more valuable.
Originally posted 2008-10-13 05:00:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Spain Stamps 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...... -
French Stamps Stamps -> Europe -> France and Colonies Collectors of stamps that also enjoy history are commonly drawn to French stamps for many different reasons. These are unique items that often depict the struggle for freedom, and the French stamps from the colonies are considered to be very valuable as well...... -
Setting Up a Postage Stamp Collection Many people come by the idea of setting up a postage stamp collection in different ways. Some people come across a single stamp that inspires them while others fall in love with the hobby after someone they know exposes them to it. No matter how you came by the concept...... -
Condition Guide of Stamp Collectibles Condition The condition of stamp collectibles is a description of a stamps paper, gum (when dealing with mint stamps), and ink characteristics. The most adequate description of a stamp should be concise but still use as many words as necessary to properly describe the stamp. For example, a early British...... - Collectible Stamps Stamps -> United States -> 19th Century - Unused Finding the best collectible stamps can sometimes be difficult, especially if you don’t know what to look for. It’s never easy to guess when it comes to stamps, and if you are a serious collector, it pays to subscribe to stamp......
Related Websites -
Enjoying a World Coin Collection Most people who begin to collect coins actually do so by collecting regional coins from their own mother country. So for example, if you are from the United States, then you may want to collect United States coins first and foremost. This is because you are already familiar with the...... - Canadian Coins Coins and Paper Money -> Coins: Canada -> Commemorative Whether you are from Canada, or just interested in collecting Canadian coins, there are plenty of options out there and many of these coins are actually quite valuable. Before you get started with your collection, it’s a good idea to know......
-
Collecting Rare Collectibles 101 There are all kinds of different collectibles out there, including rare collectibles and more common collectibles for example. If you are interested in collecting rare collectibles, then knowing how to identify them, find them, price them, display them and sell them are all very important considerations to make. Here is...... - Cat Collectibles Collectibles -> Animals -> Cat-Domestic The history of cat collectibles goes back much farther than you probably realize. Cats were revered in Ancient Egypt where citizens did more than collect cat-related items, they collected the cats themselves. So far, over 300,000 mummified cats have been found buried in ancient tombs.......
-
Product Review: Doulton GSS Mini Gravity Water Filter Purifier. Now how cool is this? Leslie from WaterCheck just sent me a Doulton GSS Mini Gravity Water Filter Purifier to test out and review, and I am very glad he did. This filter is totally portable, made from stainless steel, and requires no electricity to work - it works by......
