Stamp Collecting

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.

Photo Credits: creative location

Originally posted 2008-10-13 05:00:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Stamps -> Europe -> Germany & Area

A stamp booklet is now a popular way for countries to sell postage stamps because they’re smaller and easier to handle that a sheet of stamps or loose stamps. In the United States however, the booklet has given way to a folded sheet with stamps on each side, or a single sheet with stamps on each side, though they’re still commonly called “a book of stamps.”

The first stamp booklet, though not postage stamps, was issued in the United States, with the California State Telegraph Company’s booklets of telegraph stamps being issued in 1870. Western Union followed suit and issued stamps for its services in 1871 and in 1884 the postage stamp booklet was actually patented by A. W. Cooke of Boston.

But the first country to ever actually issue a postage stamp booklet was Luxembourg, turning out their first booklets in 1895. Sweden was the next country to try this new way of issuing stamps with their first stamp booklets appearing in 1898. The idea caught on worldwide and became commonly used across the world in the first half of the 20th century.

A stamp booklet typically consists of 10 to 20 stamps on a pane that’s folded and secured inside a cardboard cover. The first booklets were made by hand, by cutting sheets of stamps into smaller pieces and binding those within the cardboard. Later, they printed the panes separately onto large sheets then cut them individually, perforating only the edges between the panes. These booklets have stamp panes that feature 1 to 3 straight edges, though some do have middle stamps that are perforated all the way around because of the way they were designed.

For collectors, finding an intact early stamp booklet is almost impossible. The stamps were seen as purely utilitarian at the time and not viewed as anything possibly collectible or worth saving, so most stamp booklets were merely used and discarded when the stamps were gone. Empty stamp booklets, or just the covers, are worth little. Though if they are very old, they may be worth something to a collector who specializes in old stamp booklet covers and enjoys collecting them just to see how early stamp booklets were bound, or to see the different cover designs.

Many stamp collectors specialize in the stamp booklet because the variety is astounding. There are organizations, clubs and collector swap meets that all focus on stamp booklets over individual stamps. Generally, if a stamp has any value at all, a stamp booklet of that particular stamp is worth well more than the total worth of the individual stamps. The condition of the covers themselves figure into the value as well, with a perfect condition booklet of valuable stamps calling for a much higher price than a booklet of valuable stamps that has been creased, torn or stained.

Online auctions are an excellent place to acquire stamps from all over the world. The photo should show the stamp booklet both closed and opened. Ask about the condition of parts not visible in any photograph.

Photo Credits: jurvetson

Originally posted 2008-10-24 05:00:39. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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