Stamp collecting
Stamp Collecting is the collecting of postage stamps and things related to postage stamps. It is one of the world's most popular hobbies.
Philately is a more formal term for stamp collecting. In spite of its global popularity, it remains unprofitable for many individuals, giving rise to the phrase, "Philately will get you nowhere". (Who says stamp collectors have no sense of humor?..) However, stamp collecting
is an important source of revenue for some small countries who
create limited runs of elaborate stamps designed mainly to be bought
by stamp collectors.
A stamp collector is known as a Philatelist.
Stamp collectors collect:
- Postal Stationary - includes government issued post cards, aerograms, air letter sheets, etc
- Postage Due stamps
- Duck stamps (mainly U.S. with some other countries such as Canada)
- souvenir sheets - the US Postal Service sometimes release stamps in a format that look like a sheet with a big picture. Various parts of the picture can be torn out and used as postage stamps. See example with 10 stamps in one picture.
- first day covers - envelops with designs matching the stamps being issued. The cancellation mark must be done on the day of the first issue and at the postal office that designated for the issuing of the stamp.
- souvenir pages - with first day cancelled stamps on a page describing all design, printing and issuing details. This is similar to first day covers except that it is done on a printed sheet of paper instead of an envelope, besides, the specification of the stamp is printed by the official source. See picture of first souvenir page in the US.
- Philatelic literature
- Government issued material associated with postage stamps (e.g., envelopes)
- stamp like labels
- non-stamp items picturing actual postage stamps
- non-stamp items picturing stamp like labels
- counterfeit/forged postage stamps - These are difficult to collect in that they are often illegal and subject to confiscation.
- postmarks
History of stamp collecting:
Children and teenagers werer early collectors of stamps in the 1860s and 1870s. Many adults dismissed it as a childish pursuit.
During the late 1800s many of those children collectors began to systematically study the available postages stamps and published research works on their production, plate flaws, etc.
It wasn't until the 1920s that publicity about valuable stamps encouraged a large increase in the number of stamp collectors. This rapid increase in postage stamp values was largely due to very few of the older stamps being saved in good condition. Especially difficult to find were pairs, triples, and large blocks of older stamps.
During the 1930s many people stockpiled mint stamps with the hopes of selling them for a large profit in a few years time. This never materialized. Even today, more than 60 years later, one can find 1930s stamps in mint condition for close to face value.
Most postage stamps issued since the 1930s are easy to obtain and have minimal value. Some high face value stamps, such as the $2.60 United States Graf Zeppelin issued in 1930, are worth substantial amounts of money. Other stamps issued since 1930 that are usually worth something are, souvenir sheet from popular countries, hard to find plate number coils, and errors in printing.