Collecting stamps is a hobby that anyone can start. If you are just beginning to collect, you may want to start an album to with whatever stamps look interesting to you. A more serious stamp collector will examine defects, types and cancellations of various stamps.
This is a hobby that doesn’t require any particular skills and can be done anytime, from anywhere, but there are advantages to knowing a thing or two if you’re interested in building an impressive (and expensive) stamp collection.
A stamp collector or philatelist will collect material relating to the postage and carriage of mail. Stamps are the main focus for collectors, but there are other items of note. Some collectors collect markings, labels, envelopes and covers. Some even collect revenue stamps or Christmas Seals.
Why Collect Stamps?
There are numerous reasons to get into stamp collecting, and the reason you decide to pursue this hobby is going to greatly inform how you go about it. For many collectors, it’s just about simple relaxation and having some items they find intriguing with a hint of historical value to them.
Stamps are just fun to look at, and often feature all sorts of wonderful images. So, in one sense, philately can be a purely artistic endeavor without much concern about the value (or potential value) of one’s inventory.
However, if you’re looking to stamp collecting as a fun way to invest for your future (or your grandchildren’s future), then you’re going to want to be a lot more discerning in your approach. Keep in mind, you’ll probably be better off putting your money in stocks & bonds, but where’s the fun in that?
Finally, stamp collecting is a great hobby for people who love history and geography. Many stamps often commemorate important events, and collecting stamps from around the world is a fun way to learn about how different mail systems work across the globe.
People who get into the hobby for the geeky side of stamp collecting will likely spend a lot more time not only researching individual stamps, but getting lost in the rabbit holes each stamp offers as you dig into the historical, economic and political contexts surrounding it.
Getting Your First Stamps
There are several ways to go about getting stamps, and the methods that work best for you depend heavily on your particular interests in stamp collecting. If you’re looking to acquire expensive pieces, then you’re going to have to look for opportunities to buy off the second-hand market. You can often find stamps listed on eBay and even Craigslist, but there are also marketplaces that deal exclusively in stamps such as HipStamp and the American Philatelic Society.
But if you’re not ready to start investing big money in stamps, a good way to start is with what’s currently available at your local Post Office and what’s coming to you personally in the mail.
You may also reach out to neighbors or friends and ask if they wouldn’t mind letting you have their discarded envelopes so you can collect the stamps from them.
Businesses are a particularly good target, so if you know anyone who owns a small business or is an office manager or secretary, ask them.
You can also find stamps and related memorabilia for sale at specialty shops and hobby stores. These will have plenty of low-cost starter stamps to kick off your collection, and many will have more expensive and rarer stamps to consider too.
Even if you’re not ready to make the plunge on those, it can be a great way to check potential pieces out in person and get a feel for the game. It’s certainly much more intimate than browsing listings online, and you can even try haggling!
Should Stamps be New or Used?
There’s no right or wrong answer and it mostly comes down to personal preference. In terms of value, mint stamps (never used) are typically worth more but this isn’t always the case. Supply and demand applies to the world of philately, just as anything else. For some stamps, it might be a simple matter to find sheets of unused stamps, but finding a used stamp (from that same time period) could be a daunting challenge.
Used stamps will bear some kind of marking to signify that they’ve been used. This is called a “cancel”. For some collectors, there is sentimental value in knowing that the stamp traveled the world sending something of importance from one person to another.
Still, you’ll find plenty of collectors who prefer mint condition stamps. You may also find and collect used stamps still on the envelope. In some cases, the envelope itself might add some extra value to it because of the particular circumstances of the correspondence, but a stamp on the envelope of a modern utility bill is not likely to do much for the stamp’s story (at least not for another century or two).
Stamp Collecting Tools
Storage and Display: There are many options for displaying and storing your collection. Simple plastic storage bins work great if you’re just looking to store what you have without much need for organization. You can use things like index cards and plastic baggies to further organize if you need. For displaying, you might want to get a simple binder and buy pages for it based on how you want to lay out your collection. Be sure to use acid-free paper. If you want to display something on your wall, then get some stamp mounts to insert them in and then stick the mounts inside any basic artwork/scrapbook frame.
Removing Stamps: Most stamps can be easily removed from their envelopes by soaking in cold water for about 10 to 15 minutes. Be careful with stamps that have markings as the ink might bleed, so be sure to soak them separately.
Pen Pal Supplies: If you’re joining a stamp club or plan on trading stamps with fellow stamp-enthusiasts, then get yourself a good felt-tip pen (or two!) to write handwritten notes with. You’ll also want to buy basic envelopes and be on the lookout for a variety of fun postcards.
Magnifying Glass: Stamps are usually small, so make sure you get a good magnifying glass to really get a good view of the stamp’s image. As you gain more knowledge in philately, a magnifying glass will also come in handing when inspecting stamps for defects and special markings.