Stamp Collecting

Ever since the very first postage stamp was created in England in 1840, people have been enjoying the hobby of stamp collecting. The Penny Black, as it was called, actually had to be cut with scissors so that it could be attached to an envelope. It was only later that stamps had perforations which made stamps much easier to use. Collecting stamps is a very popular hobby with millions of collectors in the United States, not to mention Europe and the rest of the world.

The earliest stamp hobbyists were generally children and teenagers. Adults saw stamps as utilitarian but not necessarily something of importance. However, as the young stamp collectors grew up, they continued their interest in collecting stamps even into adulthood. Because they were intensely interested in stamps, they began to study stamps from all over the world. Their research encouraged others to begin collecting. Many collectors even began to see that stamp collecting might become a lucrative business. It wasn’t until the 1920s that stamps began to have true monetary value as collectors' items. Because so many collectors had kept their older stamps in pristine condition, collectors began to vie for the rare ones.

One might conclude that the Penny Black would be worth a fortune today since it was the first stamp. On the contrary, however, these stamps are worth less than $200. Sometimes Penny Black stamps that are in poor condition barely fetch prices over $20. If a stamp collector is lucky enough to run across an unused Penny Black, the stamp would be worth quite a lot of money. Most of the supply today consists of used stamps.

The vast majority of stamp collectors, including yours truly, take up the hobby because they enjoy stamps and what they represent - not for monetary gain. Some people collect stamps for their beauty. Many countries produce more stamps than they can use so that they can sell them to collectors. They devise extraordinary stamps to lure collectors to their stamps. It’s a great source of revenue.

Some collectors have already begun to worry that stamp collecting will soon be a thing of the past because so many people refuse to use conventional snail mail. They rely almost completely on emails in lieu of purchasing postage stamps. It is doubtful that stamps will ever go entirely out of business. There is just something about receiving a real letter in the mail. Getting cards and letters is so much more personal.

While collecting stamps is amazingly popular, you don’t necessarily have to spend much money. Every post office offers stamps especially for the collector. If you like to travel, you can purchase and save mint condition postage stamps from all over the world. They make great reminders of vacations, and ultimately become an interesting, even nostalgic part of your family's history.

Stamp Collecting Currents:

Lewis Hamilton steps off the podium and on to the postage stamp - Times Online

Lewis Hamilton steps off the podium and on to the postage stamp
Times Online, UK - Nov 18, 2008
More recently, it has been making efforts to attract younger fans to stamp collecting. Last year, it issued a series of seven stamps depicting the covers of .

Collecting quarters is fun, but don't expect a big payout - HeraldNet

Collecting quarters is fun, but don't expect a big payout
HeraldNet, WA - Nov 17, 2008
He sends me quarters with the Philadelphia mint stamp. In scaling down my workload, I decided to only complete three books of the state coins, .

Stamp Collecting News: New U.S. postage stamp honors Edgar Allan Poe
Stamp Collecting News. . The latest news in the world of stamp collecting. Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting. Collect coins? Check out Coin Collecting News. Sunday, November 9, 2008. New U.S. postage stamp honors Edgar Allan Poe ...

Club for stamp collectors - Busselton Dunsborough Mail

Club for stamp collectors
Busselton Dunsborough Mail, Australia - Oct 30, 2008
Many members of the public visited to find out more about their own or inherited stamp collection and how to best care for it etc. .
Profile: Gabriele Woodbine Brisbane Times
all 2 news articles

Collecting quarters is fun, but don't expect a big payout (Everett Herald)
Time is up, folks. Some of us who dawdled along for 10 years, tossing state quarters in big jars, have to get the lead out. Actually, it's time to get the nickel-copper-clad out...

The Stamp Collecting Round-Up: Stamp Collecting as a Pastime
Nankivell, a member of the Philatelic Society of London, writes in the introduction, "Many people are at a loss to understand the fascination that surrounds the pursuit of stamp collecting. They are surpirsed at the clannishness of ...

BEN column (Bridgeton News)
Good morning! Not only is it going down to the mid-20s overnight, there will be 30 mph gusts. Check the tires and your engine belts if you're driving late tonight...

Stamp Collecting News: George Washington 3-cent "B Grill" Postage .
Stamp Collecting News. . The latest news in the world of stamp collecting. Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting. Collect coins? Check out Coin Collecting News. Sunday, November 9, 2008. George Washington 3-cent "B Grill" Postage ...

Stamp Collecting News: Postal Service Issues Alzheimers Awareness .
Stamp Collecting News. . The latest news in the world of stamp collecting. Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting. Collect coins? Check out Coin Collecting News. Sunday, November 9, 2008. Postal Service Issues Alzheimers Awareness ...

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