The Flexibility of Stamp Collecting
Stamp collecting is a highly flexible hobby suitable for nearly all ages and climates. It does not require special skills or great wealth to begin, making it an accessible pursuit for everyone. Broadly defined, stamp collecting is the accumulation of material related to the payment of postage and the carriage of the mails. While traditional postage stamps are the core of the hobby, many philatelists also collect covers, which are envelopes that carried mail, as well as markings, labels, postage meters, Christmas Seals, and revenue stamps.
When you first start, the sheer volume of available material can feel overwhelming. Many collectors begin by gathering any stamp they can find, but eventually, most choose to narrow their focus. Selecting a specific specialty helps you manage your time, space, and budget while deepening your knowledge of the historical and artistic aspects of your collection.
Worldwide Collecting vs. Country Specialization
A common starting point is worldwide collecting, where you attempt to gather stamps from every corner of the globe. However, because the countries of the world issue a total of about 10,000 postage stamps each year, trying to collect every stamp ever issued is generally unrealistic unless you have unlimited money, space, and time. For this reason, many collectors transition to country specialization.
Country collecting involves focusing on a single nation, such as your home country, a place where you spent a memorable vacation, or a country whose stamp designs simply look interesting. While obtaining every single stamp issued by a specific country is possible without spending a fortune for some nations, most countries have at least a few rare stamps that are highly expensive. To make this specialty more manageable, you can narrow your focus further, such as collecting only stamps issued since your birth year.
The Rise of Topical and Thematic Collecting
If country borders do not appeal to you, topical collecting offers an increasingly popular and highly customizable alternative. Topical philately allows you to explore all types of stamps from all over the world based on a specific subject. Most topical stamps are relatively inexpensive, giving you the freedom to organize your collection exactly how you want.
Popular topics include animals, birds, flowers, ships, space, scouts, Disney, and sports. However, collectors have also built successful exhibits on highly unusual subjects, such as rainbows or even outhouses on stamps. Topical collectors often expand their search beyond standard stamps to include special postmarks, first day covers, and postal stationery that relate directly to their chosen theme.
Choosing Between Mint and Used Stamps
Another fundamental decision in stamp collecting is whether to focus on mint or used stamps, or to maintain a mixture of both. Mint stamps have never been used to mail a letter and look exactly as they did when they were first sold at the post office. Used stamps, on the other hand, have served their intended purpose of carrying the mail and bear a cancellation mark.
There are several practical advantages to collecting used stamps. They generally cost less than mint stamps, though exceptions do exist. Additionally, you do not have to worry about preserving the original gum on the back of used stamps, meaning you can safely use inexpensive stamp hinges to mount them onto album pages. The cancellations themselves can also add historical interest and variety to your collection.
Collecting by Stamp Type and Physical Traits
Some philatelists prefer to organize their collections by the specific function of the stamp. This includes collecting airmail stamps, coil stamps, or issues used to pay for special services like special delivery or postage due. While the majority of collectors gather stamps of all types, focusing on these specialized service issues can provide a highly structured and rewarding goal.
Alternatively, you can collect stamps based on physical traits or creative themes. Some collectors choose to collect stamps of a certain shape or color, such as building a collection of only yellow stamps. Others focus on stamps issued on their birthday, or seek out cancellations numbered from one to one million. The ultimate goal of stamp collecting is personal enjoyment, meaning there is no right or wrong way to build your collection.
Essential Tools for Exploring Your Specialty Safely
No matter which specialty you choose, handling your stamps safely is critical to preserving their condition. The Smithsonian National Postal Museum identifies a simple pair of stamp tongs, an album, and a general reference book as sufficient starting tools. Tongs feature smooth ends designed for picking up loose stamps without direct finger contact, protecting them from skin oils and physical damage.
To study your stamps more closely, a magnifying glass is useful for revealing small design details, while a perforation gauge can help distinguish look-alike issues by measuring their perforations. For advanced identification, specialist aids like watermark detectors, color guides, and catalogs are invaluable. You can use mobile tools like StampSnap to help identify a stamp and log your finds, but remember that physical observations should always be compared with reliable catalogs and reference books rather than treated as completely conclusive on their own.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between mint and used stamps?
Mint stamps have never been used and look exactly as they did when sold at the post office, retaining their original gum. Used stamps have been postally used to carry mail, usually bear a cancellation mark, and are typically less expensive and easier to mount using hinges.
What are the most popular topical stamp collecting themes?
Some of the most popular topics include animals, birds, flowers, ships, space, scouts, Disney, and sports. However, collectors can choose any theme, including highly unique subjects like rainbows or outhouses.
What basic tools do I need to start collecting stamps safely?
According to the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, the essential starting tools are a pair of stamp tongs with smooth ends to avoid direct finger contact, a stamp album, and a general reference book. A magnifying glass and a perforation gauge are also highly recommended for identifying details and variations.
Is it possible to collect every stamp ever issued?
It is highly unrealistic to collect every worldwide stamp, as countries issue approximately 10,000 new stamps each year. Most collectors eventually specialize by country, topic, era, or stamp type to keep their collection manageable.