Exploring new hobbies to get hook into? You’ve come to the right place.
Stamp collecting is an old but thriving hobby people of all ages can get behind with. Also known as Philately, this study and hobby made itself known as early as 1700s Europe. With the rise of postage stamps in the late 1800s, many people began building their own stamp collection.
Despite the decline of philatelists, stamp collecting is still a popular hobby. Many people claim that this leisure activity helps in cultivating organizational skills. If you’re looking for a new hobby to get into, stamp collecting can be a great fit for you.
Read below to find out how to start your own stamp collection now.
Decide What Stamp You Want to Collect
When starting your stamp collection, the first thing to do is choose what type of stamp you’d like to collect. There are over half a million unique stamps around the world. Over thousands of stamps get printed per year.
Postage stamps are also categorized by occasions, quantity, location, and even their quality. Once you choose a stamp you’d like to collect, it can help you focus on gathering and building your collection.
Below are some of the stamp categories you can consider for your collection:
Events
Stamps in this category made for holidays. They’re also printed for special occasions like commemorating people, events, or milestones.
Commemorative stamps are bright and festive limited-edition stamps commemorating people or certain milestones. Special stamps are the ones printed for holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s. These are often stamped on priority and express mails.
Location
These collectible stamps focus more on where they’re from. However, they can also be a whole collection of stamps produced around the globe. They’re also easy to find since they’re made in large numbers.
Country stamps are original stamps made only in a certain country. This may commemorate national events, holidays, or daily life.
Quality                             Â
Some people collect stamps based on their quality. Mint stamps are never used and have more price value. Used stamps are easier to collect since you can get the ones with cancellations on them.
Customized
Customized stamps are hard to find since they’re rare. Are you interested in making a unique collection of postage stamps? Check out creative rubber stamping.
Find Out Where to Get Your Stamps
Once you’ve chosen what kind of stamp collection you’d like to build, it’s time to look for them. There are many ways where you can get the stamps of your choice. Your mailboxes are great sources of postage stamps.
You can save the ones from your mails, packages, and postcards. If you want new, unused stamps, you can buy them at the local post office. Attending stamp shows or exhibits and meeting with stamp dealers are also great ways to get stamps.
However, one of the best sources you can get your stamps from is joining a stamp club. Other members can help you find the stamps you’d like to collect and even give you pointers to get started.
Prepare the Tools You Need
When you’re starting to build your stamp collection, using the proper tools is essential to keep the quality of your postage stamps. Using the right stamp collecting supplies and tools can help you fill your collection with quality postage stamps in a quick manner. These are some of the tools you need to have in your stamp collection kit.
Magnifying glass
Some stamps have a higher price value once collected. To find out if your collection can amount to big wads of cash, using a magnifying glass to examine your stamps up close is necessary. It’s also helpful in checking deteriorations not visible to the naked eye.
Stamp Tongs/ Tweezers
Stamps are sensitive and can get damaged because of the natural oils in our skin. Using tweezers to pick up and move the stamps is better to keep their values.
Perforation Gauge
You can check how similar stamps differ from each other basing on their perforation. These are small rows of holes punched along the sides of the stamps to make them easier to separate. Perforation gauges are a big help to measure the perforations of your stamps.
Watermark Detector Fluid
Another way to differentiate the same-looking stamps is through their watermarks. Watermarks are designs, either a number, letter, or symbol placed on stamps upon manufacturing. A watermark detector fluid helps in enhancing the watermark of your stamp.
Stamp Collection Book
A stamp collection is nothing if it’s not stored in a proper place. Having a stamp collection book is useful in keeping your collection organized and in pristine condition.
A regular stamp book could be a photo album or a ring binder. Make the philatelist in you happy by choosing fun and cute or more elegant designs for your stamp books and customizing them.
Check Your Stamps’ Value
Some postage stamps can be worth hundreds and even thousands of dollars. Their monetary value increases on the quality and type. As a result, many veteran stamp collectors see the hobby as an investment.
While some collect valuable stamps, others sell them for top price. How can you check your stamps’ worth? Get your hands on a stamp catalog.
This catalog will give you an idea of the price values of different stamps. In addition, you can arrange your stamps based on their type, quality, and rarity.
A Quick Guide to Jumpstart Your Stamp Collection
Choosing a type of stamp and finding the best sources are the first things you need to build a stamp collection. Follow up on your new hobby by getting the right tools and knowing their value. You now have everything you need to start building your stamp collection today!
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