Stamp Collecting – not Just for Kids

Stamp Collecting – Not Just for Kids
Starting a stamp collection can be a rewarding and fun hobby. Not just for kids anymore, stamp collecting – or philately – has become one of the world’s oldest and most popular forms of collecting. The advantages of stamp collecting include:

• Learning about stamps which have been issued by other countries of the world over the years
• Appreciating stamps as works of art – colourful, well-printed, and well-designed
• Understanding the purpose of the stamp – whether it is to commemorate famous people or events, flowers, railways, flags, or space and sport

Stamp Collection

Stamp collections can provide both entertainment and education. By learning about all the stamps which have been issued by the countries of the world, you can begin to understand another country’s geography and history. Stamps collection is also a practical way to learn the politics, religion, and everyday way of life in different parts of the world. Stamps also open a world of education in a country’s postal services and postal history, transport systems, and the significance of postmarks.

Want to Start Collecting?

Many stamp collectors have advice for those looking to get into the stamp collecting scene, however, the best advice to the novice is to buy the largest packet of whole-world stamps you can afford. Also, consider buying with this purchase, a medium-priced album and some ‘hinges’ to mount the stamps. By buying a large amount of stamps at first, you can then go through most of the stamps, identifying those which you don’t believe you can find in the stamp collectors catalogue for identifying purposes.

Sources of Stamps

To keep your stamp collection moving along, there are several different types of stamps and locations to pursue:

• Persuade your friends to save your stamps from those letters mailed to them from abroad
• You can buy stamps from the UK Post – several times a year, the UK Post will issue special stamps for those interested in collecting
• There are several stamp magazines where you can see and meet other collectors
• Review the online stamp collecting websites for forums and discussion on where to get the latest stamp collection tips

Stamp Collecting and Increasing Worth

Over the years, as stamps age and their rarity increase, the worth of the stamp can increase tenfold. The condition of the stamp is vitally important to its worth. Nothing detracts more from the value of a stamp than a crease, tear, or heavy postmark. Damaged stamps are generally considered useless and worthless, so be wary of your collection when adding stamps.

If you are looking to make the most of your stamp collection, have unused stamps in their original gum as issued by the post office. Also, the ideal postmark is light and clear, as heavy postmarks decrease the value of the stamp by large amounts.

If you are already realizing that there is much more to stamp collecting then first thought, you are right! Stamp collecting can be extremely rewarding if you take the time to pursue it as a serious hobby. Consider learning more about your planet and start your stamp collection today.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/hobbies-articles/stamp-collecting-not-just-for-kids-192521.html

Evolution of Online Customized Stamps Industry

Stamps have become indispensable for both business houses and independent entrepreneurs and individuals, and what we witness today is a definite metamorphosis viz a viz the manufacturing process of stamping, and modernization with regard to the distribution channel.

Ever since they were invented in the year 1886, stamps have evolved in the true sense of the word- from seals made of different materials made by our ancestors to laser technology used by present day stamp manufacturers. Today, you can forget the long, tedious wait for your stamps; just visit a good online store and get customized stampsin the minimum possible time, thanks to the revolution in the stamp making process. It really is a remarkable transformation.

As individuals, business houses and government departments realized the importance of stamps, hundreds of stamp making companies mushroomed around the United States to cater to the growing demand. Rubber stamps enjoyed immense popularity throughout the century and find application within diverse areas in contemporary times. The rapid technological advancement in all sectors has not left stamps untouched. Usage of state-of-art laser technology in stamp making has given a new face to the the whole process and ascertained that there are minimum errors and faster production. Most of the ten million dollar custom stamp houses boast of usage of laser technology in the stamp making process, something which has changed the very face of the stamping industry. Single inks stamps have given way to multi-colored ones, for use by individuals, institutions and artists, flash stamps have become the order of the day.

The stamping evolution

The stamping industry has not been left untouched by the communication revolution sparked by the Internet, and has changed the very face of modern commerce. Though more and more stores dealing with stamps mushroomed across the United States to cater to the immense demand of stamps from different quarters in the mid 20th century, it was the popularity of the Internet that gave an immense boost to this trade in the form of numerous online rubber stamp stores offering the latest in stamps and pampering the customers with numerous add-ons.

Contrary to the initial belief that online stamp storescan never replace traditional outlets, online stamping concerns have started doing greater business. Uncomplicated procedures, easy payment methods, access to valuable information about products and excellent quality ensure that more customers buy products from these online stores. It would not really be fair to say that the online shopping channel has completely replaced the traditional one, but yes, an increasing number of people are realizing the convenience that comes with the Internet.

Considering the fact that deadlines are no longer synonymous with the newspaper profession and almost every customer insists on faster deliveries, the best online stamping stores like XpressStamp offer to deliver orders in minimum time possible, say a maximum of 78 hours. Of course, faster deliveries come with the assurance of quality for, ignoring the latter in the modern day competitive market is a sure route to doom. The same has had a definite positive impact on the quality offered. More manufacturers are also realizing the importance of good quality and offering the customers the best available.

Research by internationally reputed agencies has proved that discounts offered on products are not really a determining factor with regard to sales. Several websites have tried to lure potential customers with rebates but the response has proved that the contemporary buyer is more interested in the quality aspect of the product rather than discounts. In fact, this is a really positive trend and has resulted in the improvement of overall quality, not just in the business of stamping but also in others. Top websites dealing in stamps have started concentrating more on the quality of goods so that customers keep coming back again and again.

Innovative new products in the stamps market

The latest rage in the stamping industry, flash stamps and demand for the same has reached an all time high. Of course, this doesn't really mean that rubber stamps have become obsolete. However, newer products like flash stamps are definitely generations ahead of their predecessors. Offering excellent value for money, flash stamps are hassle free and 'cleaner' as compared to rubber stamps for you don't have to use an ink pad. Moreover the impressions made by flash stamps give a more 'professional' look. Despite the fact that flash stamps are more expensive as compared to rubber stamps, an increasing number of people are opting for them. This also proves that price is not the only factor that determines the popularity of a product. It is basically value for money that governs the contemporary buyer's decision.

Modern day stamp manufacturers are also witnessing a dramatic increase in orders for multi-colors stampscoming from both institutions and individuals. Gone are the days when people would use only single color stamps. Serving more than one purpose, these multicolored stamps are popular not just among traditional buyers but also artists around the world.

With technology and innovations providing newer, better options to people, stamps available today are truly high end and high quality. Whether you're an independent entrepreneur or a business house, stamping solutions can really enhance many aspects of your working. So pick from the range of stamps available today-- better still, go online, browse and order stamps online from the convenience of your desk. Ordering high quality stamps was never easier!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/evolution-of-online-customized-stamps-industry-33944.html

Photo Postal Stamps

What do George Washington, Elvis Presley, the United States Flag, and a heart all have in common? They have all featured on United States postage stamps!

These are all well and good, but what if you don't like any of these stamps? What if you aren't satisfied with the limited selection of standard-issue postage stamps made available through the United States Postal Service?

Wouldn't it be great if you could customize your own photo postal stamps? Wouldn't it be great if you could put your own photographs, your own graphic images, or even your own company logo on your postage stamps?

Photo postal stamps are an excellent way to cast a good first impression on your recipient. They add a touch of pizzazz to your correspondence, making your mail stand out from among the rest, setting the tone and the mood in your reader's mind, and adding a touch of professionalism to your correspondence.

Photo postal stamps are an excellent novelty in many different situations: Wedding invitations, birthday invitations, graduation invitations, advertising mailers to potential customers or clients, correspondence with employees, vendors, and business partners, and much more!
The best part is that you can print your own photo postal stamps from the comfort of your own home or office, directly from your computer, right onto your own printer!

All you need in order to get started are:

- A computer with Internet access

- A metered weighing scale

- A printer (color is optional, black and white is okay)

- Adhesive printing labels

Are photo postal stamps right for you? Sign up for a 30-day risk-free trial and see for yourself!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hyder_Khan

Branding R.O.I. And Rubber Stamps

Every business has a model to deploy their brand in some shape or form, be it putting up a billboard or getting the company logo tattooed, (not recommended!). The question is, what will your branding return on investment (ROI) turn out?

Deploying your brand to the consumer can be a tedious task - but doing it attractively as well as staying cost effective is key to business success. Rubber stamps remain a major solution for staying ROI focused and here’s why:

- They can display your message very neatly
- They cost very little
- Little time is spent making impressions, (self-inking especially)
- Every impression leaves a noticeably unique touch

As there are so many different mediums to deploy the brand onto with the stamp, it's a loss not to use it in some shape or form.

Nobody wants someone else’s mess, right? Keeping things tidy for your consumer should always be top priority. Many times a company will have a simple message they end up writing to consumers by hand hundreds of times a day, (ex: “Entered”) and overlook the branding possibilities. Even with the most simple of messages your company should adhere to a visual standard, rubber stamps being a great solution.

Every brand has an image to uphold through some form of marketing - regardless of income. Deploying rubber stamps in place of costly printing press methods is a great way to save money and can be used on anything from newsletters all the way to information tags and packaging. While not practical for companies needing thousands of brand placements by the minute they certainly are capable of installing your brand to thousands of materials. For higher volume stamping, self inking stamps are recommended as they can deploy message after message thousands of times without delay.

Getting a brand image out to consumers is often a brain scrambling process that many companies try too hard to innovate, losing site of their main goal: to sell. Using your stamps to brand leaves you with slew of innovative branding possibilities and they are deployable on-the-fly.

All companies use some type of form letter, whether it be a welcome letter, a reminder letter, or even holiday greetings. Most likely your business has implemented a computer program that includes your logo on letterhead. Each of those letters is most likely placed into a plain white envelope. Smart business sense tells you that using computer ink to print a return address, or having envelopes printed at a copy service can be expensive. Especially if you want printed inks that don’t smear and create an unprofessional appearance for your business mailing. Use of rubber stamps will add a personalized touch that consumers can't help but notice.

Since the advent of rubber stamps there has always been a perfectly cost effective method at deploying brands - It's a wonder why more companies don't utilize this simple and effective tool!

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Clear Stamps And Scrapbooking: Clearly A Winning Combination

The unique qualities of clear acrylic stamps make them a perfect choice for scrapbooking. Stamping on scrapbook pages has always been a challenge. Placing the stamp and avoiding excess ink are a few of the concerns that keep most scrapbookers from trying stamping techniques on their page layouts, but now with the availability of clear acrylic stamps, anyone can get fantastic results from stamps on their scrapbooking pages.

Clear acrylic stamps, also called polymer stamps, are different from traditional wood block or foam-backed rubber stamps. They are more economical because they are not pre-mounted. Clear stamps are naturally tacky and stick to an acrylic block. They are easily removed allowing you to reuse the block again and again. You simply purchase unmounted clear stamps from any manufacturer, and these work with any clear acrylic mount. Buy a larger mount first that can be used with both small and large stamps. These stamps are also much easier to store, and because they are acrylic, they are lightweight and easy to transport to scrapbooking crops or classes.

Using clear stamps with scrapbooking couldn't be easier. Choose from words, designs and image clear stamps, and peel and stick them to an acrylic block. Now you're ready to start stamping. Because the block and stamp are transparent, you can see exactly where you want to place the imprint. No more misaligned prints! You will have precise placement every time and no more guesswork or stamping mistakes.

Another unique feature of clear acrylic stamps is the ability to mix and match them. With wood and rubber stamps you have to realign your stamps to use more than one stamp together. It takes at least 2 stamping imprints to achieve the same results with one acrylic block. While you can use your clear art stamps individually, the ability to peel and stick to a large acrylic block makes it easy to stamp entire phrases or scenes with one stamp. Just choose your stamps and arrange them all on one clear mount. They can even be from different stamp manufacturers. It's even possible to cut portions of one stamp apart and arrange them in a different pattern for stamping or use only a part of the stamp. Clear art stamps offer much more versatility and functionality than rubber stamps.

Because new stamps tend to resist ink, many scrapbookers recommend conditioning your clear stamps before you use them the first time. Some use a fine grit sandpaper and others prefer a pink eraser. Simply, scuff
the surface of a brand new stamp. This will help it to hold ink more effectively. After stamping with ink, clean it with mild soap and water or rubbing alcohol. Avoid oil-based cleaners, acetone and bleach because these can damage and break down your stamp. Some scrapbookers have difficulty getting a crisp image from clear polymer stamps. To improve the quality of the ink impression, try using a cushioned-surface under your scrapbooking paper. A soft mouse pad works well for this purpose. Using this cushioning effect may take a bit of practice, but the results will be worth it.

Be sure to store your clear stamps in a dark place away from sunlight or indoor lighting. Light can discolor and harden them prematurely. Some inks can stain them, but this won't affect their use. Because they are polymer based, one downside is that they do not last as long as rubber stamps will, but with proper care and storage, you will get years of scrapbooking with quality images from your clear stamps.

Article Tags: Clear Stamps Scrapbooking, Clear Stamps

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How to Choose the Right Rubber Stamps

Years ago there was only one option for rubber stamps and the crafter. The typical wood mounted rubber stamp. Many of the old rubber stamps also came with handles like business stamps today, while others had simple pegs. Thanks to the growth of this hobby, you can now buy many different types of stamps ranging from mounted, unmounted, clear acrylic, foam, individually, or by the sheet. Just a quick check online will show many companies who sell stamps in all of the above types. You might wonder what the best type of stamp to buy is. While it would be wonderful to be able to give a black and white answer, each type has applications that they perform better than the others. We'd like to take the mystery out of what type of stamp to use, when, and how to use it.

Not that long ago, foam stamps were intended to be used by children. While that may have been true many years ago, high quality foam stamps can be purchased these days. Foam stamps are a fantastic choice when you're going to be stamping on fabric or walls. Beyond being inexpensive, they have a very deep image that is perfect for stamping on rough surfaces. Will you be stamping fabric, denim, walls, plaster, or tin? Foam stamps are probably your best option.

Twenty years ago, if you told someone that you had an entire closet filled with rubber stamps, they would've thought you were a crazy fanatic. These days, it is not uncommon at all to have stamps filling up cabinets and closets, a fact that has created a huge demand for stamp storage units. Because mounted rubber stamps, with a wood mount, are bulky and take up a lot of space, some crafters like the idea of buying unmounted rubber stamps. Most of the time, you can buy them in a full sheet at a time and save a bundle, or you may want to buy them individually. Unmounted stamps can be backed with anything from magnets to static cling foam, and can be mounted on the medium of choice. Some prefer using traditional rubber stamps that have been trimmed close to the design and then placed on a static cling foam that can be mounted easily on acrylic blocks. While cost per stamp is usually the biggest concern, another immediate advantage of unmounted stamps is the inexpensive shipping, because you're not paying to ship the wood mount. Beware of buying bargain bags since these are usually of very low quality and the designs are very poor.

Acrylic rubber stamps are the newest stamps on the block. Either someone loves them or they hate them. Clear stamps have a fanatical following one day and every one dislikes them the next day. When you've spent a long amount of time on a scrapbook page and you want to make some final touches with a stamp, the last thing you want to do is ruin all the work you've done by having a smudge or putting something in the wrong place. Because clear stamps are placed on a clear acrylic block, you can see that you get good ink coverage of your stamp and precise placement. You can even double stamp by placing stamped images on top of each other. Keep in mind when looking for clear acrylic stamps that not all are created equal. If you've ever bought cheap clear stamps, you were probably extremely disappointed. Inexpensive, cheap acrylic stamps usually show themselves by attracting lots of dirt, and they usually tear easily. The best clear acrylic stamps made in the U.S.A. are manufactured by Stewart Superior. The proprietary photopolymer this company uses has the perfect amount of stickiness and is very durable. Sometimes when clear acrylic stamps are placed in the sun, they do discolor, but it does not affect in any way the stamped image.

The classic wooded mounted rubber stamp doesn't need any introduction. While the selection available used to be limited to your local craft and hobby store, hundreds stores now sell unique mounted rubber stamps online. Natural rubber creates the clearest, most detailed image of all the stamp types. You should not get a smudged image (common with clear acrylic stamps) with a natural rubber stamp because the rubber pores soak up ink better than the clear polymer.

So which is best? Foam, unmounted, clear, or mounted, we will have to leave the choice up to you. The truth is, they all have their place for certain projects. If your next project is going to be on fabric, or you want to stamp baby room walls, we'd recommend you find some high-quality, foam stamps. Buy a few of each design and if one gets damaged, you can just quickly go to another one. Are you working on a long scrapbook album that's taken hours of work? Want to put some final touches with stamps? I strongly encourage you to buy some clear acrylic stamps. There are some fantastic designs out there that you can use. By using clear acrylic stamps, you can be assured that you won't mess up the hours and hours of work you already put into the project. Are you making cards, scrapbook pages, gift boxes, or patterned paper? Wood mounted rubber stamps or unmounted stamps, mounted your preference, are still your best bet in the end. It's not so much what kind of stamp you have, but what kind of application you're going to be using it with. We hope that after reading this information, you now know exactly what you need to get started on your next project. Go ahead, get started stamping today!

Article Tags: rubber stamping scrapbooking scrapbooks

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Stamping A Fine Impression

Stamping has undergone a metamorphosis from the the time it was first brought into use. Not really a new phenomenon, the trend dates back to 3000 BC when seals were used for the purpose of communication as humans were yet to devise a proper language. That was the era when stamps and seals were generally made from materials like wood, stone, bone and metals. The rapid development of technology in almost all manufacturing processes has meant several improvements in the final product. The same holds true for stamps too. Thanks to the laser technology being employed by many prestigious stamp manufacturers, customers can now procure their customized stamps in less time and expect an even better result in terms of quality. Modern technology has also ensured that less and less errors take place.

The introduction of lasers in the stamping process has made it possible to engrave materials like wood, plastics and plexiglass. Moreover, no manpower is used when laser technology is employed to make stamps. Stamping has truly developed with the times. From symbols in ancient caves to multi colored stamps, humans have truly learned to leave their distinct 'impression'. In fact, in the present times, multi colored stamps have emerged to be a rage- be it for official, personal or artistic purposes, the demand for multi colored stamps ceases to decline and finds application in newer processes everyday. No wonder, established online companies and experts have been on an all time increase and offer a huge variety of multicolored stamps to suit all needs.

The origin of the popular rubber stamps, seen today, is closely linked with early dentistry as dental specialists used vulcanized rubber that was set in plaster molds in order to make inexpensive denture bases. Most dentists had their own vulcanizers, which would be instrumental in manufacturing the first rubber stamp.

In the year 1886, James C Woodruff, taking the help of a dentist relative created the first rubber stamp. There has been no looking back ever since. Stamps have become an indispensable part of most organizations, government offices, post offices and other bodies. The popular picture stamps were introduced in form of educational stamps and the artistic stamps we use today date back to the year 1919 when German artist Kyrt Schwatting used them in his collages. Today, there are hundreds of companies specializing in manufacturing different kinds of stamps around the country and advanced technology is being employed to devise state of the art stamps.

As the Internet revolution spread, stamping gained a new dimension with online companies offering different kinds of stamps including self-inking stamps, pre-inked stamps, rubber stamps, dater stamps and number stamps. No matter what your requirement is- be it name stamps, address stamp, endorsement stamp, or signature stamp, multicolored stamps, ordering high quality stamps today is just a matter of a few clicks!

Stamps people use

Thanks to the rapid advancement in technology, there are different kinds of stamps available at popular online stores like XpressStamp. Self-inking stamps that don't need a inking pad for functioning have been a blessing for all those who have always wanted to avoid messy stamp pads. These stamps boast of a built-in ink pad that inks the stamp die after each impression. The same allows you to make thousands of impressions without any external inking pad. The best part is that such stamps can easily be re-inked. Several good stores offer these stamps in different shapes and sizes to meet your requirement.

Another category of stamps that are popular around the world and available at good online stores are pre-inked rubber stamps. These stamps hold ink within their rubber die and there is no ink pad. Whenever the stamp is used, ink oozes its way out of the rubber die. The reason they are more popular is that they offer a better image quality as compared to self-inking stamps and larger sizes are available. The quality of the stamp die is also better than the one used in traditional and self inking stamps

Despite innovations in stamping, the popularity of traditional rubber stamp cannot be refuted. Suitable for making large impressions, these stamps still find many takers- from crafters to business houses, traditional rubber stamps still retain their popularity on major online stamping stores. Of course, you need an ink pad with these stamps.

Dater stamps allow you to stamps dates fast and more conveniently. In fact, you can also order a customized text above and below the date.

Get your stamp- today!

As business houses and individuals around the world insist on deliveries at a break-neck speed, it has become paramount for stamp making concerns to adopt state of the art technology that enables them to deliver stamps really quickly.

Today companies use high end technology in their manufacturing and delivery processes in order to fulfill commitments in the stipulated time period. They can, in fact, deliver customized stamps within 48 hours, and other stamps in close to 78 hours. Over a period of time, it has been seen that it is not just the prices of articles that matter. In fact, more and more customers have started paying attention to quality of service being offered. The same has resulted in a wash-out of several online companies that aimed to woo customers by merely offering discounts and seldom concentrating on quality service.

Order online

Today, the Internet gives you the option to buy virtually anything without going out at all. The same holds true when it comes to buying stamps. There are several dependable online stores that offer you a wide array of stamps at unbelievable prices. Besides, your orders are shipped in the minimum possible time. Last but not the least, most good stamping sites offer a good price for what are fairly high quality stamps. So, if you are looking for good quality stamps at a decent price, all you need to do is find a reliable online vendor who understands your particular expectations in terms of quality and timely delivery. If you can find a recommended vendor, the rest should be easy to get!

Tags: Rubber Stamps, Address Stamp,Self-inking Stamps

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/stamping-a-fine-impression-33483.html

Customize Your Correspondence Using Photo Stamps

Photo Stamps are a new and exciting way to turn your favorite photos into real useable U.S. postage! Creating photo stamps is easy, all you have to do is upload your favorite photo to one of the many of the websites offering photo stamps and use their online editing interface to move, zoom or rotate to perfect you photo stamp. Many of the custom photo stamps websites also allow you to choose a border in a color that will match your photo perfectly. Photo stamps come in a variety of postage rates to meet all your mailing needs ranging from postcard rates of twenty four cents to thirty nine cents for regular first class to up to four dollars for packages. Photo stamps can be ordered in just a sheet with twenty stamps to large roll of hundreds for bulk mailing. Photo stamps can be ordered and delivered to you and there are also special packages that allow the consumer to print his or her own photo stamps.

No matter what you are mailing there is a way for photo stamps to add a little extra something special to every envelope that is sent out. One widely popular use for photo stamps are for wedding invitations and the thank you cards after the wedding takes place. A wonderful idea is to use one of the wedding photos of the couple showing their rings or just a close-up of the bride in groom in their gown and tux. Another of the more popular ideas is using a photo stamp of your favorite snap shot of your new baby to send out birth announcements. Holidays are another fun and exciting was to use photo stamps. Christmas cards are just that much more special with a family picture as the stamp.

One question that consumers typically have when using photo stamps is how the United States Postal Service can allow users to print their own photo stamps without encountering fraud and counterfeiting. The postal service has developed a system known as information based indicia that prints a specially designed two dimensional bar code on the printed photo stamps between the border and the photographs. The bar code contains, among other pieces of information, the date that the photo stamps were printed, the serial number of the software package that was used to print the stamps, and other encoded pieces of information that make it all but impossible to print counterfeit photo stamps. Special electronic detection equipment at the postal service delivery centers read the information based indicia bar code and can easily report when photo stamps are created fraudulently. In addition to the machine readable two dimensional information based indicia bar code, photo stamps also contain human readable elements that are used to ensure that the photo stamps were created legitimately. All in all, information based indicia based photo stamps are highly successful at preventing counterfeit and fraud. The technology took several years to develop and then was beta tested for more than a year to ensure that the system performed as expected. Of course, given the relatively inexpensive price tag associated with sending postage, it is unlikely that counterfeiters would spend a great deal of time trying to circumvent information based indicia security. There are certainly more lucrative ways for counterfeiters to ply their trade.

Photo stamps are a great way to personalize your letters, cards, and other postal correspondence. By giving customers the ability to create their own custom, legally valid photo stamps while maintaining the security and integrity of the system, the US Postal Service has created a product that has been very successful and is likely to become even more so as more people become aware of the possibility of using photo stamps.

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Personal Photo Stamps

Did you know that you can design your own personal photo stamps?

You don't have to settle with the limited selection of standard-issue postage stamps made available through the United States Postal Service (USPS). You are allowed to design your own stamps, as long as they are paid for and printed using one of the USPS' authorized retailers.

All you need in order to print your own personal photo stamps are the following:

- A computer with Internet access.

- A printer. (Color ink is optional. Black and white works just as well.)

- A metered weighing scale.

- Adhesive label printing paper using standard sizes in compliance with USPS standard guidelines.

You can design your own stamps using your own graphic design software. You can download images from the Internet. Or you can take photographs with your digital camera, or scan a picture onto your computer with a scanner.

Add a touch of pizazz to your mailings and create a great impression. Whether you are mailing out invitations for a wedding or birthday, you are mailing out holiday greeting cards, or you are a business that needs to send correspondence to clients, customers, or vendors, personal photo stamps can leave a lasting impression on your recipients.

You can have photographs of your family or your loved ones on your stamps. If you are a business, you can actually use your company logo as your stamps. The possibilities are limitless.

What's more, because you are printing your own stamps, you never have to go to the Post Office ever again! Weigh your own envelopes or packages, print your own stamps, and drop your packages in the mailbox. If your packages are too big, you can call up the USPS to have your local mail carrier come directly to your home or office to pick up your packages.

Can you really create your own photo stamps? Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hyder_Khan

The Current Facts On Postage Stamps

Postage stamps are the proof that the proper fee has been paid to send a piece of correspondence. If a postage stamp is not present on a piece of mail being sent, the recipient becomes responsible for paying the postage due. If the recipient does not wish to pay the postage due, then the item is returned to the original sender.

Postage stamps can be purchased in a variety of ways. They can be purchased individually, in a book (usually 20) or in a larger roll, if a significant amount is needed. Stamps can be found at the local postal office, in a machine, or at certain locations that provide the service of selling stamps. Keep in mind that most of these remote locations, which are not affiliated with the postal service, tend to charge more per stamp. For example, an establishment that cashes checks and provides other similar services charges 50 cents for a stamp that costs only 39 cents if purchased elsewhere.

Postage stamps have come along way since their initial introduction. No advancement is more appreciated than the birth of the self-sticking stamp. Along with this clever, and much appreciated, advancement, there has also been the change in the look of postage stamps.

Postage stamps come in a variety of sizes and shapes now, and they have all sorts of pictures and themes to them. Depending on the season or current holiday, stamps will have themes that match the current time.

Postage stamps have also been made in honor of certain people and places. Additionally, a neat feature of stamps is that they can be purchased for a particular cause and the difference in the proceeds (which is very slight) will go to the cause the stamps were promoting.

The current price of postage stamps is 39 cents a piece, which is a 2 cents increase over the 37 cents amount. Postage prices continue to rise as the general public uses hard-copy mail less and less, due to advancements in technology that allow most common correspondence to be sent electronically.

As the use of the electronic submission grows, the price of individual postage stamps will most likely increase. If the total volume of mail decreases, the difference must be made up by charging more money to send each piece of mail. The likelihood, at this point, is that postage stamps will continue to increase in price, as time goes on.

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Date Stamp Transcript Embossers

Schools, universities, and many government agencies have a great need for date stamp transcript embossers. These machines can help emboss documents at a rate that would make manual embossing impossible. Most of the machines can make over 2,000 perfect embosses in an hour with a single touch of the date stamp transcript embosser or by a step of the foot pedal.

These date stamp transcript embossers come with the state seal, text, and even custom seals that have artwork, for an additional cost. It is possible to emboss a single sheet and two-part carbonized forms of organizations. The date stamp transcript embosser is perfect for use on certificates, diplomas, and legal papers. All that has to be done to initiate the process is to place the paper to be embossed into the date stamp transcript embosser. You can set the trigger mechanism of the date stamp transcript embosser to stamp at the same depth consistently and accurately. If required, you can also get optional guide shelves that allow for the exact positioning of the document or certificate every time you have to emboss them.

There are various accessories that come with date stamp transcript embossers; you can opt for a foot pedal or push button stamping, visual counter, security lock and the extension trigger. The newer models of date stamp transcript embossers now emboss a raised seal into a document while printing a combination of signature, date, title, and any additional text in a single go. With this, you cannot only emboss the date on these important documents, you can also sign, validate, and certify these certificates.

Most of the date stamp transcript embossers come with an interchangeable die clip to give the user a choice of three seal sizes. With these different pressure settings, it is possible to execute three pressure settings on various paper stocks. These embossing can be imprinted within 4.5? of the edge of the document. With skid-proof rubber feet, the date stamp transcript embosser also protects your desktop and ensures the stability of the machine.

Date Stamps provides detailed information on Date Stamps, Date Stamp Kits, Custom Date Stamps, Electronic Date Stamps and more. Date Stamps is affiliated with Email Stationery.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Marlborough

US Stamp Collecting

Stamp collecting is one of the most popular hobbies. In United States alone, there are more than twenty million collectors and this number is growing everyday. Stamp collecting is so popular in United States that more people are stamp collecting up as hobbies.

The prices of US stamps rose rapidly in the 1930s. Because of this many American collectors stockpiled mint US stamps with the hopes of selling them for a sizeable amount in a few years' time. However, this never materialized. Today, one can find many 1930s US issues in mint condition for close to face value. Many stamp dealers and stamp collectors nowadays still use stamps issued far back as the 1930s for postage and mailing letters.

Most US stamps issued in the 1930s are easy to obtain. However, they have minimal value. Not all US stamps issued in the 1930s have minimal value. The two dollars and sixty cents United States Graf Zeppelin stamp is worth a substantial amount of money.

Even though some stamps are not of high value, some collectors still collect US stamps as they have inculcated a sense of value and realized that the stamps are valuable to them. Value in this context however does not mean monetarily value but more of a value to their collection and themselves.

As stamp collecting is one of the most popular hobbies in United States, there are organizations set up to gather these people together. These organizations are set up so that stamp collectors can come together to view one another's stamps. It has become so popular in the United States that even online organizations are available for collectors in the United Stated to join.

US stamp collection and philately organizations are very easy to find. You can simply go on the internet to locate them. Sometimes, they even offer rare stamps and you can buy them online too. US is a very big country with great history. Their stamps means a lot to American stamp collectors.

If you get hold of a United States stamp take a look at it closely. You'll be surprised to see the fine details of the stamp. Read up more about the stamp and you will learn to appreciate it more.

Stamp collecting is a great hobby. It's a hobby that you and your kids can take up. To find out more about stamp collecting and how you can get going with it, visit our website for more information now! ==> http://www.stampcollectinghobby.net

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The Best Ideas For A Customized Rubber Stamp

A customized rubber stamp can be a great way to personalize your outgoing mail, cards, or other items. Many people indulge in buying a customized rubber stamp without realizing just how much can really be done with a customized rubber stamp. Here are some of the best ideas for a customized rubber stamp that you may not have thought of.

Return Address Customized Rubber Stamp

This type of rubber stamp can be used on outgoing mail and cards. But it can also be used to mark back packs, coats, mittens, books, skates, and other items often misplaced. This is especially helpful for events such as Boy Scout camp and school field trips.

Name Customized Rubber Stamp

This type of rubber stamp is often used to personalize cards and letters. However, there are many other ways that you can use a name customized rubber stamp. You can use it to easily mark your child’s school items. You could also use it to mark place mats or cubby holes if you have more than one child.

One of the best ways to use a rubber stamp with your name is on wedding accessories. If you get the bride and groom names on the rubber stamp you can use it to personalize all of your napkins, mementos, streamers, table cloths, and other accessories that may be cherished by both the couple and the guests.

Another great way to use a rubber stamp with a name or names is on the backs of pictures. If you send out pictures to your friends and family every year this is a great time saver! Get a customized rubber stamp with the name of each family member, as well as one with the family name. Combined with a date rubber stamp, you can easily mark the people in the photo as well as the date taken before mailing without writing your hand off!

Account Number Customized Rubber Stamp

Many people get customized rubber stamps with their bank account number on it for easy deposit of checks. However, there are many other uses for this type of rubber stamp. There are many documents that may require your account number other than checks for deposit only.

A bank account number may be required for a direct deposit form or credit check. It may also be needed for you income tax return or other financial documents. Rather than trying to remember the number or look it up each time, the customized rubber stamp allows you to easily stamp the account number on any needed documentation.

Amy Wells writes about effective rubber stamping tips and techniques. Looking for stamping supplies? Find discounted, high quality rubber stamps and supplies at: http://www.BuyRubberStamp.com

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Coins, Paper Money, Or Stamps

What should you collect as a hobby; coins, paper money, or stamps?

Which is the best investment?

It’s strange that some people who collect coins, paper money, or stamps, always want some kind of return on their investment. These are the same people who think nothing of buying a new car and then selling it a few years later for a fraction of what they paid for it. A new car loses value as soon as you drive it on the road!

As for investing in paper money, if someone is buying notes and thinking how much will they be able to get when they sell them again, this person has the wrong hobby. Enjoy collecting for the pleasure and for the fun of it.

Coins and stamps are tangible reminders of years gone by. Yet, while coin collecting is flourishing as a hobby, stamp collecting is decreasing in popularity. Many families who inherit stamp collections are more interested in getting the collection appraised than continuing the collection. You can’t collect something if you don’t know what it is.

Stamp collecting dates back to 1840, when the first stamp was issued in England. One of the earliest indications of stamp collecting is an advertisement from an English newspaper in which a young woman wanted used stamps to wallpaper her room. Soon, post offices discovered stamp collectors as a good source of revenue. From there, stamp collecting took off.

There are no rules about stamp collecting. Some people collect stamps from a certain country while others focus on a particular theme, such as flowers, or ships, or buildings.

Unfortunately, stamp collecting has simply lost its appeal to younger people.

Coin collecting, on the other hand, is at its peak in popularity. Rare or modern coins offer history that collectors can hold in their hand, and every period from the past 2,500 years is reflected in coinage.

Stamps disappear and become part of the ground. A coin can be dug up and, while new varieties of stamps are not really being discovered, new types of coins from all over the world are still being found. How many stamps or bank notes do you think you’ll find while out exploring with a metal detector?

Whilst improperly stored coins can degrade and lessen in value, paper money can be damaged by handling, sunlight, or water. All are subject to flood, fire, or other natural catastrophes.

A stock certificate with half of it burned away is just as good as a mint one in terms of its value on the exchange. In fact, as long as ownership can be proven, it often doesn't even matter if the physical certificate exists. The same can’t be said for paper money.

You can insure against these problems, and go to great lengths to maintain proper storage conditions, but all of this costs money and adds to the cost of the investment, often for many years before there is any return at all.

Today, coin collecting is one of the world’s most popular hobbies. Amateur collectors enjoy coins for their beauty and rarity. Added to this is the excitement of searching for and finding specific coins and the challenge of identifying new ones.

Why is coin collecting thriving and stamp collecting dying? Coins are still being used and are still fascinating. It is an investment as well as a hobby. Coins continue to go up in value while many stamps are at the peak value they will ever receive. Furthermore, many are going down in value.

Enjoy your hobby, and consider whatever you invest in it to be pleasure money, the same way you would count money you spent going to ball games, or dining out, or buying new clothes. Then, whatever you or your family get out of your collection is pure profit, whether it is more or less than what you originally paid.

After all, if you spend $20 a week going to the movies, you don't expect to get anything back for your $1,000 a year collection of ticket stubs, do you?

I believe there is room in both the collecting of coins and paper money for both collectors and investors.

The important thing to remember in investing in coins or banknotes is rarity and desirability.

By: Gary Anthony Lacey

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Old US Postage Stamps Price Guide

Thousands of people are avid stamp collectors. Even though this hobby may not seem the most interesting to everybody, stamp collecting is a great hobby. Those who are into collecting stamps know it can be a very entertaining hobby that can be quite time consuming. There are many reasons to get into stamp collecting. It can be exciting to find the different stamps that have been issued throughout the years. It can also be a thrill to collect special edition stamps or find stamps that were misprinted. Another reason that stamp collecting can be exciting is because many old stamps can be worth quite a bit of money. However, it can be difficult to know what old stamps are worth. Fortunately, an old US postage stamps price guide can help you know what your stamp collection is worth.

Benefits of Stamp Price Guide

A stamp price guide not only will let you know what the price of stamps are, but it will also offer other benefits as well. An old US postage stamps price guide will let you know all the stamps that are available and what special edition stamps have been issued over the years.

Stamp guides will also have interesting articles about stamps and stamp collections. A lot of great information can be gained from these guides. Many times the articles themselves alone are a reason to purchase the stamp guides.

Where to Find Stamp Price Guides

There are many different places you can find stamp guides. Collector stores that specialize in collecting stamps are a great place to start. You may find that your local collector store has several different stamp price guides. You can ask the salespeople at the store which guide they would recommend as well as what the differences between the guides are.

Stamp price guides are not as common in retail stores, but you may find some that carry them. Your favorite bookstore will have stamp price guides available as well. If you are part of a stamp collectors club, the other members may know a good place to find stamp guides.

The Internet is a great place to find stamp guides. There are several special collectors sites that sell stamp price guides. As well, there are hundreds of stamp collecting discussion forums on the Internet. These sites will help you find a place to purchase a stamp price guide.

An Essential Tool

An old US postage stamps price guide is an essential tool for any stamp collector. The information found inside this guide can help you learn more about collecting stamps and learn how much your collection is worth. Check out the places discussed above and see if you can find an old US postage stamps price guide so that you can get even more out of your stamp collection today.

Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about postage stamps visit Stamp Collecting Sales Site for current articles and discussions.

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Date Stamp Manufacturers

Date stamps have become very popular in order to mark the current dates on various pieces of files and documents or even objects. It provides brief information about when the object was last handled. Date stamps are an extension of the rubber stamps that involves the application of ink on a surface molded in shape of numbers. Ink is applied in the date stamp and an impression is engraved on the object. Date stamps have a mechanism to change the date with the help of a knob, which is rotated on the top of the stamp.

Date stamps are a convenient, efficient and a great way to solemnize paperwork in office and to maintain a check on the receipt and dispatch of important official document. There are many Date Stamp Manufacturers in America and the recent increase in demand of Date Stamps has seen a spurge of international manufacturing companies. Date Stamp Manufacturers provide efficient services to their customers; beginning with a "dial-a-stamp" concept that has seen increased popularity. The customer needs to call or e-mail the Date Stamp Manufacturer about his requirements and the company would make sure that the final product is delivered within 24 hours of placing the order.

Date stamps are manufactured in large variety of styles, patters, designs, and sizes. The various styles used by date stamp manufacturers may include the traditional date stamps that require a stamp pad to heavy duty, metal framed, and self-inking date stamps. These high-end date stamps are not very expensive to purchase. However, it is advisable to purchase a self-updating feature on a date stamp, which eliminates the requirements of manually changing the date everyday. An inbuilt spring system changes and updates the date automatically benefiting those who are forgetful and may land in trouble by stamping wrong dates on the document and objects. Date Stamp Manufacturers can be contacted either directly via phones or through the Internet.

Date Stamps provides detailed information on Date Stamps, Date Stamp Kits, Custom Date Stamps, Electronic Date Stamps and more. Date Stamps is affiliated with Email Stationery.

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Shadow Stamping - Quick Elegant Cards and Pages

Shadow stamping is a new, fun, and simple way of stamping cards and pages. It allows you to craft your very own setting and theme for your projects. Beauty is found in the color combinations, choice of stamps and the moods you create. With shadow stamping you can create elaborate, detailed projects with very little effort.

WHAT IS SHADOW STAMPING?

Basically it is the process of using geometric shapes or solid stamps to create a background for your project. Shadow stamping always includes the use of two or more colors, usually pastels, to create the background. This is your shadow. Once your shadow is created, you stamp your desired image over the shadow in a contrasting color. As you can imagine, this technique has vast possibilities. Shadow stamping has many techniques for varying effects which you may wish to use collectively or on their own.

INKS

There are special inks for shadow stamping, but you can do it without them. The key to remember is that you need light images. To do this with regular inks, use a second or third impression. The shadow will get increasingly lighter with each impression.

BASIC SHADOW STAMPING

Ink the entire shadow and stamp on card or scrapbook page. Stamp your image over the shadow with a contrasting color.

ELEGANT EDGES

Ink only the edges using the sides of your stamp pad or a sponge. Shadow stamping with this technique will add depth to the project. This method may be combined with Basic Shadow Stamping.

SHADOW IN A SHADOW

Ink your shadow but do not stamp. Using a smaller shadow, press the unlinked stamp onto the inked one to remove ink, stamp the results onto your paper. Continue stamping until the desired results are achieved.

MONOPRINT SHADOW STAMPING

This method is just like the "Shadow in a Shadow" technique only instead of using a smaller shadow, use an image. Shadow stamping with this method is great for creating a themed page.

STAMPING ON STAMPS

Ink your shadow stamp. Ink a smaller stamp in a darker color and stamp the image onto your inked shadow stamp. Stamp the results on paper to see your creation.

STYLUS SHADOW STAMPING

Ink your shadow, then using a stylus, draw lines or curves through the wet ink. Stamp on paper.

TRIPLE SHADOW

Ink the first shadow and stamp. Ink a second smaller shadow, turn 90º and stamp; ink a third even smaller shadow, turn another 90º and stamp. Stamp your image over resultant background.

Shadow stamping is a technique as diverse as the imagination. Whether doing basic shadow stamping, stylus , or stamp on stamp shadow stamping, you will find these methods will help you quickly and simply theme and enhance your own distinctive projects.

To see pictures of the different techniques discussed in this article simply visit http://www.clearlyrubberstamping.com/page/shadow_stamping

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Promoting Your With Personalized Stamps

Did you know that you can promote your wellness business with personalized stamps? Personalized stamps are great fun to use. Even though many people pay their bills online, there are often bills that we mail on a monthly basis. Why not take advantage of your regular mail to be able to promote your wellness business with personalized stamps? Personalized stamps are a terrific marketing tool to use.

Right at your mailbox is a great marketing tool that many people do not think about. Stop for a moment and think about all the people that end up looking at your mail to get it from your mailbox to the company that you’re paying a bill to or someone you are writing a letter to. There will be a minimum of three to five people that will handle that one envelope. Picture this; the envelope has your wellness website address and logo on it. People are naturally curious. Chances are that a few people are going to write down that address and visit it. As you know, once they come to your wellness website, the products and services virtually sell themselves.

The starting point is to create a company logo that looks good when it is small. You want a logo that is not full a lot of detail because the details will not show up well on the small area. You should also select a logo that has bright colors. Red is good because it automatically grabs people’s attention and gets them to stop. Selecting your wellness business logo is important for using personalized stamps for promotion.

Next, you will should go on the internet and find a company that will let you upload your logo and web address for your personalized stamps. Many companies are available and offer some terrific prices. The expense is well worth getting the additional advertising and marketing your wellness home business. Upload your wellness home business logo and web address and order your personalized stamps.

What types of mail should you place the personalized stamps? Everything that you mail should have the stamp. It is a good idea to send a thank you card to customers for their orders. This will increase the chances of repeat sales. You can even have customized personal stamps that are postage rate for post cards. You can hand write a thank you note on an index card and send it to your customer with the personalized stamp.

If you mail volume is low, you might get co-workers, friends and relatives to agree to use the stamps. You only charge them the actual postage fee and not the personalization fee. Many people do not think about or care what stamps they use as long as they are getting their stuff mailed. Personalized postage stamps are is remarkable marketing tools for letting people know that you have a small wellness home business. The response that you will get with increased traffic might truly surprise you. Traffic means that you will have increased sales and sales mean that you will have a larger customer base of repeat customers.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
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How To Collect Used Thematic Stamps

Have fun and learn too with this economical hobby!

As any parent or guardian will tell you, keeping kids entertained in this electronic world can be a financial nightmare. However - don't despair - help is at hand in the form of an inexpensive hobby which will also help encourage the development of your child's innate curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Often seen as the hobby of the insular child, stamp collecting, and in particular thematic stamp collecting, is instead the perfect way to introduce a child to the concept of worlds beyond his or her own, different cultures and countries.

Most serious stamp collectors started collecting thematic stamps as children. Almost every country in the world seems to produce commemorative stamps to celebrate its own anniversaries or special events. The letters the postman brings to your home every day yield a surprising number of interesting stamps for the novice collector. Make a point of looking out for interesting stamps on envelopes at the office - and don't forget to ask your colleagues to keep an eye out too. Your child will have a varied collection in no time! And with most of us taking advantage of the Internet and shopping on international sites like eBay we're also consequently receiving a wider choice of attractive foreign stamps on packaging - stamps that make precious additions to your child's thematic stamp collection.

Large mixed packs of international used thematic stamps can also be bought cheaply - they should be well within the budgets of most pocket money allowances. With some Caribbean and African countries even over producing commemorative stamps to supply the demands of the foreign collector's market the prices for these stamps are low but they are none the less very attractive. On average, a selection pack of mixed stamps will supply a varied assortment of thematic categories such as:

Sport – Football is probably the most popular sport on stamps with World Cup issues all over the world.
The Animal World – From the smallest insect to the whale...

Walt Disney – Find Mickey, Goofy and Donald Duck on stamps too!

Famous People – Elvis Presley, James Dean, Princess Diana, Charlie Chaplin...even Leonardo DiCaprio has his own stamps!

Transport – From ships to steam trains!

If your child does get into stamp collecting as a hobby he'll probably want to acquire some basic accessories such as a magnifying glass, a pair of tweezers and an album. Don't forget that these items make perfect gifts at holidays and birthdays so friends or relations need never be without ideas as to what to give as a gift with a young philatelist in the family!

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Tips For Adding Stamps To Your Collection

Collecting stamps has become a world wide hobby does not need a huge amount of financial backing to begin. In fact, all that is needed is hard work to collect stamps that are inexpensive, but your efforts will be rewarded with a collection that shows your own personality.

The best place to start your own collection is from your own incoming mail and you may be surprised at the variety of stamps you will be able to locate in this way, which do not cost you a thing. Let your friends and relatives know about your decision to start a stamp collection, which will produce even more stamps for your collection that do not cost your a single penny.

Let your neighbors also know about your collection, so that they can tell their own friends and family members to start saving stamps. In no time at all, you could have a huge collection of stamps. By asking your friends, neighbors, and family members to save their empty envelopes you may have letter coming in from all over the country in no time. Now you have developed a kind of lookout support team to help you in your pursuit of stamps.

Another way to collect easily is you or someone you know works in an office, because you can have them save the empty envelopes for you also. Sometimes office mail is scanned and the best stamps are sent from a variety of locations to that work place. Your parents, friends, relatives, and neighbors will be happy to check at their offices for incoming mail. Your stamp support team may also have old letters that are still in their envelopes, and all collectors known that older stamps are better and are more unique.

To remove stamps from their envelopes carefully soak the stamps on the envelopes in water, which will make it easy to remove the stamps. This way adhesive will be lost and then the stamp can be separated from the envelope. Next dry the stamps carefully by minimizing any possible damage that can be caused by them being torn.

Getting help from other collectors is another valuable way to increase your knowledge about this wonderful hobby. Collectors gather together for swap meets to exchange any duplicate stamps that they may have with other collectors. Some times clubs will present stamps as prizes or even make them available cheaper for club members. Another way to meet other collectors is by joining a stamp club if there is one in your local neighborhood. If there is not a stamp club in your area, then start your own club with stamp enthusiasts in your own neighborhood that can meet every weekend or every other weekend to exchange ideas and information on the latest stamps available.

Pen pals are another source for collecting stamps, because letters would have stamps for their own area. Although you both may be from the same country does not mean that your stamps will be the same. Perhaps, your pen pal will start collecting stamps their selves and you can swap stamp through the mail! Collectors can even purchase stamps directly through the mail by ordering them through a variety of magazines and newspapers, but be cautious when purchasing these items by paying close attention to their return policy.

Hopefully, these tips will provide you with great ways for starting your stamp collection. The main purpose is to create a collection by learning about each stamp as you add it to your collection by saving money and having great time while collecting them.

By: Victor Epand

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Tips For Selling Your Stamp Collection

Stamp collectors will spend a huge amount of time collecting stamps and the majority actually spends their entire lives collecting. However, there are some collectors who collect stamps only to resell them, so here are some helpful tips for selling your stamps.

Collectors spend a significant amount of time, effort, and money acquiring their stamps to build their collection, how ever many make a vital mistake. That mistake is not selling their stamps while before their death. The knowledge of how, where, and when to actually sell a stamp collection is an incredibly important part of the collection process.

The family of the avid collector will not appreciate the effort that has been put into creating the collection of stamps as the collector did. Thus, the collection may not bring the potential profit it should, so the collector should take responsibility in their collection by either training a child in this unique hobby or by gaining the best possible profits from their collection. However, there are advantages and disadvantages with each way the collector decides to sell their collection.

Several collectors may decide to sell their stamps directly to stamp dealers, but the disadvantages to selling to a dealer is that dealers will usually give the lowest price for stamps, especially if the collector is attempting to sell a huge quantity. The dealer may also only give the collector a wholesale value, which means that someone else is going to receive the profits from your collection when they mark them up. The advantages of selling your collection to a dealer is that it is a very quick process and usually it is done in cash. If the collector has a bulky collection that is not organized, then this may just be the best choice.

Some collectors prefer to sell directly to other collectors through shows or stamp clubs and it is not unusual for any collector to sell their collection to friend, who collect stamps. Auction houses is another avenue that any collector could choose when wanting to sell their entire collection, although their collection will be broken down to sold individually at other private sales.

When selling a collection the market value of the collection must first be determined. However, many collectors do not understand or have the knowledge needed in determining the true condition of stamp, so the collection may need to be taken to a professional to be evaluated. Relaying on the individual or dealer to determine the purchase price means that they must be trust worthy, so there is some danger in doing this, especially if they are the one who are buying them.

A collection of stamps can also be sold by private treaty, which means selling your collection to another collector through the use of a private agent. The agent acts as a middle man, who is a stamp dealer or a private auctioning house where the sales will include either one stamp or your entire collection. Ultimately, the private agent or middle man will receive a fee or percentage for their service, which will decrease your profits.

The advantages of using a private treat are that it is a cash sale, your collection would be sold entirely, and the profits would be better than by wholesale or directly to a dealer. The disadvantage is that the price for your collection may be less after the private agent receives their fee.

By: Victor Epand

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

A Variety Of Stamps For The Avid Collector

Collectors have a wide variety of stamps to choose from since almost every country in the world issues stamps in number of different types and formats. Collectors may choose to create their collection to reflect their personal interests so that it shows their own unique identity.

Some individuals collect commemorative stamps that are issued to remember a special event or individual, which are only available for a limited time. The first commemorative stamp issued in the United States celebrated the landing of Columbus in the New World, which was issued in 1869. Another type of stamp is the Se-tenant, which are two or more un-separated stamps that have different designs or values. These types of stamps are usually part of a commemorative set of stamps, such as the 1987 issue of Flora and Fauna.

Airmail stamps is type of stamps that were issued from by the United States from 1918 until 1993 for any item that was delivered by air. In this type are the extremely popular 1930 Zeppelin stamps, which were withdrawn from the market after only forty-one days. This is the reason these are the most sought after airmail stamps available with the exception of the twenty-four cent Inverted Jenny error airmail stamp of 1918.

Stamps that have been surcharged, overprinted, or inscribed with an extra charge with the addition to the postage fee with the intention of obtaining funds for a variety of charities are known as semi-postal stamps. The United States has issued only two types of these stamps, which include the Heroes of 2001 that raised funds for the victims of the 9-11 attack and the 1996 Breast Cancer Awareness stamp.

Coil stamps are long coiled strips of stamps that are used in affixing machines or are sold in vending machines, which have straight edges on two opposite sides and perforations on the other two. A coil line pair of stamps is a pair of stamps from a rotary coil that show a colored line that causes a gap where the printing plate was joined. A small book that contains stamps is known as booklet stamps, which are extremely convenient are are often sold through vending machines. Booklet panes are panes of stamps that are cut and printed to be sold only in these booklets. Booklets stamps usually contain at least two of these panes.

Stamped envelopes are a special type of envelope where the postage stamp has been either embossed or preprinted onto the envelope. Collectors will collect these as either entires or as cut squares where the stamp is cut out of the envelope where a square has been shaped from the margin. A postal card is stationary that has been issued by the post office and is similar to a postal envelope that has a stamp that has been preprinted or embossed onto the card.

In 1934 Congress authorized Federal Duck stamps to license hunters as a type of revenue to help maintain waterfowl life within the United States. Sales of these stamps were offered to collectors in 1935, who prefer them in mint condition. These stamps are attached to hunting licenses and issued by each state individually. Federal Duck Stamps are one of the most popular collectible stamp with collectors.

Revenue or tax stamps are attached to any documents, stock certificates, playing cards, tobacco, etc. that shows a required government tax has been paid. Definitive stamp are regular stamps that are used for regular postage and used for a number of years.

By: Victor Epand

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Best Sources For Purchasing Stamps

The hobby of collecting stamps has become the foundation of trust between collector and dealers all over the world. Philatelists conduct transactions by dealing with reputable dealers and individual collectors who have memberships in the American Philatelic Society and/or the American Stamp Dealers Association.

By working with members of these associations, collectors can rely on the authenticity of stamps they are purchasing. Collectors are offered peace of mind and that enables them to purchase stamps without too much worry. The primary source to purchase stamps is with dealers and collectors who belong to one or both of these two organizations to ensure the authenticity of your collection.

The Internet is another vital source of information for stamp collectors. You can do search for information on individual stamps by using key words, such as "stamp collecting", "philately" etc. If the Universal Resource Locator or URL is known of any dealer, then all that is needed is to key in the URL into your browser, which will bring up the dealer's website. Another way to search is through the American Philatelic Society website where you can find a list of dealers.

There are also a variety of auctions where you can purchase stamps at a price that is below their market value. Philatelists typically subscribe to auction catalogs to stay current on any stamps that they are interested in and to find out if any are going to soon be offered at auctions.

Understanding the process of purchasing stamps at auctions will give any collector another avenue to purchase the stamps they need for their private collections. By joining area stamp clubs or a philatelic organization you will be able to accomplish this and at the same time become acquainted with other collectors having the same interest.

A number of affiliated organizations of the American Philatelic Society devote their time to stamps from particular countries, themes, and topics. One such organization is the United States Philatelic Classics Society that specializes in stamps of the 19th century within the United States. By maintaining a membership in one or more of these organizations many doors will open for you, which include obtaining valuable information on how to purchase stamps through trading with group members.

Periodicals are constantly being published that include stamp show schedules, which seem to be the most active market for purchasing stamps. These types of shows tend to be on a large scale and any collector should be able to locate reputable firms who specialize in dealing with philatelic material. Another valuable source for acquiring stamps for your collection is directly from the postal administrations of various countries, which can be found in publications such as a stamp almanac.

When you develop a better understanding of purchasing stamps from the market place, another way to obtain stamps is by running a classified ad in your local newspaper under either Stamps Wanted or Buying Stamps. You might be surprised at the number of people that are interested in selling their stamps. Collectors all over will sell their stamps to remove particular stamps from their collections or they will run an ad offering to sell their stamps. However, before searching for any stamp be sure you are acquainted with all purchasing methods.

By: Victor Epand

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