The Famous Stamp Collectors

The following are famous stamp collectors and enthusiasts who have made stamp collecting their living breathing and walking life.

Carl Pelander

He was a man from New York city who lived from the years 1893 to 1966. His expertise was Scandinavian stamps as he has collected such items when he was still young. It was in the year 1937 when he began to deal and auction stamps. Since then he has held 130 auctions from the year 1940 up to the year 1963. The stamps he usually dealt with were from Scandinavia, of which the collection from Agathon Faberge' was included as well as from Caroline Cromwell.

Believe it or not, he was also the one responsible for selling the famous US collection of Ferrars H Tows.

Thanks to his expertise, a book was published entitled The Postal Issues of Finland. He was also able to produce check list of stamps that included those that come from Denmark, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Finland, West Indies, Sweden.
Pelander was also able to form the Stamp Club of those who are Finnish and American during 1935. The club is now known as the Scandinavian Collectors Club.

Pelander edited the journal the club produced, The Posthorn from 1943 to 1949 and even financially helped the club out during trying times.

Philip Ward Jr

He was a man from Philadelphia who was most known to buy and sell great and rare stamps. A lot of auctions were conducted by him wherein amazing materials were available from a series of valuable collections.

His most famous collections were stamps from US that were unused, letters from presidents, autographs from presidents, the history of Philadelphia post, etc.

Another of his most famous collection was the US Revenues wherein it contained a set of complete centers that are inverted. Unbelievably, he also had a collection of stamps called Match and Medicine.

William W Hicks

Hicks was from Pennsylvania and was a specialist in three-cent US stamps issued in the years 1851 up to 1857. He founded the three cent unit. William Hicks built the largest as well as complete collection of railroad cancels from the US during his time.

George Ward Linn

He was a man from Ohio who was most famous for his weekly stamp news issued on November 5 1928. Since when he was young, he was able to edit and publish journals on philately including monographs until his retirement in the year 1965.

Linn was the son of a publisher and a printer. During his active stamp collecting life, he also auctioned off some stamps. He was also interested in the literature of philately that in 1902 he also came out with the Philatelic Literature.

George Linn supported a lot of stamp clubs and societies beginning with the Club of the Columbus Philatelic. He was also the one responsible for making Ohio the one location where the American Philatelic Association holds its convention.

Harry Weiss

He was a man from Illinois and was considered the most read columnist in philately during his time.

He regularly wrote a column which provided tips, stories on the hobby of stamp collecting.
During 1946, he organized the Laboratory of the Midwest Philately wherein it offered a lot of services to stamp collectors as well as estates on stamp appraisals, mounting, expertization.

Louise Boyd Dale

She is considered by America as its most distinguished stamp collector. Her love for philately began early on in her life thanks to the influence of her father, whom she also considered as her mentor.

There were many collections that she built, specifically those from Asia and British Africa. Most of her collections were put under the foundation of her daughter, Anne Boyd Lichtenstein. Now, these are available to stamp collectors and students to further support research on philately.

It was in 1956 wherein she was the first ever woman appointed to be a judge in the exhibition of international philately, also called as FIPEX.

In the same year, she also became the first woman from America to provide her signature in the list of distinguished philatelists. Four years later, she was included and appointed to the International Stamp Exhibition in London.

All in all, stamp collecting requires no special skill or talent. Just a passionate love if not a healthy obsession for stamps.

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Spotting An Original Stamp From A Fake

Postage stamps are one of the most collected items in the world. However, they are also considered as the most faked, regummed and counterfeited items.

The following are basic tips and advice to know which is fake and which is not.

Gum or re-gummed, that is the question

First things first, what does it mean when a stamp is said to have been regummed?

A regummed stamp basically means that the stamp no longer contains gum in its one hundred percent original content.

A gum is said to have been original when the gum is produced from the United States postal authority or any other official postal authority such as Newfoundland or Canada. The instance a particular individual has applied his own gum blend to the stamp's back is the instance wherein the stamp is considered as officially regummed.

Why is regumming done?

Regumming is made to stamps to make it appear better and enhanced, therefore further increasing the stamp's value. Frau occurs when a particular collector buys a stamp and was informed that the stamp has an original gum, but is really a re-gummed one.

How to know which is which?

The most easy and convenient way to detect which gum is original and which is counterfeit is by simply comparing an original gum from a regummed one.

Try to take note of the following. A regummed stamp has a textured and dull appearance with a little inconsistencies in the thickness of the gum or when it is reflected in the light. Also, there are stamps that have been regummed and appear to have a surface that is glossy. The same appearance holds with stamps that are imperforated.

A stamp that contains a watermark can be easily seen on a stamp that has been regummed.
Meanwhile, a stamp that was originally gummed has a watermark that could only be seen when the stamp is dipped in a tray of watermark using fluid for watermark. In the absence of such a fluid, the watermark in an original gum could also be seen when the stamp is put up to a light that is very strong.

Observe, try to notice if the watermark seems to have been impressed in the gum. If so, start to be suspicious.

Another tip is that a stamp that has been regummed will most likely curl if it is placed down with its face on the hand's palm. A stamp that has been originally gummed will not do that.
One sure sign that a stamp has been regummed is to check on the stamps tips. If the perforation feels sharp, it surely has been regummed. Usually, an originally gummed stamp will feel soft.

Fortunately or unfortunately, a good regummer still has a way to fake it. What he usually does is that he will try to file patiently down the tips of the perf in order to make them soft.

The only way to effectively differentiate this is via looking through them under a strong magnifying glass.

Another clue to know a regum from an original is to check and see if the gum extends well into the holes of the perforation. This situation never occurs in an original because the perforation is done after applying the gum.

However, a regummer still has a way to fake it via filing out the perforated holes in order to eliminate any gum that are in excess. But most likely, they will almost always miss a spot.

Stamps that are reperforated

Believe it or not, these types of stamps are prevalent than most collectors think. This basically means that a perforation has been done privately by an individual and not officially by the United States Postal Service. Why do individuals do it then? This is done in order to increase the stamp's value.

Stamps that were perforated officially have holes that are shaped in oval form and are cut less cleanly than perforations done privately. When seen closely, perforations that are originally done have little paper tufts that extend to the holes.

All in all, stamp collecting - contrary to popular belief - is a challenging and an adventurous hobby. It requires diligence, patience, perseverance and a lot of passion. That is if you know what to look for and how.

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Collecting Stamps From All Over The Place

Believe it or not, the first stamp was issued in England on the 6th of May, in the year 1840. Since then, the issuance of stamps grew in all countries and the collection of stamps have also increased, and there is no stopping it. And because the number of stamps have grown in leaps and bounds - for the sake of convenience - collectors have limited themselves into single country collecting.

Multiple country collecting

Collecting stamps from one country compared to collecting stamps from various nations is better as there is a lot more time and effort to have access to more stamps locally than internationally.

For instance, it is a bit difficult to complete an Austrian stamp collection because of its rarity and only a few stamps are ever available.
The easiest and probably the most famous stamp to collect are those that come from one's own country.

However it all depends on your own preference. For instance, stamps from Austria began to be collected through a specific motif that a particular stamp or group of stamps have. An example would be the collection of stamps as according to the pictures they have, such as flowers, dogs, trains, paintings, ships, buildings, weapons or women.

However, a beginning stamp collector or those that intend to collect on an average basis may do well to start gathering stamps from their own country.

Stamps that are issued fresh hot of the post are very affordable. Believe it or not, stamps that have just been released may be bought with no additional charge from any postal office right on the day of its issuance.

Beautiful US stamps about beautiful US

If you are willing to collect stamps about the beautiful country that is the US of A, there are a set of stamps out there which showcase such.
The Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, for instance are shown in the stamp issued by the United States Postal Service. The stamp that costs a mere seventy-five cents shows the Great Smokey Mountain during sunset as photographed by David Muench from California, specifically in Santa Barbara.

The breathtaking picture view also has portions of Tennessee and North Carolina. This national park is best known for its diverse plant life as well as animal life as one will definitely see when he hikes along its eight hundred mile trail.

Another beautiful US landmark that has been immortalized in a stamp is the Yosemite National Park. The stamp costs eight-four US cents and it features a picture of the valley gates of the Yosemite as photographed by Galen Rowell of California, specifically Emervville.

If you are a nature lover, or even if you are not, collecting the stamp will most probably make you one.

Yosemite park was established as such on the first of October in the year 1890. the park boasts of a variety of natural features and geographical wonders such as meadows that stretch as far as the eye can see, lakes, waterfalls, sequoias and monoliths that are made out of granite. These granites are called half Dome and El Capitan.

Believe it or not, Yosemite has been designated as ninety five percent authentic wilderness.
Another US treasure found on a sixty three cent stamp is Utah's Bryce Canyon. These stamps are all part of the Scenic Landscapes in America released by the US Postal Service.

The canyon is beautifully photographed by Tom Till from the city of Moab, Utah. Thanks to erosion, the Utah landscape developed spires now called as whimsical-looking hoodoos. Bryce Canyon was recognized nationally as a monument in 1923.

America's crops

Believe it or not, the crops grown in America are also featured in US stamps. The following crops has been featured, beans, corn, squashes, chili peppers, sunflowers.

An artist named Steve Buchanan designed five of the stamps through the slides photographed by his wife. Other crops featured were corn ears, chilies (both the red and green type), lima beans, pintos, squash, pintos, seeds and sunflowers.

All in all, collecting stamps is a worthwhile activity that anyone who has the perseverance, patience and passion to pursue could. All it takes is a good eye for detail and a liking for anything and everything literally small.

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In Order To Collect Stamps You Need To Learn The Lingo

Stamp collecting is a hobby that dates back to the 1840s when the first stamp known as "Penny Black" was issued by Great Britain. Prior to this year, man's communication system was done primitively without the use of postal service maybe be cause man has not yet appreciated the functions of a post master and the corresponding costs of hiring him and his postmen..

British postmaster general Sir Rowland Hill came up with the concept of using a stamp that would be paid by the letter sender as early as 1837 but the long debates stretched the issuance of the first stamped letter three years after that proposal.

The first issued stamp, which had a photo of Queen Victoria, became known as Penny Black because it used black ink and it required a penny for one stamp. The United States, which caught on the practice of sending letters with a stamp, made its first stamp in 1847 with the image of Benjamin Franklin.

Since then, philatelists or stamp collectors have started their vocation. Stamp collecting may look like a simple hobby but listen to philatelists do their stamp banter and you would get lost in the way.

While the word ambulant may commonly refer to medicine or ambulances, philatelists view an ambulant as a roving post office. And do you know that stamp makers protect stamps from counterfeiting by placing a burelage or a design on top of the stamp?

When philatelists say grill, they are not talking abut dinner but parallel line pattern pushed into stamps to prevent the reuse of stamps. And when you hear the words killer or killer cancel, do not call a policeman just yet because they are just referring to the cancellation of a particular design of stamp.

A cancelled mail which does not reveal the identity of the canceling post office can be referred to as a mute cancel. While a specimen naturally refers to an object placed and studied in a microscope, the word specimen in philatelist lingo

When you are just starting your stamp collecting hobby you will probably be inundated with words like adhesive which refers to that sticky substance under a stamp which enable you to stick it easily to an envelope. Stamps with cancellation marks mean stamps that have been marked to show previous usage.

When choosing your stamp collection, you can start with collecting commemorative stamps or stamps issued to commemorate a particular person, event or for a significant reason. In 1893, the United States issued its first commemorative stamps to mark the discovery made by Christopher Columbus

And when you are asked by a philatelist of you got your stamps from a covered enveloped, it may just mean that the envelope has been mailed. A denomination on the other hand does not refer to a religious group but to how much the stamp is worth in terms of postage.

Stamp collectors use simple but weird terms like referring to a stamp placed on an envelope but which was canceled the very first day it was sold as first day cover. Business people may be more familiar with the term revenue stamps which refer to stamps that are not for postage of a letter but for the payment of taxes.

So now that you are quite familiar with the philatelists' lingo, it may be time to get to know the process of creating stamps. For quite a long time, it was the postmaster general who decided on the design of stamps that will be issued. However, the US legislators started making laws about the subjects to be featured on stamps, giving rise to the formation of a committee that will review the stamp designs.

At least fifty thousand stamp design ideas from Americans are reviewed by the committee annually. Out of these, only 35 ideas are recommended by the committee to the postmaster general who then makes the final decision.

While any design idea can be entertained, the general rule is that only dead people can be the subject of a US postage stamp. As a general rule only former presidents can be depicted in US stamps at any time after their death while other people can only be depicted in the stamps at least ten years after their death.

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Different Type Of Stamp Collecting Methods

Stamp collecting, for the uninitiated, is the collection of stamps from around the globe. Technically, it is called a philatelic collection (funny way of naming things, these scientists have). And if you think it's a hobby for kids and weird ones, you'll be surprised at how many people, great and small have been indulging in this hobby for years. It has become serious enough that people are setting up and maintaining organizations that study these postal artifacts with care and respect.

Stamps have a certain amount of history and culture attached to them, and that makes them so fascinating to collect. You are brought face to face with different cultures and different time periods. Browsing though a stamp album is pretty much like browsing through history itself.

And while many hobbies require very expensive equipment, stamp collecting requires inexpensive and readily available equipment to enjoy. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to set up you collection, not to mention straightforward and engaging.

So you've started your own stamp collection, huh? You've invested in tools and albums and are ready and raring to start you stamp collecting career. The only bummer is that you don't know where to get your stamps.

For starting collectors, here are a few sources of collecting stamps to help you build up your stash of postal wonders.

1. Mail - Yes, the oldest and cheapest means of getting stamps is the mail that gets to your mailbox. And while the amount of mail you are receiving may be affected by the advent of the internet and email, mailboxes are still a great way to get stamps. However, you will have to take great care in handling such stamps as you have to learn how to properly soak and mount these stamps for you collection.

Your friends and neighbor are also a good source of stamps. You can tell them of your hobby, and more often than not, they'd be happy to give their unused stamps to you. You may have to instruct them to give you the envelope as it is so that you can properly process the stamps out. Or you may have them cut out the stamp from the envelope - while, of course, leaving a lot of leeway around the stamp.

2. Trading - during your stamp collecting career, you will definitely come across a glut of same stamps. Well, if you have two of the same kind, why not find another stamp enthusiast and swap stamps. Trading stamps is one of the most exciting activities in stamp collecting. It's a great way to meet fellow enthusiasts and a great way to land your hands - I mean stamp tongs (never handle your stamps without them!) on a unique stamp.

But before you consider trading a stamp, you have to examine them if they truly are alike. Some stamps may look alike, but may actually be different. Try looking at the perforation count using a perforation gauge, or at watermarks and fine detail. And to top that, look at every minutiae, including wear, tear, and damage. This will help you assess whether the stamp you are trading is worth trading after all.

You may also trade some of the unique ones in your collection for unique ones that you like better. But that is a trickier and more complicated story.

3. Sellers - there are some that sell stamps either as a collector's item or in bulk. Many collectors have duplicate stamps - just like you. You may be able to get good deals on these stamps especially if they are not rare.

In the case of rare stamps, you will find that they will cost a greater deal of money. If you are starting out in your hobby, you may want to focus on the easier ones to procure before going after the bigger fish.

Some will sell bulk orders of assorted stamps. This is a great way to beef up your collection, especially if you are starting out.

Conclusion

There is a multitude of ways to get your hands on stamps - everyone as exciting as the other. The trick here is to be consistent in your collecting efforts. Try not to pass up on opportunities to get new stamps for your collection. In terms of value and enjoyment, they definitely become more fulfilling as time goes by.

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Learn About Stamp Collector Certificates

Stamp collecting has been a very popular hobby and has been thriving for several generations all over the world. Technically referred to as philately, stamp collecting is an art itself, requiring great discipline among its enthusiasts.

Perhaps a great reason for the popularity of stamp collecting is the stories about valuable stamps. A lot of people have heard that some of these little things could sometimes cost thousands of dollars. Finding a rare and valuable stamp is often a philatelist's dream. Unfortunately, this induces some people with bad intentions to create forged stamps. As such, many stamp collectors find their craft to be risky. Luckily, such anomalies can be avoided by making use of expert stamp collector certificates.

Like anything valuable, such as jewelry, money, signature clothing, rare stamps are subject to forgery. The regrettable proliferation of fraudulent stamps has led avid collectors to look for ways to protect themselves. The most popular way doing so is availing the services of expert stamp collectors and organizations to certify the authenticity of stamps being purchased.

One of the most sought after authorities in stamp collecting is the American Philatelic Society (APS), which offers such certification service which they refer to as expertizing service. A collector simply sends a stamp in question to the American Philatelic Expertizing Service (APEX), the certifying division of APS, to their headquarters at Pennsylvania. The service has been around since 1903. The stamp is then assigned a number and then photographed. The stamp is then examined by up to five expert collectors among 170 philatelic specialists. The identity of the collectors who availed of the service would not be disclosed to the experts, and conversely, the experts' identities would not be disclosed as well.

The service could take 90 days to be completed. A unanimous decision must be made by the experts and if the panel fails to do so, APEX declines to give an opinion refunds all fees, less administrative charges. Once a formal opinion is agreed upon, it is written on a certificate and returned to the owner with the item. The comments made by the panel would be kept in the permanent records of APEX for future reference. Opinions are limited only of stamps' genuineness and the APEX never accepts requests for market value appraisal. If the owner disagrees with APEX's opinion, there is an option for reexamination within a year from the issuance of the certificate.

The APEX provides a guarantee on their certified items. If a collector buys a stamp with an APEX certification attesting the item's authenticity but it is subsequently shown to be fraudulent, misidentified, or modified, APEX would pay up to 5,000USD provided that the guarantee is still valid and there are no other warrantees given for the item. Items that were subject to change (thinning, disturbance of the gum, torn, etc.) after the issuance of certificate would not be included in the guarantee. Should APEX's certification be proven wrong, the service will purchase the item from the owner. The value of the item will be determined by APEX based on the selling price, receipts submitted by the owner, placed value of the item during the time of certification, and the judgment of a panel of experts.

Should APEX disagree with the contention to its certification, the owner may appeal to a disputes panel comprised of three members of the American Philatelic Society. And the decision of the panel would be based on Pennsylvania state laws, which would be binding for both parties.

The fees for the service begin at 25USD for an item valued at 1,000USD or less according to the Scott catalog. Items of higher value would be charged 2% of the appraised value according to the catalog. Items not listed in the catalog would be initially charged 25USD. Should an item of a high value be considered counterfeit, its fee would be adjusted to the minimum fee of 25USD, the difference with the original rate paid would be refunded.

There are other expert stamp collector certificate issuance services. Some of the are listed online. Many avid followers of philately find such services very valuable, saving time, effort and money, and decreasing the incidents of forgery. With expert stamp collector certificates, the world becomes a better place for serious philatelists.

By: Jerald Shin Shapiro

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How To Invest In Stamps

Stamp collecting is a very popular hobby that has been around for generations. The hobby has been so popular that some philatelic enthusiasts take it to serious levels involving money. Stamp investing has become a serious business, making it go beyond collecting, which only about collecting as much items as one can find.

Stamp investing is a rich man's hobby. I you do not have a surplus of money then the best you can do just to purchase some stamps and hope for the best that they will increase in their market value. A real stamp investor seriously follows the publications devoted to stamps. They are constantly studying global trends, especially in politics, and other things that would affect the value of stamps.

Stamp investing entails keeping up with the stamp market developments. They keep track of the events happening all over the globe, such as the liberation of small countries, because surprisingly, stamps play special roles in the general economy.

There are two forms of stamp investing. First is the accumulation of stocks of stamps currently released, typically in full sheets and large quantities of those sheets. Second is the purchase of the rare and already valued items, and keeping them until they increase in value and could be sold for profit.

The first form of stamp investing is rather uncertain. It would entail the purchase of as much issue of stamps every year. Some of these issued may indeed rise in value, a lot of them would not. There is now ay of telling which one would appreciate and which ones would dwindle into oblivion. There is also no way of telling when these stamps would increase in value. The stamp investor can only make guesses.

However, the good thing about this form of stamp investing is that one can always expect to receive back at the very least, the face value of the stamps purchased since stamps, at least in the US, generally retain their postage value even after so many years. This means that the investment is less likely to be lost. But to gain profit is a matter of chance, the only consolation is that the investor is sure to have purchased all stamps, lessening the chance of missing out on some issues that a choosier collector would have. This increases the chance for the collector to get all the profitable stamps of the given period of investment.

The second form of stamp can be more expensive and risky. The investor has to shed out a lot of money on the onslaught of the purchase since the stamps to be bought already have certain value. It would be easier to lose money in this form as old stamps might no longer be valid during the time the investor purchased it, thus it cannot be sold for its face value, and if it still can be sold, the face value is most probably very much cheaper than the price it was bought by the investor. There is also no way of telling how much the stamp would increase in value, or if it would get any increase at all. Worst case is that it might decrease in value after some time.

The good thing about this form of stamp investing is that the investor could easily trace the market development of the stamp in question. It would be easier the trends faced by the stamp as opposed to new stamps, whose value are still being guessed. The investor would also need to purchase relatively fewer stamps than in the first form of investing since the investor would only target specific stamps that already have value. There is also a higher chance of being able to profit from fewer stamps or even a single stamp in this type of investing.

Either types of stamp investing require a lot of money, thus, stamp investing is generally only for those who are already rich. It definitely cannot be one's sole source of living. It may be a good hobby and could potentially be a good way to make money for those who already have lots of it, but it I also a good way to loose wealth for those who do not know the ins and outs of the market of philately.

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Different Type Of Stamp Tools

Stamp collecting is one of the most stimulating and enjoyable hobbies in the world. And though it may not seem as exciting as most people picture it to be, there is a quiet, and almost otherworldly exhilaration and satisfaction to be gained from such a collection.

And while many hobbies require very expensive equipment, stamp collecting requires inexpensive and readily available equipment to enjoy. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to set up you collection, not to mention straightforward and engaging.

Stamps have a certain amount of history and culture attached to them, and that makes them so fascinating to collect. You are brought face to face with different cultures and different time periods. Browsing though a stamp album is pretty much like browsing through history itself.

If you are serious about starting and maintaining a good stamp collection, you cannot be without the following tools.

Stamp Tongs - Stamp tongs are specially designed tools that look like tweezers. That given, you may be tempted to ask whether tweezers would do instead. The answer to that is a resounding "No!" Stamp tongs are built with blunt edges as opposed to the angular, sharp edges tweezers have. Tongs are especially designed to pick up and handle stamps so they do not damage or mark them in the process. Stamps, although they used in heavy duty postal service, are actually sensitive artifacts.

If you are tempted to handle your stamps with your bare hands, for goodness' sakes, don't. This would only increase the chances that you damage your stamps. And, of course, damaged stamps are a tragedy to any serious collector, especially if it is a rare one.

Magnifying Glass - These optical instruments help you examine your mini treasures up close and personal. Stamps tend to be tiny, and even the larger ones have text that is hard to decipher. A good set of magnifying tools can help you spot damage, tears, and detail of stamps. Being able to examine your stamps up close is important as the value of your stamps is dependent on their condition, however, miniscule they may be.

Transparent Envelopes - If you are looking for transit storage for your stamps - a place to put them before mounting them in your collection, glassine envelopes are the way to go. Avoid using paper envelopes as they have a high acid content that could very well damage your stamps. These envelopes also make a great container when mailing or giving stamps to other people.

Perforation Gauge - perforation gauges help collectors count how many perforations a stamp has per 2-cms. Perforations are those jaggy semicircle holes at the sides of your stamps that are formed when the stamps are separated from each other. Perforations are another feature that an avid stamp collector should pay attention to.

Watermark Detector - this is very handy in viewing hidden, embossed or imprinted patterns that stamps may or may not have. It is interesting to note that some stamps may seem similar, but upon closer inspection will reveal that they have different watermarks. Being a serious stamp collector means you have to pay attention to even minute details.

Stamp Albums - this is where you store your stamps and should be the centerpiece among your tools. A good stamp album protects your stamps against chemicals, the elements, dust and dirt. This is probably the piece of equipment you will want to invest a better deal of money in. Shop around and compare products well before choosing a stamp album for purchase.

Conclusion
As said earlier these equipment are pretty inexpensive - the only thing you will have to spend a substantial amount of money in is your stamp album. But even the stamp album shouldn't really hurt the pockets of even a grade school student. Collecting stamps, on the other hand, may or may not be expensive to acquire depending on your collection methods.

The great thing about stamp collecting though is that you can start cheap and gradually build up a goodly sized and valued collection.

Back to tools, if you are looking for a convenient means to purchasing these tools, you may want to consider purchasing complete stamp collectors kits. This would be a good gift to kids or other people wanting to start a stamp collection.

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Recognizing Rare Stamps

Believe it or not, investing in rare stamps is a normal occurrence. Usually, the collection and gathering of rare stamps is a hobby that is better appreciated by the advanced collectors.
Unbelievably, rare stamps are investments that are of the tangible kind. Compared to art they are also a worthwhile and enjoyable investment especially for enthusiasts.

First things first, the fact is that rare stamps are really, definitely very rare. But what is it that makes a stamp rare?

The following are some of the reasons as well as circumstances that makes a stamp that rare, expensive stamp that everyone would want to own.
The mother of all rare stamps

Believe it or not, there exists the stamp that would be considered as the mother of all rare stamps and quite possibly the stamp that - if given the chance - would be the one to rule them all.

The stamp that costs one cent is the British Guiana. This stamp is currently considered as the most rare stamp in the whole world because only one of such kind was made. This stamp was reportedly discovered by a school boy back in the year 1873.

Another valuable rare stamp is called the Penny Black where it is also considered as a very rare and valuable item for collectors.

The father of all rare stamp collectors

A man with the name Philipp von Ferrary who lived during the years 1850 until 1917 was considered to be the collector of all collectors when he was able to amass stamps from all places in the world.

Ferrary, as he was fondly called by his clients and almost everyone, began the hobby of colleting stamps when he was young. Since he was able to inherit a great fortune, he made it his life long quest to buy stamps that are rare.

In the fifteenth of January, 1915, he relegated to the Berlin Postmuseum his collections. But since he was an Austrian - who at that time was residing in France during the first world war - he left his albums to the embassy of Austria & left for Switzerland where he soon died.

Post world war one brought on the government of France to confiscate his collection. Since then, most rare stamps have a stamp of "ex-Ferrary" on them, because almost always, the stamps may have previously belonged to him.

Rare stamps found in a dresser

You know you have in your possession a rare stamp when people are suing you for them to have it back.

It was one hundred and fifty thousand dollars worth of stamps that a judge granted the stamp's original owners when it was found that it was included in the dresser a Robert Ganter bought in a used store that sells furniture.

The original owners discovered Ganter's find when the latter issued an ad in a stamp catalogue for collectors and offering it up to be sold.

Buying rare stamps is a cinch

So how I one supposed to buy rare stamps when they see one? The best method is by simply buying the best stamp that one could possibly afford.

New rare stamps recently unveiled in Asia
Beginning April of this year, stamps that highlight Vietnam's birds, specifically the partridges as well as pheasants of the country was launched in Vietnam's Ministry of Post and Telecommunication.

These rare stamps provide the people who live in Vietnam with a magnificent documentation of how the country's birds thrive. The birds that were included in the stamp include a partridge whose neck is range in color, its scientific name is arborophila davidi. Other birds in the stamps include lophura hatinhensis or the more popularly known Vietnamese pheasant.

Why are these birds featured in such a stamp series? For one, putting their pictures on a stamp is one way to immortalize their existence as they are currently considered as endangered. Their populations have been slowly dwindling due to the loss of their natural habitat as well as hunting.

What do the stamps represent then? The series also aims to showcase the varied and special life that Vietnam's birds live.

All in all, collecting rare stamps is a fun, enjoyable and interesting activity to do especially if rare stamps are your cup of tea.

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How To Store Sort And Soak Stamps

One of the most exciting ways to collect stamp is to process them while they are still attached to envelopes. It's a little like detective work, and doing so is pretty fun and exciting. However, if you are careless in processing your stamps from the envelopes, you could very well damage them. And you know what they say, damaged stamps are worthless stamps.

If you are one of the countless stamp collectors that derive much pleasure from soaking and mounting stamps yourself, you will want to learn the proper way of processing stamps.

First of all, you have to collect all the envelopes with their stamps attached. Some of this mail will come from your mailbox. The others you can collect form neighbors and friends - having a foreign correspondence won't hurt (plus they use stamps not readily available from where you're from. But at least be sincere with your correspondence!).

You may then want to sort or organized them before and after soaking. Get your tools ready for the soaking and mounting process - your stamp tongs, scissors, and a saucer with lukewarm water, towels, and such.

Now, take an envelope and cut the envelope around the area around the stamp. Make sure you leave enough space so that it is easier to handle the stamp. You can then place the stamp along with the paper it is stuck too - reasonable trimmed by your earlier action - on the saucer of water. Make sure you put the stamp in with its front facing up. If possible avoid having the stamp getting damp on the face.

Also, avoid putting too many stamps in the saucer at the same time. The purpose of soaking the stamps is so that the stamp gum dissolves. However, the gum also can cause the stamps in the saucer to stick to each other if they are not properly spaced.

Make sure you use lukewarm water. Hot water can cause the color of the stamp to spread or stain. Now, place the stamps on a towel face-down. Use a pair of stamp tongs to separate the envelope paper from the stamps. Although using a newspaper is fine, try avoiding paper that has colored ink on it as may stain the stamp.

Let the stamps dry. It may take a while and they may end up curled and wrinkled. Do not fear, however, since the next step will take care of that problem. When the stamps are completely dry, place them flat in any book. Telephone directories do well for this. Just make sure the book does not have colored ink to stain the stamp. This step should take a few days. Make sure, that you remove them immediately as paper contains acid that could damage your stamp.

When you are ready to store your stamps, you will need a stamp album. This is where you store your stamps and should be the centerpiece among your tools. A good stamp album protects your stamps against chemicals, the elements, dust and dirt. This is probably the piece of equipment you will want to invest a better deal of money in. Shop around and compare products well before choosing a stamp album for purchase.

A good album will allow for the stamps to be laid flat and safe from damage. Use stamp tongs to deal when placing the stamps in your album.

For stamps which you will not place in your album - duplicates, or those that you plan to give away, use glassine envelopes. Glassine envelopes are great way to keep stamps temporarily. They also serve as transit storage for your stamps - a place to put them before mounting them in your collection. Avoid using paper envelopes as they have a high acid content that could very well damage your stamps. These envelopes also make a great container when mailing or giving stamps to other people.

In all, stamp collecting can be a fascinating experience for those who do it properly. As you build your stamp soaking, and mounting skills, you will better appreciate the beauty and the history of stamps. You may, as you go on, opt to purchase more specialized tools and equipment to keep your stamp collection in tip-top shape. But in any case, the knowledge of these basic stamp processing skills is integral to any stamp collector's hobby efforts.

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The Art of Stamp Collecting

Stamp collecting takes place all over the world. Indeed, there are likely few, if any, hobbies that are as widespread as stamp collecting. Stamp collectors come from all backgrounds, which is again reflected in the diversity of stamp collections, as each individual will find a particular type of stamp that interests them. Stamp collecting can also be a relatively inexpensive hobby, making it accessible for individuals on any budget.

The first stamp and the start of stamp collecting

To find the first postage stamp you have to go back to England in the mid-nineteenth century. The famous "Penny Black" stamp, featuring an image of Queen Victoria, was released in 1840. As soon as the 1860s, children were drawn to growing range of postage stamps in production, and stamp collecting was born. As those children grew into adults, they continued stamp collecting, thereby making it common hobby for adults. By the inter-war years, stamp collecting had taken a firm position as one of the most popular hobbies in the United States. The hobby has continued to be popular for both children and adults alike well into the 21st century.

Types of stamp collections

One of the great things about stamp collecting is that there is such a wide array of postage stamps and similar items available, which means that there can be countless different types of stamp collections. Whatever your personal interest, be it animals, Americana, cartoon characters, sports, or even Elvis, you will find stamps from all over the world just waiting to be collected. Stamp collecting is not just limited to postage stamps, either. Oddly enough, Federal Duck Stamps are one of the most popular and well-known collectible stamp series. Other stamp types that are popular include souvenir sheets, postal stationary.

Beginning a Stamp Collection

To start collecting stamps on a casual basis, start looking at your mail as it comes in and keep the ones you find interesting or beautiful. After a while, you should get an idea about what kind of collection you want. Once you have a basic idea of where you want your collection to go at first (and keeping in mind that it is always easy to expand or change the focus of your collection) it is time to invest in some proper tools. Of course, if you are on a tight budget, stamp collecting can be done on the cheap. But for best results you should get some clear plastic sleeves and a notebook to store your stamps in a manner that protects their condition and keeps them safe from the elements. You should also think about investing in other specialized tools, including specially designed stamp tongs. These tongs prevent skin oils from coming into contact with the stamp, which will further promote sustainability in the stamp.

How do you get stamps?

Your first and best resource for stamps will be your friends and family. Let them know you are a collector, and have them send the stamps they receive over to you, they will likely be happy to save the stamps from their incoming mail for you to look over and select from. There are also products where companies send out a selection of stamps for the collector to look over. Generally, these programs allow the collection to keep the stamps for up to a month without charge. After a month's time, the collector can choose to purchase the stamps that are of interest, and return those that do not fit into their collection. Just remember to return the stamps you do not want on time!

Putting a value on your stamps

Although they are collectables, most stamps are actually valued at face value or less. That means that most stamps are worth a negligible amount of money. This is fine for most casual collectors however because they are simply collect for personal enjoyment, not financial investment. This is not to say of course that stamp collecting can never be lucrative. Stamps that range in value up to $50 are not uncommon.

Finding out more about stamp collecting

Stamp collecting is an extremely popular and old hobby all over the world. For this reason, there is no shortage of hobby groups that any prospective or experienced stamp collector can join. The main organization in the United States is the American Philatelic Society. The American Philatelic Society is one of the oldest and most well known organizations. All of these stamp collecting groups often sponsor trade shows, conventions, and other events, which promote networking, trading, and transactions involving stamp collections. And of course, as with so many things, there are also a host of online resources available for anyone interested in stamp collecting. Online beginner's guides are a great place to start for those new to stamp collecting, while price guides, social stamp collecting networks, and other resources are available for more seasoned collectors.

About the Author

Steve Dolan has been collecting for many years. Find out what to collect at Collecting and Collections Collect Coins? Then click Coin Collecting and for stamps Stamps and Stamp Collecting

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All About Special Stamps

While snail mail has definitely been declining since it has been replaced by email, a lot of people still value and cherish old fashioned writing. Ask anyone in this hi-tech world, and most would admit to be excited to see real mail on their old mail box, well, as long as it is not a bill or an advertisement. Among the great joys of traditional mail are the stamps that are also starting to become extinct. Stamps add a nice, nostalgic feel to mailed envelopes, and they can also be collected as a hobby.

Stamps are nice by themselves especially now that their use are becoming more seldom. But there are stamps that have more charm and character than others. These are special stamps, usually released and used for special occasions. Special stamps are certain kinds of postage stamps that are intended to be use on holidays and other occasions that occur regularly. Christmas stamps are among the most common examples of special stamps. During the yuletide season, stamps with holiday designs are released and used, usually to accompany Christmas cards.

Special stamps are usually confused with definitive stamps and commemorative stamps as their characteristics are very similar. Like definitive stamps, special stamps can be used for postage, but special stamps are more elaborate and attractive. Definite stamps are just regular stamps, the ones people see in the mail every day. Like commemorative stamps, special stamps celebrate specific events, but they are issued a few weeks before the occasion rather than on the day of the occasion itself, this allows specials stamps to be available during the season in mind. Unlike commemorative stamps, which are primarily for collecting purposes, special stamps are used by more people as they are released during occasions when people send a lot of mail. The production of special stamps are not as limited as that of the commemorative stamps since special stamps are usually intended to be used for a period of time rather than just a one-day event.

Christmas is not the only occasion when special stamps are released. Some time around Valentine's Day, love-themed stamps are released in the US, since 1973. They are typically used for sending valentine cards and packages. Some love-themed stamps are also used for sending wedding invitations throughout the year. In Japan, where New Year's Day is more celebrated than Christmas, New Year stamps are also released.

Some places issue special stamps for United Nations Day, independence day, or other national holidays, but such stamps are usually used as commemorative stamps since rarely would people send United Nations Day cards as much as they would send Christmas greetings.

Certain special stamps released by the United States and the United Kingdom have failed because they are rather too specialized. Examples of which are birthday stamps and get well soon stamps. Rarely did they appear in the mail because such occasions are too scattered to for people to buy stamps for them by bulk as people would for Valentine's and Christmas.

The more popular special stamps are successful because they can be used whenever the occasion they celebrate comes. This is especially true in the United States, where stamps usually retain their value and validity, making them usable even after several years. Thus this year's special Christmas Stamp can still be used for the next Christmas and several Christmases thereafter.

Some other recently popular special stamps are those that signify a special theme of the year. For instance, places that observe Chinese traditions, like the Chinese zodiac, issue special stamps that celebrate the assigned animal for that year (e.g. Year of the Dog stamps). There are also special stamps that would depict pictures of things and personalities that normally would not appear in stamps, an example of this would be Disney stamps, some of which can be used for postage while still having a decorative purpose.

Receiving traditional, old-fashioned letters is still very much fun today especially when snail mail is become hard to be received. But getting mail with special stamps could definitely add more fun to the joys of getting postage. With special stamps, waiting for the postman can still be enjoyed even by the coming generations.

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