How to Start a Stamp Collection

Stamps are a necessary facet for the delivery of physical items in our modern postal service. However it was not always so. Prior to the introduction of the 'Penny Black' in 1840s Britain, recipients had to pay for the delivery of any post. The cost was determined according to the number of pages sent and the distance transversed.

Pre-paid adhesive Stamps were in fact the brainchild of Rowland Hill in his 1837 proposal to reform the British Postal System. Little did he realize then that his invention would become one of the most popular hobbies in the modem world.

The attraction of stamp collection is multi faceted. From a hobby perspective it illuminates people's understanding of diverse cultures, events and dialects. There is the pleasure obtained from collecting beautiful miniature pieces of art and the thrill of collecting rare and valuable pieces.

5 Key steps in beginning your stamp collection include;

Step One: New or Used Stamps
The fist decision a stamp collector must make is whether to focus on used stamps, unused / mint stamps or a collection of both. Initially it is advisable to commence collecting used stamps. These are readily available, inexpensive and will give you a feel for the hobby.

Commence by removing stamps from your received mail. Please note it is often more valuable to collect the entire envelope due to a unique postmark date. Ask your friends, family and any over seas relatives to send you their stamps. This will provide the impetus for a diverse collection at low cost.

Step Two: Select a Theme
It would not be feasible to intend on accumulating a complete worldwide collection of stamps. Such a collection would be very expensive to acquire and require storage for thousands of volumes. For this purpose collectors focus on small definitive niches encapsulating time periods, particular countries, topicals or types of stamps.

These niches vary from pictorials and commemorative stamps to topicals such as; Olympics, space, famous people, animals, birds, sports and a whole lot more besides.

Your choice will most often be dictated by your interests. Concentrate your collection on that which you would be excited to own.

Step Three: Purchase Stamp Collecting Equipment & a Stamp Collection Catalog
When starting out it is essential to buy a good catalog / album. Stamp catalogs and reference guides are full of useful data on stamp collection history and on individual stamps themselves. These guides provide useful data including essential stamp particulars and book value. It is advisable to get a catalog with the Scott numbering system. It is not necessary to buy the latest most expensive catalog or albums, those which are 4/5 years old will suffice for the purpose intended.

Other necessary stamp collecting equipment includes; stamp thongs, magnifying glass, archival stock book, and if you are very serious stamp collecting software.

These items enable a serious stamp collector to better examine their collection and preserve the stamps for years to come.

Step Four: Find a Reputable Dealer and Buy Stamps online

When you have become comfortable with the fundamentals of stamp collection and feel ready to purchase, visit your local stamp dealer (see newspaper classifieds) and purchase a stack of assorted used stamps. This will cover a diverse range of topics and provide hours of enjoyment in sorting and categorizing your collection.

Join online stamp auction sites such as eBay.com and bid at stamp auctions or philatelic exhibitions. Take your time, get educated, ask lots of questions and make informed buying decisions.

When purchasing stamps online you need to specify whether they are by 'approval' or 'want list'. Approval refers to a situation whereby a dealer sends the collector assorted stamps and they then decide which to retain. A 'Want List' refers to a situation whereby the dealer checks if requested stamps are in stock and quotes prices for specified stamps the collector wants to collect.

Step Five: Join a Stamp Collecting Club and Get involved in online forums
The very best way to learn about the great hobby of stamp collection is by taking part in interactive online forums and by joining local stamp collecting clubs. You will then benefit from the accumulated knowledge of seasoned stamp collectors. They will be able to answer your questions and ensure your hobby is enjoyable rather than frustrating due to any learning curve.

Tag : stamps,stamp collection,photo stamps,old stamps

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Stamps and Coins - Collecting and Appraising Stamps and Coins

Before Beanie Babies - Before baseball cards -- Before Barbies -- there were stamps and coins. Stamps and coins still represent the largest collecting interest in the world. Everyone has seen, held and used stamps and coins, but not all of us, or our clients, know which stamps and coins are collectible and valuable. Perhaps you have slipped a valuable silver quarter into a Coke machine or licked a rare stamp to send a letter to a friend. Knowing what to look for can keep those valuable items from being used for soda pop and postage.

The collectible values of both stamps and coins are based upon the economic law of supply and demand. As you know, supply is the number of stamps or coins available in the market. Demand is the desire to hold, have or own the stamp or coin. The greater the demand, the more valuable an item usually is. The fewer number of items available (less supply) the greater the value as well.

An appraiser or collector can easily identify the original supply of stamps and coins by researching the quantities produced in most coin and stamp references. For stamps use the Scott Stamp Catalogs -- for coins, try Yeoman's Red Book.

These references describe every U.S. coin and stamp issued, and list the quantity minted or printed. The quantities produced do not necessarily indicate the number available today. Stamps are routinely used and discarded. Coins are taken out of circulation as they become worn or lost through holes in pants pockets.

But quantity is not necessarily the most important factor in establishing value. It is the supply of desirable stamps and coins that create those rare headlines: "Penny Worth Ten Thousand Dollars Found in gum machine." The most desirable, and valuable, stamps and coins are usually scarce and in excellent condition

One-cent coins known as "Indian-head" pennies are great examples of supply and demand. They were minted in the U.S. from 1869-1909 and show the profile of a Native American princess on the front (most folks think it's an Indian Chief). In 1876, approximately 8 million of these coins were minted. About 6 million were minted in 1878. But in 1877 less than one million pennies were minted. The 1877 pennies are valued at approximately 10 times more than coins in similar condition from 1876 or 1878.

The condition of coins and stamps is also an important factor. An 1877 "Indian-head" penny in "uncirculated condition" (really good shape) can be worth ten times more than an 1877 penny in "good" condition. Superb, uncirculated, 1877 "Indian-head" pennies can be found in coin shops selling for over $2,000.00 - (go get your own comps). A similar coin to search for is the 1909 Lincoln-head penny with the mint mark "S" under the date and the letters "V.D.B." on the back under the wheat stalks. Less than 500,000 1909S V.D.B. coins were minted compared to over 100 million other 1909 pennies. This coin was minted to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth.

The same supply and demand rules apply to postage stamps. Generally, unused stamps are more valuable than used stamps. Stamps in superb condition are usually more valuable than similar stamps in poor condition.

Stamp collectors look for stamps that are well-centered and have even, uniform margins. Stamps that are clean and free of tears are more valuable than their dirty, worn counterparts.

Just because a stamp or coin is old does not mean it is valuable. A coin from the Constantine Period of the Roman Empire, which is about 330-345 AD, is over 1,600 years old. It can be purchased from a reputable coin dealer for under $100.00. Although this Roman Empire coin is quite interesting they were sold by the barrel to dealers just a few years go.

A full sheet of commemorative stamps from the 1940's is worth little more than the value of the postage. Dealers pay less than face-value. The sheet of stamps, are available in great quantities and there is little demand for them as a collectible or as postage. You'll need a huge envelope to hold 39 cents worth of 3 cent stamps.

The good news is that there are probably hidden surprises in your clients' drawers. (Not those drawers!) Before 1965 the U.S. mint produced coins containing a high percentage of silver. These dimes, quarters, half dollars and dollars are worth approximately 4 times their denomination value, based on the silver content alone. Silver coins, in excellent condition, may be worth substantially more than those that are worn or damaged. If it's a US dime, quarter, half dollar or silver dollar dated before 1965, you have a silver coin. After 1964 the United States went to copper clad coins.

Before you run off to buy, sell, or appraise stamps and coins, here are a few tips from the professionals:
Jules Topfer, NAC's Stamp and Coin specialist researcher suggests: "Don't rush your research. Shop around. Get more than one comparable -- markets can vary greatly. Feel out the dealer's knowledge before you draw a value conclusion. Better yet, consult with other professional appraisers that specialize in the field.'

Leon Castner, ISA CAPP, Managing Partner at National Appraisal Consultants and a professional auctioneer adds: "Some of these stamps and coins come from collections, while others are part of accumulations. There is a big difference between a collection and an accumulation."

A collection is an organized group of stamps or coins, with a specific collecting purpose or goal. Collections are usually well-cared for and properly sorted and stored in albums or appropriate containers. An accumulation is a batch of coins in a coffee can or a pile of stamps in one big envelope.

Since stamp and coin appraisals are incredible labor intensive, appraisers need to differentiate between accumulations and collections. That distinction alone can help you and your client establish orders of magnitude in the appraisal process and save you and your client hours of inspection and research time.

The contents of collections are almost always in better condition than the contents of an accumulation. So, generally speaking, the value of a collection is usually greater than an accumulation containing the same material.

As mentioned above, the primary reference for stamp identification is the "Scott Catalog." These catalogs list all stamps by date of issue and country. The catalogs are quite large and contain and amazing amount of information. Each stamp is identified by a specific "Scott number," which is unique to that stamp. There are catalogs for different countries.

The most common catalog for US stamps and US philatelic related items is the "Scott Specialized Catalog." It includes first day covers, revenue stamps and many others philatelic ephemera.

If you are searching for values or prices you will most likely see that the stamps are identified by their Scott number.

Coins are best identified using Yeoman's catalog of US coins, commonly known as the "red book." Coins are commonly identified by their denomination, style and year. It is published by Whitman.

Prices and values can be found in variety of places. Dealers can provide you with their selling price, and may make offers on items, if they know the condition of the items they are buying. Remember, the amount a dealer offers for an item may not reflect the item's value.

eBay is certainly one place to look for values and prices, but there are many other sources which should be considered. Search other on-line auction sources, as well as on-line catalog offering.

But remember, when you really need to know, find a qualified, independent, personal property appraiser.

The terms "Scott," "Scott's," "Scott Catalogue," and "Scott Number" are trademarks of Scott Publishing Company, Inc.

Tag : stamps,coins,photo stamps,old stamps,rubber stamps

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Creative Uses of the Rubber Stamp

The term rubber stamp, or even stamping, has been associated with the craft of using ink made of dye or pigment to create patterns. The ink is then applied to an image or pattern, which may be carved or molded on to the sheet of rubber. This can also be laser engraved or vulcanized in the same processes. Often the rubber can be mounted on a stable object like brick, wood, or an acrylic block, which helps in producing solid instruments. Ink coated rubber stamps are then pressed on the medium, like fabric or paper, so that a colored image can be transferred to the same.

In many cases, glass, wood, metal, plastic or rock can also be used. There are some people who also prefer using high volume batik or liquid wax rather than a metal stamp. New techniques are being used for making highly advanced versions, and thus facilitate convenient usage. If you're looking for creative usage of the stamp, then look no further than batik printing. This format has been used to design everything from t-shirts to skirts, with batik prints forming unique patterns on the cloth.

Stamps are commercially available and can be segregated into three main categories namely the stamps for official usage, those for decorative uses, and finally the ones used in toys made for children. These stamps have grown in popularity and compared to their previous counterparts that were restricted to business purposes, these are used extensively for craft projects. Rubber-stamping has gradually evolved as a profession and hobby for some people. It is actually possible to create distinct designs through these rubber stamps. It is essential to have various designs crafted on them to get maximum results and thus transfer them to a medium of your choice, including paper, cloth or even wood. Don't be too surprised to come across craft schools offering classes in rubber stamps and batik prints.

You should be able to find various kinds of decorative versions of these stamps, which are generally referred to as art stamps. These are basically used for traditional crafts and certain home projects. These decorative versions of the rubber stamp are known for its benefits of prolonged impressions on paper, and for creating splendid designs on an array of other related fabrics. These stamps can be used for decorating scrapbooks or for any other related school projects, or even highlight any other creative object.

You can use these for making banners, creating holiday cards or birthday cards, jewelry boxes, wooden pieces, and other related products. As you can make out, these stamps made from rubber are used for adding a personalized touch to almost anything. The stamp can also be used as an emblem for your group, company or product. Most of the royal houses carry a rubber stamp with their coat of arms being featured prominently on the stamp, for e.g. the royal house of Windsor. Certain museums feature rubber stamps as a special category, so the next time you're at a museum, you may want to check that out.

If you want to add a creative touch to your garments, then these stamps can used for such purposes too. You can create your range of homemade products, which can be made funkier or more traditional, through the usage of these stamps. One can find an array of products in the market to create their own styles, and thus personalize almost anything that you want. You'll need to remember to rinse the stamps after you have used the rubber stamps, in order to wash the paint out. Innovation and creative techniques can help you create your own brand of products, which you can then market about. You can even opt to create your own brand of designs, with batik prints. When it comes to rubber stamps, the sky's the limit. You can opt to create designer clothes with unusual batik prints, use rubber stamps to create craft items with your own design or even create and market greeting cards, all under your own creative banner.

The stamp has come a long way since we have started using them to impose the family seal on important documents and papers. These days, the rubber stamps are used in almost every creative function possible. These stamps have even given raise to designer outfits, glaring with their batik prints. You may think that any creative work with these stamps would fade with time; that is the color, texture. While that may be true a while back, that's no longer the case. Most of the current batik prints are put through a process immediately after the print is applied so that the design melds onto the fabric and does not fade with the passage of time. No wonder that the rubber stamps are much in demand, at least in the batik department.

There are some wonderful resources out there like this site called Rubber Stamps Home. Alternatively, for more information on rubber stamps in general have a look at this site full of great information regarding the wonderful and diverse rubber stamp.

Tag : stamps,rubber stamps,postage stamps,picture stamps,photo stamps

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