10 Really Low-Cost Ways to Start Your Stamp Collection

Stamp collecting doesn’t have to be an expensive hobby. You can enjoy collecting stamps with limited financial resources. Here are 10 really low-cost ways to start stamp collecting.

1. Ask your friends to use commemorative stamps on their mail when they write to you. Commemorative stamps are generally larger than regular stamps and are issued to honor famous people, places, or events. Because commemorative stamps are usually issued in lesser quantities than common smaller stamps, they are of much more interest to collectors. Tell your friends that you are a stamp collector and ask them to request commemorative stamps at the post office.

2. When you send away for offers that require postage or self-addressed, stamped envelopes, use commemorative stamps. You’ll get them back when the envelopes are returned to you.

3. Ask your neighbors, friends, and relatives to save their used stamps for you. You’ll find that most people will be happy to save their stamps for you when they learn that you are a collector.

4. If you know someone who gets letters from other countries, ask them to save those stamps. Always be on the lookout for potentially good stamp contacts, and don't be afraid to ask them to go through their mail for you before they throw away all the envelopes.

5. Ask friends and family to save the envelopes from their office mail for you. Many businesses get a lot of foreign mail and regularly throw away stamps that have interest and value to a collector.

6. Ask your parents if they have any old letters with stamps on the envelopes. Don’t peel the stamp off the envelope. This will cause thin spots or tears, both of which ruin a stamp's appearance and lessen its value to collectors. Always tear off the envelope corner so that there is paper all around the stamp, and make sure that all of the perforations are undamaged.

7. If you know other stamp collectors, ask them if they have duplicates that they are willing to give or sell to you. Many collectors have thousands of duplicates and they are often willing to help get new philatelists get started by giving them stamps or by selling them packets of stamps much more cheaply than can be purchased in stores or by mail.

8. Look for free stamps advertised by stamp companies. Free stamps are often offered along with “approvals,” an assortment of other stamps that you must either buy or return. This can be a convenient way to buy stamps. Note, however, that you usually have to pay the return postage if you return the approval stamps.

9. Check out stamp clubs in your area. Clubs may offer stamps as prizes, or have inexpensive stamps you can afford to buy. Some stamp clubs sponsor junior clubs the local community center, YMCA, or schools.

10. Consider starting a stamp club if one doesn’t already exist in your area. It only takes four or five other stamp collectors who are interested in getting together to learn about and trade stamps and ideas.

With free stamps and a few inexpensive accessories, such as a small album and a package of stamp hinges, even collectors with little money can have a great time.

So, what are you waiting for? Start collecting stamps today!

Joan Yankowitz publishes the popular consumer and business “Kwik eGuides” at http://www.kwikeguides.com Instantly download “How to Start Stamp Collecting" ” Kwik eGuide at http://www.kwikeguides.com/stamp.htm

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Collecting Stamps – More Than A Kids Play

Most people may know that collectible rare stamps have high price tags. However, only people involved in the collection and purchase of rare stamps, know that making a stamp investment is one of the best investment options available out there.

The whole idea behind investments is that there is a waiting period before an investor can see the benefits. And this is especially true in the case of stamp investments. The field of rare stamps is probably one of the fields that are not going to get affected by any economic crisis, no matter how harsh it may be. That’s the best part about rare stamps, they can never depreciate.

There is a constant overwhelming number of collectors entering the rare stamps market, and this only leads to an increase in value for the stamps. The reason why this happens is because, the number of rare stamps is limited, so with the increasing number of collectors and intermediaries, there are not enough to go around. Therefore, we can easily observe that the demand is completely outweighing the supply. The larger the demand, the higher the prices get on rare stamps.

Buying 200 or 100 years old stamps is not the only way to make a stamp investment. Well versed stamp investors prospect various countries around the world that foresee economic growth in the long term. These countries are usually the best sources for quality rare stamps that turn out to be high quality stamp investments. One thing you have to keep an eye out for is quality. The quality has been and always will be directly proportional with the price tag for that item. Making a stamp investment by purchasing stamps of a low quality will not only bring no profit, but it will most likely lead to losses.

The best thing about collecting stamps and keeping them for a profit is that the only requirements are a little education on the subject, and a flair for business. Stamp investments have settled in the top 4 investment options. Investing in rare stamps will get you an annual return of at least 12%.

Moreover, the stock exchange market in London currently holds a company that is selling 150 year old rare stamps. An accomplished stamp collector must be knowledgeable and able to correctly grade and classify rare stamps; must have extensive knowledge about rare stamps from all over the world. He must know the correct ways to handle and store his stamps. Also, keeping tight relationships with other collectors and philatelists, ensures that a collector’s stamp investment will be on the safe side, in the long run.

As a conclusion, I’ll say that collecting stamps is not just a kids’ hobby, but it can also turn into a true business opportunity. And the best thing is, you don’t have to start big; you can just buy a rare stamp, or two, and see how that works out; or maybe, even sift through your parents or grandparents’ stamp collections to see if you find an item that might turn out to be a genuine gem.

By: Groshan Fabiola

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Owl rubber stamp - Animal stamps offer many uses.

Animals are a great part of many aspects of our lives. They can be used in education, kept as pets, and observed in nature, just to name a few. People love to gather information on animals, document their activities, and make them a part of their memories. One great way to use animals and animal shapes in through rubber stamps. Rubber stamps, such as an owl rubber stamp, can be used in a wide variety of places and in a wide variety of ways.

The educational arena has a large number of uses for rubber stamps. Teachers and other educators can use rubber stamps for a wide variety of reasons including education, reward, projects, and motivation. If a teacher was teaching about animals, they could use an owl rubber stamp, along with other animals, to show students what an animal looks like or make flash cards using the stamps. They could use different shapes and colors to grade papers or give feedback. Stamps can also be used on motivational boards or checklists, where a stamp could be placed each time a student completed a project or got a certain score. Teachers can also collect stamps that can be used by students in arts and craft projects. Stamps can be used to decorate and create a number of projects. They are suitable for a wide range of ages and can be incorporated into any lesson plan.

Stamps can also be used in projects such as a scrapbook. Animal lovers, for example, can keep a collection of animal stamps that can be used to decorate collections of photographs or memorabilia from a sight seeing trip. It can also be used to decorate a page for certain seasons. An owl rubber stamp would be a perfect addition to any Halloween page in a scrapbook. Stamps can add a great deal to any scrapbook with a wide range of color and design.

Stamps of all shapes and sizes are easy to find. A great place to start and look is at your local craft store. Local craft stores often offer a wide assortment of stamps and all the supplies you need to go along with the stamps, such as ink. A new trend is stores that sell stamps and stamp making supplies exclusively. They often offer the best selection and assortment and their staff is usually very well educated in the craft of stamping. If either of these places don't carry the exact stamp you are looking for, quite often they can order it for you through their supplier network. Just ask one of their salespeople for help. If you enjoy using the Internet to order things, stamps are very easy to find through the web. A quick search through a search engine will find you a wide array of companies that you can order directly from.

Rubber stamps are a great addition to anyone's craft collection. Teachers, parents, students, and craft lovers can use them. The projects that can benefit from a rubber stamp are almost endless. Get your creative juices flowing and use a rubber stamp to get your project started.

About The Author:
Moises has been working for stamping industry for last 7 years. He created a website that has tips and advises about various rubber stamps. Come to http://www.bestrubberstamps.com to learn more about rubber stamps.

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Creating Rubber Stamps: Not All Methods Created Equal (Part 1 of 3)

Whether you’re a rubber stamp rookie, dabbler, or seasoned veteran, you’ve undoubtedly wondered how to make your own rubber stamp. When creating a custom rubber stamp, there are many methods that can be used; in this three-part series, you’ll learn the pros and cons of several different stamp-producing methods.

No matter the method, if you are looking to become a rubber stamp vendor, good luck. It would be easier to find Osama bin Laden’s cave than to find a wholesale vendor for stamp mounts and cases. Besides their clandestine status, wholesale vendors may also have a minimum purchase requirement or different price breaks for quantity. When starting out as a small business, it may be best to buy cases and mounts from a local arts and crafts store.

If you’re serious about creating high quality rubber stamps, the best technology to use is a laser engraver. Though they may cost thousands of dollars, many high-end engravers can create a stamp as precise as 1000 dpi. Laser engravers are optimal for high productivity and quality rubber stamps, and items like graphics or small text are easily achieved. Laser engravers are less messy than other rubber stamp-making methods, and advanced alignment technology creates little waste.

Laser engravers are not labor intensive; hundreds of stamps can be programmed to engrave at once. The speed of engraving for one square inch of rubber stamp is approximately 60 seconds. While this may seem slow, a laser engraver will make deeply engraved “cut lines” while it is etching. A cut line engraves so deeply that no actual cutting or special scissors are necessary for the rubber; simply push on the etched item when the engraving is complete. These cut lines will save a large amount of time that would be otherwise allocated to tedious cutting and hand customization.

Once the rubber stamps are finished etching, simply remove them from the laser engraver and soak them in water for 5-10 minutes. This allows the rubber dust and resin to be easily cleaned off with an item such as a toothbrush. The washing of the rubber is imperative; without cleaning the rubber, residual dust from the engraving process may impede the quality of the impression. After the rubber is clean, wipe it dry with a paper towel or hand towel. At this point, you may leave it unmounted or adhere it to a wood block, pre-inked, or self-inking device.

Now that you have learned one of the many stamp-making methods, stay tuned! Exciting information about making stamps at home is yet to come!

Gwendolyn Lee is a statistician and analyst of Internet-related metrics for custom rubber stamps at http://www.rubberstamps.net. She has researched and implemented business models to maximize profitability, efficiency and advertising tracking.

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What Can Affect The Price Of Stamps

There are a lot of things that can affect the price of stamps and you'll learn about all of them in here.

FACTOR #1 TYPE OF STAMPS

Different types of stamps fetch different prices.

Definitive Stamps - These stamps are the regular small stamps that we are used to seeing all our lives. They are priced at common rates since they're subject to daily, routine use. These definitive stamps can be seen glued at the back of personal greeting cards sent by your parents during Easter or on newsletters that sell none of the things you're interested in.

Commemorative Stamps - If definitive stamps are produced by the billions, commemorative stamps tend to have a more "conservative" production rate and are distributed only by the millions. As you have no doubt deduced by now, these stamps were created in commemoration of a historical event or figure. Because of their limited edition status, they are priced slightly higher than definitive stamps. Commemorative stamps are RARELY reproduced so be sure to buy one of each release when you have the chance!

Special Stamps - This category was simply coined in recent years to describe the stamps that are especially produced for an occasion like Christmas or Valentine's Day. These stamps are bigger than commemorative stamps but their prices - depending on their production rate - can be cheaper or more expensive than the latter.

FACTOR # 2 RARITY - Naturally, the rarer a particular stamp, the higher value it is given. Stamps are classified as rare when there are only limited original copies available in the market. This may be because the stamp has been released long in the past and only a few of it are left existing OR it could be a new stamp with a limited release.
Naturally, one cannot immediately expect to be paid a great amount of money the moment he says his stamp is of rare quality. Experts must be consulted so that the stamp's authenticity may truly be verified.

FACTOR #3 HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE - Stamps that have historical significance also command huge prices in the market. The first stamp ever made was the Penny Black in Great Britain and this obviously makes it a collectible item. The first basketball stamp is yet another example; you would have to visit Philippines, however, if you wish to obtain it from its country of origin.

FACTOR #4 CONDITION

Unused Condition - Stamps that are considered unused will generally fetch a better price than one that's used but of the same edition. Secondhand rare stamps however may be tagged at a higher price than unused brand new stamps.
Mint Condition - It's very rare to see stamps that are truly in mint condition, especially those that are more than a decade old. A stamp in mint condition is one whose original beauty has been preserved throughout the years. No cuts, tears, folds or any other flaw mar its appearance.
Stamps in mint condition will always sell at a good price because of the amount of care bestowed upon them by their owners.

FACTOR #5 AUTHENTICITY

There are a number of organizations and experts today that can provide generally accepted certifications of authenticity for stamps. These documents serve as proof of the stamp's validity and directly contribute to the added value of the stamp.
If you wish to ensure that auction houses will peg your stamps at the price they deserve, make sure you procure all the necessary papers to completely prove your collection's genuineness!

By: Jerald Shin Shapiro

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Rubber Stamping and Scrapbooking will Bring the Family Together During The Holidays

No matter what celebration you and your family will rejoice in this holiday season, the common thread is family unity and the joy of sharing in the relationships with others.

Remembering the past is always an important part when bringing the family together. It is important to reflect on the fun times we have as a family, and those not with us anymore.

Technology lets us organize out memories better than ever before. With computers, digital photography and video, there are simple ways to get the kids involved with preserving the past.

The kids are at home for their winter break, and like mine, they are probably bored. Putting together a scrapbook is a great task to keep them busy with a good project. This can be done before and after the holidays. By taking lots of pictures, they will be able to assemble them in their book. It is fun to add their own twist with colored pencils and markers, or rubber stamps and crafting scissors.

Perhaps, they will be able to create gifts for others. Grandparents always like a homemade picture frame from their grandchildren.

Crafting and scrapbooking may introduce your children, and yourself, to a lifelong hobby. This simple start may lead to many other projects along the way.

Obtaining crafting supplies is quite easy and inexpensive. Blank scrapbooks may be a good start and they are pretty cheap to buy. Paper, glue, scissors, and tape won’t set you too far back either. There’s a craft and scrapbooking store probably around the corner from your house.

Robb Ksiazek is a successful author and publisher for http://www.checks-4u.com/Rubber_Stamps.htm. He has researched and written hundreds of articles and can simplify your online search by recommending merchants for the best value and selections in business or personal checks, address labels, rubber stamps and envelopes.

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7 Book Writing Tips that Stamp Pro On Your Book

Have you picked up a book to read and noticed a wall of text or a confusing order? Did it inspire you to read on? Or did it cause you to lose heart and put the book down?

The truth is poor organization is a turn off to most book readers. Chances are the author does not get a second chance. Not many will wade through sloppy book writing and organization to get to the real message.

Excellent book organization pulls your readers in for the read. Whether you are writing solutions for your clients in the work field or inspirational tips for the volunteers in a cause, your well organized words will work powerfully for you.

Ready to write a book your readers love to read? Start with this short checklist to translate your professionalism to more profits. Then write your ticket to success through a well organized book.

1. Write attention grabbing chapter titles. Do your chapter titles do their job? I mean do they help explain what's in your book? Do they capture the interest, engage, or shock the senses of your potential reader. Chapter titles set the stage for your potential audience. They work to grab your potential reader by the collar and pull them in for the read.

2. Craft easily noticed headlines. Add magnetic pulling power and punch to every chapter that will help get your message read. Use your headlines to create excitement, anticipation and enthusiasm for more. Express the heart and passion of your message through your headlines.

3. Write body copy that aids readability. Aim for short sentences and paragraphs. Slash your sentences to under 15-17 words. Don't bog your readers with complex sentences. Remember multiple phrases slow your reader's comprehension. Make it easy. Get to the point fast.

4. Use sub-headings and bullets to further organize. Don't forget to use your title writing skill for your chapter sub-headings. Even bullet points will have pulling power if they are developed correctly. Take every opportunity to keep leading your reader along with attention keeping sub-headings and bullets.

5. Insert graphics that explain not distract. Choose your graphics carefully. They must flow with the theme of your book. Make them further explain your topic. If you choose graphics poorly, they end up distracting your reader. Distracted readers may fall asleep and miss your important message.

6. Develop pull quotes that summarize. Use pull quotes sparingly but do use them. To make an important point in your chapter, put it in the pull quote. Many times your readers will read the pull quotes first. Then you get to emphasize the point again when they're reading the regular part of the chapter.

7. Apply white space. Never make your book look like a wall of text. You will frighten lots of readers away and they may never read your message. Most readers start out as skimmers. Your job is to snag their attention with your well organized copy including white space and attention grabbing headlines throughout your book.

Are you ready to stamp pro on your self published book? Remember to write sizzling chapter titles, craft easily noticed headlines, write body copy that aids readability, use sub-headings to further organize, insert graphics that explain, develop pull quotes to summarize important points and don't forget white space. Now go; write a book your readers will love to read and make us all proud!

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Find People Free, Spend Hard Earned Money on Other Things, Like Stamps

Find people free. Apparently it's the root of one third of all the searches on the net these days.

Finding people.

And now, there is a dedicated search engine that ONLY spends every waking moment looking for people and delivering those results for no money and it's Allied People Search.

A word of warning to everyone though (especially you cutting edge graphic types) what you will find on the site is alarmingly simple to the point where you might wonder where the rest of the site actually is. But that is the real charm here.

Unlike just another ordinary template, this is a stripped down site that will blow your mind in terms of speed and the fact that (are you sitting???) the results it delivers are actually not associated with a cost.

Yes, you do have to cough up your name and email address for the right to retrieve this info for free, but where's the downside there??? Suppose you had done a find people free search and a name comes flying to the surface months later that the finder might just want to monetize...seems fair to me.

We live in a blindingly negative internet marketing world where if someone literally offered us a $50 bill, the vast majority of us would say no thank you...knowing that the catch would take our homes and steal our cats and dogs in the night.

Allied People Search is 100% FREE and, like the tag lines says, 100% Cool!

What it lacks in internet gizmos and Flash banners, it more than makes up for in speed and genuineness,

If it were a movie, I would give it 5 stars.

If it were a book, it'd get an award from some gentlemen in Wales.

But it's a search engine. A find people free search engine. And that's exactly what I just happened to be looking for when I found it! No as for finding stamps when I need them...

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