Stamp Collecting – Part 1

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Stamp Collecting for Beginners

Collecting stamps can be a very enjoyable hobby and can become very addictive (and lucrative for some). Stamps are easy to collect and can be a very inexpensive hobby to get into.

If you’re new to collecting, one of the first things to consider is what type of stamps you want to collect. You might decide to collect topically or to focus on a particular country.

For example:

• Topical/Thematic collections – focus on stamps of a particular topic or theme. For example:
  • You dig all things space related – consider collecting space themed stamps from anywhere in the world.
  • Your passion is F1 motor racing – why not focus on that topic?
  • Big Elvis Presley fan? There’s lots to choose from here too.
  • If you’re a WWI/WWII buff you might consider occupation stamps (For example: Philippine Stamps of 1942 – Japanese Occupation) or any WWI/WWII related stamps.
  • What about stamps from the year that you were born? You could collect from many different countries; each potentially with their own unique triumphs and tragedies portrayed on stamps.
  • Flowers, butterflies, fish, famous people, presidents, famous artworks, airplanes, stamps with teapots on them – whatever you’re into can make a great theme.

• Country Specific – focusing on stamps from a particular country. You could choose the country to collect based on:
  • The country you were born in.
  • The country you live in.
  • The country that your parents or grandparents were born in, this is a great way to connect with them and with your family heritage.

• Scattergun – You don’t really care what you collect. Just start collecting anything and everything. This is how a lot of stamp collectors start out.

Topical collecting can be very rewarding as you discover stamps from all around the world and get different insights into your chosen topic. Collecting from a specific country can also be very rewarding but it may also be impossible to complete full year sets due to the rarity (and hence price) of some early stamps.