Reviewing The Postage Stamp Collecting

This article has been written using advanced research of many case studies. Data accuracy is excellent and I surely hope you will enjoy it.

Postage stamp collecting can be a fun hobby to show off to friends and family, or a serious study (also known as "Philately") that can potentially earn you a lot of money. Whether you're looking for a Princess Diana or Elvis because you're a fan, or a souvenir sheet from Tokyo, or the rare "Inverted Jenny" US postage stamps, you'll find that this type of collection is easy to preserve, put on display and trade.

Initially the hobby began in 1840 England with the issuance of the first collecting stamp -- a portrait of a young Queen Victoria, called "One Black Penny." Much in the same way kids trade baseball cards in the US, kids exchanged new postage stamps with their peers. Postage stamp collecting was so popular, they dubbed it "Timbromania" (meaning "stamp madness"). The hobby hit the United States in the 1920s where the rising value of the stamp made older stamps instantly more valuable. However, unlike money, stamps are not necessarily worth a lot simply because they're old. Many people still have older stamps and they're available at affordable rates.

It became the misprints that became the most coveted in the world of collecting postage stamps. Most serious collectors will try to seek out a rare stamp resulting from a printing error. For instance, the "Inverted Jenny" is a US postage one from 1918 featuring a photo of a Curtiss JN-4 airplane where the plane was mistakenly printed upside-down!

Only 100 were ever printed and a block of four just sold at an auction for $2.7 Million! The US-made "Benjamin Franklin Z Grill" ones were made with a waffle pattern embossed into the paper supposedly to prevent the ink from running. Only two were printed before they realized this process was impractical. Now one stamp could get as much as $3 Million!

Internationally, collecting postage stamps often equates with big bucks. For example, the "Treskilling Yellow" one from Sweden was misprinted in the wrong color, placing its value at over $2 Million. Historically, Britain's "Penny Black" (the first official adhesive stamp) sold for $200 in the year 2000, and unused went for as much as $3,000!

Or imagine owning the "British Guiana Magenta," a rare stamp with a face value of one cent but an estimated value of $935,000! There is much controversy surrounding this one. Since there is only one known copy in existence, some say that it was an altered 4-cent one, however these claims were disproved. Others speculate that another copy was discovered but was purchased by Arthur Hind, who owned the original and who quietly destroyed the copy so he wouldn't lose the value. In 1999 a forged copy was found in Bremen, Germany.

Postage Stamp collecting is an expansive library of options, values and designs. Some people prefer "Cinderellas" (or stamps not intended for postage), while others prefer souvenir sheet stamps from various countries. There are themed topical stamps, revenue stamps, PHQ cards, postal stationery, pictorals, definitive stamps and commemorative stamps. It can be overwhelming to know where to begin, but you can find a lot of organizations and literature dedicated to the subject.

Please keep browsing my site to find out more interesting information.

Stamp Collecting News:
A stamp of approval - The Cherokeean Herald

A stamp of approval
The Cherokeean Herald, TX - Aug 26, 2008
The hobby of stamp collecting is a very rewarding experience that will stay with you for the rest of your life. All new members will be given a small .
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Postage Stamp Collecting
Stamp collecting is often mistaken for the term philately. Philately is the study of stamps and not collecting of stamps. Philatelists often collect objects of their study. However, it is not mandatory for them to do so. ...


Azadi Tower displaying three decades of stamp collecting - Tehran Times

Azadi Tower displaying three decades of stamp collecting
Tehran Times, Iran - Aug 24, 2008
TEHRAN -- An exhibition of stamps published after the Islamic Revolution in Iran opened with a ceremony at the Islamic Revolution Cultural Center in .
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An Introduction to Postage Stamp Collecting Posted By : MD
This article gives an overview of the hobby of stamp collecting, explaining for example the different types of stamps there are...


His hobby spreads message of road safety - Times of India

His hobby spreads message of road safety
Times of India, India - Aug 16, 2008
At 16, Noorullah inherited his father's stamp collection and reluctantly retained it. But soon, he lost interest and his father's collection was left .
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Postal Inspectors on Heightened Alert
According to the USPS News Link, the Postal Inspection Service has been coordinating with federal and local law-enforcement agencies for months to ensure the integrity and security of the mail, postal facilities, vehicles and postal ...


Stamp collecting suddenly cool for shrewd investors - Times Online

BBC News
Stamp collecting suddenly cool for shrewd investors
Times Online, UK - Aug 8, 2008
China, where stamp collecting was illegal until recently, is seen as a key market for the future. The group's claim that stamps are big business is backed .
Stamp seller reaps crunch rewards BBC News
Stanley Gibbons thrives as stamps win approval from investors guardian.co.uk
Collectables: Madonna and Penny Blacks beat inflation guardian.co.uk
all 13 news articles
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Olympic parents deserve gold just as much as their children (Gretna Breeze)
When I was a young new mother with my first-born son, and had the parenting I.Q. of a dandelion, I could hardly wait until he could talk, walk, and memorize the Periodic Table of Elements...


National Stamp Show Comes To Hartford - WTIC

WTIC
National Stamp Show Comes To Hartford
WTIC, CT - Aug 15, 2008
. 2008 includes exhibits by more than 170 worldwide dealers, as well as over 150 seminars and meetings discussing various aspects of stamp collecting. .
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Stamp collectors invited to county-wide fair - Grantham Today

Stamp collectors invited to county-wide fair
Grantham Today, UK - Aug 20, 2008
By Jo Hall Wednesday, 9.15am - STAMP collecting clubs from all over the county will have displays at a Stamp and Post Card Fair near Lincoln on Sunday, .
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Today's Tip On Stamp Collecting

The next place to check for information is eBay and Craigslist, where buyers and sellers meet to trade. For an advanced and exhaustive international database, try eBay. On the other hand, Craigslist is a localized site connecting individuals. There are pros and cons to all online trading sites, but sometimes it's just enjoyable to browse what's offered. Generally it's an inexpensive way to bolster your collection or a good way to find that rare stamp.


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