Collecting stamps (or stamps) can be a lucrative hobby for everyone. A beginner or a child can be proficient in this area so he has an album of beautiful pictures. An advanced collector can be fascinated by the detailed research of a single stamp, or by the challenge of tracking down the last stamp to complete a collection by theme. The right way to collect stamps is one that makes you feel good.
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Part 1 of 4: Collecting Stamps
Step 1. Start your collection with a stamp pack
Stamp dealers and hobby shops usually offer reasonably priced stamp packages containing hundreds of used stamps. This is a great way to start a new stamp collection. Make sure the package you receive is "all different" so you get a variety of stamps, not the same set of stamps.
Step 2. Purchase new stamps from the post office
You can buy never-used "commemorative" stamps from the post office, which are often made with eye-catching designs aimed at collectors. Some collectors prefer the "as new" stamps because of their better quality, while others like to read the postal stamps made by the post office on the stamps used in letters. You can specify either type if you want, but it's a good idea to keep both types of stamps in your collection.
Step 3. Ask companies in your area and your friends to save the stamps for you
Companies often receive a lot of mail, and may also receive letters from abroad if they are dealing with other companies or international customers. Friends and family may be willing to keep stamps from letters they receive, and give them to you.
Step 4. Find a pen pal
If you enjoy correspondence, find a pen pal so you can talk to him in person. Online pen pal sites may be able to help you find someone from another country, who may be using stamps you can't find.
Step 5. Exchange stamps
After you've sorted through several packs of stamps, you may find piles of duplicates, or stamps that don't interest you. You can exchange these stamps with other collectors, in exchange for their duplicate stamps, so that your collection will grow. If you don't have friends or coworkers who collect stamps, ask employees or customers at your local hobby shop if they'd be interested in exchanging stamps.
In the early stages of this hobby, it's a good idea to trade one stamp for another instead of trying to learn the market value of the stamps. The exception to this is stamps that are torn, damaged, or covered by a lot of stamp (post office ink), which usually cost less than stamps that are in good condition
Step 6. Join a stamp collector's club
Experienced stamp collectors often meet to share advice and exchange stamps. You can try to find a club near you on the American Philatelic Society's website, even if you don't live in the United States.
If you want to meet more dedicated people with the same hobby, you can look for stamp fairs, where people compete for prizes for their stamp collections
Part 2 of 4: Discarding Paper from Used Stamps
Step 1. Hold the stamp with the stamp tongs
Look for postage stamps online or buy them at a hobby shop, and use the tool, not your fingers, to avoid damaging the stamps with oil or liquid. This tool is often called a tweezer because it resembles the object, but is weaker and softer, in order to avoid damaging the stamps. Due to the thin and rounded edges, we will easily insert the stamps, while the sharp edges should be avoided because there is a possibility of tearing the stamps.
Step 2. Cut out the envelope
Used stamps are usually removed from the envelope before being stored. If you like collecting postmarks, or post office ink stamps on postage stamps, cut a rectangular piece of paper around the stamp and proceed to the saving step in this section. Otherwise, cut a small square around the stamp yourself. It doesn't need to be accurate, as the following steps will remove any remaining paper debris.
Because postmarks take up a lot of space in your collection, most collectors only keep the most interesting stamps
Step 3. Wet the stamps with lukewarm water
This traditional method can be applied to postage stamps in the United States printed before 2004, and most postage stamps from other countries. Soak the stamps with the paper on them in a bowl of lukewarm water, with the front of the stamp facing up. Each soaked stamp should have enough space in the bowl so that it floats. After 15-20 minutes, once the stamps begin to separate from the paper, use a stamp tongs to transfer them to a dry paper towel. Holding the wet stamp carefully, remove any remaining paper. If the paper doesn't come off, soak the stamps longer. Don't try to peel off the stamps.
Stamps that are stuck to light colored paper or have purple ink stamps should be soaked in a separate bowl, as the ink on the paper may smudge and color the stamps
Step 4. Rinse and dry the stamps
After the paper is removed, rinse the back of the postage with fresh water to remove the last remaining glue. Dry the stamps overnight on paper towels. If the stamp is wrinkled, you can place it between a paper towel and tuck it between two thick books.
Step 5. Remove "self-adhesive" stamps with an air freshener
"Self-adhesive" stamps, including United States stamps since 2004, cannot be removed from the paper using the traditional warm water method. Just find a non-aerosol, 100% natural, citrus based air freshener, like Pure Citrus or ZEP. Spray a small amount of air freshener onto the paper that is attached to the stamp, so that the paper becomes wet and see-through. Position the stamp face up, roll up the corner of the paper slightly, and gently peel off the stamp. To remove the sticky back, dip your finger in the talcum powder and dab a little on the back of the stamp.
Part 3 of 4: Saving and Organizing Collections
Step 1. Sort your collection
After spending time on the hobby, the majority of stamp collectors decide to classify stamps into several sub-categories. Even if you decide to collect a more general selection of stamps, choose a theme to help sort your collection. Here are the available theme options:
- Country - This is probably the most common way to sort your stamp collection. Some people try to collect at least one stamp from every country in the world.
- Collections by topic/theme - Choose a stamp design that has special meaning to you, or just one that you find beautiful and attractive. Butterflies, sports, famous people, and airplanes are common postage subjects.
- Color or shape - Sorting by color can make for an attractive collection. As a challenge, try tracking down stamps that are unusually shaped, such as triangles.
Step 2. Purchase a stamp album
Stamp albums, or "stock books" protect the stamps from damage and store them in visible, sorted rows and pages. Some stamp albums include pictures of stamps from a particular country or year, so you can place the stamps over the pictures when you collect them.
Some albums are bundled, while others are in volumes that can be inserted into a new page. Black backgrounds tend to show stamps more clearly
Step 3. Glue the stamps
In some albums, you can store the stamps by tucking them in a plastic pocket. In other albums, you'll need to use a special adhesive that won't damage the stamps. Choose between the following two options:
- "Hinges" are small folded sheets of paper or plastic. To use it, wet the short end of the stamp, attach it to the back of the stamp, then wet the long end and attach it to the stamp album. This option is not recommended for valuable stamps.
- "Mounts" are plastic "sleeves," which are more expensive but better for stamps. Insert the stamp into the "sleeve", wet the back of the "sleeve", and stick it to the album.
Step 4. Separate the album pages with plastic sheets
If the album pages have stamp storage spaces on both sides, use plastic sheeting to prevent friction between the pages or tearing. Mylar, polyethylene or polypropylene are examples of effective protective plastics, but there may be others as well.
Avoid vinyl sheets, as they can't protect you effectively in the long term
Step 5. Store albums safely
Moisture, bright light, and changes in temperature can damage your stamp collection, so keep it away from hot attics or damp basements. Do not store the collection near exits or concrete walls, as this may cause humidity. If you keep your collection near the floor, put it in a box first.
Part 4 of 4: Recognizing Old Stamps
Step 1. Look for references through a stamp collector's book
Stamp catalogs and price guides are good resources, as they contain an illustrated list of stamps, organized by year, that gives the current market value of the stamp issue for which information is sought. The best known catalogs are: Scott Postage Stamp Catalog, Stanley Gibbons for UK publications, Yvert et Tellier for French publications, Unitrade for Canadian publications, and Minkus and Harris US/BNA for US publications.
You can find these collector's books in major libraries, if you don't want to buy them yourself
Step 2. Examine the stamps with a magnifying glass
With the designs of many postage issues being distinguished only by lines or dots, the magnifying glass is perhaps the most valuable stamp collector's tool. The small magnifying glass used by jewelry makers is effective enough for philately enthusiasts, but very valuable or difficult to identify stamps require a stronger magnifying glass equipped with its own light source.
Step 3. Use a hole gauge
This tool determines the size of the punch hole around the rim of a stamp, and is only necessary for advanced stamp collectors. This gauge tells you how many holes will fit in 2 cm, which can greatly affect the price of a valuable postage.
If the stamp hint lists two numbers, such as "Perf 11 x 12", the first number refers to the horizontal hole and the second number refers to the vertical hole
Step 4. Identify the watermark
The paper used to print the stamps sometimes has a watermark, which is often too blurry to identify by holding it facing the light. If you have stamps that can only be identified by a watermark, you will need a special watermark detection liquid that is non-toxic and safe for stamps. Place the stamp on the black tray and drip the liquid over it to reveal the watermark.
- It is also an effective way to find hidden wrinkles and repairs on a stamp.
- If you don't want your stamps to get wet, buy a special tool for this purpose, such as a Sinoscope or Roll-a-Tector.
