Stamp Collecting for Beginners

The basic rule of stamp collecting is to enjoy what you're collecting and take good care of your stamps. Other than that, you can collect whatever stamps you like and display them in whatever way you like.

What to collect

Some people collect stamps by the country (traditional), and some by the design on the stamps (topical). Some people collect many copies of just one stamp issue or just one type of stamp (specialist), and some people collect every stamp they see (worldwide).

Most people collect a little of everything, so you will find someone who collects US postage due stamps, sports-on-stamps, and Italian stamps. As time goes on she just might buy a lot of classic Bulgarian stamps and start to specialize in US air mail stamps.

When you're just starting out in stamp collecting it's best not to narrow your collecting interests. Look at as many stamps and read as much as you can, and you will discover areas and facets of stamp collecting you never knew existed.

The important thing when starting a stamp collecting is to start, and just start with what you have at hand. Somewhere along the line you will find the stamps you really want, but the first lesson you need to learn is how to take care of your stamps.

Stamp Collecting links to some helpful sites:
» Canada and BNA
» Brit Commonwealth
» United Kingdom
» United States
» Specialities
» Topicals A-L
» Topicals M-Z

Care

No matter what else you learn about stamp collecting, learn to always use stamp tongs. They may look like household tweezers, but stamp tongs do not have sharp edges. Tweezers will harm your stamps. Use tongs: that's the second rule of stamp collecting.

Do not pick up your stamps with your fingers or even lay them out on a bare table. The natural oils from your skin and the dust on the table will dirty the stamp over time.

When looking at your stamps, pour them out of their envelope onto a clean piece of white paper or something similar. I use a pad of paper on a clipboard.

The clipboard allows me to pick up all my stamps and move them out of the way if I need to. Sometimes I put my board of stamps into a box or drawer for safe-keeping if I'm going to continue working on them the next morning or so.

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