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.

Continue Reading

Canadian Stamp Collecting Facts

by Don Tanner

Since its inception on May 6, 1840, “postage stamps”
have been a part of history. It's one the best lines of
stamp collecting that collectors have enjoyed to this
day.

Since the time postage stamps were created, the idea
of collecting them came into view right after they were
circulated into the market. This is because some people
have grown a fondness to these artistic creations.

For this reason, stamp manufacturers have realized the
values that stamps bring. That is why Canada decided
to make their own stamps. These stamps were previously
created to reflect the historical background.

From the well-known maple leaf coin down to the
historical stamps, Canada has remarkably created a
culture of its own.

From this, Canadian stamp collecting started. From the
commonly used stamps up to those that are classified as
rare and hard to find. Stamp collecting in Canada is
definitely a rewarding hobby.

So, if you are a Canadian citizen or not, and are
interested in starting a Canadian stamp collection, here
are a few pointers that you need to know before you
start collecting these miniature masterpieces:

1. The ability to sort stamps.

Every stamp collector, whether a Canadian or not, should
learn how to sort different kinds of stamps. It would be
better to sort them first before you keep them in your
album for record keeping.

The sorting process will be based on the type of stamp
collecting that you are interested in. For instance, if you
want to collect stamps by topic, say, historical facts, start
from there.

You can even sort them according to their classifications
like separating the special delivery stamps to those of the
revenue stamps, and the list will go on.

2. Learn how to remove stamps from the envelope without
damaging them.

If you have decided to start Canadian stamp collecting, it is
extremely important that you know how to peel off these
stamps from the envelopes without damaging even the
slightest corner of the stamp.

To do this, you must learn the proper way of soaking. In this
process, you will be able to peel off the stamp without any
damage to the stamp.

This is relatively easy because all you have to do is to cut
the portion where the stamp is placed, taking extra care
not to cut the stamp itself. Then, soak them in a basin of
water, stamp side up. It would be better if you will use
some tepid water, not hot, as this will ruin your stamps.

Do not be in a hurry when soaking stamps. You might have
the propensity to soak too many stamps in one batch. The
idea here is to give the stamps extra room to drift up to the
surface of the water. Once they begin to resurface, try to pull
them out carefully and then peel them off. Once you see that
they are ready to be detached from the paper, remove them
and any traces of adhesives at the back, then, place them
between “two paper towels” to dry.

Keep in mind that if you have a lot of stamps to soak, change
the water every two sets to ensure that the stamps will
peel off easily. This will save time and preserve any
identifiable marks within the envelope. It is best to keep
the stamp as it is placed on the envelope. This will make
your stamp collection more valuable.

3. Use the right mounting tools

The next thing to learn is how to place your stamps in the
album. It's definitely a NO-NO to place your stamps in the
album using a glue or any other kind of adhesive.

Mounted or hinged is the best way. The choice is yours, but
either will do. These options are available from any stamp
dealers in your community. Just try to choose the one that
will work best for your collection.

The above methods boil down to the fact that starting a
Canadian stamp collecting, or any other, is not complicated
once you know these three pointers. The idea of stamp
collecting is to keep all of your stamps organized. Once
you have familiarized yourself with Canadian stamp
collecting, you are definitely on your way to a gratifying
pastime.

Tips on Canadian Stamp Collecting

by Don Tanner

Stamp collecting is one of the most popular hobbies
among Canadians. Canada has a great respect for
stamp collecting which dates back as early as the
17th century.

Canadian Stamp collecting is no different than stamp
collecting of other countries. The only difference is
that, most Canadian stamps depict intense social
issues and is one of the hallmarks of Canadian stamp
collecting.

These social issues translate to understanding among
various social events in the community, the country, and
the world as a whole. Canadian stamps tell stories about
these events without bias, they promote understanding
and resolution.

This apparent uniqueness among Canadian stamps is what
makes Canadian stamp collecting an enjoyable one.

To appreciate the value of Canadian stamp collecting this
article uses the Cardinals in exposing various information
regarding collecting inventories and start possessing some
of the most-sought after stamps of the world.

The Cardinals

The purpose of this article is to enrich reader’s views
regarding stamp collecting, especially collecting stamps
the Canadian way and how this information will affect
you in your future decisions regarding this hobby.

Possession is the rule of the game. Most people would
have to spend thousands, while others could spend
more, just to get the latest releases and “antic stamps”.

An auction was held in New York for the mint collection
of Sir Gawaine Baillies of British North America.

More than 1400 stamps dating from 1851 to 2000, were
featured in this auction and the estimated revenue for this
grandiose stamp sale reached more than $23 million.

With this information at hand, it is best to answer the
following cardinal questions and provide substantial
justification as to how, why, when, where, and what you
can get form this wonderful hobby.

What

First, one must realize that philately should not be
treated as a hobby alone. Stamp collecting provides
you skills which will help you connect to the history
of a specific location, person, animal or thing.

The type of stamps a person collects will speak on a
larger part of behavior, personality, and personal
standing on almost all issues. Stamps depicting floral
and scenery are peace loving, while people who love
collecting psychedelically colored and abstract-themed
stamps are revolutionary and argumentative.

Why

Stamps, especially, Canadian stamps are on of the best
there is in the world. Possession of Canadian stamps puts
you on top of other stamp collectors. Not just because they
are one of the most popular but they are some of the
oldest there are in North America and the rest of the world.

Where

Canadian stamps are mostly auctioned and showcased
in expositions and museums throughout America and Europe.

They are among the most-sought after stamps in Europe
and America. The legacy and memory that these stamps
provide will entangle your love of history to that of stamp
collecting.

If you are a beginner, it is always good to go over some
reference catalogues (those that are considered standard
by the Canada Philatelic Society) such as Unitrade
Specialized Catalogue of Canadian Stamps and Darnell
Stamps of Canada.

Various portals in the vast World Wide Web and the
net alone, are enough to give you information on stamp
collecting, selling, dealerships and maintenance or caring
tips, especially for Canadian stamps.

Internet channels such as the Canadian Stamp News
are also a wonderful resource if one is looking for
information, tips, literature, history, significance and
news related to stamp collecting, recent ad future auctions,
happenings in the world of philately and club functions
and events.

When

Age is no boundary in collecting stamps. Perhaps, among
all hobbies in the world, stamp collecting is one of the
most interesting and most flexible and can be taken on
as an additional hobby among adults and children alike.

Collecting stamps can be fun and exciting but the pursuit
can be most challenging if you are to start out on your own.
Dealers can help you with tips and information on how
you can start your search and start building your collectibles.

Collectibles can be a good investment if you are a serious
collector. You can collect something that you take an interest
in or something which reflects your personality. Remember
that people who are passionate about what they do are the
most successful.

Art Collectibles as Hobbies in the Form of Stamps and Coins

by Don Tanner

Life is an art.

So goes the saying. But where people find things of profound
interests, experts say that it is a form of art as well.

By definition, when an object is considered as a work of
art, it simply means that the object is the result of a
creation of an item using the valuable application of a
mass of expertise along with an array of talents and
cleverness.

It is on this context that experts consider collecting as
one form of artistic endeavor in the sense that the mere
acquisition of objects that is limited to the interest of
the person who acquires them is already artistic. This
means that not all people were born to collect coins, stamps,
or any other items that may not be valuable to other people
but to some, they are almost priceless.

Consequently, most experts contend that the hobby of
collecting some explicit objects are generally based on a
precise area of interest of the person involved. Because
the interest of the collector is the primary purpose of this
kind of leisure pursuit, many people consider collecting
stamps and coins as an art collectible hobby.

Why? Because based on the definition of art collectible hobby,
the mere acquisition of stamps and coins based on the
personal attention given by the collector to the items are
already artistic in nature. In short, when a person is
attracted to a certain thing, the object becomes an art
collectible.

Moreover, the basic features of the coins and the stamps
are also one of the reasons why it becomes an art
collectible. This is because coin and stamp designs are
not just created by anybody who knows how to draw
some lines or shapes. The designs that are engraved or
sketched in the surface of the stamp or coin are made
by people who were gifted with the talent to draw
things imaginatively and creatively.

Take the stamps for example. The creation of the
designs in a particular stamp undergoes a detailed
process of brainstorming, evaluation, analysis, and
good decision making in order to come up with a truly
creative design. In fact, a group of 12 to 15 people
forms the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee, which
serves as the body that will recommend the ideal
designs to be included in stamp production.

Every year, the committee contemplates on about
50,000 designs and then advocates at least 35 of them
to the “postmaster general” for the production of
“commemorative stamps.”

This just goes to show that the selection of the design is
such thorough process that the value of the item is clearly
identifiable.

For this reason, stamp collectors and coin collectors,
particularly those that focus more on the rare items,
know that the value that goes with each item is almost
priceless.

So for those who still cannot understand why many
people are into art collectible hobby of stamps and coins,
here is a list of some of the reasons why these enthusiasts
are so engrossed in collecting:

1. Art collectible hobby provides various areas of interest

When a person has decided to start an art collectible hobby
of a particular item such as coins or stamps, this reflects
the kind of object he or she is interested in. for instance, in
stamp collecting, if a particular stamp collector focuses more
on the rare stamps rather than the ordinary stamps, this
could mean a lot of things.

You could be interested with the rarity of the stamps, or
you could be interested with the income that he can
generate by trading the stamps to other collectors.

2. Art collectible hobby may trigger the desire to
accomplish something

While most of the collections are focused on the mere
acquisition of various items such as different kinds of
stamps or coins arranged according to the interest of
the collector, there are some people who opt to collect
stamps and coins and aim to complete the whole set.

This means that additional art collectibles are obtained
to fill in the missing spaces in between stamps and coins.
Once completed, the collector usually feels the
unexplainable satisfaction that others don't feel.

Given all these premises, it can be concluded that art
collectible hobby of stamps and coins are not just mere
samples of leisure pursuits. On its broader context, stamp
and coin collecting can be considered as new forms of arts
as well.

Online Auction Selling Tips

Stamp Collecting with GS

Online stamp auctions are very busy places, where
dealers and collectors list auctions for sale. Here are
a few tips to help you when you list your stamps for
sale online.

Time the end of your auctions when bidders on the
West Coast are online, but not past 11:00 PM on the
East Coast. That leaves you with a two-hour window
of from 9:00 et (6:00 pt) to 11:00 et (8:00 pt).

Check the calendar. Don't end your auction on a major
holiday when people will be away from their terminal.

Spread out the closing time of lots listed within the same
category. Try to space out the closing time of your lots
by five or six minutes. If you list 10 lots of Irish stamps
that all close within moments of each other, some bidders
will miss out bidding on a few lots because they're waiting
a particular item.

You must have a clear scan of your stamps for sale, and
please make the scan larger than a postage stamp. If you're
not getting crisp pictures from your scans, read and learn
from one of the online resource sites about scanning.

If the condition of the back of your stamp is important to your
bidders, include a view of it along with the face, and be sure to
scan it against a contrasting color.

Many active stamp collectors search the stamp categories
with keywords so be sure that the title of your lot contains
as many important words as possible, such as the country,
the Scott #, exceptional condition if applicable, "on cover"
if applicable.

If you have a specialized stamp publication, you might try l
isting it with the stamps of that country, rather than under
"publications."

List your lot where the bidders are. Spend a few days checking
the auction site's traffic and check closed auctions for lots like
yours. Ask a few stamp collectors who've sold online for advice.

Don't leave bidders guessing. State how you will accept
payment (money order, check, etc.) and what the
postage/shipping cost will be. Many bidders will figure
the postage and cost of a money order into their bid, so
don't charge $5 shipping for a $1 stamp.

The USPS will insure up to $50 for $1.10. Be familiar with
their insurance coverage and go to their Web site. If you
think it's a good idea, put something like "Successful bidder
can add $XXX for insurance."

If there's a minimum amount of money you'll accept for your
lot, you can set the initial bid at that price, or you can set it
lower and set a reserve price.

Describe your stamps accurately, such as "United States,
#987 mint, never hinged." Let the scan do the talking about
color, perfs and centering, but be sure to disclose all known
defects that are not readily apparent in the scan, such as
thins or repairs.

Our friend Marek suggests: "Ebay and Yahoo let you list an
item for a maximum of 10 days. List your auctions Thursday
night so you'll hit two weekends. Don't pick automatic
relisting. Relist auction yourself next Thursday. This way
you hit another two weekends and take advantage of fee
weiver. Traffic increases on weekends and also depends on
the season of the year in the northern hemisphere. Late fall,
winter, and early spring puts more people in front of their
computer."

Build Your Own Stamp Sweat Box

Stamp Collecting with GS

Sometimes soaking isn't the solution. Sometimes it's best
to let humidity work on the glue before you try to remove
a hinge remnant or separate a mint stamp stuck to another
stamp or an album page. The same trick works for getting
stamps off envelopes whose inks you know will discolor the
stamp when placed in water.

If you live in a hot, humid area you could experiment with
exposing your stamps to the elements, but for most of us
the answer is a sweat box. It's simply an airtight container
with a couple of sponges and a cradle to keep the stamps
from coming into direct contact with the sponges.

The basic idea is to raise the humidity in the sweat box so
that it dampens the stamp's gum just enough to loosen the
stamp from whatever it's stuck on without saturating the
stamp or the paper, or diluting the gum.

The basic parts of the sweat box are

1. A small air tight container. (picture #1) A small, clear
plastic disposable air-tight food container works well. The
smaller the container, the quicker the humidy rises. If it's
clear you can check on the stamp's progress without opening
the container, which would then also drop the humidity.

2. A clean, never-used sponge or two to hold the water
moisture. (picture #5) Two clean kitchen sponges are fine.
You can try this out with what you have in the kitchen, but
if you want to keep your sweat box working, you'll want to
replace them with never-used sponges.

3. A screen on which the stamp on piece rests. I used a plastic
basket that stores sell strawberries in. (picture #1) I then
trimmed the sides down low enough to fit between the two
sponges.

4. Spacers (picture #4) These raise the screen above the bottom
sponge and must be non-porous, plastic, metal or cork. I used
two bottle caps, but now use two pieces from a backgammon set.

To put together a your own homemade sweat box read the
following and refer to the pictures.

1. Soak the bottom sponge in water. Wring it out so that it is
still heavy and wet with water but not dripping and place it
on the bottom of your box.

2. Affix the top sponge to the center of your box's top lid with
two push pins as shown in picture #2.

3. Soak the top sponge in water and wring it out so that it is
still heavy and wet with water but not dripping.

4. Now trim your screen so that it will fit between the upper
and lower sponge. See picture #3.

5. Place your two spacers on top of the bottom sponge and
rest your screen on top of it. See picture #4

6. When finished and set up, it looks something like this. See
picture #5. In a while, depending on the sponge water, the
size of the box, ambient temperature, humidity and sunlight
on the box, water droplets will form on the sides of the box.

7. I cut a wine cork into ½" thicknesses and used them to
cover the sharp ends of the push pins holding the top sponge
in place on the cover.

The object of the sweat box is to have the humidity in the
box seep through the paper and loosen the stamp's gum, but
remember paper and gum interact in different ways
depending on the age of the paper, the age and condition
of the gum and the humidity.

Self-adhesive stamps can be sweated off, but what happens
with a SA stamp is that the binder layer dissolves separating
the top paper layer from the bottom adhesive layer so that
you can't save the stamp with its adhesive.

And if you think stronger measures are necessary, just give
the sweat box more time to work. Remember "STEAM is
EXTREME."

With a little experience and patience most glues finally break
down under the humidity. Expect a gummed stamp to take 30
minutes to loosen from paper, and gummed mint stamps a bit
longer to release from each other.

Soaking and Collecting Self-Adhesive Stamps

Stamp Collecting with GS

Self-adhesive stamps are here to stay, and sometimes
it seems as if they are truly stuck there forever.
Self-adhesives are also known as pressure-sensitive
stamps or peel-and-stick and were first issued by
Sierra Leone in 1964, followed by Tonga and Bhutan
in 1969.

They were something of a novelty item, an interesting
philatelic marketing angle, like banana-shaped stamps
or circular-hologram issues.

The USPS got into the act with the 1974 10¢ Christmas
issue (Scott #1550), but the public and collectors were
confused by the stamp and the issue was considered a
failed experiment. People were leaving the stamp on the
protective backing and taping and gluing them to their
Christmas mail.

Today the used '74 Christmas stamps cannot be soaked
from paper and the adhesive has disclored nearly all of
the stamps, turning the white background an uneven blotchy
brown. Mint copies can be saved by removing the sticky
adhesive with an organic solvent such as naphtha as found
in lighter fluid.

But that was then and this is now. The 29¢ Eagle and
Shield stamp (Scott #2431) was the start of normal
self-adhesive production in the US, and the public loves
them. SA's represented just eight percent of the USPS's
stamps in 1994, but a full 85% by 1998. Self-adhesives are
now the norm over the time-honored lick-'n'-stick stamps.

Four LayersA typical mint self-adhesive stamp has four
layers.

Protective Backing; the slick, shiny, non-stick packaging;
not really part of the stamp but essential in manufacture
and storage.

Self-Adhesive Layer; the sticky side of the stamp; two
types of adhesive have been used in self-adhesive stamps.

Binder; a thin chemical layer that stops the adhesive from
"bleeding" into the stamp design and discoloring it; it's soluable
in water so that when the stamp is soaked, the binder layer
releases the stamp paper from the adhesive that still adheres
to the envelope.

Stamp Paper; the printed paper top of the stamp bearing the
design and other postal indicia. AdhesivesThere are two basic
classifications of self-adhesive glues.

Rubber based: old technology; like the glues used in old
cellophane tape; not archivally safe; penetrates paper; darkens
in color; and loses adhesion (stickiness); used on the '74 US
Christmas stamp; recommended that the gum be dissolved in
organic solvents.

Synthetic polymer based: used on US self-adhesives since
'89; not archivally safe; won't yellow, dry out or become brittle;
subject to "cold flow," adhesive can ooze out around the edges of
the stamp and possibly stick to a mount or album page; adhesive
quality improves with age; softened by organic solvents and
leaves a residue behind that can be rubbed off.

Soaking Self-AdhesivesSoaking water-activated gummed stamps
means diluting the glue that hold the stamp to the envelope paper.
Soaking a self-adhesive stamp means dissolving the binder later,
which then releases the stamp paper from the adhesive still stuck
on the envelope.

Soak water-activated stamps and self-adhesive stamps separately.
Traditional gummed stamps use lukewarm water and will float
free long before the SA's.

Soak SA's 30 to 45 minutes in warm to hot water, but we wary of
colored envelope paper bleeding their inks into the bath. SA's float
off coarse enveloped more quickly than other covers.

The longer an SA stamp has been on the envelope, the longer it
will take to soak off because its adhesive quality improves with age,
so soak those new SA stamps today.

The stamp inks on SA stamps are stable when soaked for prolonged
periods.

After soaking, the stamp may remain in place on the paper, but if
you gently slide it between your thumb and forefinger it may come
off. Avoid tongs after a long soak as the paper is very fragile.

SA stamps curl when drying. Place another layer of blotters on top
of them and weigh them down. Stubborn Stamps

If an SA stamp won't come free after a good soaking, the binder
layer may have failed and the adhesive may be bonded directly
to the stamp's top paper layer. Naphtha or turpentine can loosen
the adhesive, afterwhich you must gently rub off the adhesive
residue

"Un-du" is a heptane-based, adhesive remover sold in craft and
variety stores. It can loosen stubborn SA stamps, but it can also
affect some cancellation inks.

1989-90 Autopost and Postage Validation Imprinter metered
strips do not have a binder layer. Soaking does not release the
stamp from the envelope: the adhesive holds the stamp paper
to the envelope.

The 1999 Sonoran Desert stamps may need to soak over night
in hot water.
See other material on soaking stamps. Mints, Covers
and "Cold Flow"

Some stamp collectors favor the removal of the self-adhesive
layer on mint stamps because of the cold flow or edge ooze
problem, though removal of gum from a mint lowers its
acceptability in the eyes of some collectors.

Do not peel the stamp from it's original protective backing. Use
adjacent stamps for postage and trim a 1/8" border around the
stamp. Mount it, but periodically inspect it for cold flow.

Cold flow can cause trouble for cover collectors. Not only can
the adhesive seep out around the stamp and into the envelope
paper, but it can react with the inks in the envelope itself.
discoloring the envelope or turning it translucent. Ink, binder
and adhesive chemical formulations continue to change so be
alert for news of particularly stubborn stamps, and if you have
an SA tip please post it for others to read.