| Stamp collecting is the most popular hobby in the | | | | birds, cats, butterflies, flowers, sports, space, art, |
| world. Philately is a broader term for the study of | | | | chess, famous people and other.Specialized |
| stamps, and it is frequently - but wrongly - | | | | collecting means that you can collect all the |
| equated to stamp collecting.Through stamp | | | | varieties of a single stamp or collect stamps used |
| collecting, people find information about history, | | | | for a special purpose.Country collecting is usually |
| currency, science, politics, arts, architecture and | | | | done chronologically by date of issue, sub-divided |
| customs of different nations and countries of the | | | | into reigns or political periods.Some collectors |
| world. All stamp collectors have fun with their | | | | specialize in collecting only the first stamps, one |
| stamps because no collection is ever complete, | | | | for each country that has ever issued a postage |
| and there is always a challenge.First, decide | | | | stamp, or collecting first-day covers.Some areas |
| whether you would like to collect unused (mint) or | | | | of collecting cost less than ten cents a stamp, |
| used (canceled) stamps. If starting a mint stamp | | | | while others can cost thousands of dollars.A lot of |
| collection, purchase unused stamps from the post | | | | people collect "Cinderellas" - stamps that are not |
| office. And if you see interesting stamps coming | | | | official stamps issued by a country's postal |
| in the mail - collect them.Many collectors prefer | | | | administration. Cinderella collectors include in their |
| used stamps because they are less expensive or | | | | collections local postage issues, telegraph stamps, |
| they may cost you nothing.Some collectors save | | | | tax stamps, forgeries and counterfeits.The |
| stamps by "topic": for instance, if you are | | | | "hobbies" section of your local library may have |
| interested in ships, you may want to collect | | | | basic books about stamp collecting, and the |
| stamps of ships and boats. Car fans often collect | | | | reference department may have a set of |
| stamps with cars on them. You can disregard the | | | | stamp-collecting catalogs. To find the value of a |
| countries and only collect stamps that have | | | | specific stamp, visit some good stamp-collecting |
| pictures that you like. Some people like to collect | | | | web sites.If looking for more information on |
| stamps of one or several countries, but which are | | | | stamps and stamp collecting, the local post office |
| all of the same subject. Popular topical themes are | | | | is the best place to start. |