| Stamp research is called Philately. Many Americans | | | | to conserve the environment and help the ducks. |
| become drawn to this large field of research. This | | | | A popular conservationist by the name of Ding |
| attraction with stamps and all of the history | | | | Darling created the first Federal Duck stamp in |
| concerning them has started a hobby connected | | | | 1934. After a while it became a tradition and |
| to philately, which is stamp collecting. | | | | many wildlife artists competed. The winner of the |
| Normally, stamp collecting starts by acquiring a | | | | competition had his or her design picked to be on |
| few stamps and choosing a certain type of | | | | the new Federal Duck stamp for the year. That |
| stamp that the collector will pay attention to. | | | | person gained a good reputation and was held in |
| Stamps can be acquired for the collection either | | | | high regard for winning the competition. The |
| through the postal office, private letters, dealers | | | | American government works with local state |
| of stamps, making a trade with fellow collectors | | | | agencies and the Department of Interior to |
| of high quality and rare stamps in whatever type | | | | manage the sale of Federal Duck Stamps. The |
| that is chosen. | | | | sales of the stamps produces a large enough |
| Although, the philatelic hobby might appear to be | | | | revenue that new wetlands can be acquired which |
| hard or vague, it really is not. It is not an | | | | help to preserve and protect the ducks. |
| uncommon idea to study and collect stamps. | | | | First-day covers (FDCs), which many stamp |
| There are over 100 countries throughout the | | | | collectors are finding more interesting, are |
| world that have a group of people called | | | | stamped envelopes that are terminated on the |
| philatelists (people that study stamps). | | | | same day the stamps were released. Some of |
| In the year 1886, numerous philatelists joined | | | | the FDCs that were designed later will bear the |
| together in America and formed the American | | | | motif of a special stamp's issue, also called a |
| Philatelic Society(APS). It has been over a century | | | | cachet. In 1923, George W. Linn a famous |
| now, the APS gives its members not only a way | | | | philatelist cacheted the first FDC for the Harding |
| to get together with other enthusiasts, but also | | | | Memorial stamp issue. Many people consider |
| provide many programs and information to help in | | | | cachetmaking an art form today and is |
| the pleasure and enrichment of the collecting | | | | accomplished by different means. These ways |
| experience. Over a long time, many people have | | | | include lithography, drawing straight on the |
| helped APS by donating, selling different | | | | envelope, using laser printer, and block printing. |
| publications, and collecting dues of members. The | | | | There are several cachetmaking companies like |
| group of people in APS is large and may not be | | | | Colorano, House of Farnam, and Artcraft that |
| overlooked. In America, there are over 44,000 | | | | make a large amount of the cacheted stamps in |
| philatelists members of APS officially. There are a | | | | America. |
| large number of people getting involved but have | | | | Stamp collecting in the U.S. was not always easy |
| yet to discover APS. This great amount of people | | | | to follow. During the 1920s, the U.S. stamp values |
| is validated by the fact that many states have | | | | were much higher. This motivated countless |
| conventions in the area for people excited about | | | | Americans to acquire large quantities of U.S. |
| Philately. There is another philatelic association in | | | | stamp issues in mint condition and hoping to sell |
| America with many experts and that is the | | | | them much later for a profit. Since there was an |
| Philatelic Foundation. | | | | abundance available in the market, they are priced |
| There is a large variety of collections that are | | | | only a little more than their original face value. |
| available. Many have postage stamps which came | | | | The trend of stamp collecting and philately in |
| from different countries (mainly those of | | | | America may increase in the coming years. Email |
| age).These include stationery postage, revenue | | | | and internet use has many critics saying that |
| stamps, and first day cover stamps. | | | | philately interests will go down. Many people still |
| However, there is one category that stands out | | | | need stamps and demand is continuing as stamp |
| in the USA. These are Federal Duck stamps, | | | | designs change frequently. The world of philately |
| which duck hunters need. The purpose of these is | | | | will continue to be an exciting place. |