| It might not be as popular a hobby as it once | | | | as putting together an old fashioned international |
| was, but a lot of people still collect stamps, today. | | | | collection in a world-wide album. |
| From my own experience, those who enjoy this | | | | If you're new to the hobby, beginning with a |
| quiet but satisfying hobby are not apt to talk | | | | general world-wide collection can be a good way |
| about it much, except when in the company of | | | | to go. Not only will it give you an overview of the |
| other stamp collectors. | | | | hobby, you might find that you have a special |
| What's the attraction in collecting stamps? | | | | interest in stamps from a country or two, or |
| For me, as an eight-year-old, it was a mixture of | | | | from a certain part of the world, or from a |
| geography, color, novelty, order, and fun. It was | | | | certain point in time, or even stamps that feature |
| also a chance to work on my collection along side | | | | specific subject matter. The latter are called |
| my father who got me started and passed his | | | | topicals, and are widely collected. |
| duplicates along to me. He's gone, but that's | | | | There may not be as many stamps on the mail |
| something I still remember, today. | | | | as there once were, but that doesn't mean that |
| Stamp collecting is also a relaxing hobby that can | | | | collectible stamps aren't out there. It just means |
| soothe a troubling day. There is something almost | | | | having to find them -- or finding sources for them. |
| therapeutic about sorting through a group of | | | | Unless you carried on a wide-ranging foreign |
| stamps, and it's very pleasurable to find and place | | | | correspondence, collecting stamps from the mail |
| needed items into an album and to watch your | | | | never was much fun, anyway. In fact there are |
| collection grow. | | | | more stamps out there today than there ever |
| At one time, stamp shops that sold stamps and | | | | were. The growth in quantity is cumulative. Not |
| philatelic supplies to collectors were everywhere. | | | | only are more stamps issued throughout the |
| Even Macy's and Gimbles had stamp departments. | | | | world, but once in the hands of collectors, stamps |
| I can remember going into Woolworth's, say in | | | | are seldom lost, except possibly in a flood or fire. |
| the 1950's and 1960's and purchasing packets of | | | | Over time, most stamps will resurface |
| stamps, usually colorful and exotic stamps, for | | | | somewhere because most people who come |
| my collection. | | | | across an old stamp collection left behind by a |
| My grandparents even took to saving stamps for | | | | loved-one tend to think it might be worth |
| me, and my grandmother who worked at an | | | | something, no matter how poor or basic it is, and |
| office building downtown, faithfully brought back | | | | will not throw it away but look for a way to |
| the stamps she salvaged from incoming mail for | | | | dispose of it if only by giving it to a thrift shop. |
| many years. There were also magazines that | | | | Today, a lot of stamps that were collected during |
| advertised pen pals, and I exchanged letters and | | | | what might have been stamp collecting's high |
| stamps with a boy in Korea who was about my | | | | point, say just before WWII through Vietnam, |
| age and also a stamp collector. And mail order | | | | continue to fill the market with older and |
| stamp companies selling "stamps on approval" | | | | interesting material. Much of it is available through |
| advertised everywhere from match books to | | | | auctions as well as through dealers who advertise |
| comic books. And once you passed the beginner | | | | in the philatelic press or offer their holdings online. |
| stage, joining a stamp exchange was a way to | | | | The Modern-Vue Stamp Store, for example, is a |
| trade your duplicates with other members, using | | | | good place to look for "philatelic treasure" online. |
| the mail. | | | | And if you check your phone book, you may still |
| Today, with email, low long distance rates, and | | | | find a stamp shop or stamp dealer in your area. |
| metered postage being used instead of stamps, | | | | Where you take your collection will depend on |
| even recent U.S. commemorative stamps are | | | | where you want to go with your hobby. For |
| hard to find unless you buy them mint, as they | | | | those with the interest and the means, or with |
| are issued, at the post office. | | | | investment in mind, the more valuable stamps can |
| Publishers like White Ace still offer album pages | | | | be found in printed catalogs from philatelic auction |
| for U.S. commemoratives stamps, if collecting | | | | houses, but the more plentiful and less expensive |
| stamps bought at the post office appeals to you. | | | | items can be a lot of fun, too, especially if you |
| But doing this may not be as relaxing or satisfying | | | | have an album in which to place them. |