| Looking for a hobby that's educational, entertaining | | | | you can flatten it gently with a book or other |
| and fits any budget? Consider the hobby that lets | | | | heavy flat object. For an older stamp - the |
| you explore the world - stamp collecting. | | | | "lick-and-stick" kind - put it between two paper |
| Collecting and studying stamps is called "philately" | | | | towels and put something on top. Let the old |
| (fi-LAT-uh-lee) and it's enjoyed by millions of | | | | stamp dry there overnight, so it doesn't curl. |
| people in the United States and around the world. | | | | Protecting Your Collection |
| Don't worry, though - you don't have to be able | | | | To safeguard your stamps, you can attach them |
| to say it to appreciate it! | | | | to loose-leaf paper and put them in a three-ring |
| U.S. postage stamps celebrate American history, | | | | binder, or arrange them more formally in a stamp |
| nature art, culture and science. The beauty of our | | | | album. Some albums have plastic or paper |
| country is reflected in stamps, from the pane of | | | | pockets on them to hold the stamps. Others |
| 10 stamps celebrating Nature of America: Alpine | | | | include pictures of the stamps to help you look |
| Tundra to our historic Pacific lighthouses. They | | | | for and match up the ones you find. Otherwise |
| remind us of important historical events, | | | | you can affix little glassine mounts that |
| inventions, trends and people who have touched | | | | completely cover and protect the stamp. Consider |
| our lives, from actor Jimmy Stewart to | | | | getting an album that lets you add pages so it can |
| entertainer Ella Fitzgerald to authors Henry | | | | grow as your collection grows. |
| Wadsworth Longfellow and Harriet Beecher | | | | You may want to get some glassine envelopes, |
| Stowe. They celebrate American culture and | | | | made of thin, see-through paper, to hold and |
| pastimes, from the Art of Disney and Marvel | | | | protect stamps until you have time to put them |
| Super Heroes to Tiffany lamps. | | | | in your album. A stamp catalog, a reference book |
| Getting Started | | | | with illustrations and information about your |
| Starting your stamp collection is simple. Many | | | | stamps, will come in handy as you research your |
| youngsters begin by saving used stamps from | | | | stamps, and a magnifying glass will help you study |
| the letters, packages and postcards their families | | | | the tiny details and look for special markings on |
| receive at home. You can ask friends and | | | | your stamps. |
| relatives to save stamps from their mail, too. | | | | Investigating your stamps |
| Local banks, stores, insurance agents, travel | | | | Part of the fun of having a stamp collection is |
| agents and other businesses that get a lot of mail | | | | doing the detective work - investigating your |
| might be willing to save envelopes for young | | | | stamps. What's special about the subject? Where |
| collectors. Some people save entire envelopes. | | | | was the stamp issued? Why? It's easy to |
| Others focus on the stamp itself. To remove the | | | | investigate your stamps - just look in your stamp |
| stamp, first tear or cut off the upper right-hand | | | | catalog, go to your local library, or search out the |
| corner of the envelope or card. Place it image-side | | | | subjects on the internet. |
| down in a small pan of warm water. The stamp | | | | Don't forget to tell your friends about your new |
| should sink to the bottom after a few minutes, | | | | hobby. Let them know you collect stamps, and |
| but wait a few minutes more for any remaining | | | | ask them to help you build your collection. And |
| glue to dissolve from the stamp. Then take the | | | | remember to put stamps, albums and hinges on |
| stamp out of the water using tweezers or stamp | | | | your birthday and holiday wish lists. |
| tongs so the oil from your skin doesn't damage | | | | To purchase stamps or get more information |
| your stamps. | | | | about collecting stamps, go to usps.com, sign up |
| If your stamp is self-adhesive, don't attempt to | | | | an account and use G2912 as your Postal Office |
| remove the gum. Place it face down and don't let | | | | source code. |
| anything touch its adhesive back. Once it's dry, | | | | |