| Philatelic equipment and tools can be expensive as | | | | You can also buy pre-made packets of all |
| in every other field of study and research, but as | | | | different stamps of the world, On-Paper, |
| Kenneth Chapman once said: | | | | Off-Paper or in mint condition, meaning unused |
| If you picture in your mind a stamp collector's den | | | | stamps, which are ready to be mounted into your |
| with reference books lined up on the library | | | | stamp albums or stock books. |
| shelves, usage of electrically lit magnifying glasses | | | | Just to give you an idea of prices, let say that a |
| and quartz lamp to detect errors, oddities and | | | | bag of approximately 800 different used Russian |
| freaks on the stamps, indeed that collector is | | | | stamps can be obtained for around $20. That is |
| fortunate. | | | | less than.03c per stamp. If you buy a package of |
| But the stamp collector who works with an | | | | 12,000 different used postage stamps from all |
| inexpensive storage album, a pair of tweezers, | | | | countries of the world for about $100., well, it |
| decent stamp hinges and transparent mounts, | | | | comes to less than a penny per stamp. In |
| who writes up his own pages and works on a | | | | between the above two examples, a multitude of |
| kitchen or living room table, like I did, is just as | | | | other packages are available and to mention just |
| happy. | | | | a few: 50 different Butterflies stamps, 100 |
| The first source of supply for stamps is your | | | | different Trains stamps, etc etc... |
| daily incoming mail and the stamps that your | | | | To the light of these facts, your main supply for |
| friends and colleagues will save for you from their | | | | stamps will be your local stamp store, so it is |
| working places and their own personal incoming | | | | important that you know how to buy stamps, |
| mail. | | | | and we examine the different options inside the |
| You could also inherit a stamp collection or find a | | | | weekly video training lessons. |
| trunk in an attic but let say it is not something | | | | Take time to examine carefully all these newly |
| that happens every day. | | | | acquired stamps and at one point, decide which |
| You can start your collection with inexpensive | | | | ones you like best. It could be a country, or a |
| "mixtures" which are bags or envelopes of | | | | subject, or even a specific period in history and |
| stamps still on paper. By sorting, soaking and | | | | once your decision is taken, specialize in that area. |
| cataloging the stamps yourself, you avoid dealer | | | | Congratulations, you are now on the path to |
| markup for these services. | | | | become a successful topical stamp collector. |