| Most collectors start by trying to collect | | | | composed of signs and symbols written on the |
| everything on very little money. It is not possible, | | | | envelope, that let her know that he was fine and |
| even if you have much money! | | | | that he loved her. |
| First of all, you would have to acquire the unique | | | | This incident had Rowland Hill ponder upon the |
| 1856 British Guiana (now Guyana) 1c magenta | | | | situation and subsequent investigations proved |
| stamp for which the estimated value is $935,000. | | | | that this system was quite popular and costing a |
| You might have heard about the actual owner of | | | | lot of money to the British government! |
| this rare and unique postage stamp for which only | | | | That is why and when he decided to create a |
| one specimen is known to exist. His name is John | | | | "tax", in form of a vignette, that would be prepaid |
| E. du Pont and he is serving a 30-year sentence | | | | by the sender. Once his proposition was adopted |
| for murder. | | | | by the British Parliament, printers got the contract |
| Consequently, the only way to obtain | | | | for the first postage stamp and sheets of them |
| completeness is to collect stamps by subjects | | | | were released, hot off the press on May 6th, |
| and that is why topical stamp collecting is the | | | | 1840. |
| most growing area of stamp collecting. | | | | No later than thirty years after, the July 1870 |
| Let us go back in time and take a quick look at | | | | issue of the Stamp Collector's Magazine featured |
| the foundation of the stamp collecting hobby. It | | | | an anonymous article entitled "A Collection of |
| was laid down in 1840 when Great Britain issued | | | | Heads" which start like this: |
| the world's first adhesive postage stamp following | | | | " I think some of your readers may be interested |
| the recommendation of Sir Rowland Hill, known as | | | | to learn of a little supplementary collection of |
| the father of the postage stamp. | | | | stamps which I have formed consisting solely of |
| Mind you, there is controversy about this fact, | | | | those which are ornamented with portraits ". |
| but that is another story by itself:-) I digress, so | | | | The wonderful journey of topical stamp collecting |
| back to Rowland Hill... | | | | had begun... |
| A very touching story triggered Rowland Hill | | | | Do keep in mind that a postage stamp is a unique |
| efforts to reform the postal services. | | | | form of communication. It symbolizes the various |
| One day, Rowland Hill was witness to a scene | | | | experience and achievements that shapes a |
| where a young girl, after examining the letter that | | | | country and I sincerely believe you will delight in |
| the postman was delivering to her, gave it back | | | | diving deep into your own topical stamp quest |
| to him saying she had no money to cover the | | | | within the content of my weekly video training |
| delivery fees. | | | | course as everyone can benefit from topical |
| Rowland Hill approached both parties and offered | | | | stamp collecting. |
| to pay the postal delivery fees on behalf of the | | | | Note: The word philately, which add the study of |
| young girl. This action highly embarrassed her. He | | | | postage stamps to the collecting, was sourced |
| then engaged the conversation and subtly, | | | | from the Greek meaning "the love of tax-free |
| questioned her. She finally revealed that the letter | | | | things", which references the fact that stamps |
| came from her fiance working in London. Since | | | | were used to prepay the transportation of a |
| she did not have the money to pay for the fees, | | | | letter. |
| they had both defined a strategic coding system | | | | |