How to Examine a Stamp Collection?

Friday, May 7, 2010

Knowing how to "read" a stamp's features can help you figure out its condition and value.

Instructions :

Step

1

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Examine the postmark date on the envelope, or what is visible of the postmark on the stamp. This often plays a role in determining a stamp's value.

Step

2

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Check the stamp's denomination, or face value.

Step

3

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Examine the frame between the central design of the stamp and the surrounding perforations (the holes that separate one stamp from another on a sheet). Is the design centered?

Step

4

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Examine the perforation teeth (the stamp's jagged edges). Use a perforation gauge, which measures the number of holes for each 2 centimeters of surface area; the perforation number is one factor that determines the stamp's value.

Step

5

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Examine the margin, or unprinted area, around a stamp.

Step

6

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Examine the vignette, or central design, of the stamp. Check for color alterations and fading.

Step

7

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Use a magnifying glass to examine the stamp closely. Check for creases, tears, uneven perforation teeth, vivid colors, frail paper, the quality of gum on the backing and signs of repair on the surface.

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How to Start Stamp Collection?

Are you looking for a low cost hobby to start your children learning? Stamp collecting can be inexpensive way to teach them. You can follow the history of our country and any other country through the progression of stamps.

Step

1

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Start by finding resources. We all get mail every day. Used stamps are collected just as much if not more than unused stamps. Why spend money on something that you could get for free.

Step

2

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Let all your friends and coworkers know that your child is collecting. When you rescue a stamp tear the corner of the envelope off. There should be paper all the way around the outside of the stamp. If there is a post mark you may want to include it to validate the origin time of the stamp.

Step

3

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The holidays are the best time. There are thousands of Christmas cards sent around the world and they all have stamps on them. Ask everyone you know to save them for you.

Step

4

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If you get mail in the office check with the office manager to make sure you are not violating any rules before taking the stamps that are normally thrown away.

Step

5

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Another great way to collect stamps from other countries is to sign up and write to pen pals. This is not only a great way to make long distance relationships but a way to find some stamps that you would never have access to otherwise.

Step

6

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Find other stamp collectors. Maybe they don’t have some of the stamps you have more then one of. They may have more locations to find stamps. As always it is a hobby and the name of the game is fun.

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My Collections from 1979 - 1999 for Sale

Sunday, May 2, 2010

My Beautiful Stamps Collection, Give your Comment!

Antique Stamps

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I Have Started My Collection

Friday, April 16, 2010

Once you have your own collection of stamps and if your friends too have started collecting them, then you can sit together and check out each other’s collections. You will be surprised at the vast range of stamps, which have been issued around the world. You will also learn some things like “Noyta CCCP” means that the stamp was issued in Russia. This is a fun way to spend time with your friends and even make some new ones. You can then start ‘bartering’ your stamps with your friends. This means that you can exchange your stamp for another one, which you do not have. This will take care of any duplicate stamps, which you might have collected by mistake. Slowly, as you will begin realizing the monetary value of your stamps, you will be able to identify those stamps that have a high value and those which are rare. You can exchange these stamps by offering 2 or 3 less rare stamps in return. You can also start subscribing to various stamp collecting magazines, like the Global Stamp News or the Scott Monthly Journal, which will give you information about rare stamps and also about people who want to trade, or buy or sell stamps. Many people have, in this way turned their hobby into a full-time profession.

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Where Can Stamps Be Procured?

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Along with removing them from your mail, you can also purchase stamps from various dealers and associations. You can find out a lot about stamps by buying catalogues from ‘The Scotts Collection’, where all the stamps are classified and numbered and this method has been adopted by many dealers and stamp collectors to arrange their stamp collection. You too can check out the catalogues. These catalogues are also available through the Internet on sites such as www.amosadvantage.com, and you can check their collection before deciding. There are many other sites and you can use google to search for them. You can also check out your neighborhood library for any books on stamp collecting. You could also become a member of the “American Philatelic Society” which is a non-profit organization providing an umbrella for all stamp lovers to converge in; or you can go to their site www.stamps.org and get all the details you require to start your stamp collection. This society keeps track of all the stamps and informs members about new stamps entering the market. You can collect stamps according to the year or country. You can also have stamps depicting different sports or birds or animals. You can then insert them in your stamp collection book accordingly. You can also collect stamps at random but then you will have to file them according to the country, in ascending order and in each country you can file them according to the year of issue or theme. This will make it easy for you to locate the stamps.

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Why Is Stamps?

Monday, March 22, 2010

Collecting stamps is a better hobby than many other hobbies because first and foremost it occupies very little space. The money required to start this hobby is very less as compared to collecting ‘dinky’ cars or toy planes. This hobby is safer and less hair-raising than collecting bugs or butterflies. All you need is to purchase a stamp collection book and a pair of special stamp holding tweezers to handle your stamps. You can immediately start collecting stamps by removing the stamps from your mail. These can be steamed off the envelope so that they come out without any damage. These stamps can then be inserted in your stamp collection book in the slots provided or you can use hinges, which are basically small pieces of folded paper with a weak gum on both sides. This weak gum ensures that you do not damage the stamp while removing it.

Collecting stamps is a hobby without any limits or borders as there are thousands and thousands of stamps being circulated throughout the world. So the chances of you getting bored are negligible. Do not throw away any duplicate stamps, which you might have received. You can use them in exchange for another stamp of your choice. The infinite range of stamps covers famous personalities, cars, planes, historical events, animals, birds, etc. The list is endless and this is what could make you into an avid stamp collector or philatelist.

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What Is Stamps?

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Stamp collecting or Philately as it is also known, is one of the oldest and most respected hobbies. One of the great attributes of stamp collecting is its significance and portrayal of history throughout the world. Many historic stamps tell a story of their creator through the design and image. Prices value wildly from a couple dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, to account for their rarity, condition, and other important factors you will learn about.

As for the current stamp market, there are hundreds of new US and World stamp editions that will take their place in history. Pick the editions which you identify with the most or learn about their availability and value potential for the future. Creating a stamp collection is easy and not very expensive as many new editions cost the same as ordinary stamps.

There are many terrific and free online resources so that you can learn about the history, the different inns and outs of the hobby, useful message boards and online forums where you can talk to other stamp collectors. Also there are several terrific great online stamp buying resources where you can find new and older stamps as well as useful books with stamp values and other information. Hopefully all of these resources with not only get you started but also make you an experienced collector.

Collecting stamps is not only fun, but also increases your knowledge on history and geography even without you realizing it. By looking at a stamp you can understand the year of its existence and the country in which it was printed. Collecting stamps is also a good way of making new friends and for parents it’s a great way of their children getting together without creating a ruckus. Collecting stamps can give you immense pleasure and every stamp collected creates an urge to collect more and it is this thrill of not knowing which stamp might turn up, which makes stamp collecting an interesting hobby. Many children carry over this childhood hobby well into the rest of their lives because it is a hobby without any limitations or boundaries.

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