A Novice’s Lesson to Collecting Stamps
The two basic rules that every stamp collector adheres to are to enjoy collecting stamps and to properly take care of them. Other than these, you have all the freedom to choose what stamps to collect and how you are going to display them. Therefore, stamp collecting can be a very enjoyable activity for someone who is creative.
Stamps come in four basic types, namely, traditional, topical, specialist, and worldwide. Traditional stamp collectors go for stamps of their respective countries. The stamps included in a topical collection are those based on collector’s choice of design. A specialist collection would just be a compilation of numerous copies of a single stamp issue. Worldwide stamp collectors are those who would add any stamp they can get their hand on, to their collection. Any How to Collect Stamps class will tell you to start as a worldwide stamp collector until you decide what you like best and then you can specialize if you desire.
There are stamp collectors who have multiple collections which are not of just one type. For beginners, it is best to check out as many stamps as you can and gather all information achievable. If you do these things, you could stumble upon areas of stamp collecting which did not even enter your wildest imaginations. Another way to learn more about collecting is to read as much philatelic news as you can get your hands on. The more you know the better.
What is important for you to keep in mind is that when starting out in stamp collecting, begin with just what you have in sight. You do not necessarily have to do too quickly. You would come across the stamps you really like somewhere along the way. In the meantime, be happy with what you have at the moment and be sure to take good care of them.
As a stamp collector, you need to get hold of stamp tongs, by hook or by crook. Stamp tongs are somewhat similar to household tweezers, only that the edges are not sharp. The use of tweezers is unacceptable for collectors as these will damage your stamps. The strict use of tongs for stamps is another thing all collectors must observe.
Moreover, never use your hands to pick up your stamps or even put them on top of a bare table. Your stamps will get dirty by coming in contact with your skin’s natural oils or with the dust on the table. If you want to look at your stamps, pour them out onto a clean sheet of white paper or such. Collectors are very meticulous with their collection. You cannot call yourself a stamp collector by simply having a lot of stamps. You should be passionate about collecting stamps, and you must be very strict with regards to stamp care.
You do not necessarily have to buy a lot of stamp supplies when starting out. The only must-have supplies are stamp tongs, envelopes, and a box for storage. As mentioned earlier, the tongs would be used to pick up stamps. Meanwhile, envelopes will hold your stamps organized according to their type. The box is where you will place all these envelopes. Make sure to label the envelopes according to the type of stamps contained inside them.
