Topical Stamp Collecting for beginners
Thematic stamp collecting, also known as topical stamp collecting, is the practice of collecting postage stamps based on a specific subject or theme rather than by country, date, or catalogue…
2025
What are Cinderella Stamps?
Cinderella stamps are non-postal labels or stickers that resemble postage stamps but are not actually issued or authorised by a government postal administration for use as postage. They are called…
Are First Day Covers Worth Anything?
If you’ve stumbled across a bundle of First Day Covers (FDCs) and are wondering if they’re valuable, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions collectors (and people…
The Complete Guide to Postmarks
A postmark is an official marking applied to mail by a postal authority. It usually shows the date and place of handling, and it often cancels the postage stamp so…
How to Store/Archive Stamps Correctly
Stamps are vulnerable to their surroundings. Paper, gum, and ink can all be affected by light, humidity, temperature changes, and even the materials used to store them. Over time, these…
Mushrooms, Benin 1998
I recently added this lovely set of six mushroom-themed stamps from the Republic of Benin (issued in 1998) to my collection. Each one features a beautifully detailed illustration of a…
Postcrossing Turns 20: Two Decades of Happy Mail
It’s hard to believe, but Postcrossing has just turned 20. What started in 2005 as a way to send and receive postcards from strangers around the world has grown into…
250 Years of Delivering: New USPS Stamps by Chris Ware
To mark its 250th anniversary, the United States Postal Service is doing something a little bit different. On 23 July, they’re releasing a collector’s sheet of 20 stamps illustrated by…
New Royal Mail’s 2025 Mushroom Stamps Pop Up This Summer
Mushrooms Meet Royal Mail Royal Mail has announced a brand new stamp set, and it just so happens to feature one of my favourite things in the world: mushrooms. The…
Royal Observatory Greenwich Stamps: A Tribute to 350 Years
Time, Space and Stamps Being super existential, I’ve always been drawn to space and time, not in always in strictly scientific way. Sometimes in that sort of scary, personal way…