What are Agency Stamps?
A Beginner’s Guide to Agency Stamps Agency stamps are postage stamps issued not directly by a country’s own postal authority, but by an outside company working on their behalf. This…
2025
What Is Postal History? A Beginner’s Guide for Collectors
Postal history is the study and collection of postal systems, mail routes, rates, postmarks, and markings that reveal how mail was processed and delivered over time. It is a fascinating…
1987, Vietnam Mushroom Stamps
The 1987 mushroom series issued by Vietnam’s postal service is a well-known and attractive set for collectors interested in natural history themes. The set includes seven stamps, each depicting a…
What is Foxing on Postage Stamps?
Foxing on stamps refers to the brownish or reddish discoloration caused by fungal or mould growth, typically resulting from exposure to moisture or poor storage conditions. It appears as spots…
What are Definitive Postage Stamps?
What is a Definitive Postage Stamp? Definitive stamps are regular-issue postage stamps produced in large quantities for everyday use. Unlike commemorative stamps, which are issued for limited periods, definitives are…
Mushrooms, Togo 1999
In 1999, the Republic of Togo issued a vibrant set of postage stamps featuring a selection of mushrooms, aimed primarily at the thematic collecting market. These stamps were produced during…
What is a First Day Cover (FDC?)
What Is a First Day Cover and Why Is It Important? A first day cover (FDC) is an envelope, postcard, or similar item that features a newly issued postage stamp,…
What are Green Shield Stamps?
Green Shield stamps were a British sales promotion scheme that rewarded shoppers with stamps that could be used to buy gifts from a catalogue or from any affiliated retailer. The…
Fungi on Stamps
Fungi are often overlooked in nature, but they play a vital role in ecosystems across the world. These unique organisms, which are neither plants nor animals, help break down organic…
Why Start Stamp Collecting?
Why Do People Collect Stamps? It’s funny, isn’t it? That a tiny piece of paper, the size of a finger, can hold so much, so much history, so much art,…