Guides

Tools for Stamp Collecting

Why the right tools matter Every stamp tells a story, and the way you handle and store it decides how long that story survives. Every collector remembers the first time…

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…

Stamp Hinges and Mounts

Deciding between hinges and mounts really just comes down to what you’re collecting and how much you want to spend. If you’ve got loads of common used stamps, hinges are…

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…

Lithography in Postage Stamp Printing

Lithography is a printing technique where an image is drawn on a flat, smooth surface (traditionally a limestone plate) using a greasy medium. The plate is then chemically treated so…

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…

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…

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…