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…
Guides
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…
Can You Make Money from Stamp Collecting?
Stamp collecting is often seen as a nostalgic hobby, or something people fall into after inheriting a family album. But every now and then, someone asks the big question. Are…
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…
Stamp Perforation and Gauges
A stamp perforation is a row of small holes punched between stamps to make them easier to tear from a sheet. The Story Behind Stamp Perforations When stamps had to…
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,…