Stamp Collecting for Beginners
If you’re new to stamp collecting, it’s important to know a little about the hobby before getting started. Here is a beginner’s guide to stamp collecting, with everything you need to know to get started.
The first step in getting into stamp collecting is understanding what you will need to get started. The most important thing you need is a stamp collection album. This can be purchased at almost any hobby shop or online. You will also need some kind of magnifying glass to inspect the stamps for quality and value, as well as a pair of tweezers to handle the stamps without harming them.
You should also have a basic understanding of what different stamps are worth, and how to identify certain markings and varieties. There are many resources available on the internet and in libraries that can help you get started in this area. Stamp catalogs are also a valuable tool for learning about different stamps and their values.
Once you have gathered the necessary supplies, it’s time to start hunting for stamps!
How do I start stamp collecting?
Start small if you need to. At first, you may wish to only focus on a particular theme, or only decide to collect used or mint stamps. For example, if you like travelling, choose only international stamps, moreover, If you enjoy baseball, pick only U.S. stamps featuring players from the Major Leagues. If you don’t want to spend too much money when you are firsts starting out, save the stamps from the letters you receive and use our guide on how to soak stamps to safely remove the stamp.
Buy or borrow stamp books from bookshops, the internet or your local library to learn more about the hobby. Use the Internet to find out everything you can about each kind of stamp. Learn about the history of the stamp, its design, when it was issued, and so forth, moreover, you can use apps and websites to help identify your stamp, such as colnect.com and the stamp identifier app.
Buy tools such as tweezers, magnifying glasses and even watermark fluid to handle and inspect your stamp in great detail. Check out this page on what tools do I need for a stamp collection.
Stamps can be seen as small works of art that depict a specific moment in history, making them fascinating to study. Stamp collecting can also be an inexpensive and greatly rewarding hobby.
If you’d like to learn more about the history of stamps and stamp collecting, check out our blog A history of stamp collecting.
What Type of Stamp Should I collect?
The hobby of stamp collecting can be a fun and interesting pastime for people of all ages. When starting out in stamp collecting, it is important to decide what types of stamps to collect. There are a few different options to choose from:
Collecting stamps from your own country is a great way to start. This can be done by buying stamps from local post offices or online retailers. It is also possible to find collections of regional stamps that depict the history and culture of a specific area.
Another option is to collect commemorative stamps. These stamps are issued by governments or other organizations to commemorate special events, people, or places. Commemorative stamps can be quite valuable and are often sought after by collectors.
A third option is to collect postage stamps from around the world.
Where can I buy stamps?
Stamps can be bought from a myriad of different places online, in charity shops and at expos which take place all over the world also, travelling is a great way to find novel or commemorative stamps. Stamp exchange websites, in-person meetups and stamp forums are a brilliant method to move any duplicates you may have and to receive new and exciting stamps from different places or to fill any gaps in your collection.
You can also save the stamps that you receive on letters from people in the post. This is a great way to start your collection without any additional costs. Beginners can also approach stamp collecting by purchasing unsorted ‘kiloware’ stamps that are sold by weight.
You may want to collect present day stamps or commemorative stamps, in which case you can visit your local Post Office or mail service that sells stamps. I have personally bought much of my collection from charity shops/thrift stores, as many are donated. My second favourite place to purchase stamps is eBay! You can search for specific stamps or countries, and many auctions benefit charity.
What can I do with inherited stamp collection?
If you are lucky enough to have been passed down a stamp collection, you may be wondering what to do with it or whether your stamp collection is worth anything. Inherited stamp albums hay hold more sentimental value than monetary, so you may be only looking for more information about your stamps. If you need help identifying the stamps in your new collection, you should read our how to identify stamps article.
For a full list of philatelic terms, take a look at this glossary of stamp collecting terms.
33 year old casual stamp collector from the UK!
