Counterfeit vs. Fraudulent Stamps: What’s the Difference?
Counterfeit stamps are unauthorised copies made to look like real postage, while fraudulent stamps involve the misuse of genuine ones to dodge postal fees. In the world of stamp collecting,…
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…
Is Stamp Collecting Still Popular?
Stamp collecting is a timeless hobby that’s been enjoyed for centuries, and it’s still going strong today. Some people might think that stamp collecting is no longer popular, but that…
Machin Series Stamps
The Machin definitive series is Great Britain’s primary postage stamp series, in use from 1967 until 2022. Designed by Arnold Machin O.B.E., these stamps feature a simple, single-colour sculpted profile…
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. When you first start out, it’s…
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…
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…
An Introduction to Typography in Stamp Design
Typography is a printing method using raised metal type or plates. Ink is applied to the raised surface, which is then pressed directly onto paper, transferring the inked image. For…
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…