How to start a stamp collection

Stamp collecting, or “philately”, is an interesting way to chronicle the history of the world. Here’s how to begin your collection.

• Go to the post office and purchase new stamps.
• Take used stamps off your old mail. Note that it’s sometimes more valuable to collect the entire envelope rather than stripping off the stamp because of a unique postmark date.
• Ask friends and family for their old stamps. Their saved envelopes also can be valuable.
• Purchase stamps from dealers, who are often listed in newspaper classifieds and offer stacks of assorted stamps.
• Order stamps through the mail or via Web sites, either by approval or by want list. “Approval” is when a dealer sends you assorted stamps and you choose which ones to keep. A “want list” is when a dealer checks his or her stock and quotes prices for specific stamps you want to collect.
• Bid at stamp auctions or philatelic exhibitions. Take the time to look through the merchandise and make educated deals.
• Trade with fellow collectors. Do this by meeting other stamp traders at shows, auctions and stamp clubs.
• Store your stamps where they will not be harmed. A simple shoebox will do for a beginner.
• After you have removed a used stamp, make sure that you put the stamp between two blotters. You should always use stamp tongs when handling stamps so that you do not get the oil from your fingers onto the stamp itself. If you don’t have stamp tongs, you can use simple household tweezers to do the job.
• To get stamps off paper, take water that is not too hot and not too cold, but lukewarm, and put your stamp face down until it sinks to the bottom. Then gently peel it off.