- Where can I get stamps?
- How do I know what to collect?
- Should I collect mint or used?
- What do I do with my duplicates?
- I have a large selection of stamps from envelopes. How do I get them off the paper without damaging them?
- What supplies do I need to get started?
- Where can I get stamp collecting supplies?
- What is a stamp catalogue?
- I am creating my own stamp album, should I use stamp hinges or mounts?
- What is the difference between definitives and commemoratives?
- I have a stamp that I can’t identify. How can I find out where it is from?
- I have a stamp that does not have a country name on it at all. How can I find out where it is from?
Where can I get stamps?
There are a few ways you can gather stamps for your collection. First, save the stamps from any mail you receive. Let your friends and family know you are collecting and ask them to save their stamps for you as well. You can trade with other collectors; many stamp collectors will do trades of 50 or 100 stamps. You may wish to put an add on Kijiji or some other advertising site looking for other collectors to trade with. The other option is to buy stamps. Many dealers sell stamps by the bag or box full. This should give you a lot of stamps to sort through. You will likely end up with doubles but that just means you have some trading stock now. You can also buy stamps individually or in sets from dealers. This can be a bit pricier and is probably not your best way to get every stamp for your collection. Go to dealers to get harder to find stamps or stamps you need to complete a display, page, or set. If you are looking for an affordable way to make additions to your collection, you may check SOR's approval books. Here you may find several stamps that you would like to add to your collection at much lower prices than dealers would charge.
How do I know what to collect?
What you decide to collect is up to you. Many collectors will collect certain countries. Some of them only specific years that mean something to that collector. Some collectors seek out particular topics on stamps. What ever you choose to collect make sure you enjoy it.
Should I collect mint or used?
Again, that is up to you and your interest. There are many collectors who focus on mint but it can be quite a bit more expensive than used. Many used stamp collectors are interested in used stamps as they have served a purpose and a history as represented through the postal cancel. There is no right or wrong when deciding between mint of used, it is up to you and your interest.
What do I do with my duplicates?
You have a few options for dealing with yoru duplicates. One option is to make approval books here on SOR. Another option is to trade with other collectors. There are also various organizations that you can donate them to.
I have a large selection of stamps from envelopes. How do I get them off the paper without damaging them?
Many collectors prefer some method of soaking their stamps. Here is my method. Put the stamps in a dish of warm water. Allow them to soak until the stamps float off the paper. Do not pull the stamps off or you may damage them. Rinse the stamps in a container of clean water and place flat to dry (on some newspaper perhaps). After a few moments transfer the stamps inbetween the pages of a heavy book for them to finish drying. The book will keep the stamps flat as they dry. Leave them for a couple of days and then your stamps will be ready.
Let me emphasize that this is my method. Others may use different methods such as blotter paper, drying books, or other types of paper. You should probably try any new method out with a few common stamps and not highly valuable ones to make sure it works for you. Certain newspapers may use ink that might transfer to your stamps, hence the need for testing first.
Important things to consider: 1) If you have a stamp on heavily coloured paper (red, deep purple etc.) soak it seperately from the others so ink from the envelope paper does not transfer to your other stamps. 2) Some older stamps were printed with fugitive ink. If soaked the ink will wash away and your stamp will be destroyed. At this stage it isn't likely you will find one, but be aware. On very old stamps you may wish to do a bit of research before soaking them. 3) Newer American and U.K. self adhesive stamps will not soak off the paper. You may be better off trimming around the stamp. (There has been some talk recently about an aerosol air freshener that can lift the stamps off paper. However, I have never been able to test it due to allergies.)
What supplies do I need to get started?
To start, you should get a pair of stamp tongs for handling and viewing your stamps. You will also want to select some sort of album or stockbook for storing your stamps. If you are just beginning, it may be best that you start with an inexpensive stockbook. As your collection grows and you learn more about stamps you will decide how you'd like to display them you may then wish to invest in an album or create your own. You may also want an inexpensive magnifying glass. A magnifying glass can be useful for finding differences between stamps. It also makes viewing your stamps easier on your eyes if you are spending a long period of time working on your collection.
Where can I get stamp collecting supplies?
There are many dealers who sell stamp collecting supplies. Your country’s postal service may have some supplies that you can choose from. You can check your local dollar store for a magnifying glass to suit your needs. An internet search for dealers of stamp supplies should also help you. Another option is to check for supply dealer advertisements in stamp catalogues (which you can often view at libraries).
What is a stamp catalogue?
A stamp catalogue is a book that collectors and dealers can use to determine the value of a stamp. Catalogues for individual countries would allow you to view images of all the stamps for each country and find out the value of that stamp, whether used or unused. There are also worldwide catalogues; these consist of several volumes and do not usually show an image of every stamp but will show one image from a set and provide brief descriptions of the others.
I am creating my own stamp album, should I use stamp hinges or mounts?
Stamp hinges are folded pieces of paper with adhesive that can be attatched to the back of stamps for mounting on album pages. Mounts are thin plastic sleeves that hold your stamps without any adhesive. Collectors of high valued stamps and mint stamps often prefer mounts as, once hinged, a mint stamp is no longer 'mint'. However, the cost of mounts can quickly add up. If a used collector uses only mounts the mounts may be more costly than the value of some of the stamps. Most used collectors have no problem using hinges for their stamps. Ultimately, the choice is yours.
What is the difference between definitives and commemoratives?
Definitive stamps are available for purchase from the post office for a long period of time. They will be readily available as many definitive stamps are printed. A commemmorative stamp is issued to honour a particular event, person, place etc. Usually commemmoratives are printed in more limited quantities and are available for a shorter period of time.
I have a stamp that I can’t identify. How can I find out where it is from?
One of the learning curves for stamp collecting is learning to identify the country of origin for your stamps. Each country usually lists its country name in its own language, which you may not be familiar with. There are various resources to help you identify your stamps. This website might be a good starting point for you. http://www.iswsc.org/iswsc_ident.html#A
I have a stamp that does not have a country name on it at all. How can I find out where it is from?
Great Britain is the only country in the world that does not have to identify itself by name on its stamps. Instead a profile of the reigning monarch is used to identify a stamp from Great Britain. Check your stamp to see if it might be from Great Britain. If there is no monarch profile you may have something else entirely.
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