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PHILATELY - What is it?
Briefly, it is the hobby/pastime of collecting postage stamps.
WHOSE HOBBY?
Anybody, male or female, - child
or adult (even old codgers like me)
IS IT A SERIOUS HOBBY?
It can be a phase a child goes
through which may or may not continue through life. It can be a very simple, basic collection or a very serious,
valuable collection. (I started collecting when I was 8years old and 60 years
on I am still collecting. It started
simple but has, over the last few years become a serious, all-absorbing
pastime. I spend 4/5 hours on average
everyday. I am continually altering,
updating, and adding to my collection.
ARE THERE FINANCIAL REWARDS?
Generally speaking NO If
your intention were to make money from stamps then you would be better off
investing in stocks and shares. BUT
money can be made. Stamps (especially
rare ones) can increase in value overnight.
For some unknown reason stamps with the image of Princess Di on are in
great demand. Recently I bought a
shoebox of stamps (at auction) for a few pounds and found Vatican stamps worth
£350.
WHAT KIND/TYPE OF STAMPS ARE
COLLECTED?
Some collect certain countries
or groups of stamps. Some philatelists collect just Air Mails, or
thematically such as ships, animals, space, paintings etc., irrespective of
country of origin.
HOW SHOULD ONE PRESENT THE
COLLECTION?
Stamp collecting is a hobby and
most people are proud of that hobby and want to show it off. Then presentation is all-important. You can write-up and arrange your pages in
your own style, showing such things as, shades of colour, varieties,
watermarks, postmarks, strips, blocks and even first day covers. One rule is of paramount importance NEVER,
NEVER, handle stamps with your fingers use tweezers. Hot, sticky, fingers will soil stamps,
particularly those with light colours and others printed on chalk-surfaced
papers. The quality of the stamp will
deteriorate.
A FEW INTERESTING
FACTS/NOTES.
1 The first postage stamps
ever made were the famous Penny Black and the 2d Blue of Great Britain, which
were issued on the 6th May 1840.
Many people believe they are the most valuable stamps. They are not. A Penny Black can range from £100 to several thousands of pounds
but there are many British stamps that are worth more.
2 - The rarest stamp in the world is the British Guiana 1c
black,magenta of 1856. Only one is
known to exist. It was last on the
market in 1980. It is estimated to be
worth (in todays market) at around £5 million.
3 British stamps are the only
stamps in the world that do not name the country of origin.
4 - Some countries print many stamps (eg; U.S.A several new sets
can come out every month therefore of little value. Some countries print very few stamps therefore, they can be
worth money.
5 Some stamps have a higher
value if they have been used others if they are kept in mint condition.
6 The majority of stamps are of little value, however, the pleasure in collecting stamps is incalculable.
