stamp collecting philatelist secrets
| |
- philatelist collecting
- How does one start?
- What are some collecting areas?
- Will they appreciate quickly?
- How high do prices go?
- What about stamps as an investment?
- How do you care for stamps
- What's the difference between a stamp collector and a philatelist?
|
|
| HOME | Collecting Content
| How much must you invest initially if you want to collect for fun? |
| Not much for starters, and that's one attraction of the hobby. Unlike coins, which are fairly expensive individual items, you can get started in stamps for $20. |
| How does one start? |
| By going through a learning curve. Consult the Yellow Pages for stamp shops in your area. Meet the owners. Find out about the weekend shows, call bourses. Subscribe to philatelic publications. |
|
| What are some collecting areas? |
| Topicals are an excellent way to begin. If you have an interest in aviation, for instance, zero in on stamps depicting airplanes. Space stamps are a hot topical. Tropical fish are also popular.
First day covers are another way to collect. Covers (envelopes) have the stamp canceled at first date of issue, from the town that is issuing for that particular stamp. (Example: The cover for the 75th anniversary of flight was issued at Kitty Hawk on December 17, 1978.) Covers bear a cachet (engraving) related to the subject. They are pretty and inexpensive, but they have no investment value.
|
|
| Will they appreciate quickly? |
| Slowly, because modern covers are issued in such quantity. Scarcity and historical importance are the key factors in philatelic value. Of course, if you could find a cover dated September 9, 1850, mailed from California, it would bring $100,000. That's the date California became a state, and such a cover is prized. |
| How high do prices go? |
| Recently $1 million was paid for The Blue Boy, issued at Alexandria, Va, in 1846. This is actually a stampless cover. The postage stamp was invented in England in 1840 but not established in the US until 1847. Before that, letters were either franked (passed by official signature) or paid for on the receiving end. |
| What about stamps as an investment? |
| Stamps seem to be recession-proof. Between January 2, 1978, and December 31, 1980, the Dow rose 2%. A cross-section of 86 classic US stamps rose 85% in value during that same period. Demand for the supply of quality US stamps is great. The number is finite. There are 20 million collectors in the US. (Incidentally, over 95% are males. No one has explained why) |
|
| How do you care for stamps? |
| Investment stamps should be kept in a vault and not handled. Hobby stamps are slipped into glassine mounts for safety and arranged in albums. |
| What's the difference between a stamp collector and a philatelist? |
| Knowledge. Aphilatelist reads and has an eye toward a specific goald. The choice is limited only by imagination. |
|
|
|
|
