I'm thinking of getting into collecting stamps, but I have some questions for current stamp collectors. What makes it enjoyable for you? When you're not finding new stamps, what keeps you interested? I feel like with collecting, if you don't have money to buy more, there's nothing you can do with the hobby. All you have is a binder of stamps that you can only look though so many times.
Wise of you to ask before jumping in. For myself I enjoy the history depicted on some stamps and I collect engraved stamps for the beauty of them. There are so many different ways to collect, individual countries or regions, or even periods within a countries stamps. I collect the engraved stamps of Denmark 1933 on (when they started issuing engraved stamps) and specialize in the period 1933-1953 or so before Denmark like a lot of countries increased the numbers of stamps made to sell to collectors. Others may collect more recent stamps which usually are cheaper than the older ones. I also collect Greenland for it's unique history and culture. The hunt goes on for stamps or covers (stamps intact on the envelope) or various errors. When I don't have new stamps to add to my collection I study the stamps that I have under high magnification looking for differences, or I delve into the countries history of the period and why individual stamps were issued....th.llects. One of the beauties of stamp collecting is you only have to collect what you like. Hope this helps. There are other ways to collect and maybe other members of the forum will bring these out. In any case welcome to the wonderful world of stamps.
I see. Can I ask how often you purchase/trade for new stamps? How often do you find something unusual when you study stamps under high magnification?
Finding things unusual is a bit rare, but the hunt is fun. I just got a batch of stamps today so I'm in stamp heaven. I buy from dealers and ebay every month and limit it to my budget....your budget and collecting interests dictate how often you get stamps.
The dealer is Jay Smith who specializes in Scandinavian stamps. On ebay it varies, but I choose people with lots of good track record.
I have been collecting many years. It's not something that constantly grabs my attention, but I do always return to it. I find interest by being a member of APS. Every month I get a magazine with interesting articles, dealer advertising and an online stamp store which I frequent. I go to a few shows every years and have on ongoing relationships with several dealers. Like many collectors I enjoy designing and printing my own album pages on acid free heavier bond paper. Many people enjoy joining a local club to actively participate in club activities like swapping duplicates, organizing events and show and tell. Collecting is more than having stamps in a binder.
Echoing Hoch... I too am a member of APS and I am also an historian. I frequently delve into Western Civilization from all the way back to present (also a Bible historian and student of archaeology). Stamps are relatively new as far as ancient history is concerned, but it is a FANTASTIC way of looking at contemporary mores with regards to what the general population is thinking about. Many stamps depict modern interpretations of events that happened thousands and even millions of years ago... I reference the Dinosaur stamps from all over the world as but one example. All the stamps from Europe and E. Europe are yet another... Personally: I like collecting coins and stamps. Sorting is relaxing, uncovering an unexpected gem is MORE than thrilling -- it could make my whole day, regardless of the poop I had to put up with. So a lot of my 'buys' are of the world-wide assortment variety... and I trade many of my extras with others here in the forums. If you have no interest in history or variety or just saying '... I saw this stamp just the other day...' then it is probably not for you. You have to have some connection to enjoy it.
After reading through these answers, it seems like Stamp Collecting is all about history, and also about meeting new people and talking about it with others. It also seems like a good way to wind down. Do you guys agree with these conclusions I've made?
Good summation and one could add the aesthetic enjoyment of the miniature works of art. Also one gets satisfaction of "making something" to ones own criteria....you collect and create a collection as YOU think it should be done. Later on some enjoy competing in stamp shows for the accolades of their peers. Also, in pursuing postal history some talented few can make discoveries and add to the knowledge of hobby. In other words there are a number of different ways to enjoy stamps.
I also think that stamps hold history or a part of history just like other old stuffs like coins and notes. I enjoy collecting stamps for that reason too and I can also appreciate the art on stamps.
Thank you for all the helpful answers! I think I'm going to get started, if I can find a place to buy stamp albums and stuff.
I collect stamps because I find that they are artistic and beautiful each in it's own way. Some of them can appreciate in value. Also, I've just been in the habit of collecting things since I was a small child. I collected foreign coins before I started on the stamps.
For ordering supplies, I've used: Subway Stamp Shop Altoona, PA email: custserv@subwaystamp.com -or- Golden Valley Minnesota Stamp Co. www.gvstamps.com There may be local dealers to you who can provide the same level of service, and I would recommend using them whenever possible. I'm already 'established' in terms of the albums I use, so now it's only a case of buying the yearly supplements to stay current. Recently as I pondered my Russian collection, I noted there were a lot of stamps for which there was no 'space' in the Minkus album (maybe 80% coverage; specifically 1930's thru the 1960), so I had to mount many stamps on blank supplement pages. Then I stumbled into an opportunity to buy a Russian collection in a Scott International album, Vol. 1 that has spaces for all the Russian stamps from initial issue to 1962? I wanted the album for the pages / spaces - the included stamps were a bonus.
As to why I collect? My dad got me started back in the mid-1950's. I've collected off and on over the years. My 'mission' these days seems to be completing pages in the album with the missing stamps, and/or completing sets of older stamps. I may go several months without touching my stamps, then spend 1-1/2 months rather intensively, then another lull. Global world-wide collectors are probably a rare breed anymore. W-W albums are not generally available, and it gets pretty costly diluting your collecting interest over such a wide front. Topical and single country would certainly be an easier way to get started. When I started, my w-w collection could be held rather conveniently in a single album - not any more. In the future? Seems I have evolved into seeing how many albums I can accumulate for any given collection. I think I'll quit when I get to 36 albums in my Minkus world-wide albums. That's assuming Minkus / Amos will continue publishing Minkus global supplements for the next 10 years and that I live that long to post them. I've kinda given up on collecting new issues from any country 'cept the US, but I'll keep adding the world-wide supplements anyway. Not sure why. A dealer I talked to at a stamp show a couple of years ago said when he buys large collections like mine, the first thing he does is probably scrounge any high-value stamps, then 'parts' the collection out by country. Experience tells me it'll take 10-14 days to post the two Minkus W-W supplements I recently acquired, and assuming I don't have too many other diversions of my time.
I think for me, the thing that got me into stamp collecting in the first place was that I had penpals from a very young age. I loved writing and receiving letters, and found the stamps fascinating. It was like they all told a story along with the letter, and they were like little pieces of art a lot of the time! I think that's also a big part of it - I appreciate the art that goes into stamps. So many of them are just stunning to look at, so it's an aesthetic thing. I like the differences that come from country to country with stamps - from the things they like to put on their stamps to the shapes of them - it's just so interesting to me.
I just think it's a fun hobby, and it's a bit challenging. It's hard to find certain stamps and I enjoy having something that's rare that not too many have. There's the novelty of it that's appealing to me as well. I also collect baseball cards, and collecting stamps is a lot like that. I've just always been interested in it. It's a fun hobby, and very interesting. I'm always learning new things.
Some of the rare ones can still be found through older dealers getting out of the business and liquidating their holdings. I have found some of the on-line auctions and even the APS StampStore a ready supply of some that I want to find. I am to the point where I have a LOT of duplicates of many US issues and am starting to cull them out for the better ones... Like Larry, I also collect WW and have a couple of dealers liquidating their stamps at very reasonable prices... many times at 15% - 30% of Scott value. I snap up as many as my budget can afford, but again -- getting into the more expensive ones is a challenge.
