Hobbies And Interests
Stamp Collectors
Philately is the practice of stamp collecting. The word comes from "philos," the Greek word for loving and "atelia," meaning exemption from tax. Philately also encompasses the study of postage stamps, postmarks, stamped envelopes and postal history, in general.
Definition of Mint
James Mackay, a professional philatelist and novel writer, defines a mint stamp as being in its original state. Mint stamps never saw an envelope or met the wetness of a tongue. They have full gum. The term mint applies both to postage stamps and revenue stamps. Postage stamps are strictly for postal mail and go on envelopes, but revenue, or tax stamps as they are called, go on tax collection documents, tobacco, alcoholic drinks, drugs and medicines, hunting licenses and many other legal matters.
Types of Mint Stamps
Joint issue means that two countries issued a stamp to memorialize the same subject, such as a person or historic event. One example is a stamp honoring Benjamin Franklin in 1976, printed by the U.S. Postal Service and Canadian Post Office on the same day. Some mint stamps include a watermark, which are unique patterns or designs pressed onto the stamp that look like letters, animals, fruit, stars or emblems. Usually, you need a special light or magnifying glass to see these watermarks, which help to prevent forgery.
Stamp Hinges
Stamp collectors use stamp hinges to hold stamps in an album. They are thin, rectangular pieces of paper coated with a special adhesive that becomes sticky when slightly moistened. Both stamp dealers and hobby stores sell stamp hinges, which come in two forms, flat or pre-folded.
Prices of Mint Stamps
According to the American Philatelic Society, the value of a stamp depends on the quantity available, demand and condition. Stamp catalogs that you buy in a craft store or online often show the most current prices for stamps. However, the most expensive stamps sell for thousands of dollars, such as one-of-a-kind items like the 1 cent 1856 British Guiana that sold for $935,000 in 1980.