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Beginning Stamp Collecting Supplies for Children

Stamp collecting is a fun and educational hobby for kids. Children can learn about foreign countries, dignitaries and even plant life from stamps. In addition, it doesn't take much to start collecting. With some basic tools and supplies, kids of all ages can start their own stamp collection that will provide hours of pleasure.

Guidebook
- Check your local library or bookstore for stamp collecting guidebooks that are geared toward beginning collectors. These books will explain the basics of stamp collecting. This includes information such as terms used in stamp collecting, how stamps are printed, where to find collectible stamps, famous errors on stamps, and how to spot fakes.
Album
- A stamp album lets a collector show off the collection. The album has pages for mounting and displaying the stamps. Some albums are made to display stamps from a particular country or geographic region. Often, these will include pictures of the collectible stamps that should be added to each page. Many albums allow extra pages to be added as the collector acquires more stamps.
Magnifying Glass
- A magnifying glass will help a beginning collector enjoy the details of a stamp's illustration. As the young person becomes a more serious collector, he or she will be able to use the magnifying glass to hunt for defects in a stamp. Because stamps are so fragile, any small tear, wrinkle or bend can hurt the value. A magnifying glass with a 4x to 8x power magnification works well for the novice collector.
Tools
- Stamps should never be pasted or taped to an album page. They need to be adhered with a hinge or a mount. A hinge is a small, folded piece of plastic or paper that has adhesive on one side. A mount is a clear plastic sleeve that is open on each side. Tongs are another good tool for the beginning stamp collector. Stamps should not be handled because of the residue on a person's hands. Tongs work like tweezers and protect the stamp from damage from oil and dirt.
Stamps
- Get your beginning collector started with some stamps. Find out what kind of stamps the budding philatelist likes. This can be anything from United States commemorative stamps to ones from a foreign country. Buy a few to get the hobby started off right. If you are looking for current commemorative stamps, your local post office will have the newest ones. Look online to buy other kinds of stamps. There are even stamp classifieds Web sites where you can advertise for the pieces you want or find ads for stamps that are for sale or exchange.

Stamp Collecting