Home >> Collecting >> Stamp Collecting

How to Sort Stamps

If you have a collection of stamps, a good way to care for it is to sort it out in different piles. This not only makes your collection a lot more organized, but helps you keep track of all the stamps that you have. When you pile all of your stamps in one clutter or disorganized box, you won't even realize when you are actually missing a piece. The activity is fun, too, as it will take you to various memories you may have with each stamp.

Things You'll Need

Stamps
Album

Instructions

- 1
  Sort the stamps by dividing them into three separate piles. According to the Modern-Vue Stamp Shop, these will be divided into the stamps that you can identify, ones that you are not entirely sure of, and the stamps that you do not know at all.
- 2
  Include all English-speaking countries in the first pile. This includes New Zealand, Canada, Australia and other countries. Check the labels on the stamps to determine the country where it is from.
- 3
  Create a second pile for those stamps that you can guess at. This may include terms or names that may be slightly familiar to you but you cannot fully identify. For instance, you can find a stamp with the label of Francaises and this may automatically remind you of France. These are the stamps that do not have an English name, but provide a strong clue as to where they are from.
- 4
  Group the unknown stamps in your last pile. These stamps may contain unknown characters or symbols, such as the ones from China, Korea, Japan or Arab countries. These are the ones that are often hard to decipher. This may be your biggest pile among the three.
- 5
  Sort the stamps in the first pile according to countries if you have a small pile. Sort them alphabetically if you have a larger pile.
- 6
  Place the stamps in your album once you have finished sorting.

Stamp Collecting