Why Did Stamp Collecting Become Popular in the 1930s?

Hopes of a Rise in Value

• The value of stamps issued in the 1920s began to soar in the 1930s. The rise in value gained publicity in the United States. By the 1930s, stamp collectors hoped for a similar rise in value. Collectors began collecting hundreds of stamps issued in the 1930s with the belief that they would be very valuable in the future.

Great Depression

• During the Great Depression, Americans were looking for an inexpensive form of entertainment. Educators in the 1930s encouraged people to collect stamps since it was considered a "good" hobby that promoted education during a time of distress. Stamps were useful teaching devices, since every stamp told a story.

The Presidental Stamp Collector

• President Roosevelt was one of the most popular stamp collectors of the 1930s. He publicly shared his love for stamp collecting. During Roosevelt's tenure, he approved and rejected the composition of the stamps issued by the United States Postal Service. Roosevelt's interest in stamps may have influenced Americans across the nation.