Hobbies And Interests
What to Collect
The first decision a new stamp collector (philatelist) faces is what to collect. Collections can vary from a singular country or the world. Others collect stamps that pertain to particular topics such as famous people, flora, fauna, history or sports. Many philatelists collect commemorative stamps (issued annually) that highlight the history and culture of a given country. A popular medium are first-day covers, which are stamps canceled on envelopes or postcards that commemorate their first day of issue.
Choosing an Album
Novice philatelists typically start by collecting any stamps they can get their hands on. New collectors benefit from a good, basic album that illustrates common, worldwide stamps. An example of this type of album is the Harris Traveler Stamp Album. As a collection grows, collectors then begin to use detailed albums from particular countries that will illustrate all stamps (even rare ones) issued. An example is the Mystic American Heirloom album. Good stamp albums should have archival pages.
Acquiring Stamps
Collectors first acquire stamps from their mail, and newly issued stamps can be purchased at the post office. Flea markets and antique stores are sometimes good places to acquire older stamps. Collectors often purchase stamps from dealers such as the Mystic Stamp Company and the Kenmore Stamp Company. Large dealers can provide virtually any stamp ever issued. Philatelists may also join a local club to buy and trade stamps with other collectors.
Soaking Stamps
In order to mount stamps in an album, the backing paper (envelope) needs to be removed. This is done by soaking stamps in room temperature water until they loosen from their backing paper. Be careful not to force stamps from their backing paper as this will damage the stamp. Modern, self-adhesive stamps will require a longer soaking, perhaps up to an hour. Use tongs to handle stamps and allow them to dry thoroughly before mounting.
Mounting Stamps
Inexpensive stamps can be mounted on an album page with stamp hinges. Hinges are folded, gummed pieces of paper. The short part of the hinge is affixed to the stamp, and the larger portion is affixed to the album page. Use minimal moisture on the hinges to make them stick. For mint (unused) and valuable stamps, archival plastic mounts are used. A stamp is inserted into a mount, and the mount is affixed to the album.