Hobbies And Interests
Beginnings
The world of stamp collecting is much broader than the postage stamp. Before the first postage stamp was officially released, there were tax stamps, revenue stamps, charity stamps and seals of all kinds. In 1624, the Netherlands introduced the first tax stamps, allowing people to prepay on their taxes. Tax stamps were used until the 1950s. By the end of the 19th century, stamp collecting had become popular---especially with the introduction of the postage stamp. Stamp collectors and dealers emerged simultaneously with the growing popularity of the hobby.
First Postage Stamp
Great Britain is credited with the invention of the postage stamp. Sir Rowland Hill wanted to unify the price of postage throughout the British Isles. For the first time, people were able to prepay on postage instead of sticking the bill with the receiver. The first public postage stamp was the Penny Black of Great Britain, printed in 1840. The Penny Blue soon followed, and the trend spread throughout the world. The United States issued its first postage stamp in 1847.
Philatelic Society
By the 1880s it is estimated that there were about 25,000 stamp collectors in the U.S. When rumor of the formation an organized society hit the streets, people readily supported the movement. On September 13, 1886 a meeting was held in New York City to form the American Philatelic Association. Today there are more than 44,000 members of the APA in more than 100 countries, and a 20,000-square-foot facility is dedicated to stamp and postage collectors. The facility houses stamp storage, computers and forensic light sources for detecting altered stamps.
Famous Stamps
The Columbian Series of 1892 were part of a collection of the first commemorative stamps ever issued. They were to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America and represent one of the most significant events in stamp collecting history. In 1908, the Benjamin Franklin one-cent stamp was issued. This unique collectible can be worth upwards of $100,000. Other very rare and valuable stamps include: the 1868 Canadian stamp, of which only two are known in existence today; the Hawaiian Missionary stamp, of which there are only four; and the 1911 25-cent Vin Fiz Airpost Stamp, of which there were 12. Another feature that can make a stamp valuable is a mistake made during printing. An "error stamp," as it is called, is rare and can be worth a lot of money.
Buying Stamps
Before jumping into the stamp collecting hobby, you must be prepared with the proper supplies. An acid-free picture binder or stamp binder is useful for storing rare pieces, and stamp hinges are used to apply them to a page. You must have a glassine envelope to store stamps not ready for album storage. Also, handling stamps with your hands can cause damage; the use of tongs is suggested to preserve your collectibles.