Picture this: you’re eagerly awaiting a package in the mail, only to discover it’s been mangled, torn, or worse – lost in transit. It’s a classic tale of non-machinable mail woes, leaving us all wondering if there’s a way to ensure our precious parcels arrive unscathed. Fear not, dear reader, for we have the solution:… Read More »
In this article, we’ll cover the most important steps of setting up your stamp collection: Cleaning, sorting, and soaking Laying out your stamps Types of albums and stockbooks for storing your collection Hinges and mounts for securing your stamps Annotations Laying Out the Stamps Before you do anything, it’s always wise to sort your stamps… Read More »
If you’re an experienced collector, you might already be familiar with most of these terms. However, if you are new to the scene, here’s a list of some of the most popular terms used within the stamp collecting industry. These will also help describe some of the stamps you are trying to buy, trade, or… Read More »
As a stamp collector, one of the main perks of the hobby/industry is that stamps are everywhere! It’s crazy to think about how much mail we receive throughout the year (for better or worse) directly to our door. Regardless of if you are a seasoned collector or just a beginner, it’s always good to know… Read More »
Stamp perforations are the tiny holes punched between rows and columns of stamps. They make separation much more manageable. Before we had perforations, postal workers would have to cut stamps out by hand, often leading to mistakes. Depending on the severity of the mistake (for example, cutting through the design), some stamps wouldn’t even be… Read More »
Stamp printing has been around since the 19th century but is still relatively new compared to how long the postal system has been around. Various nations have used different methods, and the process of printing has changed numerous times over the last hundred years. Each method of printing was intended to thwart unauthorized reproduction or… Read More »
British schoolteacher Rowland Hill sought to create a more efficient system for the postal service. He explored a variety of methods starting in 1826, and a year later he released a pamphlet called Post Office reform: Its Importance and Practicability. Within the pamphlet he recommended using a form of prepayment described as, “A bit of… Read More »
Stamps have come in all different types, shapes, sizes, colors, and features. Stamp Collectors may specialize in one kind of stamp, or collect stamps from all sorts of categories. Not all stamps are alike, and they serve various purposes. The different types of stamps include: “Regular Issues” Commemorative Airmail Precancels Perfins Official Postage Dues Semi-Postal… Read More »