Postage Stamps, A Collectables Hobby

Postage stamps study and/or collection is also called Philately. It is a hobby of 18^th Century but still there are a huge number of philatelist and collectors all over the world.

Philately is a hobby associated with Royals but stamps are collected by all across the society classes. Somehow, it is considered to be an expensive hobby as compared to other hobbies. In today’s time, it is immensely difficult to collect postage stamps of all countries and their whole issues all over the years. Collectors adapt to certain theme that may be a specific country, flora, fauna, pets, event, sports, personality, etc.

Mint or New Postage Stamp

Mint stamps are the ones that are never been used in the post and preserved in the original condition. Preserving a mint condition stamp is comparatively difficult than the used ones due to gum on the stamp. If the new stamp is somehow exposed to moisture than it will stick to the album or with other stamps. That will impact the value of the stamp.

Mint or new stamps comes in two further divisions which are hinged or never hinged. In postage albums hinged are used to keep postage stamps at a particular place therefore there might be a spot where it was hinged. Never hinged stamps have not a single spot on its back or gum side. The worth of never hinged is way more than the hinged stamp.

New postage stamps are available at post offices or their designated places. Postage stamps come in various forms like individual stamps, coils, sheets, booklets, sheetlets, envelopes and cards. Each stamp has a specified value but most of the times, old stamps are not exchangeable with new ones but they have value assigned to it.

Used Postage Stamps

Used postage stamps are the ones that has been applied on to an envelope or card and may have been passed through the post office where it is cancelled. Sometimes collectors get stamp cancelled from the post office and keep these in their collection. Now a day we could see innovation in used stamps, as an example there are either paper postage stamps or self-adhesive stamps on the post envelopes or cards. Removing a paper stamp from an envelope is comparatively easier than removing the self-adhesive stamp.

Old Postage Stamps

Old stamps could be in mint conditions or used condition. They may be available in hinged condition or never hinged. But collecting old stamps is a hobby that has connection with remembering the history. Countries have issued stamps commemorating various historical events therefore a Philatelist may have thorough knowledge of historical stamps although they might not be collecting these. Some of the rare ones are only left with museums or avid collectors.

Collectors of old post stamps have to take greater care of preserving these valuable collectibles. Otherwise these might lose the value at auction or sale.

Still there are a huge number of hobbyists who follows philately religiously.