Stamp collecting

In short: Stamp collecting, also called philately, is one of the oldest collecting hobbies. Stamps tell you a great deal about history, countries, art and technology.

In more detail: The world’s first adhesive postage stamp was the Penny Black, issued in Great Britain in 1840. Since then almost every country has issued its own stamps, so there are countless areas to collect.

In detail

• Choosing an area: Many collectors limit themselves to one country, one period or a theme such as animals, space travel or sport; this keeps the collection manageable.
• Tools: Tweezers protect stamps from fingerprints, a magnifying glass shows details, and a perforation gauge measures the holes along the edge.
• Storage: Stockbooks and albums with mounts keep stamps safe; store them somewhere dry and dark without large temperature swings.
• Soaking off: Used stamps can usually be removed from envelope paper in lukewarm water and then dried between blotting paper; self-adhesive stamps are often better left on a piece of the envelope.
• Used or mint: Mint stamps are unused with their original gum, used stamps were actually sent through the post; both ways of collecting are common.
• Catalogues: Stamp catalogues list issues, varieties and guide values; in German-speaking countries the Michel catalogue is widely used.
• Being realistic about value: Most stamps are worth very little; rare items, printing errors and well-preserved old stamps can fetch more, and for larger sums an expert or specialist dealer can help.
• Exchange: Stamp clubs, swap days and online groups help with learning, swapping and identifying stamps.
• Related hobbies: If you enjoy collecting and organising, you will find similar pleasure in other kinds of collections (brettspiel-sammeln-und-aufbewahren, vintage-und-secondhand-mode).