Stamping provides you with a good hobby thats cheap to enjoy. Since stamps are easy to find, and most being priced very cheaply, you can collect them easily. New Stamps are put out on the market on a definite pattern, allowing you to find new stamps on a regular basis. In this article i'll list 5 easy steps that makes collecting and using stamps fun.
1. Stamp Buying
Collecting stamps can be very cheap. You can start of with just a few dollars and have a very cool collection. You can also go online to buy digital stamps. If you want some older stamps that you can't buy or find anyplace, you can checkout a stamp dealer. Some of them have very rare and expensive stamps.
2. Join a Stamp Club
To learn even more about collecting stamps, join a stamp club. Stamp clubs are located in most big cities and even some in small towns. You will find a lot of unique information about stamps while attending regular meetings. These clubs also issue newsletters and magazines that have great information about stamp collecting and where to buy. Some clubs even hold stamp exhibitions and contest where club members get to display their unique collection. You can get new ideas on how to improve your own stamp collections by listing to judge's comments at these events and checking out all of the displayed collections.
3. Choosing a Stamp type
There are 2 main types of stamps. The first type is one country collection, the second is thematic collection. With one country collection, you only collect stamps from one country most likely your own. With thematic collection, you collect all stamps with the same theme, like paintings, sports and so on. It's easier to start with just one type of stamp, either one country collection or thematic collection. The reason behind this is collecting all types of stamps can become difficult as each year around 5-8 thousand new stamps get printed.
4. Albums of Stamps
There are different types of stamp albums you can use to carry out stamp collecting. The best album being the stock sheet albums. They provide loose leaf folders that contain plastic pages in them as well as a number of strips running through each page. These strips have many wide pockets that allow you to put your stamps inside. The plastic pages will not discolor and will also shield your stamps.
5. Preparing Your Stamps
You must always handle each stamp with care, as they can be worth much in value. Make sure not to cut the stamp when cutting parts off the envelop, as doing so can make a stamp worthless. Also, soak gummed stamps before attempting to remove them from an envelope. Once removed, dry them by placing them face up on a dry and clean blotting paper. If your trying to remove self-adhesive stamps, soak them in heated water mixed with soft soap for a few minutes. After this you can transfer the stamp to a basin of fresh water for about 10 minutes to remove any left over soap. Avoid handling the stamp with your hands to prevent getting sweat and oil on the stamp from your skin. Try to use tweezers instead. You can use a good magnifying glass to study your stamp more closely. Also, a perforation gauge can be used to measure jagged edges of your stamp.
1. Stamp Buying
Collecting stamps can be very cheap. You can start of with just a few dollars and have a very cool collection. You can also go online to buy digital stamps. If you want some older stamps that you can't buy or find anyplace, you can checkout a stamp dealer. Some of them have very rare and expensive stamps.
2. Join a Stamp Club
To learn even more about collecting stamps, join a stamp club. Stamp clubs are located in most big cities and even some in small towns. You will find a lot of unique information about stamps while attending regular meetings. These clubs also issue newsletters and magazines that have great information about stamp collecting and where to buy. Some clubs even hold stamp exhibitions and contest where club members get to display their unique collection. You can get new ideas on how to improve your own stamp collections by listing to judge's comments at these events and checking out all of the displayed collections.
3. Choosing a Stamp type
There are 2 main types of stamps. The first type is one country collection, the second is thematic collection. With one country collection, you only collect stamps from one country most likely your own. With thematic collection, you collect all stamps with the same theme, like paintings, sports and so on. It's easier to start with just one type of stamp, either one country collection or thematic collection. The reason behind this is collecting all types of stamps can become difficult as each year around 5-8 thousand new stamps get printed.
4. Albums of Stamps
There are different types of stamp albums you can use to carry out stamp collecting. The best album being the stock sheet albums. They provide loose leaf folders that contain plastic pages in them as well as a number of strips running through each page. These strips have many wide pockets that allow you to put your stamps inside. The plastic pages will not discolor and will also shield your stamps.
5. Preparing Your Stamps
You must always handle each stamp with care, as they can be worth much in value. Make sure not to cut the stamp when cutting parts off the envelop, as doing so can make a stamp worthless. Also, soak gummed stamps before attempting to remove them from an envelope. Once removed, dry them by placing them face up on a dry and clean blotting paper. If your trying to remove self-adhesive stamps, soak them in heated water mixed with soft soap for a few minutes. After this you can transfer the stamp to a basin of fresh water for about 10 minutes to remove any left over soap. Avoid handling the stamp with your hands to prevent getting sweat and oil on the stamp from your skin. Try to use tweezers instead. You can use a good magnifying glass to study your stamp more closely. Also, a perforation gauge can be used to measure jagged edges of your stamp.
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