Philately and Stamp Collecting


Philately is the study of postage stamps and revenue stamps, including their design, printing method, paper types, gum types and method of separation (perforations, rouletting or cutting). Let me emphasize: philatelists study stamps. Some philatelists are also stamp collectors, but others are not. For example, some philatelists study rare stamps without ever expecting to own them, either because they're expensive or because there just aren't enough copies in existence. In contrast, the goal of stamp collectors is the acquisition of stamps, not necessarily to study them.

Philately - the study of stamps - reveals that a pile of stamps that all appear to be the same may actually include stamps with different paper types or different watermarks, as well as stamps with perforation varieties and different shades of color. Stamp varieties may be intentional or accidental. And many stamp forgeries have been produced since postage stamps were first introduced in 1840: some forgeries are very good and only detectable by a serious philatelist.