A Primer on the History of Stamp Collecting - Part I


Stamp collecting has a long and rich history, and few hobbies have enjoyed such enduring popularity.  Although stamp collecting is sometimes called the "hobby of kings," you don't have to be rich to enjoy it.  Many people of somewhat limited means have built beautiful, and above all, rewarding stamp collections.  

Collecting stamps can be the hobby of a lifetime, but if you're anything like me, the more you know about its history, the more you'll enjoy it.  The fact that many famous and important people have been dedicated stamp collectors has probably added much to its appeal.  Kings, queens, United States Presidents, corporate CEOS and people in just about every other profession you can think of have been stamp collectors, and you can share their passion for philately.

Most people collect postage stamps and those types of stamp collections could not exist before 1840, when the world's first government-issued postage stamp - Great Britain's Penny Black - was issued.  However, stamps of other types could be collected before 1840, including collecting tax stamps, revenue stamps, seals and more.  No one knows how many people collected these other types of stamps before 1840, but mankind's predilection to collect just about anything makes me pretty sure that at least some did.  

The Netherlands issued the first tax stamp way back in 1624.  They soon came into popular use throughout Europe, including Great Britain, and were used to indicate prepayment of taxes that were levied by those countries' governments.

Did you know that stamps were one of the main causes of the American Revolution?

Stay tuned for more stamp collecting history tomorrow.