How to Find Vintage Stamps Online

Vintage stamps provide much enjoyment to many stamp collectors. Many online stamp shops, such as The Stamp People, sell vintage stamps from many different countries. It's easier than you might think to find vintage stamps online, and in some ways finding old stamps is easier than finding modern stamps - older stamps tend to have more value than modern stamps, so online stamp dealers are more likely to post vintage stamps for sale than modern stamps.

Any collector of vintage or old stamps knows that while some are quite scarce and valuable, others are very common and inexpensive. But stamp collecting isn't just for investment purposes: many people like to collect even the cheaper vintage stamps, covers and postcards because of their historic interest.

In addition to finding an online stamp shop that is willing to work with you to build your collection, one of the best ways to find vintage stamps online is to join a stamp forum or online community where you can discuss your needs and wants with other stamp collectors. They may be able to help you identify old stamps that you just can't figure out, and they may be willing to trade stamps with you. Online stamp auctions can be another good way to find vintage stamps, but make sure you read all the details so you don't get hit with any surprise fees or condition problems.

You can also buy assortments of stamps - either single country (such as US stamp mixtures) or worldwide stamp mixes. Generally available for wholesale prices (often only a penny or two per stamp) at an online stamp shop like The Stamp People, they can be an extremely inexpensive way to add vintage stamps to your stamp collection.

Stamp shows also provide opportunities to purchase vintage stamps and are held frequently in different locations. Drop into a stamp show if there's one convenient to you. Just be aware that you'll likely pay more than you would online.

The Future of Stamp Collecting

The rising popularity of email, texting, instant messaging and other electronic forms of communication, along with postage meter strips and custom-made stamps, cause many stamp collectors to worry about the future of stamp collecting. They believe the future of philately is bleak because of these revolutionary new alternatives to physical mail. Yet both the telegraph and the telephone were "revolutionary new alternatives" when they began to be used in the 19th century, and as we know, neither one spelled the end of stamps on mail or stamp collecting as a hobby.

There many reasons for the persistence of stamp collecting, and they are signs of hope for the future of stamp collecting. The possible financial rewards, educational benefits and the mesmerizing ability to pass the time that stamp collecting offers are just a few of those reasons. And many collectors may be more interested in old stamps than in new issues; they would not stop their stamp collections just because fewer new stamps were being issued because of email, texting, etc. But fewer stamps AREN'T being issued: letters written to Linn's Stamp News and other philatelic publications are full of complaints that every year there are so many new stamps that they are difficult to keep up with.

So fear not for your hobby, stamp collectors. Philately is alive and well, with a future assured for many years to come.