Stamps with Faults - What to Do With Them? (continued)
Damaged stamps are accumulated by just about every stamp collector. They can be put to very good uses. And some people buy them intentionallly, with a specific purpose in mind.

1. Give them to a young child. They may spark his or her interest in stamp collecting, which is always a good thing, both for the child and for the hobby in general. And the child you give the stamps to may show those stamps to friends, who may also get interested in collecting stamps. They may even start trading stamps among themselves, and stamp collections may begin to form.

2. Use them as space fillers. This is a common way, employed by stamp collectors around the workd, to have stamps in your collection that you may not otherwise be able to afford. Some damaged stamps are quite lovely in appearance when mounted in a stamp album. Thins, a very short, almost invisible tear, or damaged gum are faults that really cannot be seen from the front. If an otherwise very expensive stamp is severely marked down in price because of a fault like this, it can be a good acquisition for your stamp collection. You may end up with a stamp that you need for your collection but couldn't otherwise afford.

3. Use them as references for different color shades.

4. The cancellations and postmarks may be collectible, even on damaged stamps.

5. Use them for art (see the picture at the top of this post). Although that may be a little carried away, you can use damaged stamps for scrapbooking, collages, framed art and other decorative purposes.

The list of uses for damaged stamps goes on and on. Just use your imagination!

Damaged Stamps - Why Buy Them, and What to do With Them

Most stamp collectors accumulate damaged stamps more or less by accident. It seems that there are always at least one or two damaged stamps in any bulk stamp mixture we see (we're not knocking that - it's a great percentage if there are hundred or thousands of stamps!). And some collectors actually buy damaged stamps on purpose.

What do you do with damaged stamps?

We'll answer this question in detail tomorrow, but for now, please be aware that there are several things that you can do with them, some of which serve very good purposes. Don't just throw them out!

A Vintage Stamp from the Great Depression - Timely Then and Now


The stamp pictured above is United States Scott No. 732, the 3 cents National Recovery Act commemorative stamp that was issued in 1933.

It features three workmen and a woman and was issued to direct attention to and stimulate the support of the nation for the National Recovery Act (the NRA) that was passed by Congress during the Great Depression.

You see, the $ 700 billion "bailout" package that was passed by Congress today is not by any means the only time that the federal government has taken steps to help a flagging US economy.

Collecting Common Design Stamps

These are the stamps that the Scott stamp catalogs refer to as "common design types." Sometimes they are also called omnibus issues. There are dozens of examples of these types of stamps, but just to name a few examples, they include the Colonial Exposition stamps issued by the French Community in 1931; the Vasco da Gama stamps issued by Portugal and its colonies in 1898; and the Silver Jubilee stamps issued by Great Britain and its colonies in 1935.

Common design type stamps typically feature one or more (if the issue is a set of stamps) commemorative stamps that all depict either the same design or a substantially similar design or theme. Occasionally they are not strictly commemorative stamps, such as the Pombal set of postal tax due stamps issued by Portugal and its colonies.

Portugal and its colonies, France and its colonies, and the British Commonwealth of Nations have all issued common design type stamps. Another example of these types of stamps is the famous Europa / CEPT stamps issued by a number of the member nations. Europa / CEPT stamps are extremely popular with European stamp collectors and also topical or thematic stamp collectors.

Common design stamp collections can be very striking in appearance - imagine a stamp album page filled with all the same design stamp, but the stamps being in different colors and issued by different countries.

Just another way to collect stamps. Remember, there are no rules for your stamp collection other than that it should be enjoyable.

Soaking Self-Adhesive Stamps - Get Used To It

Self-adhesive stamps (sometimes called peel-and-stick stamps or pressure-sensitive stamps) have become so popular with the non-

stamp collecting public that it's hard to imagine them ever going away. They don't need to be licked or otherwise moistened

before being applied to an envelope, and once there, some of them can seem like they're stuck there forever.

Self-adhesive stamps were first used in the 1960s but initially they were more of a novelty than anything. Sierra Leone, Tonga,

and Bhutan - all countries that are not known for the huge amount of mail sent by their residents - were the first producers of

peel-and-stick stamps. The United States issued an experimental self-adhesive Christmas stamp (Scott # 1550) a few years later,

but they were not well accepted by the public. This particular stamp has two large detriments for collectors: used copies are

extremely hard to soak off paper, and the adhesive has discolored the light-colored background of the majority of mint stamps.

The next foray into the self-adhesive stamp world by the US met with far more success. Scott # 2431 (the 29 cent Eagle and Shield

stamp) was issued in 1989. That stamp really got the ball rolling for peel-and-stick stamps, and now we are "stuck" with them

even though they definitely do present extra challenges for philatelists. These additional challenges include how to store them (should I keep them on the backing paper, making them a bit more awkward to mount in my stamp album, and also risk migration of the adhesive onto the edges of the stamp?) and how to best soak them.



Self-adhesive stamps should probably be soaked with other self-adhesive stamps, not in a mixture that includes water-activated stamps. Water-activated stamps almost alwats float free of the paper they're on long before self-adhesive stamps.

Be careful when soaking peel-and-stick stamps that are adhered to colored paper: the long soaking times that are usually required increase the chances that vividly colored inks from the paper will bleed onto the stamp.

Soak self-adhesive stamps as soon as you acquire them. The longer these stamps are left on paper, the more "stuck" they will become and it will be even harder to get them to detach and float off the paper.

You may succeed in soaking self-adhesive stamps off their paper within 45 or so minutes, or it may take 15 t0 20 hours. Or, they may never release. Some issues are particularly stubborn.

Reasons for Stamp Collecting


I've been wondering what causes people to purchase and collect stamps.

As far as I can tell, there are three main types of people who purchase stamps: 1. stamp collectors, who love stamps and are motivated to collect stamps for a variety of reasons; 2. philatelists, who are intellectually motivated and study stamps, their usage, and the methods by which they are printed; and 3. investors, who are motivated by the prospect of making money and don't necessarily fancy stamps.


Most people who collect the stamps of a particular country have some connection to that country. For example, many people who collect United States stamps do so because that is where they live, and the events and people depicted on US stamps strike a chord with them.

But there are as many different reasons to collect postage stamps as there are different types of stamp collections. Someone in the navy may enjoy finding topical stamps with various types of ships and boats depicted upon them. Or a world traveler may collect stamps from the countries visited along the way, or from locations he or she has been to. A stamp collector can accumulate or collect whatever stamps are interesting, for whatever reasons. There are no rules in stamp collecting, just enjoyment.

Children and Stamp Collecting

Now that summer is over and the weather is turning toward winter, children (and adults) are usually inside the house for much longer periods of time. Kids of all ages who have a lot of extra time on their hands need to be occupied, and parents who encourage their children to begin a stamp collection often do them a big favor.

Instead of watching tv or playing video games or texting their friends, they could be embarking on the adventure of a lifetime - stamp collecting. Stamps are educational - in a very painless, entertaining way - and they can hold a child's interest for the rest of his or her life. History, geography, foreign languages, nature, and science and technology are all subjects that children can learn about through stamps.

Stamp collecting is a safe hobby for children to engage in and getting them started doesn't need to be expensive at all. Just purchase an inexpensive stamp assortment for them, and watch them learn and enjoy!

How Will the Current World Economic Crisis Affect Stamp Collecting?

No one can say.

It's a pretty safe bet that, as a general rule, people will be much more conservative in spending their money since the price of necessities such as food and gasoline has skyrocketed. High prices for necessities leave less money available for adding to stamp collections. And now, with the current stock market in turmoil and major banks failing and otherwise in financial trouble, the situation will only become worse.

But.

Collectible stamps can also be seen as a hedge against a falling stock market and rising prices for goods. They aren't as liquid as gold (which has seen a huge jump in its prices) but stamps - especially classic, vintage stamps - historically have risen in value over time. There are thousands of examples of stamps that are worth 10 or 20 or 100 times as much today as they were 20 or 30 years ago. These types of stamps can be considered an investment. And they're an investment that won't decline in value the way stocks or mutual funds will.

It's too soon to tell how the current global crisis will affect stamp collecting. But don't panic.

The Thrill of Victory

Much of the fun in stamp collecting is in finally locating that elusive, hard to find "hole" in your stamp collection. It may be a common stamp that you just can't seem to find, or it may be a more expensive vintage stamp. For whatever reasons, it's missing from your stamp collection.

All stamp collectors have at least a few "missing links" that they would love to put into their collections, if only they could find them. There are a couple of different ways to try to find them. Most of these ways can be expensive, but there is one method that is very economical.

The least expensive way to fill many of the gaps in your collection - especially if you are a relatively new stamp collector or are just beginning a stamp collection - is to purchase a bulk stamp mixture. Wholesale-priced stamp assortments provide the opportunity to buy stamps at an extremely low price, many times for not even a penny a stamp. These kinds of stamp mixes can be already soaked and off their paper, or they be still be on paper. The choice is yours. And you can buy single-country stamp mixtures or assortments from a specific continent, group of countries, or the entire world. Again, the choice is yours.

Buy your stamp mixtures from a reputable stamp dealer and you'll be pleased with the price you pay and the assortment of stamps that you receive.

The 34 cent Greetings From America Commemorative Stamp Set - US Scott No. 3561-3610

Issued in April, 2002, the 34 cent Greetings from America commemorative stamp set has captured the eyes and hearts of just about everyone who has seen one of them, both stamp collectors and non-stamp collectors.

They are beautiful, with vivid, striking colors and wonderful designs that are reminiscent of the old and very popular large letter linen postcards. Used stamps from this set are extremely difficult to collect, even though they are not old.

They are so beautiful that many people bought complete sheets of 50 and just set them aside, never to be used on the mail.

And only two months after they were issued, the USPS increased the postal rate for 1st class one ounce letters, making all 34 cent stamps (including the 34 cents Greetings from America stamps) virtually obsolete as additional postage would have to be added in order to use them.

Because of the postal rate increase and the popularity of the 34 cent Greetings from America stamps, the 37 cent Greetings from America stamp set (US Scott # 3696-3745) was issued only a few months later, in October 2002. A complete set of used stamps from that stamp set is also difficult to collect, but not as difficult as the 34 cent variety, as they were able to be used on the mail for a longer period.

More Challenging Used Stamp Sets For Your Stamp Collection

Postally used millennium stamps from yet another country are also very difficult to collect - the Canada commemorative stamps that were issued in 1999 and 2000.

In 1999 Canada Post released three small souvenir sheets or miniature sheets that each contained one stamp. One stamp celebrates the past, one the present, and the third is a magnificent holographic image of a dove in flight.

This was followed (in 1999 and 2000) by 17 souvenir sheets or mini sheets that each contained four stamps, for a total of 68 stamps, for a grand total of 71 Canadian millennium stamps.

Each of the 17 souvenir sheets features a different theme relevant to Canada and Canadians.

Used copies of any of these stamps (much less a complete set) are very difficult to find, as they were not often used on mail. In fact, the first three souvenir sheets were only issued as a "millennium keepsake" contained in a silver-colored box along with a coin. And it seems that most Canadians took the keepsake concept literally - keeping these stamps rather than using them in the mail.

Great Britain's Fabulous Millennium Series Postage Stamps

The postal administrations of many countries issued postage stamps in connection with the advent of the new millennium (the turnover from 1999 to 2000). We've already discussed America's popular Celebrate the Century series of 150 different stamps and the challenge that collecting postally used copies of these stamps pose.

Here's another very popular set of stamps that isn't quite as difficult to complete as the Celebrate the Century stamps, but were issued at roughly the same time: the Millennium Stamps of Great Britain. There are a total of 100 different stamps in this series, all of which were issued during 1999-2001. Like all GB stamps, they are beautifully designed and beautifully printed.

Collecting all of these stamps as postally used stamps can be challenging, but despite their large number (1oo altogether), used stamps from this stamp series aren't quite as difficult to find as the US Celebrate the Century stamps. There are a couple of reasons for this.

1. The United Kingdom only issued two other commemorative stamps during the entire 2 year and one month "Millennium Stamp period," so any Brit wishing to use commemorative stamps for mailings during that time was almost forced to use a Millennium stamp.
2. There are 50 fewer stamps to have to collect in order to complete the entire set.

Now that we've told you that these stamps can be challenging to collect as a postally used stamp set, here's a bit of information about them.

The 1999 British Millennium Stamps:

In 1999 Royal Mail issued a series of stamps that were grouped into 12 different sets of four (known as "tales"), including Entertainment, Science & Technology and Sport. One group of four stamps was released during each month of the year, for a total of 48 stamps that year.

The set that was issued in September 1999 was called The Farmers’ Tale, and contained a 19p stamp that doubled as Royal Mail’s contribution to that year’s Europa postage stamp issue - another popular thematic stamp topic with collectors - but we'll discuss Europas another day.

One of the most notable stamps in the British millennium collection was a stamp commemorating the life of the lead singer of the British rock group Queen, Freddie Mercury. The issuance of this particular stamp caused some controversy because Roger Taylor (who was still alive) was in the background at the drums. Normally the only living people allowed to appear on British stamps are members of the British Royal Family (which Roger Taylor is not).

Other stamps in the 1999 stamps featured English football hero Bobby Moore; a picture of the structure of DNA; and a fossil of Archaeopteryx, the first known bird.

The 2000 British Millennium Stamps:

These stamps commemorated a variety of projects throughout the UK which had received funding from the Millennium Commission. As in 1999, the stamps were released in 12 monthly sets of 4 stamps each, for a total of 48 stamps.

The stamps featured such projects as the Eden Project, the Tate Modern art gallery, the National Space Centre and the Scottish Seabird Centre.

The 2001 British Millennium Stamps:

These four stamps featured painted faces of children. They were the only British Millennium stamps issued in 2001, and they brought this beautiful stamp series to an end.

100 beautiful, colorful commemorative stamps. Remember that although postally used stamps can be tough to find, they are also extremely rewarding when you're successful.

The Challenges of Collecting Postally Used Stamps - Continued

Yesterday we posted on the topic of collecting postally used stamps and the challenges that used stamp collections present. Here's an example that many of you may be familiar with:

The United States Celebrate the Century issue.

This is a series of 150 different commemorative stamps issued by the US between 1998 and 2000.

They are Scott No. 3182-3191, and each of these different major Scott numbers was issued as a pane of 15 se-tenant stamps. They were sold in connection with the turn of the century, and this is a theme that we'll see with the stamps of other countries, too. Each pane of 15 stamps showed subjects from a specific decade in the 20th century, from the 1900s to the 1990s.

They are exceedingly difficult to complete as a postally used set.

First of all, there are a lot of them - 150 different stamps. That's a LOT of different but specific used stamps to try to find, considering that they're all the same set.

Secondly, they were issued in beautiful panes of 15 with informative text and background pictures. Many people who bought these panes kept them intact and unused because of their beauty and the history of the United States that they portray. Other people bought them strictly as a memento or keepsake of the passage of time and also the passing of the old millenium to the new. The panes those people purchased never got into the mailstream and still have not been postally used.

Third, because many of the stamps are topical or thematic stamps, many of the available stamps have been snapped up by collectors of those topics, rather than by collectors of United States stamps.

See what I mean about these being challenging to collect? We'll post another example tomorrow.

The Challenge of Collecting Postally Used Stamps: Part 1

We all know that stamp collecting can be fun and rewarding (and rewarding in more ways than one). And, sometimes, it can be challenging too - trying to "fill a hole" in a stamp collection isn't always easy to do.

But most challenging of all is collecting stamps that have actually been used in the mail - what we call "postally used" stamps. After all, if you have enough money, you can usually find mint never hinged or mint hinged stamps for your stamp collection - that's what most dealers focus on selling, and what most dealers carry as their stock. With most stamp dealers, you'll find plenty of unused stamps and some postally used stamps - but only the expensive used stamps. You won't find inexpensive used stamps at most stamp shops, or for that matter, at most online stamp dealers' websites either.

This fact can make it difficult to fill out some "missing links" in a collection - often, it is more difficult to find an inexpensive postally used stamp than its unused counterpart. And the situation is compounded when you're trying to put together a postally used complete set of one of the large sets of definitive stamps or commemorative stamps that some countries have issued.

We'll talk about some specific examples of challenges in collecting used stamps over the next few days. In the meantime, if you're looking for specific postally used stamps or sets (or mint, unused stamps, for that matter), have a look at The Stamp People They sell everything from minimum value stamps (individually identified and priced) to kiloware and off paper stamp mixtures, to classic, vintage stamps (mint and used).

Some Collectors Are Interested in Stamps and Coins. If That Describes You, Then Read On....

Many people who started out collecting stamps have also gotten interested in coin collecting. And the opposite is true also: many coin collectors also collect stamps. We've been asked by a couple of our readers to provide a bit of information that might help stamp collectors who also collect coins. So here we go:

Coin Community is a numismatic website which has experienced phenomenal growth and recognition since its inception in 2005. It currently has over 5,200 members that hail from more than 90 different countries, and the site provides a wealth of information to coin collectors all over the world.

The Coin Community site provides a forum for give-and-take discussion, a Coin Facts section and a Coin History section that collectors can find helpful when researching various coins. The site helps collectors learn about coins, and make informed purchasing and selling decisions. Many of the members participate in the Buy/Sell/Trade section.

Have a Passion for a Particular Topic? Turn it Into a Topical or Thematic Stamp Collection!

If you feel a strong affinity for a particular subject or activity, convert your interest into a new and exciting stamp collection. Stamps have been issued on just about every topic and theme you could think of. Here are just a very few examples of topical stamp collections:

Are you a passionate golfer or follower of golf? Try a golf on stamps topical collection.

Did you serve in the military during World War 2? Start a thematic stamp collection that focuses on stamps issued by countries in which you served, that honor your branch of service or that feature specific battles in which you participated.

Do you enjoy the arcane world of heraldry and heraldic coats-of-arms? Collect stamps that feature heraldic devices from around the world, or from a specific region.

The possibilities are endless, limited only by your imagination.

The current trend in stamp collecting is toward thematic or topical collections, and away from country collections. Try it out, and see what makes them so popular.

The Wild World of British Machin Stamps

The "Machin" set of Great Britain definitive stamps began in 1967 and new stamps in the series are still being printed and used. They feature the head of Queen Elizabeth II. Early stamps in the series are pre-decimal; the later issues are of course decimal stamps.

The stamps are fondly referred to as "Machins" or "Machin head stamps" because the sculptor of the bust of Queen Elizabeth II that's used in the design of all of the stamps was a gentleman named Arnold Machin.

According to some experts, there are well over 1,000 different varieties of stamps in this long-running series. They can be collected on many different levels - the philatelist can collect just the major denomination and color types, or he or she can go far beyond that. Printing methods, phosphor tagging, perforation changes, and changes in the size of the denomination numeral are all additional variables in collecting Machins. Other varieties include larger size Machin stamps, which generally are high denomination stamps.

In addition to stamps that solely show the Queen's head, there are regional issues - Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man - that feature the Queen's head and a small country symbol in the top lefthand corner. For example, the Welsh regional Machin stamp has a small Welsh dragon in the corner.

Another variation on the Machin stamps was the Anniversary Issue of 1990. These stamps feature portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Victoria.

As I mentioned earlier, a stamp collector can make his Machin collection as simple - or as complicated - as he or she likes. The most detailed, specialized Machin stamp catalog is the Complete Deegam Machin Handbook, published in two volumes. Much more than a mere "handbook," this massive work is the definitive authority on these stamps and, as such, is a must-have for any serious Machin collector.

Because of their colorful nature, but moreso because of all the different and sometimes intricate varieties, Machins can be a wild series of stamps to collect.

The Local Carrier Stamps / Cinderella Stamps of Great Britain

You've probably heard about Lundy stamps - the famous Puffin stamps used to offset the cost of local delivery from the Island of Lundy (located off the Devonshire coast) to "mainland" England.

They are essentially private postage stamps, with a value expressed in "Puffins." They began in 1927 and continue to be printed and used today. They are to be affixed to the bottom left hand corner of the envelope, so that the mainland sorting offices can process them. Their cost includes the standard Royal Mail charges for onward delivery.

The Lundy Puffins are a type of stamp known to philatelists as "local carriage labels," "local carrier stamps" or "local delivery stamps." Although the Lundy stamps are probably the best-known of the local stamps used in the United Kingdom, there are several others.

These include:

Bernera Islands, a group of islands off the coast of Scotland.

Davaar Island, also off the coast of Scotland

Eynhallow, also known as Holy Island. Also located off the coast of Scotland

Gairsay Island, a Scottish local post in the Orkney Islands

Herm Island, located near Guernsey

The Isle of Jethou, a Channel Island 3 miles east of Guernsey

St. Kilda, an island 100 miles off the coast of Scotland

Sanda Island, another Scottish island

Staffa, yet another Scottish island

the Isle of Stroma, off the north coast of Scotland

These local stamps can be fascinating to locate and collect. Some other countries also use similar stamps, including the famous Rattlesnake Island stamps used in a remote area near Sandusky, Ohio, United States.

Varieties of Canadian Stamps ~ Lots of Fun, and Sometimes Financially Rewarding Too!

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, many different Canadian stamps have varieties, but those varieties aren't always mentioned in the Scott catalog. Many of them aren't worth much more than the "standard" version of the stamp, but some are worth quite a bit more. But whether they're valuable or not, varieties are always fun to find, and searching for them can be rewarding in more ways than one.

Here are a few examples of Canadian stamp varieties that are specifically identified in the Unitrade Catalog, but not in Scott:

Scott No. 593, an 8 cent Queen Elizabeth II ultramarine definitive stamp, has a number of varieties. The "weeping Queen" variety, numbered 593x in Unitrade, has a black dot at the bottom of her right eye. Number 593xi, the "tear on side of nose" variety, has a black dot between the right eye and the nose. A third variety of this same stamp, No. 593xii, is the "spur on 8" type, and features a spur on the numeral 8 in the denomination of the stamp.

Scott No. 715, the 14 cent Parliament definitive, also has a number of different varieties beyond the "standard" stamp. Unitrade No. 715iii is the "missing spire" variety. The right spire on the tower is missing on this stamp. Unitrade No. 715iv is the "missing brick" variety, and Unitrade No. v is the "light in window" variety.

The Suzor-Cote commemorative stamp, Scott No. 492, has the following varieties. Unitrade No. 492i is the "line from knee" variety. Another one is Unitrade No. 492ii, the "bird in sky" variety.

Here's a variety that's not that difficult to find: Scott No. 553, the stamp that features Paul Kane's painting of the Indian Encampment, has a variety that's been catalogued by Unitrade as No. 553i. It's called the "stroke on teepee" variety. The stroke is at the top of the center teepee.

There are a lot more varieties than just these few, but that should get you going. Don't throw out (or trade away) your extras of what you think are common Canadian stamps - they may not be as common as you think!

Canada Stamp Varieties

If you collect Canadian stamps, you probably know that many of Canada's definitive stamps - and even some of its commemorative stamps - have varieties. Differences in dies, perforations, type of gum, type of paper and other variances can result in different varieties of the same face-similar stamp. Some of these differences are intentional (by the printer or caused by using more than one printer), others are not.

The Scott catalog (the most common stamp catalog used in the United States) identifies a few of these varieties. But the Scott catalog that contains Canadian stamps doesn't pretend to be a specialized catalog, and other catalogs do a much better job with Canadian stamp varieties. These more specialized catalogs include Unitrade and Darnell, just to name a couple.

Looking for stamp varieties can be painstaking and time-consuming, but it is one way to expand a stamp collection inexpensively. And it's incredibly rewarding to find a variety that you've been looking for. One of the most effective ways to look for possible stamp varieties - and also probably the most inexpensive method - is to buy bulk stamp mixtures, either on paper or off paper.