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.