Flag Over Porch Stamps





"Many collectors love to hate the Flag Over Porch stamps because they can be so overwhelming. There are many befuddling varieties and any collector with a regular life probably can't spend the time to bother with the Porches"



(Michael Schreiber in Linn's Stamp News, Febr. 16, 1998)





The United States Flag Over Porch stamps were the most frequently used stamps in the US between 1995 and 1998. Although they're pretty recent stamps they're a stamp collector's dream, featuring a dizzying number of different varieties and types: there are more than 250 different collectible varieties. They were issued in several formats and by several different printers: water-activated "lick & stick" sheet stamps, lick & stick booklet stamps, lick & stick coil stamps, self-adhesive coil stamps, etc. Booklets came as either convertible booklets and makeshift booklets.



The water-activated versions were issued with shiny gum, dull gum and a combination of dull and shiny gum (called "dull-shiny gum" - shiny at the top and dull at the bottom) and the coils bear a large number of different plate numbers (which themselves have varieties). There are die cut varieties, perforation varieties, shade varieties, large and small year date varieties, different back numbers and more. Coil stamps were issued both with liners and also as experimental linerless coil stamps.



Flag Over Porch stamps are developing into a hot collecting specialty for diligent US stamp collectors. Many of the varieties are readily available and they can still easily be found in inexpensive kiloware, mission mixes and off paper stamp mixtures, even scarce varieties.



Happy Hunting!

What stamp materials can I collect in addition to single stamps?



Many philatelists collect postal stationery—paper envelopes (covers) or cards with a pre-paid, printed or embossed stamp design — Stamped Envelopes, Stamped Cards (or postal cards), and Aerogrammes.

Another type of philatelic collectible are plate numbers (including plate blocks). Found most often on sheet stamps, plate number blocks are the stamps — usually a block of 4 but sometimes more — that have the printing plate numbers in the adjoining selvage, or margin.

Booklet panes are panes of stamps affixed in, or as part of, a thin folder to form a booklet. Collectors of booklet panes usually save the entire pane or booklet. If entire booklets are collected completely intact, meaning the panes of stamps inside are all still attached to the booklet cover, they are called unexploded booklets or full booklets.

Marginal blocks (including copyright blocks) feature marginal inscriptions other than plate numbers. The most common is the copyright block, which in the case of United States stamps features the copyright symbol ©, copyright date, and U.S. Postal Service. All U.S. stamp designs since 1978 are copyrighted.

First Day Covers (FDCs) are envelopes bearing newly-issued stamps postmarked on the first day of sale. For each new issuance, the U.S. Postal Service (or the postal authority of some other country that issued the stamps) generally selects one location, usually related to the stamp subject, as the place for the first day dedication ceremony and the first day postmark.


First Day Ceremony Programs are passed out to those who attend first day ceremonies. They contain a list of participants and information on the stamp subject, with the actual stamp attached and postmarked.

We all know about mold and dampness causing damage to stamps, but what about dryness? Is using air conditioning in the home bad for stamps?


The cleanest collections we've ever seen had been stored where the humidity is low. Low humidity is why the nearly perfectly preserved human mummies from the Valley of The Kings in Egypt, and the northern Atacama Desert in Chile, exist. Very low humidity kept them nearly perfectly preserved. And it works on stamps as well as mummies. But if the humidity is too low, gummed stamps will tend to curl and eventually the gum will crack. The ideal humidty is definitely not zero, it's probably something closer to around 30%.

Sale on Off-Paper US Stamp Mixtures!

The Stamp People just made an exciting purchase of a large accumulation of off-paper United States stamps. They want to pass their savings on to their customers, so they're having a special sale on all their great off-paper US stamp mixtures.

The Stamp People is holding a two-week only sale on all United States off-paper stamp assortments and mixtures. All US off-paper stamp mixtures will be marked down by 10% starting tomorrow (January 10th). The sale will end two weeks later (January 24th), so be sure to visit before then if you want to take advantage of this special offer. Don't delay, because they expect this to be a very popular sale and some of these great mixtures will sell out early: more and more people are turning to building their stamp collections as a hedge against stock market losses.

The quality of the mixtures will be the same as before, the only difference is that prices will be reduced while the sale is on.

They continue to add more stamps and other philatelic material to www.thestamppeople.com every day. And they also plan on future sales that will be similar to this one.

Stamp Trivia Question:



What is a stamp vignette? It just sounds like some fancy French word to me ......



It is a French word, but it definitely means something to stamp collectors from all countries. A vignette is the center design of a stamp that is surrounded by a frame that's usually printed a different color. The vignette often is a portrait or an image of an important event or place. Stamps with vignettes sometimes produce stamp errors known as "Inverts," which is a stamp that has the vignette upside down. Inverts can be true rarities and extremely valuable - such as the Inverted Jenny - US Scott No. 3a - worth well over $100,000.

United States Fourth Bureau Definitives (the "1922s")

Beautifully designed, beautifully engraved, a wealth of varieties, and inexpensive - what more could a US stamp collector ask?

A newcomer to US philately might be overwhelmed by the number of stamps, their topics and the available specialties, but if a stamp collector wants to dive into the heart of the American stamp scene, one particular set of regular definitive postage stamps, all printed by the BEP, stands out for its significance, classic designs, collecting possibilities and inexpensive cost. The USA's Fourth Bureau Series of definitives, issued from 1922 through 1938 (and sometimes called the "1922 series") presents many rich opportunities for stamp collectors.

The Fourth Bureau runs from the flat plate, from 1/2-cent face value to five dollar face value stamps, and the rotary press ranges from 1/2-cent to ten cent issues. There are a host of overprints, some of which are the "poor man's commemoratives" (the Hawaii overprints and the Molly Pitcher overprint), and some security overprints: the "Kans." and "Nebr." overprints. These were designed to help stop post office thefts in the States of Kansas and Nebraska. Some 1922s were overprinted Canal Zone for use in that US territory. A number of forged and faked Kansas and Nebraska overprints exist, along with varieties of the legitimate overprints. There are also errors and specialties, such as the US-administered Canal Zone with its own series of Fourth Bureau overprints, die varieties and a wide range of different town precancels.

Throughout the Fourth Bureau issues there are perforation and color varieties, double transfers and plate errors, and coil stamps with government as well as private perforations. Star Plates, experiments in cliche spacing, and various gum breakers also add variety to the series. A few of the stamps are quite expensive, such as the two-cent rotary President Harding issue, perf 11, but most issues are very affordable yet challenging.

With all these varieties, errors, overprints and other peculiarities, it's easy to picture a specialty stamp collection that would be challenging but easy on the wallet.

Adopt a Young Stamp Collector - Sponsor Their Hobby

Wouldn't it benefit stamp collecting as a hobby if we all sponsored a child and helped that young person build a new stamp collection? Wouldn't this practice help to ensure the future of stamp collecting? And what a great way to spend quality time with the child!


It would be easy to do, and very inexpensive. And it would help you, the child and stamp collecting itself.


Steps:


1. Pick a child, everyone knows at least a few!

2. Give stamps to your child. You can give single country stamps, worldwide stamps or topical / thematic stamps, whatever seems most interesting to the child.
Stamp assortments are generally very inexpensive and are perfect for a beginner.

3 Teach the child how to identify the stamps, how to care for the stamps and how to mount them for display. Mounting can be done very inexpensively with hinges and blank notebook paper, or you can go a bit further and use stamp mounts and a beginner's stamp album.

4. Additional stamps can be given to the child on special days such as birthdays or Christmas.


As the child's stamp collection progresses you can give him or her an older stamp catalog (used older catalogs are very inexpensive).

Why People Become Collectors

The joys of collecting ultimately are based on two factors: the “thrill of the hunt,” meaning that the challenges of searching for new items are a large part of a collector's enjoyment; and the collector's appreciation for the items that are already in his or her collection. If you're the type of person that gets a kick out of finally locating an elusive item, and enjoys looking at (and displaying for others) the items you've found, you're a prime candidate to collect antiques and other collectibles such as postage stamps, vintage postcards or even old costume jewelry.

How to Display Your Antiques and Collectibles

A few collectors simply pack their collectibles into boxes and then put them away, but they're missing out on much of the joy of collecting. Other, more involved collectors actively look for ways to incorporate their collections into their everyday life. Some collectors – depending on what they collect - discover that finding a way to display their collections can be challenging. This is especially true for people who collect large pieces, like antique furniture. But most collectors of smaller items eventually realize that their collectibles are most effectively displayed together, in one place, rather than scattered throughout the house.

Keep in mind, though, that if you place a large number of small collectibles on a single flat surface, the result will probably be a very cluttered look. If you want to display small collectibles on a dresser, table, bookshelf, desk or other flat surface, keep it to just a few. The smaller number will emphasize the pieces that are displayed this way – they won't get “lost” among a jumble of many pieces. Small collectibles are very effectively displayed inside a glass case like a curio cabinet, which also protects collectibles from dirt, dust, and damage. Some collectibles are best displayed in a specialized display case, made for that type of item. Examples of this type of item include golf balls, golf tees, thimbles and spoons. Other items, such as stamps and postcards, should be displayed in albums or books.

If your collection is too extensive (or many of the pieces are too large) to be able to display all your items at the same time, consider rotating your items – that way each one can be enjoyed, even though it's at different times. Every so often, switch one for another.

Things To Avoid When Collecting

Always be financially responsible when buying new items for your collection. By that we mean, no matter how much you want a new piece, never put it before paying your mortgage and other bills.

Don't get obsessive about it. Being unable to stop buying items for your collection, buying them when you really can't afford them, or letting your collection interfere with daily life or your relationships are all signs of obsession. Your family comes first, and your collection should never take priority.

Things to Keep in Mind When Collecting

Some collectors seek to collect every item in a set, or every item of a specific type that's been produced, but this is often not very realistic. Common obstacles to this accomplishment include expense and rarity, which are often tied together. A good way to get around these obstacles is to narrow your collection down to one subset of the type of items that interest you.

Don't start a collection for someone else. Just because you're interested in a particular type of collectible doesn't mean someone else will be. Let them start up their own collection – they'll be much more likely to keep it up.

Don't buy antiques or collectibles simply as investments. Your collection, whatever it is, should fascinate and intrigue you, not just be a way to possibly make some money (although that would be nice too). If a particular item doesn't appeal to you, don't collect it for its investment value – although it could become more valuable, it also might lose value in the future. If you only collect items that you like, and for some reason their value diminishes over time, you'll still have a collection that you enjoy.

Antiques and collectibles can be an engrossing hobby, full of challenge and reward. They can be decorative, functional, and sometimes financially rewarding too.

Blocks of Stamps - Do They Carry a Premium?

We love to see a nice block of stamps, especially when they've been postally used. But what is the value of a block compared to the single stamps that make it up? In other words, are blocks of stamps worth more by their very nature - being still attached to other stamps - or not? Is a block of 4 stamps worth more than 4 times what the singles of the same stamps are worth?

Usually, like everything else, it depends on the stamps. Although there are exceptions, modern blocks are generally not worth much, if any, premium. But many earlier multiples can be worth huge premiums over singles, and in a number of cases, the premium remains unknown until the block actually comes onto the market.

The lovely block of 4 "Baby Zeppelin" stamps that's pictured (US Scott #C18) commands a nice premium over the single stamps. But even single C18's are highly desired by many collectors and fetch a very nice price when sold.

Identifying Stamps - Which Country?

Examine your stamp for an inscription. All stamps -except for those issued by one specific country - are required to include their country's name. The country name may be in English or in the country's native language, but it will be there. The trick is in knowing how non-English speaking countries identify themselves; i.e., what are those countries' names in their native language, using their native alphabet. Some may look quite strange to a native English speaker.

For example, the stamps of Albania:

Shqipenia	Albania
Shqipenie	Albania
Shqiperia	Albania
Shqiperie Korce Vetqeveritale	French Forces » occupation Of Albania » Korytza
Shqiperija	Albania
Shqiperise R.P.	East Albania
Shqiperise RPS	East Albania
Shqiperise	Albania
Shqipni	Albania
Shqipnija	Albania
Shqiponies	Albania

Confused yet? We'll have more on this subject later.

Please Note: Stamps that are not required to have a country name on them are from Great Britain (the United Kingdom). This is in honor of the fact that it was Great Britain, under Queen Victoria and with the leadership of Sir Rowland Hill, that first published adhesive postage stamps. British stamps will have either a "p" (pence or penny) or a £ (pounds).

Gifts for Stamp Collectors


All stamp collectors need various tools, supplies and reference books in order to work on their hobby. And everyone, whether they collect stamps or not, loves receiving gifts! If you're not a stamp collector yourself you might not know anything about the types of things that would make good gifts for a philatelist. So here's a list of some gift ideas that might please any stamp collector, from beginner to old-timer.

1. First and foremost, stamps.


If you don't already know, find out what type of stamps the person collects. Just about every stamp collector in the world wants more stamps. The more the better. Giving stamps will help the stamp collector build his or her collection, which after all is the point of the whole thing. You can give stamps in more than one way.

The first way to give stamps to a collector is by finding out if there's a specific stamp or group of stamps (a "stamp set") that the person particularly needs - or badly wants - for his or her collection. When you find out, you can purchase those particular stamps, and voila, you've made someone extremely happy.

The second way to give stamps is by finding out what type of stamp collection the person has. Is it a worldwide stamp collection or is it one or more specific countries? Does the stamp collection focus on a specific topic or theme? Does the stamp collector only collect mint never hinged stamps (unused stamps, with their original gum perfectly intact) or does he or she prefer to collect postally used stamps? When you find these things out you'll know a lot more about what types of stamps would make a good gift for that particular stamp collector. Instead of buying individual specific stamps or stamp sets you can buy stamp mixtures that fill the bill in larger quantities of an ounce, a quarter pound or even a pound at a time. The advantages of doing this? Well, as you know, stamps are very, very lightweight, and there are tons of them in even as small a quantity as an ounce. And thousands of them in half a pound. So giving the gift of a stamp mixture will actually give the collector two things: the stamps themselves, and hours of fun sorting through them to see what stamps are in the mix. And stamp assortments have the additional benefit of usually being very inexpensive to buy.

A third alternative for buying stamps is purchasing a gift certificate: a few stamp shops will allow you to purchase a gift certificate that you can give to the stamp collector. As with any type of gift certificate, the recipient can then use it to buy whatever he or she wants. There's even an online stamp shop that offers gift certificates in various dollar amounts. It's called The Stamp People and is located at http://www.thestamppeople.com

2. The tools and supplies that all stamp collectors need and use.

Stamp tongs, a good magnifying glass, stamp mounts and/or stamp hinges, a guillotine-type mount cutter, an ultraviolet light for checking tagging and phosphors, watermarking liquid and a watermarking tray, a drying book, stamp catalogs and other stamp guides and reference books, glassine envelopes, stock books and stock cards for storage, and, last but not least, a stamp album for displaying the stamp collection - stamp albums are beautiful AND practical gifts!


Stamp-related gifts are some of the best gifts a stamp collector can receive. And he or she will think of you every time your gift is seen or used. Stamp collecting is a hobby for a lifetime, and your stamp-related gift will be an endless source of pleasure.

History of Stamp Collecting

When and how did the stamp collecting hobby begin?

The very first stamp - called the Penny Black - was issued by Great Britain in 1840.  Sir Rowland Hill first thought of the idea of using postage stamps to prepay for the delivery of mailm and he implemented it with the cooperation of the British government.  The Penny Black features a picture of Queen Victoria.  An imperforate stamp (it has no perforations), like other imperforate stamps, it required the use of scissors to cut each individual stamp from the sheet it was printed on. The next country to use stamps to pay for postage was Brazil.

The United States began issuing stamps at certain local post offices (such as St. Louis) in 1845 but the first official US stamp wasn't issued until 1847.  Stamp collecting beganquickly, and at first it probably was a children's hobby.  But when these children grew older they continued their passion for collecting stamps into their adult years.  In the late 1800’s people began really studying postage stamps, publishing the results of their studies after researching everything from printing methods to printing flaws caused by certain plates.  Stamp dealers began to open establishments that were specifically geared towards stamp collectors, whose numbers were increasing every year.  This is when stamp collecting truly took off, and despite rumors to the contrary, it is still going strong today.

Collectors soon discovered that if they were able to locate unused copies of older stamps they would be worth much more than their face values - finding unused stamps in mint condition was somewhat uncommon.  As a result, stamp collectors in the 1930s began purchasing and preserving stamps in hopes of having a valuable mint stamp years later.  Unfortunately the idea backfired - at least to a certain degree - because the practice was so common.  Too many people had the same idea and even today, unused, many mint condition stamps from thar era are common (although there are exceptions of course, and some mint stamps from that era are very expensive). 

During stamp collecting's infancy, many stamp collectors would collect stamps from every country - or at least many countries - because not so many stamps were issued.  Now there are literally millions of stamps that have been issued over time, and because it would be so difficult to "keep up" there are not as many worldwide stamp collectors.  The current trends in stamp collecting are:  1. to concentrate on collecting the stamps issued by just one country, or perhaps a few countries;  or 2.  to focus on collecting stamps issued by many countries but having a single theme.  This practice is called topical stamp or thematic stamp collecting.

Stampless Covers

Stampless covers, also called pre-adhesive mail or pre-stamp mail, are letters that were mailed before postage stamps were issued. The term can also refer to mail sent after the introduction of postage stamps, but unpaid (as was permitted in many countries) or without the payment of the postage charge being indicated by a postage stamp - sometimes the letter was marked paid in handwriting.

This type of mail is usually a letter sheet because the use of envelopes was not popularized until after the introduction of postage stamps, the earliest of which was issued in 1840. Stampless covers include court and government letters and items by the general public before official public mail services were introduced. The mail often bears distinctive town and other marks applied worldwide.

Stampless covers were the norm in the United Kingdom before the Penny Black and two pence Blue stamps (the world's first stamps) were issued in1840. They were also the norm in other countries until those countries starting issuing postage stamps.

Collecting Topical or Thematic Stamps

Topical or thematic stamp collecting is the practice of collecting postage stamps relating to a particular subject or concept. Topics may include just about anything, from flowers on stamps to famous explorers to stamps on stamps (yep, a smaller version of some stamp that's reproduced on another stamp).

Early stamps usually pictured the heads of reigning monarchs or government officials, people that were important in the country's history, or coats of arms. But that can get boring, so postal administrations around the world eventually developed new designs that drew upon nature and also their nations' cultures. A prime example is the beaver, featured on some of the earliest stamps of Canada. More than 150 years later, the number of designs on stamps is staggering and provides stamp collectors with thousands of different topics to collect.

In fact, there are now so many stamps that traditional topics for collecting, such as "ships" or "birds", have become nearly impossible to complete. Many topical collectors have adapted to this by narrowing their thematic stamp collections further, such as by looking for only sailing ships from the 1800s, or only flightless birds.

Most types of stamp designs are commonly available and inexpensive, and acquiring them is mostly a matter of reviewing stamp catalogs to find relevant stamps.

Lists of topics can be obtained from The American Topical Association and other groups. Or you can make up your own - after all, it's YOUR collection!

Souvenir Sheet or Miniature Sheet ~ What They Are

A souvenir sheet or miniature sheet is a small group of postage stamps that are still attached to the sheet on which they were printed. They are usually commemorative stamps that are issued in connection with an event, such as a national anniversary, a philatelic exhibition, or some government program. The number of stamps on a mini-sheet ranges from one to five or six; larger sheets of stamps are simply called "sheets."

The stamps on the souvenir sheet may be perforated or imperforate. The margins or selvage of the sheet (the part that's not a stamp) often has an additional design that frames the stamp(s). This additional design could be as simple as a mere text statement that describes the occasion being commemorated, a beautifully designed image of which the stamp(s) form just a small part, or anywhere in between.

Both the stamps and the entire miniature sheet can be used for mailing, although they are almost always sold above face value and kept in mint collection by collectors; usages on cover are not terribly easy to find.

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.

Stamp Essays and Proofs

Essays are designs for stamp vignettes (the main design in the center), stamp borders or both, that were never approved and used in the final printing of a stamp. Even if a design is adopted with only slight modifications, the original, unmodified design is still an "essay". Proofs are proposed designs that are exactly like the stamp that was eventually issued.

Between 1847 and 1894, all U.S. stamps were made by private bank note companies such as the American Bank Note Company or the Continental Bank Note Company. Essays and printing bids were submitted by those companies. The U.S. Post Office Department's policy for submitting new stamp proposals required bids to be submitted along with essays (examples of the proposed stamps). After the bids were opened, an Expert Committee evaluated the proposals and decided on the final designs, colors and paper.

Today, the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee usually decides on a U.S. stamp subject, chooses an artist or artists to design the stamp, and then submits the proposal, including the final artwork, to the postmaster general for his approval.

Essays for older U.S. stamps were produced in small quantities, with the outside printing firm keeping several copies. Today, design essays are kept by the U.S. Postal Service; few, if any, ever reach the stamp trade in any format.

Essays now sometimes consist of artists' sketches, but it was much different in the early days of stamps. Back then, finished plate essays that were fully gummed, perforated, and sometimes grilled would be submitted. All such material, whether just an art sketch or a finished, final plate proof, remains an essay until the printing and issuance of a stamp that's exactly like it. Then it is called a proof.

Proofs are known to exist in many varied styles. The Scott Specialized Catalogue of U.S. Stamps lists hundreds of varieties of proofs and trial color proofs from the postmasters' provisionals of New York (1845) and Providence (1846) to the 6¢ 50th Anniversary of Powered Flight airmail of May 1953. Scott's list includes only those proofs submitted by companies that were not owned by the government.

Until about 40 years ago, stamp proofs were available to the stamp trade. Thousands of proofs were distributed, creating a collecting irony: The proofs of modern U.S. stamps usually are not available, while older proofs are often up for sale. For all practical purposes, modern U.S. proofs are not obtainable by anyone, but collecting earlier essays and proofs are a fascinating branch of philately.

Stamp Centering

Determining a stamp's value has several steps, with several factors affecting the final result. One of these factors that affect a stamp's value is its centering.

Every stamp collector should look at the centering of stamps as a factor in determining the value of his or her stamp collection. Being a judgment call, centering is subjective, and the centering of any given stamp will vary from collector to collector.

Seven centering grades are commonly used with stamps.

Poor. With poor centering, a significant portion of the design of the stamp is lost. For example, perforations running right through the stamp's design result in poor centering.

Average. The design of a stamp of this grade is centered slightly better. The perforations are probably just starting to cut into the design. But be careful, as "average" is a bit of a misnomer - most average stamps (except for some very early, rare classic stamps - are unacceptably centered).

Fine. Your basic stamp - the perforations don't impact the design, but the margins around the design are uneven: the left margin may be much wider than the right margin, or the top margin much taller than the bottom.

Fine/Very Fine. This is the middle ground between fine and very fine centering, and most stamps probably fall into this category. Essentially, the stamp centering isn't bad enough to be considered fine, but isn't good enough to be declared very fine.

Very Fine. A solidly centered stamp with only slight margin issues on one or two sides.

Extremely Fine or Extra-Fine (Superb). If a stamp is extremely fine or superb, it's perfectly centered. As you might imagine, stamps with this type of centering are harder to find, and will cost more too.

Jumbo. When a stamp is perfectly centered and also has extra-large margins, it's a Jumbo. The value of these stamps is also higher.

We hope these stamp grading tips will help you. Remember, grading is subjective, but it's also very important in determining the value of your stamps.

Australian States Stamps

Highly collectible. some of the stamps issued by the various Australian States - the forerunners of Australia - are quite affordable while others are quite expensive. But all are highly collectible and they form a very interesting piece of Australian history. Australian States stamps can also be challenging to collect due to a variety of watermarks and perforation varieties.

The Australian States are:

New South Wales
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia

Grading Stamps - Part III

We've already mentioned that grading stamps is a subjective art, with experts disagreeing on some of the finer points of condition. But always keep in mind that the overall quality of a stamp is the most important factor when grading stamps. For example, Extra Fine copies of early stamps that have large margins and no faults often command much higher prices than what you will see in a stamp catalogue. On the other hand, attractive Very Fine stamps with thins or corner creases sell for lower prices. For example, The Stamp People's online stamp shop features Very Fine and Fine stamps, but also has a "Bargain Stamps and Markdowns" category that offers stamps that have been severely reduced in price for this reason.

Five different criteria are often used when grading stamps: gum (for mint stamps), color, paper, centering and cancellation (for used stamps). This post, we'll talk about what makes a "Very Good" stamp.


Very Good:

Gum: Gum is disturbed or partially missing.

Color: Some fading of the stamp's color may be apparent.

Paper: Paper defects such as staining or creases may be present.

Centering: Perforations cut into or touch the design. The frameline is just cut into by the edge of the stamp on one or two sides (this latter pertains to imperforate stamps).

Cancellation: A medium cancel covering more of the design than a stamp that's in Fine cancellation. The cancellation is not necessarily legible, with perhaps an obscured date or postmark location.

Grading Stamps - Part II

As we said yesterday, grading stamps is subjective, and experts disagree on some fine points. But always keep in mind that the overall quality of a stamp is the most important factor when grading stamps. For example, Extra Fine copies of early stamps that have large margins and no faults often command much higher prices than what you will see in a stamp catalogue. On the other hand, attractive Very Fine stamps with thins or corner creases sell for lower prices. For example, The Stamp People's online stamp shop features Very Fine and Fine stamps, but also has a "Bargain Stamps and Markdowns" category that offers assortment of stamps that have been severely reduced in price for this reason.

There are five different criteria that are used when grading stamps: gum (for mint stamps), color, paper, centering and cancellation (for used stamps). This post, we'll talk about what makes a "Fine" stamp.

Fine Stamps:

Gum: The gum may be slightly disturbed due to heavy, multiple or improper hinging.

Color: Color will show no fading, but may not be quite as fresh and vibrant as Very Fine stamps.

Paper: No tears, creases, thins, etc.

Centering: The design has smaller margins on one or two sides than with a Very Fine stamp, but the design must still be clear of the edges and clear of the perforations.

Cancellation: Any clearly struck postmark is acceptable for a Fine stamp.


Next post we'll discuss "Very Good" stamps.

Grading Stamps - Part I

Grading stamps is subjective, and even seasoned experts may disagree on some fine points at times. But always keep in mind that the overall quality of a stamp is the most important factor when grading stamps. For example, Extra Fine copies of early stamps that have large margins and no faults command much higher prices than what you will see in a stamp catalogue. On the other hand, attractive Very Fine stamps with thins or corner creases sell for lower prices. For example, The Stamp People's online stamp shop features Fine and Very Fine stamps, but also has a "Bargain Stamps and Markdowns" category that offers assortment of stamps that have been severely reduced in price for this reason.

Some people use five different criteria when they are grading stamps: gum (for mint stamps), color, paper, centering and cancellation (for used stamps). For now, we'll talk about what makes a "Very Fine" stamp.

Very Fine Stamp:

Gum: Early stamps may have part of their original gum or even no gum at all. Later stamps should have complete undisturbed gum with no marks other than hinging if appropriate.

Color: The color of a stamp must appear unfaded - fresh and bright.

Paper: The paper of the stamp must be free of defects (no missing perfs, no thins, no creases).

Centering: The design of the stamp must be well-centered with distinct margins on all four sides - the design must not extend into the stamp's perforations.

Cancellation: A light, clear, well-centered cancellation (although some collectors prefer a light corner cancel which leaves the design of the stamp unobscured). A CDS cancellation (circular datestamp cancellation) is not required for a stamp to be considered Verf Fine, but is preferred by many stamp collectors.


In our next post we'll describe Fine stamps.

Great Britain Stamps - Beautiful Designs, Beautiful Colours and Full of History



Some of our favourite stamps are those that have been issued by Great Britain (the United Kingdom). GB stamps are almost always beautifully designed and show high-quality printing.

Even the Machins (one of our favourite all-time stamp sets), which all use the same design - the head of Queen Elizabeth II - are striking in appearance because of the jewel-tone colours that are used. These British definitive stamps make quite a vivid stamp display when mounted together on stamp album pages.

And British commemorative stamps are full of history. World War 2 and the Battle of Britain is just one of the topics that are so beautifully illustrated on GB commemoratives. And topical stamps! Pictured at the top of this article are two of our favourite animal theme stamp sets, one featuring dogs, the other birds.

All in all, the stamps of Great Britain make a wonderful stamp collection, full of history but vibrant.

Discount Postage Stamps - Kiloware and Off Paper Stamp Assortments

Stamp kiloware and other discount-priced stamp mixtures are a great way to buy stamps, useful to an advanced stamp collector as well as a collector who is just beginning a stamp collection.

Bulk stamp mixes are an extremely inexpensive way to purchase a lot of stamps. A budding stamp collector can use the stamps bought this way to cheaply begin a new stamp collection. An intermediate or advanced collector can use kiloware and other bulk stamp mixtures to while away the long hours of winter evenings, searching through a big pile of stamps for items still needed for an existing collection. And stamp assortments are great for finding different stamp cancellations and different varieties of a stamp.

Stamp mixtures can be a treasure trove even though they're inexpensive - you never know what you'll find, and sometimes you'll stumble upon a stamp that's worth quite a bit of money. But even if you don't find a rare stamp, you'll enjoy the time you spend looking for one.

Buy stamps by the ounce, by the quarter pound or by the pound. You won't find a cheaper way to build your stamp collection.

Maximaphily - the Art of Creating and Collecting Maximum Cards

Maximaphily is a somewhat neglected but fascinating and highly creative sub-specialty of stamp collecting that focuses on creating and/or collecting Maximum Cards.



What are Maximum Cards?

A maximum card is a picture postcard. The picture side of the postcard bears a stamp and postmark in concordance as well as the picture. The other side has room for a message and the recipient's address. The main hallmark of a maximum card (sometimes called a maxi card) is concordance between the picture on the face of the postcard, the stamp used to mail it and the postmark. Concordance means that the picture, the stamp and the postmark are related as closely as possible.

According to the FIP (the International Philatelic Federation):

The constituent elements of a maximum card should conform to the following characteristics:

1. The postage stamp

The postage stamp should be postally valid and affixed only on the view side of the picture postcard. Postage due, pre-cancels, fiscal stamps, official stamps only available for use by the government, and stamps that violate the "Code of Ethics of the UPU" are not true maximum cards.

2. The picture postcard

Its dimensions must conform to universal postal conventions. At least 75% of its area must be used for the picture and the illustration should show the best possible concordance with the subject of the stamp or with one of them, if there are several. Picture postcards with exact reproductions of the stamp used on the cards are are not true maximum cards.

3. The postmark and time

The pictorial design of the cancellation and the place of cancellation (name of the post office) should have a close and direct connection with the subject of the stamp and of the picture postcard, and should be dated within the validity of the stamp and as close as possible to the date of its issue.

The example of a maximum card that's at the beginning of this article uses a postcard that's probably widely available on St. Lucia (Pigeon Island, St. Lucia is the subject of the card). The St. Lucia stamp used on the card features an almost-identical view of Pigeon Island, and the card was postmarked there.

What Are Semipostal Stamps?

Semipostal stamps are used by various countries to raise money for charitable or humanitarian causes. First used a little more than a century ago, the price of a semi-postal stamp includes payment for the item being mailed (i.e., the postage charge) and an additional surcharge that is collected by the postal authority and then directed toward charities for their use.

Although there are a couple of additional types of stamps that also raise funds for non-postal purposes (for example, war tax stamps and postal tax stamps that are required to be purchased), the postal customer's use of semipostal stamps is always strictly voluntary.

A few countries - notably Switzerland with its long-running annual Pro Juventute semipostal series - issue new semipostal stamps every year, or at least close to it. But most countries only issue them every once in a while, usually when a particularly good cause such as the need for earthquake disaster relief arises. And sadly, it was 1998 before the United States ever issued its first semipostal stamp - the Breast Cancer Awareness Stamp, US Scott # B1.

In most country stamp albums, semipostal stamps (which are also called semi-postal stamps, charity stamps or welfare stamps) are located in the Back of the Book stamp section of album pages, generally just before airmail stamps.

We stumbled onto this article the other day, and even though it's from this summer, we thought it might interest more than a few of our readers.

Investors turn to stamps as a way to lick credit crunch

By David Prosser, Deputy Business Editor, The Independent (UK)

Investors spooked by falling stock markets, plunging house prices and concerns about the security of their cash savings have found a new safe haven in postage stamps, Stanley Gibbons, the world's largest philatelic dealer, claimed yesterday.

Announcing first-half profits of £1.9m, an 11 per cent increase on the same period last year, Martin Bralsford, chairman of Stanley Gibbons, said investors were increasingly attracted to stamps and other collectibles. "The benefits of investing in collectibles as an alternative asset have never been clearer," Mr Bralsford said. "The prices of rare stamps show no correlation with the stock market, property prices and other traditional forms of investment, and historically collectibles have increased the most in times of high inflation."
...

There is some evidence to support Mr Bralsford's claims for the appeal of stamps as a safe haven. The GB30 Rarities Stamp Index, an index of the value of 30 of the rarest stamps in the world, has risen 39 per cent over the past 12 months, seemingly oblivious to the global credit crunch.

The index has also performed well over the longer term, with an average annual return of 10.7 per cent over the past 10 years. Indeed, stamp prices have proved remarkably resilient to economic woes, producing positive returns in even the most difficult of financial climates.

The wider SG100 index, which tracks the value of the 100 stamps most commonly traded, has also performed strongly, gaining almost 60 per cent since the turn of the century.

Moreover, stamps have additional attractions not offered by other more traditional safe haven assets. Unlike gold, for example, even a sizeable collection of valuable stamps is easily transported – one reason why several leading Nazis fleeing Germany after the Second World War chose to smuggle wealth in the form of rare stamps. Such collections also need less careful storage than many other assets. Mr Bralsford said demand for stamps had increased around the world.

Desirable US Stamp Sets

Two of the most desired commemorative sets in all of United States philatelics are the Columbian Exposition stamps of 1893 and the 1898 Trans-Mississippi Exposition set (the stamp set that includes the famous cattle in the storm stamp). I've read that when the Columbians came out, they were greatly disliked, and that the same was true for the Trans-Mississippi set - because it was supposed to be bi-colored, and when it wasn't, collectors were disappointed. Perhaps part of the reason for the high value of both sets today is that they were not as widely collected as they might have been when issued. Another reason is that even one of the high value stamps of those sets probably represented about what a person in those times made in a day.

The Graf Zeppelin set of airmail stamps is no doubt the most desired - and by far the most expensive - of all the U.S. air post stamps. They are Scott # C13, C14, and C15. Issued in 1930, each features a depiction of the Graf Zeppelin dirigible or airship. If you don't want to spend the bucks for these (a complete set will cost well over a thousand dollars), you can get the "Baby Zep" - Scott # C18 - for far less money.

How To Sell A Large Stamp Collection

Typically, the sale price of a large stamp collection is based almost strictly on the quality and value of only the better stamps. A stamp dealer will not be willing to pay more than a fair percentage of the retail sale value of those better stamps, and probably less unless he or she has an opportunity to carefully inspect the collection in person. This is why it's always better to take or ship your stamp collection to a dealer before selling it - it may be inconvenient to do so, but the offer you then receive may in turn be much higher.

No one would pay much for the cheaper stamps in a collection (even if there are 10's of thousands of them) because they are just not economic for a dealer to process and resell. It can take just as long to process a stamp that's worth 10 cents as a stamp that's worth 100 dollars. A good auction house or stamp dealer will sell the best stamps as individual lots and then sell the balance of the collection (the inexpensive stamps) as one or more lots.

Selling directly on eBay is always a possibility, but because the bidders can only see a few pictures of the collection and not the actual stamps themselves, the price fetched for your stamp collection may be disappointing.

If using an auction assistant on eBay, avoid those who do not specifically specialize in stamps, especially if they may not have the necessary equipment (a scanner), experience and knowledge to properly identify or describe stamps and are not able to produce high quality (but fast loading) scans. Finally, eBay and PayPal fees make it difficult to profitably sell lower cost stamps.

You might also consider having a handful of your better stamps graded or expertized. The bidding may (or may not) go as high as you hoped just on the weight of a few really desirable "highlights". This would be a likely advantage whether you sell via ebay or through a "real life" auction house. This way the buyer can feel like they are buying some high quality, specific items, and essentially getting the rest as a bonus.

I know, some of these suggestions cost both time and money, but sometimes you have to spend a little to make more.

New Great Britain Machin Stamps Will Be Collected ON PAPER ONLY If Used


After February 17 2009, Royal Mail will issue definitive stamps with some new security features that are designed to prevent reuse.

The stamps will have 4 semi-circular slits, and will also have an iridescent print on the dark area around the Queen's head. The slits will most likely make it just about impossible to soak the stamps off their envelope paper - instead of the stamps remaining intact, they will tear along the slits when the paper is pulled away. So, in future, we may only be able to collect and display used Machins ON paper, because they won't be possible to soak.

According to Royal Mail, "the features are designed to prevent any stamps from removal."

Although the design of Machin stamps is the definition of elegant simplicity, collecting these stamps can be very complex and completely absorbing. Because of this complexity, if you know what you're doing, there is always the possibility of finding a major rarity in a stamp mixture or assortment. Machins are a treasure hunter's dream, and because of their great complexity, they have done much for modern philately. They are "real" stamps, workhorses that are not just pretty labels that are designed to raise money for governments.

Most people become stamp collectors because of attractive commemorative stamps. But out of those who go on to become philatelists, most do because of definitive stamps - and especially a highly complex, long lasting series such as the Machins. Those people lose interest in commemorative stamps because of the relative lack of challenge. That will never happen with the Machins.

We understand Royal Mail's desire to protect its revenues by preventing fraudulent re-use of stamps. But we are sad to see any measure put into place that makes it more difficult to collect and display one of the world's classic stamp series - one that has fascinated philatelists for a very long time.

Beginning Stamp Collecting - Today's Installment of A Tutorial on the Hobby for a Lifetime (continued)


Stamp Collecting Tips - How to Handle & Store Your Stamps:


1. Always use stamp tongs to pick up and handle your stamps. They look like household tweezers, but stamp tongs do not have sharp edges. Regular tweezers could easily harm your stamps. You may find it awkward to use tongs in the beginning, but stick with it, it will become second nature.

Do not pick up your stamps with your fingers or even lay them out on a bare table. The natural oils from your skin and the dust on the table will dirty the stamp over time. When looking at your stamps, place them on a clean piece of white paper or something similar, then use tongs to pick them up.

2. You can use clean, plain white envelopes to organize your collection when you start. Write the name of the type of stamps on the envelope to help you stay organized.

When you're starting a stamp collection it's best to keep it simple and just sort your stamps and label your envelopes by country, unless you've already decided you want to focus on just certain types of stamps.

3. When you're done working with your stamps for the day, it's good practice to put your stamps into a clean, sturdy container or box. Shoe boxes or empty desk drawers are an ideal place to store your envelopes.

4. After a while, buy a package of glassine envelopes for your stamps. These are inexpensive, semi-transparent envelopes made especially for stamp collecting. Stamps can stay fresh inside glassines for a fairly long period of time. Many types of paper have high levels of acidity or other properties that over time can harm the stamps inside. It's perfectly okay to temporarily store your stamps in these regular envelopes for a few weeks or even months depending upon the quality of the paper, but you shouldn't keep them there for much longer than that.

United States Fourth Bureau Definitives - A Fascinating Group of US Stamps (Sometimes Called the "1922's")

We stumbled across this article which is chock full of interesting information on this beautiful series of United States definitive stamps, so we thought we'd pass it along to our readers.

Part I
by Michael Mills

The landscape of US stamps is a large one, ranging from dozens of locals and provisionals, a handful of territories and possessions and entities such as the Canal Zone and Hawaii, to the Confederate States of America, which had many of their own locals and provisionals, as well as pioneer airmail service, officials, revenues, and long-lived definitive series.

A newcomer to US philately might be overwhelmed by the topics and specialties, but if someone wanted to delve into the heart of the American philatelic landscape, there's one set of regular definitive postage that can be recommended for its philatelic significance, classic design, collecting possibilities, and affordable price tags. The USA's Fourth Bureau Series of definitives issued from 1922 through 1938 is an excellent entry into the realm of US stamps.

This is a ripe and rich area for collecting USA. In catalog terms, the Fourth Bureau runs from the flat plate, 1/2-cent to five dollar printings (SG# 559-613, 626-7), and the rotary press 1/2-cent to ten-cent issues (SG# 630 - 643), to a host of overprints, some of which are the "poor man's commemoratives" (SG# 649-51) and some security overprints (SG# 655-676): the "Kans." and "Nebr." overprints were designed to help curtail an outbreak of post office thefts in the rural plains states of Kansas and Nebraska. There are errors and specialties, such as the US-administered Canal Zone with its own series of Fourth Bureau overprints.

Throughout the Fourth Bureau there are perforation and color varieties, double transfers and plate errors, and adding to the fun are the numerous coils, with governmental as well as private perforations. Star Plates, experiments in cliche spacing, and various gum breakers also add variety to the series. If someone wanted to seek out higher philatelic ground, there are items such as the two-cent rotary President Harding issue, perf 11, one of which was hammered down at $35,000 in 2000. However, most issues are in the very affordable range, making the series a perfect philatelic entryway into the USA.

Technically, the series marks an era of modernization and innovation within the Bureau of Printing and Engraving, when production migrated from the plate plate press to the rotary press, as well as various experiments with stamp spacing, perforation, and gum.

The Fourth Bureau was also the first US issue to be collected on cover, postmarked on the first day of issue, when the first of the series, the eleven-cent Hayes stamp, was issued on 4 October 1922 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of his birth in Fremont, Ohio. Spacing experiments and the Star Plates made plate block collecting popular, as larger, three millimeter horizontal spaces between stamps were used to try and to cut down on perforation errors and waste. Such plates were marked with stars in the margins, and resulted in some very rare plate blocks.

The Post Office

The Fourth Bureau debuted in October 1922 during the Republican administration of President Warren G. Harding, who took office in March 1921. The new Postmaster General Glover, an ardent stamp collector, set about retooling the Post Office that had apparently languished under the former administration of the ailing Democrat Woodrow Wilson.

Glover started the first philatelic sales windows at the Post Office, and whether or not the series was a replacement for the tired Washington-Franklin series that may or may not have confused postal clerks and letter carriers isn't known. After the series was released, Glover defended the Fourth Bureaus against charges of wasteful spending by saying thousands of postal customers and postmasters had asked the Post Office for more distinctive designs and colors.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing produced all of the series, and changes at the BEP more than likely brought about the new definitives. During the Great World War, the BEP printed the country's war bonds, but security was so lax that fraud and other abuses led to the "Liberty Bond Scandal." The staff was overworked, and the physical plant was aging fast just as the government was stepping up printing production to meet the needs of a growing industrial nation.

Beginning Stamp Collecting - Today's Installment of A Tutorial on the Hobby for a Lifetime (continued)


Plan your stamp collection, but keep in mind that there are no rules, only the ones you set for yourself. Your ideas and collecting habits will change over time and as your collection grows. Your plan - whatever it is - should be flexible enough to allow for growth and broadening interests.


Your first thought might be to establish the theme or topic of your collection. The easiest place to start is to collect stamps that come from mail that is sent to you or your family or friends. Most of these stamps will be from the country in which you live. Many collectors start this way, and branch out later as their interest grows.

There are several different types of stamp collections. For most types you will need at least one stamp catalogue, and possibly several reference books.

Single country.

This type of stamp collection is where you try to collect every stamp issued by the country that you select. The more you collect, the more specialized your collection will become. This will take some time but is a great experience. You will develop in-depth knowledge of the country's stamps.

Topicals or Thematic Stamps.

In this type of collection, you try to collect stamps with a similar theme from anywhere in the world. The choice of topic is yours. The list of possible topics is basically unlimited, but some popular themes are trains, airplanes, space, ships, flowers, flags and Boy Scouts. For something a bit different, you could also try collecting all of the worldwide stamps that were issued in the year of your birth.


Omnibus Collection.

In this type of collection you collect all the stamps that were issued by various countries in connection with a specific event, such as the death of Princess Diana, the Silver Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II, the coronation of King George VI, etc.


Ad hoc stamp collection.

This is a collection with no apparent rhyme or reason - they are just "stamps that you like." Many stamp collections start this way, and this is how many stamp collectors learn about stamps. This stage may take years, and a collection like this can be left and returned to many years later. This type is usually the least expensive for those with limited funds.

Why is my stamp a brownish color when the catalogue says it should be orange?

When orange stamps turn brown it is usually because sulfur compounds have attacked the ink and oxidized it.

Storage in some vinyl holders can contribute to this condition, and it can happen fairly quickly - some expensive stamps submitted for expertizing have even been affected while awaiting the authentication process.

It's similar to rust on metal, except other chemicals are involved.

If you do an online search for your stamp, or for other orange stamps such as US Scott # C13 or # C16 Special Delivery, you can often find examples of oxidized stamps being offered for sale. A reputable stamp dealer will always disclose this condition in the description and should discount the price of the stamp.

Beginning Stamp Collecting - Today's Installment of A Tutorial on the Hobby for a Lifetime (continued)


The condition of the stamps that are intended for your stamp collection is critically important. Ideally all of your stamps will be intact with no corners missing, no tears, no thins (discussed below), no pinholes, etc. Well-centered stamps - those that have essentially the same size margins (blank edges) on all four sides - are also ideal. But as we all know, what is ideal is often not what is reality. So here are some thoughts on different stamp flaws which detract from the condition and appearance of stamps, and some thoughts on how to remedy at least some of them.


USED Stamps:


1. Creases, folds and bends, and pin holes.

Even the smallest corner crease can detract from the condition and value of a stamp. Light folds and bends (which are a bit less serious than creases since they haven't damaged the integrity of the stamp paper) can sometimes be "washed out" by soaking, and then when nearly dry, pressing the stamp between sheets of paper with a heavy book or two on top. Pinholes, on the other hand, will be there forever, no matter what you try.

2. Dirty appearance of either the front or back of the stamp.

Some "dirty" marks can be removed by soaking in warm water with the addition of a drop or two of mild dishwashing liquid. A gentle massage between the fingers during the soak helps to dislodge dirt and grime. Then dry and press as in 1 above.

3. Rust marks and staining.

Rust is actually a fungal growth on the stamp and is almost impossible to remove. Such stamps should NOT be stored with clean stamps as the spores can be transmitted from stamp to stamp.

Ideally, stamps should be stored in low humidity, with a stable temperature and with regular airing. This will reduce the chances of rust. Dust can also carry these spores, so a dust-free environment is also good.

Staining is caused by the dyes used on colored envelopes (such as those bright red or green Christmas card envelopes) being transferred to the stamp during the soaking process. It is best to soak colored envelopes separately as even just one colored envelope may stain all of the stamps in a soaking batch. Staining caused by these dyes is almost impossible to completely remove.


4. Centering.

Centering refers to the position of the stamp design in relation to the overall stamp. A well centered stamp has equal margins on all four sides. An off-center stamp may be high, low, left, right or a combination of these.


5. Heavy or smudged postmarks.

6. Torn or cut stamps, and stamps with missing perforations (perfs).

Even one or two missing perforations can seriously detract from a stamp.

7. Thins.

Stamp thins are a condition where a thin portion of the back side of the stamp has been ripped away, either by pulling off a stamp hinge or not completely soaking the stamp before removing it from the envelope. When held up to the light the thinned area looks brighter because more light passes through.

8. Repairs

Repairs to tears or missing perfs are intended to make the stamp look better and more valuable. Compared to an un-repaired stamp that's in good condition, even a successful repair will still detract from the stamp.


All of the above condition factors also apply to MINT stamps, and with mint stamps, gum condition must also be considered.


FULL GUM - no disturbance to the original gum as issued.

PARTIAL GUM - some of the stamp's original gum has been removed by being hinged.

NO GUM- the original gum has been removed by soaking.
Sometimes this is necessary to arrest rust or to separate stamps that have "licked themselves together" over time.


That's all for today - more of this tutorial soon!

Beginning Stamp Collecting - A Tutorial on the Hobby for a Lifetime (continued)


As we alluded to in our first post on this topic, you may want to start your stamp collection with used stamps. They are easy to find for free (from your mail and that of your friends and relatives), and when you buy them they generally (although there are exceptions) are less expensive to buy than mint, unused stamps.

Collecting used stamps has one main factor to consider that does not apply if you are collecting mint stamps: the postmarks and cancellations that are on them.


For beginners collecting used stamps, here are our thoughts on cancellations and postmarks (for now, we're not taking into account the condition of the stamp, just the postmark). We'll discuss the condition of stamps a bit later.

1. Your first preference would probably be a neat, well struck cancel which does not detract from the design on the stamp. You might like it best if it only impinges on a small portion of the stamp, since you can see the design on the stamp better that way. No smudging. Showing some or all of the town's name is a bonus.

2. Second preference - A CDS (circular date stamp cancellation) that is neat and not over-inked or smudged. This type of postmark will allow you to see where and when the stamp was mailed on its cover.

3. A third type of postmark is the pictorial cancellation. These graphic designs used to cancel stamps illustrate some event or concept.

4. Slogan cancellations also convey some concept - such as "Vote Early" or "Win the War."

5. Your last preference might be a machine cancel that covers only a small portion of the stamp. Generally there isn't much postal history information to be gained from a postmark of this type.

In many countries a circular datestamp SOTN (socked on the nose) cancel is the preferred cancel. These show all details of the town name, date of sending and country/state details.

Collecting postmarks and cancellations can be a fascinating specialty stamp collection. Because your collection will grow and evolve over time, always look to upgrade a cancel or stamp when a better one appears. You can always remove the poorer cancel from your collection and replace it with the better.

Stamp condition, also comes into play with your final decision. A good condition stamp with a lesser cancel is often far better than a damaged stamp with a good cancel, but there are many exceptions to this generalization. Some postmarks add value to even a damaged stamp but this is more for the advanced collector. If you're unsure about which of two stamps might be better, keep both, and ask questions.

If you have any extremely good circular cancels or pictorial cancels, often it is better NOT to soak them off the paper but save them as a piece to show the whole stamp and postmark. Even better, keep the ENTIRE (the whole envelope together with its stamp) intact.

Where there are multiple cancels- whether touching the stamp or not - it is best to save these as an entire or at least a large piece. Often these postal markings show the journey the letter has taken and other special handling details.


More installments of this tutorial will follow.

Beginning Stamp Collecting - A Tutorial on the Hobby for a Lifetime (part 1 of several parts)


There are many different ways to begin collecting stamps, but here are some of our thoughts on how to get started.

1. Collect stamps before you BUY any stamps.

Save every stamp that comes to you on mail. Ask your friends and relatives for their stamps. Get stamps from your office or by any other means that you don't have to pay for. Accept every stamp that's given to you, no matter how rough-looking.

This will let you get a taste of the hobby without having to spend any money. You can learn the basics of stamp collecting by using these free stamps.

2. Learn the basics about stamp collecting.

The basics include how to soak stamps off paper (read other entries in this blog for some tips on this) and how to identify your stamps. You'll need a stamp catalog of some type to identify them. Borrow one from the library (most libraries carry stamp catalogs), borrow one from a friend or relative, or ask for a catalog as a gift. An older stamp catalog is just fine to get started with - there's no need to buy the most recent specialized version yet.

You should also learn how to safely store your stamps. For now, a stock book or a box with a lid is fine. Keep your stamps dry and away from high humidity - and the dog, if you have one.

You can also learn some basics by talking about your stamps with stamp collectors that you know. They can give you some tips and tricks that are based on their experiences. If you don't know anyone who collects stamps, post on this blog - we'll answer your questions quickly.



The single most important thing to remember is that collecting stamps is fun, not a "job."

And secondly, if you have children, by all means share your hobby with them. They'll thank you for it, it's great quality time together and educational for everyone.



This is only the first installment of this tutorial, so if you're a new stamp collector or thinking about collecting stamps, stay tuned.

Commercial Covers vs. Philatelic Covers - How to Tell the Difference

As we said yesterday, sometimes the distinction between commercial covers and philatelic covers can be a bit blurry. But if you're a cover collector, it is essential to be able to determine if a particular cover is commercial or philatelic.


There are perhaps three ways to determine whether or not a cover is commercial in nature:

1. What postage rate is the cover paying as compared to what franking should be on the cover? In other words, were stamps with a face value that is more than what was necessary to mail it used? If so, the cover may be philatelic, although sometimes commercial covers do have more postage than actually necessary on them.

2. In what timeframe were the stamps used on the cover? In other words, were the stamps used within a short period of time after they were issued (more likely to be a commercial use, although first day covers would be an exception), or were they used much later than they were issued (more likely to be a philatelic cover)?

3. How does the cover look? By that we mean, is its overall appearance philatelic or commercial? This is a judgment call, but here are some things to consider in making that judgment.

Have the stamps been very neatly placed on the cover or is their appearance on the envelope a bit haphazard?

Are all the members of a stamp set present or is a single definitive stamp the only franking?

Is it a philatelic cancel from a stamp show or exhibition?

Is it a first day of use?

How is it addressed?

Has it been opened very neatly or a bit roughly?

Some stamp collectors focus on commercial covers, while others focus on philatelic covers. There is nothing wrong with either type, it's all a matter of individual preference. Commercial covers demonstrate how stamps are used in the mail, but their appearance (as far as the stamps are concerned) is usually nothing special. Philatelic covers (because of the stamps that are used) are often quite beautiful. Which type of cover you decide to collect is up to you.

Collecting Covers - A Stamp Collecting Specialty

New stamp collectors may wonder just what "covers" are, and why they are collectible.

The most simple answer is that a "cover" is an envelope that has been stamped and sent through the mail. They can be collectible for the stamp(s), for the postmark, for the recipient or for the sender, or a combination of these factors. There are two main types of covers: commercial covers and philatelic covers.

Commercial covers are those that are mailed for ordinary (non-collecting) purposes. Since by definition they are not created expressly for stamp collectors but are instead used to transmit material (whatever was inside the cover) they always contained some type of content (although that content often is removed by the recipient before the cover gets into a collector's hands).

Philatelic covers, on the other hand, are covers that are created and mailed specifically for the purpose of someone collecting them. Sometimes they originally include(d) some type of meaningful content inside, but other times there may only be a blank cardboard stiffener. First day covers are a subcategory of philatelic covers.

Sometimes the distinction between commercial covers and philatelic covers can be a bit blurry. But if you're a commercial cover collector, it is essential to be able to determine if a particular cover is commercial or philatelic.

Tomorrow we'll discuss how many stamp collectors make this determination.

Stamp Trivia Question:


Question: What is the world's most reproduced work of art in history?

Answer: Arnold Machin's sculpture of the head of Queen Elizabeth II, an image of which is featured on British definitive stamps, with a smaller image being on most other British stamps.


According to an article by Richard Alleyne, only a handful of casts of the bust were ever made by renowned sculptor Arnold Machin. Three of them are kept by Royal Mail but a fourth has been discovered in the closet of the artist's former studio and is to be auctioned off.

Alleyne goes on to say,"The 1966 design is said to be so well-liked by the Queen that she has declined to have it updated and changed over the years, unlike her effigy on coinage. It is still seen on almost every British stamp today and some 320 billion copies have been made over the last 40 years, making it the most reproduced work of art in history."