Training | Instructions for the young philatelist
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Stamp collecting is a popular and rewarding hobby practiced all over the world.
This hobby requires no initial skills or expertise, and it doesn't have to be expensive. Beginning collectors are often thrilled by a beautiful piece of art on display, while advanced collectors enjoy the challenge of finding a rare stamp or one that depicts a significant part of history.
The most common question for young collectors is: What stamps should I collect?
Stamp collecting for beginners should be about enjoying a worthwhile hobby. There are no hard and fast rules, and it's best to forget about whether your stamps have any significant value and focus on finding ones that you enjoy.
Stamp collecting for beginners should be about enjoying a worthwhile hobby. There are no hard and fast rules, and it's best to forget about whether your stamps have any significant value and focus on finding ones that you enjoy.
As with other collecting pursuits, there are several approaches to building a stamp collection - focusing on a specific historical period, theme, or country. While choosing a theme will help you sort through your collection, if you want your hobby to keep you interested, always make sure it reflects your personal interests.
Here are some sample categories you can collect:
1. By Country: The stamps issued by each country usually reflect that nation and its history, making it one of the most common ways to start a collection. You can try to collect at least one stamp from each country, or you can focus on stamps used during the reigns of different monarchs.
2. By Historical Period: Creating a stamp collection that is defined by a historical period allows you to transcend national boundaries. Different countries use different ways to define periods. You can focus on a historical event or a well-known era, such as a war. You can collect stamps from all over the world, but within the context of a single theme.
1. By Country: The stamps issued by each country usually reflect that nation and its history, making it one of the most common ways to start a collection. You can try to collect at least one stamp from each country, or you can focus on stamps used during the reigns of different monarchs.
2. By Historical Period: Creating a stamp collection that is defined by a historical period allows you to transcend national boundaries. Different countries use different ways to define periods. You can focus on a historical event or a well-known era, such as a war. You can collect stamps from all over the world, but within the context of a single theme.
3. By Theme: Everyone has their own perspective on life around them. Your interests can also help you decide which stamp theme to collect - for example, space, sports, airplanes, trains, cars, famous people, buildings, or butterflies, etc.
4. By Shape: To challenge yourself, you can try to find stamps with a unique or unusual shape. Or you may want to create a collection that is made up entirely of stamps that are not rectangular, allowing you to look for triangular, round, or square issues.
5. By Color: Rather than limiting yourself to one specific theme, you may want to create a collection that is based on a basic shade or palette of colors. This can often give you more freedom to explore stamps from different countries and periods.
6. Collecting Postal Wholes: The word whole itself implies something whole, complete. Postal entities are: postcards, postal receipts, letter cards, postal records, postal declarations, postal envelopes, illustrated envelopes, etc. For several years, the Bulgarian Philately and Numismatics Joint Stock Company has been issuing only postcards, postal envelopes and first-day covers.
4. By Shape: To challenge yourself, you can try to find stamps with a unique or unusual shape. Or you may want to create a collection that is made up entirely of stamps that are not rectangular, allowing you to look for triangular, round, or square issues.
5. By Color: Rather than limiting yourself to one specific theme, you may want to create a collection that is based on a basic shade or palette of colors. This can often give you more freedom to explore stamps from different countries and periods.
6. Collecting Postal Wholes: The word whole itself implies something whole, complete. Postal entities are: postcards, postal receipts, letter cards, postal records, postal declarations, postal envelopes, illustrated envelopes, etc. For several years, the Bulgarian Philately and Numismatics Joint Stock Company has been issuing only postcards, postal envelopes and first-day covers.
The next important question for the beginning philatelist is: How much will it cost me?
It is possible to start collecting stamps without spending a lot of money. It is quite possible to build an interesting collection with little expense. When you first start collecting, it is a good idea to estimate how much you can afford to spend and set a budget accordingly.
It is possible to start collecting stamps without spending a lot of money. It is quite possible to build an interesting collection with little expense. When you first start collecting, it is a good idea to estimate how much you can afford to spend and set a budget accordingly.
Where can I buy postage stamps?
In modern life, there are countless options for places to buy postage stamps and postal products. First, check out what the postal operator in the respective country offers. Most postal operators (excluding Bulgaria) have online stores where you can buy what you need. You can visit specialized and non-specialized sites where you will find postage stamps, such as ebay.com, delcampe.net, philatelicmarket.com, as well as various Facebook groups for the sale of Bulgarian and foreign stamps. Another interesting approach to acquiring stamps is their exchange. This is mostly done at philatelic clubs, exhibitions, shows, etc. It would be a good idea to visit the philatelic society in your city and get to know people who share your hobby.
In modern life, there are countless options for places to buy postage stamps and postal products. First, check out what the postal operator in the respective country offers. Most postal operators (excluding Bulgaria) have online stores where you can buy what you need. You can visit specialized and non-specialized sites where you will find postage stamps, such as ebay.com, delcampe.net, philatelicmarket.com, as well as various Facebook groups for the sale of Bulgarian and foreign stamps. Another interesting approach to acquiring stamps is their exchange. This is mostly done at philatelic clubs, exhibitions, shows, etc. It would be a good idea to visit the philatelic society in your city and get to know people who share your hobby.
How do I find out what stamps have been issued?
The main method for identification, cataloging and determining the price are the so-called Catalogs. There are many catalogs, from many companies, but some of the most famous are from Michel, Yvert et Tellier and Stanley Gibbons. There are also catalogs for Bulgarian stamps, which you can find in philatelic circles and on book markets. The most current ones at the moment are the "Catalog of Bulgarian Postage Stamps 1879-2019" published by the Sofia Philatelic Society "P. Karaivanov" and the catalogs of the magazine "Philadelphic Review". You can also use the Catalogs on the site .
The main method for identification, cataloging and determining the price are the so-called Catalogs. There are many catalogs, from many companies, but some of the most famous are from Michel, Yvert et Tellier and Stanley Gibbons. There are also catalogs for Bulgarian stamps, which you can find in philatelic circles and on book markets. The most current ones at the moment are the "Catalog of Bulgarian Postage Stamps 1879-2019" published by the Sofia Philatelic Society "P. Karaivanov" and the catalogs of the magazine "Philadelphic Review". You can also use the Catalogs on the site .
Storing Stamps and Postage Products:
As a general rule, it’s not worth buying expensive albums or stamp storage systems until you have a collection that can justify the expense. Once you have a decent collection to be proud of, here are a few options to consider:
1. Stamp Albums: Protect your stamps and keep them visible by using a stamp album. A loose-leaf system with a ring binder offers the perfect level of protection and allows you to rearrange your collection as needed. Fixed-leaf stamp albums look great but are less flexible. Collectors typically sort their stamps by pages and rows depending on the theme of their collection.
2. Store your album safely: Bright lights, temperature fluctuations, and humidity can damage a stamp collection, so it’s a good idea to avoid storing them in an attic or basement.
As a general rule, it’s not worth buying expensive albums or stamp storage systems until you have a collection that can justify the expense. Once you have a decent collection to be proud of, here are a few options to consider:
1. Stamp Albums: Protect your stamps and keep them visible by using a stamp album. A loose-leaf system with a ring binder offers the perfect level of protection and allows you to rearrange your collection as needed. Fixed-leaf stamp albums look great but are less flexible. Collectors typically sort their stamps by pages and rows depending on the theme of their collection.
2. Store your album safely: Bright lights, temperature fluctuations, and humidity can damage a stamp collection, so it’s a good idea to avoid storing them in an attic or basement.
Stamp collecting supplies:
As a beginner, it can be tempting to spend a lot of money on accessories to get started. However, it makes much more sense to spend a modest amount on the basics and buy more stamps with the rest.
Once you have a few stamps, the 3 most important things you will need are:
1. Tweezers: Special philatelic tweezers that allow you to handle your stamps without leaving any marks.
2. Magnifying glass: Using a good magnifying glass (x10) will allow you to see the fine details of the stamp design and is suitable for most beginners.
3. Ultraviolet lamp: Used to identify UV threads, watermarks, creases and repairs.
As a beginner, it can be tempting to spend a lot of money on accessories to get started. However, it makes much more sense to spend a modest amount on the basics and buy more stamps with the rest.
Once you have a few stamps, the 3 most important things you will need are:
1. Tweezers: Special philatelic tweezers that allow you to handle your stamps without leaving any marks.
2. Magnifying glass: Using a good magnifying glass (x10) will allow you to see the fine details of the stamp design and is suitable for most beginners.
3. Ultraviolet lamp: Used to identify UV threads, watermarks, creases and repairs.
Useful links:
That's it for now. I'll leave it to you, young philatelists, to dare :) Good luck!
Mikhail Petrov