With the largest motorized fleet in the US, the postal service has come a long way since the meager pony express. Collectors of colonial stamps are generally handsomely rewarded for their hawk’s eye, as some of these stamps can go for $2 to $3 Million new! Read on to learn more about the fascinating history of United States postage stamps. While the pony express had been delivering letters for over fifty years, the first American postal service was formally granted by King William and Queen Mary in 1692. The American Revolution was fought to ensure that there was “no taxation without representation,” thus paving the way for US postage stamps.

Benjamin Franklin was one of the first postmasters and created the United States Postal Service as we know it, in Philadelphia 1775. Early postal symbols ranged from the Roman god Mercury to a running pony to the modern day eagle.

Some of the most coveted United States postage stamps are the crude provisional stamps used by early postmasters from 1845 to 1846 before the Stamp Act was legislated. Many postmasters charged whatever they felt like and the quality is naturally poor on these old relics. Nevertheless, keep an eye out for provisional stamps from Providence, RI, Alexandria, VA, or even Baltimore, MD (featuring the signature of James Buchanan, before he became president). An unused 1846 Millbury Massachusetts featuring George Washington recently sold for $130,000!

The 5-cent red brown Benjamin Franklin was the first of the official ones for sale in New York City and Boston. The second was the 10-cent black George Washington (which currently sells for around $1,400 used and $28,000 unused)!

Stamp values decreased over the next few years and remained stable for nearly a century. Blue 1-cent Ben Franklins became a collector favorite when production errors led to new, noticeable plate variations in the prints. These innovative stamps can range from $100 to $200,000 in collection circles.

The Civil War had the North issuing 1,750,000,000 copies of the rose-colored 3¢ United States postage stamps, which have survived to present day and sell for $2-$3 a piece. However, certain accidental variations (found in “pigeon blood pink”) can sell for $3,000 and up. During the Civil War, Southern towns put out some of their own crude stamps (like Athens, Georgia or Jetersville, Virginia or Knoxville, Tennessee — to name a few). Confederate “Rebel” provisional stamps can go for $1,000 to $15,000 these days.

From the 1860s - 1870s, ten styles of “grills” were designed to emboss used ones and combat illegal stamp reuse. One cent “Z-Grill” US postage stamps from 1868 recently sold for $935,000 to stamp dealers. Later, one of the Z-Grills was traded for a block of Inverted Jenny stamps (worth $3 million).

In 1893, to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s landing in the America, they were issued, depicting some of Columbus’s high seas adventures, some for as much as $5 (which was a LOT in 1893!). Today, these colorful collectibles sell for $1,500 to $12,500, depending on the condition.

Generally, the ones issued after 1900 aren’t worth a whole lot on the market yet. However, during the Great Depression, most people could no longer spend their money on stamps and less than 8% of those issued during that time were sold, so they remain the smallest U.S. issue of the 20th century.

Today, the post office faces many challenges, from the widespread use of the internet and cell phones to send messages, as well as competition from Fed Ex and UPS. However, the stamp collecting market is not likely to disappear. There are so many people who appreciate the art and history behind these little artifacts that there will always be someone looking for postage stamps, notably United States postage stamps.

About the Author

Mike Selvon has some great stamp collecting articles for the hobbist, where you can find out more tips on the United States postage stamps. We appreciate your feedback at our stamp collecting values blog.

For online information on postage stamps, hobbyists can check catalogs like Scott’s, societies like the American Philatelic Society, authentication centers like the Postal Stamp Experts, or buying and selling auctions like eBay. The best way to further your love of stamp collecting is to immerse yourself by taking advantage of every possible resource available. Read on for some noteworthy suggestions on how to get started. The first stop for serious stamp collectors who are looking to buy or sell should be a catalogue. The most popular reference guide is the Scott’s Catalogue, but Stanley Gibbons, Minkus and the US Postal Service Catalogue of Stamps also make great resources.

You can check out Scott Online site for the internet version of the Scott’s Catalogue. The internet version is available ten days prior to the print version and is emailed directly to you.

Searching options go back three issues of Scott Stamp Monthly to help you to find what you’re looking for and you’ll be able to connect with advertisers immediately, instead of having to phone or mail them with your inquiries. Subscribers can also customize their online edition by picking which columns they’d like listed first in their issues and by choosing “Text” or “Newspaper” format for easy reading. Separate Print and online magazine subscriptions are available.

The second stop on your way to entrenching yourself in the philatelic community and obtaining information is to check out The American Philatelic Society . Here you can browse over 270,613 items and search by country, type, keywords, Scott Catalogue number, country and its type, country and keyword, its type and keyword, or Stamp ID number.

You needn’t be a member to browse, but if you’d like to purchase them or get personal stamp information, you must become a member. Additionally, APS encourages members to get more involved in the philatelic community by listing activities and has a mentor program to answer all your collecting questions directly.

You may want to find the exact worth on postage stamps — or if you want to sell an expensive stamp, you’ll need a certificate of authenticity. The APS offers an “expertizing service” utilizing high-tech equipment and over 140 specialists. They charge $25 on stamps worth under $1,000 or 2% of higher value stamps.

The next place to check for information is eBay and Craigslist, where buyers and sellers meet to trade. For an advanced and exhaustive international database, try eBay. On the other hand, Craigslist is a localized site connecting individuals.

There are pros and cons to all online trading sites, but sometimes it’s just enjoyable to browse what’s offered. Generally it’s an inexpensive way to bolster your collection or a good way to find that rare stamp.

King George V was a renowned stamp collector. He once remarked as he appointed an Official Philatelist to the King, “But, remember, I wish to have the best collection, not just one of the best collections in England.” It was found in a letter by Sir Harold Nicholson, that for seventeen years King George V locked himself up and only “killed animals and stuck in stamps.”

Whether you’re certifiably crazy about stamps or you’d just like some more information on postage stamps, there are a number of resources to obtain that perfect collection that even King George V would have envied.

About the Author

Mike Selvon has some great stamp collecting articles for the hobbist, where you can find out more on postage stamps. We appreciate your feedback at our stamp collecting values blog.

Stamp collecting is one of the most popular hobbies worldwide, attracting over 20 million collectors in the United States alone! Stamps are one of the easiest investments to store and preserve, more so than jewelry or art. What started out as an inexpensive trade item for British children, has exploded into a global madness, with auctions, organizations, societies, festivals and magazines dedicated to the subject. Stamp collecting usually starts with a couple stamps and an album that looks like a photo album. Over time, collectors buy tongs and stamp hinges to properly affix stamps into their books, minimizing damage.

They may also purchase a magnifying glass to get a closer inspection, a perforation gauge to detect a rare stamp from a duplicate, plus a watermark detector to see the secret images and guarantee authenticity. Catalogs like “Scott’s” have become a quintessential guide for collectors who wish to appraise, buy or trade stamps.

What do people look for when collecting stamps? This depends, of course, on personal preference. Some people collect themes, artwork or stamps from countries they like, just to have a collection of some sort to show off to friends and family or pass down to future generations.

Maybe there’s someone who collects Star Wars, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and other pop-culture ones. Or there could be another collector who specializes in war-time ones from around the world. Others look out for exceedingly rare prints that are worth a great deal of money.

Generally anything before 1900 and in good condition, will be worth a good sum. The first United States postage stamps — the five-cent Franklin and the ten-cent Washington (unused) sold for $1,400 and $28,000, respectively. Britain’s first official adhesive one (”Penny Black”) sold as used postage stamps in an auction for $200 in the year 2000 — and unused for $3,000!

Also, errors, misprints and flukes are naturally the most coveted. For instance, the “Inverted Jenny” is a US postage one from 1918 featuring a photo of a Curtiss JN-4 airplane where the plane was mistakenly printed upside-down! Only 100 were ever printed and a block of four just sold at an auction for $2.7 Million! Similarly, the “Treskilling Yellow” stamp from Sweden was misprinted in the wrong color, placing its value at over $2 Million.

Many people do most of their stamp collecting on eBay because the bidding starts as low as one cent and often entire collections can be found for reasonable prices. Online auctions are simple to use (once registered), expansive in size, and great for both beginners and expert philatelists.

Before selling, sellers should organize their collection using computer software, as well as upload photos and descriptions of their items, checking the Scott’s Catalogue number beforehand (since this is how most stamp collectors categorize their items). Before buying, collectors should check the seller’s ranking and user comments to make sure this particular seller is legit.

About the Author

Mike Selvon has some great stamp collecting articles for the hobbist, where you can find out more tips on postage stamp collecting. We appreciate your feedback at our stamp collecting values blog.

Stamp collecting is an age-old hobby that holds the interest of millions of people the world over. Stamp collecting began in the 1840’s when the first stamps were issued. “Stamp madness,” or “timbromania” swept through Europe and spread worldwide. Stamp collecting is not as popular as it once was, but there are still an estimated 25 million people in the US alone and over 200 million around the world who still collect.

It is not hard to get started in the infamous art of stamp collecting, nor is it overly expensive. There are a few must have items needed to begin: tweezer-like tongs to handle stamps, a magnifying glass, a stamp album, and of course, the stamps.

The first thing to decide is what type of stamps you wish to collect. Many people collect new stamps and just as many collect used ones; it is all a matter of personal preference. If collecting new stamps, there are thousands of Internet sites selling stamps, there are dealers all over the world that sell them, and there are even stamp auctions. If collecting used stamps, most people will save stamps off of their mail and also save the stamps off of all their friends and families mail. One of the cheapest ways to start a large collection is buying a roll of used stamps from a collector. You can get 1000 mixed stamps for as low as $12.00.

Many people only collect stamps from their respective countries, then there are some that collect worldwide stamps. If you like a specific theme of stamp you can collect just that one type, such as birds, ships, planes, animals, or even celebrities. The types of stamps are as different as the people that collect them. It is often a good idea to start with a general collection until you decide exactly what type of stamp interests you.

After there are a good number of stamps in your collection they need to be sorted. Most people will sort their stamps by countries and or themes. Then go another step further and arrange them alphabetically. This will make stamps much easier to find.

When stamps have been accumulated, it is essential that you know the proper ways to care for stamps so as not to ruin them. In order to remove the stamp from the envelope, first cut around the stamp carefully. Place the stamp face-up in a bowl of luke-warm water and let it soak for about 20 minutes. When the stamp comes off carefully put the stamp on a dry towel then use the special stamp tweezers to put it into an album.

If looking for more information on stamps and stamp collecting, the local post office is a good place to start. They usually have separate philatelic counters. Some larger post offices also sell a Stamp Collecting Start-up Kit. As a source for more information there are also stamp clubs, magazines and stamp catalogues, or experienced stamp dealers.

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For more valuable information about stamp collecting, please visit our website at http://www.info-research-online.com.

Stamp collecting is a very old hobby and it’s popular all around the globe. It requires a lot of work and dedication as well as maintaining perfect looking stamps. You also need to make sure that everything you purchase is quality, by rigorously inspecting it in-depth.

Stamp collecting is a very old hobby and is considered to be one of the most popular hobbies in the world. Though there is not that much money that can be made from this hobby unlike collecting coins, some people just do it for the fun of it.

This hobby involves delicate work. A little smudge, dirt or oil on any part of the stamp loses it value. This will make it hard to trade it with other people should the person want to trade it in exchange for something else.

The first thing that a person needs when working with these little objects is the proper tools. Stamps should be handled using a tong. This is similar to tweezers but has a flat edge. This will make it easy for the collector to transfer it from the envelope to the album.

A magnifying glass is also needed to check on the quality of a stamp before buying it or trading it with a fellow collector. Stamps of good quality should have all the perforations intact which is the way of making sure it has never been used.

The album is a special binder that is used to store stamps. This can be bought at the local bookstore or at some specialty shops. Since the contents inside are very delicate, this should be stored in temperature and away from direct sunlight.

The best time to practice using these instruments is with letters that the person has received from people. The stamps are usually located on the upper right hand side and to get it out; the area around it must be cut out and placed in water.

After some time, the envelope and stamp will separate. Using the tongs, the person should pick up the stamp, dry it in the air to make sure all the water has been taken out the inserting it in the album. This practice should be done every time there is a need to extract it from a glued surface.

Another place where the person can get stamps without using a pair of tongs is by buying it from the post office. This can be bought per sheet and taken out later should the collector want to trade it with something that another collector has.

There are also people who do business like this that can be found in the newspaper and in the internet who sell stamps in sheets for a price. It just takes some time for the individual to look around and find it.

In order for the collector to have a wider network that can aid in the stamp collection, it will be a good idea to join a club. The benefits of being a member allow the person to trade with other members and stay informed about upcoming exhibits and fairs where further exchanges can be made.

Stamps can also be acquired at auctions. All it takes is for the person to know when it will happen and be ready with some money to bid for it.

The best way to determine if the stamp that is about to be bought is at a good price is by checking a price catalogue. This can be bought at the local specialty store which gives its standard value in the market.

Price catalogs are a necessity for anyone serious into stamp collecting who is going to be purchasing and selling stamps frequently. It will really help you from being scammed out of losing money.

Stamp collecting is both a hobby and a business. Should the person have a lot of a certain kind, to be able to get others to add for the collection, this can be sold just like how other people do it to make some money.

The best place to do it is the internet. The person can advertise it and have sort of an online auction. This can also be exchanged for other stamps.

Stamps these days are circulated more often that it was years ago. Because of this, there is not that much money to be made even if the person has a very good collection.

The internet and other ways of sending messages have made snail mail obsolete. Though this has not erased the use of the postal office or of stamps, it is still used in places where technology has not changed things.

Stamp collecting is fun and looking some through old letters could be the beginning of something big.

Stamp collecting is a very fun and time-consuming hobby. It’s a real social hobby too, constantly selling, buying, and trading stamps. Stamp collecting can gain you many friendships but make sure before doing any of them that you know what you’re doing, so you don’t get scammed.

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This article deals with starting your very own stamp collection, for more detailed information on not only starting your own stamp collection but also on growing your stamp collection please visit http://www.startstampcollecting.com for more information. To obtain more information about learning how to start a stamp collection or get into stamp collecting please visit www.startstampcollecting.com.

Stamp collecting is the most popular hobby in the world.Philately is a broader term for the study of stamps, and it is frequently - but wrongly - equated to stamp collecting.

Through stamp collecting, people find information about history,currency, science,politics,arts,architecture and customs of different nations and countries of the world. All stamp collectors have fun with their stamps because no collection is ever complete, and there is always a challenge.

First, decide whether you would like to collect unused (mint) or used (canceled) stamps.If starting a mint stamp collection,purchase unused stamps from the post office.And if you see interesting stamps coming in the mail - collect them.

Many collectors prefer used stamps because they are less expensive or they may cost you nothing.

Some collectors save stamps by “topic”: for instance, if you are interested in ships, you may want to collect stamps of ships and boats.Car fans often collect stamps with cars on them.You can disregard the countries and only collect stamps that have pictures that you like. Some people like to collect stamps of one or several countries,but which are all of the same subject. Popular topical themes are birds,cats, butterflies,flowers, sports, space,art,chess,famous people and other.

Specialized collecting means that you can collect all the varieties of a single stamp or collect stamps used for a special purpose.

Country collecting is usually done chronologically by date of issue, sub-divided into reigns or political periods.

Some collectors specialize in collecting only the first stamps, one for each country that has ever issued a postage stamp, or collecting first-day covers,which carry a stamp on the first day it was sold with that day’s postmark.

Some areas of collecting cost less than ten cents a stamp, while others can cost thousands of dollars.

A lot of people collect “Cinderellas” - stamps that are not official stamps issued by a country’s postal administration.Cinderella collectors include in their collections local postage issues,telegraph stamps,tax stamps,forgeries and counterfeits.

The “hobbies” section of your local library may have basic books about stamp collecting, and the reference department may have a set of stamp-collecting catalogs.To find the value of a specific stamp, visit some good stamp-collecting web sites.

If looking for more information on stamps and stamp collecting, the local post office is the best place to start.

About the Author:

Albreht Moy owns Old World Maps website. Find popular antique map reproductions on his site.

Philately, or the study of stamps, is a huge field of study that has captured the attention of many Americans over the years. This fascination with stamps and the history that surrounds them has led to a hobby related to philately, which is collecting stamps.

Usually, stamp collection begins with the acquisition of a first couple of stamps and the choice of a particular classification of stamps where the collector will concentrate his or her efforts on. The continued acquisition of the stamps for the collection is done either through personal letters, the postal office, trading with fellow collectors, or collectible stamp dealers, rare and high quality stamps under the chosen classification.

However, while it may seem that a philatelic hobby is far too difficult or obscure, it actually is not. The collection and study of stamps is not a completely novel idea; over 110 countries worldwide have a sort of society for philatelists (or stamp collectors and enthusiasts).

In the United States of America, philatelists banded together in the year 1886 under the umbrella of the American Philatelic Society (APS). For more than a century now, the APS provides its members not only an avenue to meet fellow enthusiasts, but also various services and informational programs to assist in the pursuit and enhancement of the collecting experience. Over this huge span of time, the APS has been kept alive by donations, sale of its various publications, receipt of payment for its services, and receipt of its members’ dues. The community of APS is not a small one that may be overlooked. In the country, there are more than 44, 000 philatelists formally part of the APS. There are many others who are new to the trade, or are yet to find their way to APS. This huge number is proven by the fact that various states hold annual philatelic conventions for enthusiasts in the area to meet and convene. Another philatelic association in the United States known equally for its expertise is the Philatelic Foundation.

Various classifications and concentrations of collection are available. Some of them include postage stamps from other countries (particularly those of age), postage stationery (including air letter sheets, government-issued post cards) that preceded the printing of the first stamp in the form we know today, revenue stamps, or first day cover stamps.

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