An Educational Hobby: Stamp Collecting

Stamp collecting, also known as philately, is a well-liked and instructive past time. Stamp collectors save stamps from letters, particularly those from other countries. They also look for old stamps that correspond to a past time. Stamp enthusiasts can be found in all places. Their notebooks and glassine envelopes filled with stamps are enthralling to look through. Many of the stamps they gather are very precious as well.

Resources needed for starting a stamp compilation include a stamp album and special mounting tapes called hinges.  Tools you will find useful are a pair of small forceps or tweezers for carefully lifting fragile old stamps and a magnifying glass for finding miniature details.  The beginning philatelist can start with the stamps on the mail that arrives this very day.  To take out a stamp from an envelope, cautiously tear away the envelope from around the stamp being cautious not to tear the stamp itself.  Now soak the stamp in temperate water.  The remaining portion of envelope will turn loose, allowing you to lift the stamp from the water with the forceps. Lay the stamp on porous paper.  When dried out, place a weighty book on top of the stamp to compress it.  As a hobby, stamp collecting requires accuracy and tidiness.  Place the dried out and compressed stamp in the album by using one of the hinges, or store it in one of the tiny glassine envelopes unique to stamp collecting. Many collectors concentrate in collecting currently available commemoratives as a past time.  Stamp designs are diverse, beautiful and interesting.  Commemoratives are those special stamps that are released by the post office for a limited time.  They can commemorate special people or events.  Most nations print commemorative stamps from time to time. American stamps have featured wild life, artists, antiques, and many other themes.  In fact, there is a yearly contest in which American school children participate to draw the best picture of a wild duck.  The best duck art is featured on a stamp. A fun way for an adolescent person to build a collection of overseas stamps is to find a few pen pals in overseas countries.  This action helps people make friends as well as lengthening their outlook.  There are also companies that will send out preliminary collections of foreign stamps in order to get stamp collecting customers on their mailing lists.  These collections are usually colorful and contain a extensive variety. Stamp collecting is an educational past time.  Stamp collections can from time to time become very precious to the right people.  If you are looking for a new hobby or past time, stamp collecting might be for you! Published Location: An Educational Hobby: Stamp Collecting