18 Reasons Why You Should Collect Stamps

It’s the most popular hobby around the world.

It makes you smarter. (This has been proven in a study in England.)

It can be an economical hobby. (You can even find free stamps if you search around).

You can meet other stamp collectors at club meetings (or form your own club).

You can pass your stamps on to your heirs.

Stamp collecting is a relaxing hobby.

Stamp collecting allows you to learn about various people, places and things.

There are endless amounts of resources available.

You like the challenge of finding something that others cannot find.

Stamp collections are wonderful conversation pieces.

Stamp collecting is a great way to bond with the children in your life.

You can collect stamps at your leisure. There are no time restraints. You do what is best for you.

Stamp collecting stimulates your brain because there are always new stamps to learn about.

You can pick one kind of stamp to collect or many types. You can tailor your collection to suit your wants and needs.

You might find a stamp that is rare and very valuable.

You can begin collecting at any age.

You can visit this website for an amazing collection of stamps from around the world that are available to purchase.

And most importantly….just because it is fun!

The Blue Mauritius On Display

Stamp collectors from around the world experienced a special treat at the WIPA Vienna International Postage Stamp Exhibition 2008 that was held in Austria last week. The legendary Blue Mauritius was on display for the world to see.

It arrived in grand style at the Schwechat Airport with security agents surrounding it. It is one of the most valuable and rarest postage stamps in existence today.

The Blue Mauritius was printed in 1847 and has a face value of two pennies. It was printed on the British Colony of Mauritius, which is an island that is located in the Indian Ocean. The Blue Mauritius is so valuable because it was one of the first stamps authorized by any British colonial government. Initially the stamp had the words “Post Office” printed on the edge of the stamp. Later versions of the stamp had the word “Post Paid” printed on the edge of the stamp.

The stamp has proven to increase in value as the years have gone by. There were initially 500 stamps printed, but there are only a couple known to currently be in existence. The last time this stamp was at auction, it sold for $3,829,500. It remains as the most expensive single Philatelic item that has ever been sold.

Arthur Ashe Postage Stamp

The Arthur Ashe postage stamp was issued by the USPS in August of 2005. It was appropriately dedicated at the stadium bearing Ashe’s name on the Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at the 2005 US Open.

The picture of Arthur Ashe was from Sports Illustrated when he was named the 1992 Sportsman of the Year. This was the first Sports Illustrated cover photo to ever be featured on a stamp by the USPS.

Arthur Ashe was born in Richmond, Virginia on July 10, 1943. At the time, Richmond was segregated and he was only allowed to play tennis on a “blacks only” playground. Ashe became one of the most recognized and talented tennis stars of all time.

Ashe broke racial barriers and went on to compete in the world’s top tennis tournaments. He was the first African American to represent the United States on the Davis Cup team and won Wimbledon in 1975.

Arthur Ashe was not only a tennis great. He was well known for his work with young people and his humanitarian efforts. He also helped in the fight against AIDS; which he unfortunately contracted during a blood transfusion during heart surgery.

To purchase this Arthur Ashe stamp as well as other amazing stamps visit http://www.stampcenter.com/ or more information about this particular stamp.

United States Postal Service Honors Disney Once Again

In my opinion, Disneyland will always be “The Happiest Place on Earth”. On August 7, 2008, the United States Postal Service released a new set of Disney themed stamps that represent “Imagination”. The release of the stamps was appropriately held at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

There are 4 stamp designs in this collection. They feature an older version of Mickey Mouse as Steamboat Willie, the adorable Dalmatian Pongo and one of his little pups (101 Dalmatians), Princess Aurora and her helpers Flora, Fauna and Merryweather (Sleeping Beauty), and Baloo and Mowgli having a snuggle together (The Jungle Book).

These stamps follow previous Art of Disney issues released by the USPS. Wonderful Disney characters have been commemorated in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and now this year to boot. Previous themes were: Friendship, Celebrations, Romance and Magic, respectively.

Disney stamps continue to prove to be some of the best sellers among the young and young at heart. They bring forth delightful memories of the past and bright eyes of wonderment from younger collectors.

Click here to see other beautiful Disney stamps that have been issued from around the world.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game Stamp

“Take me out to the ball game, take me out with the crowds, buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks…..” This song is probably one of the most recognized songs in American history. It is traditionally sung at baseball games throughout the country during the 7th inning stretch.
It seems only fitting that the United States Postal Service has issued a postage stamp commemorating the song as well as the tradition of American baseball.

On July 26, 2008, a Digital Color Postmark Keepsake stamp, as well as a full pane of 20 stamps was released. The stamp celebrates the 100 year anniversary of this fantastic song.
Take Me Out To The Ball Game was composed by Jack Norworth in 1908. It was written on a piece of scrap paper while he rode the subway in New York City. Norworth was a successful vaudeville entertainer and songwriter who is famous for writing and performing “Shine On Harvest Moon”.

He wrote Take Me Out To The Ballgame in a mere 15 minutes. He quickly joined with Albert Von Tilzer who then wrote the music to the words of the song. The funny thing is that neither man had ever even attended a baseball game prior to writing the song.

An interesting fact about the song is that the part that we all sing at baseball games is only the chorus. There are also 2 verses (and two versions) that are not known and never sung at ball games. Another fun fact about the song is that if a baseball game reaches the 14th inning stretch, the song is sung again. It was even sung in the spring of 2008 at the 21st inning stretch at the Rockies vs. Padres game!

Bette Davis Stamp Coming This Friday Part II Of II

In continuation to the post on Monday.

Bette Davis was born Ruth Elizabeth “Bette” Davis on April 5, 1908. She was one of Hollywood’s leading actresses who never failed to mesmerize audiences with her ability to play characters that others stayed away from. Her range of acting skills covered all types of movie genres.

She began her life as a dancer but quickly realized how much acting was her true calling. Coming to Hollywood in the 1930’s, she did not hit it big until the 1940’s where she became one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actresses.

Bette Davis was the first female president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She was also the first woman to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute.

Despite her tough outward persona, Davis believed hugely in supporting American soldiers. She was the co-founder of The Hollywood Canteen. The club offered food, dancing and entertainment to men and women serving in the military. All of the services were provided free of charge to all branches of the military, when they came dressed in uniform.

In her lifetime, this amazing actress wowed audiences in over 100 big screen, theater and television performances. In the 1980’s there was also a very popular song “Bette Davis Eyes” that was sung by Kim Carnes. Sadly, she died from Breast Cancer in October of 1989 while living in France.

Bette Davis Stamp Coming This Friday Part I Of II

Get ready fans, the Bette Davis postage stamp is almost here. This coming Thursday, September 18th the new Bette Davis commemorative stamp will be released. The stamp marks the 100th anniversary year of Bette Davis’ birth.

The film diva is the 14th inductee into the wildly popular, Legends of Hollywood series; that has been released by the United States Postal Service. Bette Davis’ marvelous career spanned 60 years of performances. She won two Academy Awards and was the first female to receive ten Academy Award nominations for best actress.

There are several commemorative items available from the USPS. There is the First Day Cover Commemorative Stamp, Ceremony Program, Digital Color Postmark, Full Pane First Day Cover, and Cancellation Keepsake Digital Color Postmark available for collectors. First Day of Sale Postmarks will be available for 90 days at the Cape Coral and Ft. Myers posts offices in Florida.
First-day postmark requests should be mailed with a self-addressed stamped envelope to Customer Relations, 79 Mid Cape Terrace Suite 8, Cape Coral, FL 33991. A postmark for Cape Coral or Fort Myers should be specified.

Please check back on Wednesday for the conclusion to this post.

Important Stamp Collecting Terminology Part III Of III

In continuation to the post on Wednesday.

Topicals: Stamps that contain certain topics or themes are called topicals. They come in many variations. There are stamps with cartoon characters, scientists, musicians, movies, cars, trains etc. There are endless types of topicals available from many counties around the world. Collecting topicals is a great way to narrow your interests down, but don’t be surprised if your interest spreads like wild fire!

Classics: Like old cars, early stamp issues are called Classics. They are often hard to find and often come with a high price tag as well. Classics have been known to sell for thousands of dollars depending on the issue of the stamp.

Sheets: Stamps that are printed in the form of large sheets with ten or more stamps on them are called sheets. They can feature one type of stamp or different stamp designs with a common theme. They are nice to look at and can be very costly to purchase. You should take special care not to separate these stamps so that they retain their value, especially if you ever plan on selling them.

Philately embraces the study, love and knowledge of all materials and issues related to the postal service from the earliest known times in history. Click here to purchase stamps from around the world, supplies and other philatelic items for your collection. The possibilities are endless and there is something for everyone!

Important Stamp Collecting Terminology Part II Of III

In continuation to the post on Monday.

In the previous post, I was explaining some of the different stamp terminology that is used. There are many great items available to collect and enjoy from postal services around the globe.

Postal Stationary: Postal stationary includes letter sheets, postal cards and envelopes that have a preprinted stamp image on them. Collectors have the choice of cutting out the preprinted stamp and just keeping that, or they can keep leave it intact. Keep in mind that when buying used postal stationary; rare postmarks, famous addressees and ornate handwriting can make items more valuable and should be kept in its entirety.

Stamp Multiples: Stamps are usually printed in sheets or long strips. These blocks, sheets and strips are called stamp multiples. When buying stamps in multiples they are more valuable. You will often pay a higher price in addition to the stamp cost though.

Plate Blocks: Stamps that are printed in sheets can be broken down. When they are broken down into section of four or more un-separated stamps that form a rectangle they are called blocks. When the blocks contain the index number from the printing plate from when they were printed, they are called plate blocks. Plate blocks are quite desirable, especially to the advanced collector, and can be more costly then just purchasing blocks of stamps.

Pease check back on Friday for the conclusion to this post.

Important Stamp Collecting Terminology Part I Of III

For those of you new to stamp colleting, I thought you might appreciate some information about the terminology that is used when collecting stamps. Some people enjoy collecting actual stamps, while others enjoy collecting other philatelic items. It is important to educate yourself on the different items that are available to purchase so that you know exactly what you are buying.

First Day Covers: These are special envelopes that contain the postage stamp and a unique one day only cancellation. They often have designs printed on them that directly relate to the particular stamp you are purchasing (also known as cachets). They are usually printed in limited quantity, with deadlines on the cancellation dates. The can sometimes be costly, especially if this is what you prefer to collect.

Covers: If you like the idea of collecting stamps, but want to consider another option, you might prefer to just collect the postal cards or the entire envelopes. These are called covers. Covers come in many different varieties that commemorate events or people relating to the stamp illustrations. These are great for young collectors as they are relative inexpensive are very easy to handle.

Please check back on Wednesday for part two of this post.

Stamp Collecting...How Do I Decide?

Many beginning stamp collectors start their collection by asking friends and family to give them their used stamps. Stamp can also be bought in bulk at stamp shows, hobby stores or even online. These bulk stamps usually have little to no resale value, but they sure are fun to collect and see the different stamps that are produced. This hobby is addicting, so most people will most likely move on to the pricier stamp arenas.

The great news about stamp collecting is that whatever your interest, there are most likely stamps made for you in mind. There are 190 countries in the world and almost of them sell stamps. That leaves a great deal of room for stamp collectors to pick and choose what they are interested in.

The hardest part is deciding what you want to collect. Do you have a particular subject matter that you want to investigate and collect? Are certain eye catching colors your cup of tea? Are you interested in collecting stamps from just one country or continent? Do you like a particular animal, type of sea life, or flowers?

The possibilities are endless with stamp collecting. With so many choices, it is no wonder that stamp collecting remains the most popular hobby in the entire world!

The Fab Four...Beatles Postage Stamps Part II Of II

In continuation to the post on Monday.

This stamp issue consists of six self-adhesive stamps plus a souvenir sheet containing four stamps with water-activated gum. Each stamp has a stack of albums that are slightly askew. You can see just a small portion of the album covers just below the top album cover. It’s a pretty cool effect.

There are six album covers shown on the stamps. They are in chronological order as they were released. The albums are With The Beatles, Help, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Abbey Road, and Let It Be.

The four first class stamps do not have any domination and lie in the middle of some fun Beatles memorabilia items. There are buttons, records, a lunchbox and a toy guitar among other things on the souvenir sheet. The presentation pocket has a clear plastic pocket that features an identical picture as the souvenir sheet. When you place the souvenir sheet inside of the plastic pocket, it overlays the picture below. The pictures almost line up perfectly.

These stamps are sure to delight any Beatles fan. If you would like to pick up these wonderful Beatle’s stamps, follow this link.

The Fab Four...Beatles Postage Stamps Part I Of II

Just like with the United States Postal Service, Great Britain has rules as to who and what can appear on postage stamps. Previously, only members of the Royal Family were honored with their own postage stamps. There have always been other types of stamps issued, but none of non family members. Times certainly have changed and a few years ago, so did the Royal Mail’s criteria for issuing stamps commemorative stamps. They are now issuing stamps with famous people, both deceased and alive, on some postage stamps. Of course the Queen’s head still appears on all postage stamps coming out of England.

The Beatles is one group that has been had a stamp issued commemorating their accomplishments. It should be noted that the stamps were issued because “their achievement is the focus of the design rather than their image.”

The Beatles are by far the most popular musical group to ever come out of England. Their fan base stretches around the globe. Interestingly enough, these beautiful stamps were issued in January of 2007 to commemorate the initial meeting of Paul McCartney and John Lennon in 1957. They serve to honor the cultural contribution to the British as well as the music they provided all around the world.

Please check back on Wednesday for the conclusion to this post.