Discusses where and how to obtain stamps; tools, accessories, catalogues, and albums; identification of stamps; and the history of stamps. Includes a dictionary of terms.
Postage stamps have evolved quite a bit since Great Britain’s 1840 Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp. From simple designs featuring the monarch to works of art literally condensed to postage stamp size, hundreds of thousands of different stamps have been issued in the past 164 years—and the great majority of them remain reasonably priced for collectors. With so many stamps to collect from so many countries, a philatelist’s choices are virtually unlimited--which can be both a blessing and a curse, especially if you’re a newcomer to the art of stamp collecting. Interested in starting a stamp collection, but not sure where to begin? This is the guide for you. Expert Richard Sine fills you in on everything you need to know about selecting, finding, buying, presenting and caring for stamps. An internationally recognized collector and author on stamp collecting (he used to write the New York Times stamp column) he also has much wisdom to impart to collectors who’ve been at it for a while. A gold mine of expert advice and guidance, Stamp Collecting For Dummies is on how to: Start or diversify your collection Decide what to collect Catalog and organize your collection Handle, protect, store, and display stamps Identify rare and valuable stamps Buy stamps online and through auction houses Unlike most authors on the subject who tend to be pretty stuffy—to put it politely—expert Richard Sine focuses on the side of stamp collecting that’s enjoyable, educational, and fun. With humor, tons of interesting anecdotes about stamps and the men and women who love them, and loads of insider tips, he covers all the bases, including: Getting the biggest bang for you stamp-collecting buck Researching, locating and buying stamps through traditional sources and online Showing off your collection at exhibits Customizing your collection Housing your stamps and protecting them against the elements The ten keys to identifying and authenticating stamps Stamp Collecting For Dummies is your total guide to starting and building on a really cool stamp collection.
The take-it-with-you collecting resource! At last, a guide you can really carry along to estate sales, garage sales, and flea markets, containing 1,000 color photographs and current pricing to make on-the-spot appraisals easy. • New to this edition! Feature chapters on Christmas stamps and Error stamps • 1,000 detailed color photos • Listings for all 4,250+ U.S. regular-issue and Airmail stamps from 1847-2010 • Accurate prices in Unused and Used condition • State-of-the-market report and advice on beginning a collection, including where to find stamps, judging quality, grading, and handling and storage About the Author Maurice D. Wozniak has been collecting stamps since the mid-1950s. After a 30-year career as a reporter and editor on metropolitan daily newspapers, Wozniak served for seven years as editor of the weekly Stamp Collector and The Stamp Wholesaler publications and Minkus catalogs for stamp collectors. He is currently president of the Wisconsin Federation of Stamp Clubs, an umbrella group of 30 clubs in the philatelic hobby, and a member of the American Philatelic Society and the Central Wisconsin Stamp Club. He is a freelance magazine writer on stamp collecting subjects.
A complete, illustrated guide to stamp collecting covers every aspect of collecting and trading postage stamps, from how to start a collection, to how to buy and sell, to insuring one's collection, and discusses the history of philately, worldwide sources of stamps, and helpful listings of dealer associations, clubs, shows, museums, and more. Original.
It's here! Now you can stamp your way through the entire National Park System with the newest addition to the Passport To Your National Parks line of products: the Collector's Edition Passport. Beauty and practicality meet artfully in this deluxe version of the popular Passport, taking you above and beyond the original by providing space for Passport stickers and cancellation stamps for every single park, as well as space for extra cancellations. The park sites are color-coded by region, each area featuring a color map that pinpoints park locations. With a spiral binding that makes it easy to lie open flat, a hard cover that ensures durability and longer life, and pages graced with beautiful color photographs, it's the ultimate stamping ground.
From America's leading experts, your ultimate Guide to Stamp Collecting Whether you've always wanted to start a stamp collection or already have the beginnings of one, this is the definitive guide to becoming a smart and savvy stamp collector, with information on everything from the history of stamps to surprising celebrity philatelists to the best way to remove stamps from envelopes. You'll receive priceless expert advice on: Finding and identifying stamps Caring for and exhibiting your collection Understanding collecting terms Verifying authenticity Using internet resources And much more!
A perfect introduction for novices — and fun for all! — this mega-set provides everything a beginner needs: an illustrated album with room for over 1,000 stamps; a guide booklet that explains how to build and care for a collection; a catalog listing hundreds of historic stamps available for purchase; a magnifying glass; adhesive hinges for mounting stamps; and a starter pack of 25 real U.S. postage stamps.