5 Essential Stamp Collector Supplies

There are several ways to keep stamp collections in a safe and organized manner. Stamp collector supplies helps you display stamp collections and preserved them to sell them later or keep them longer. Build the stamp collection you've been dreaming with these five stamp collector essential supplies.

1. Albums



Photo albums will work, providing you have a means for mounting your stamps. Hinges and mounts are the most common ways to mount stamps in an album, as they provide a way to remove, sort and reorganize your stamps as you add to your collection.
 
One tip is to avoid photo albums that have sticky pages, and be sure to choose acid-free paper that won't turn yellow over time. Some stamp albums feature categories and sample pictures of stamps to make sorting easier. Specific stamp collectors' albums of this type can be purchased at a local stamp dealer or online.

2. Hinges And Mounts

Clockwise from top left, we see a hinge-mounted stamp, stamp about to be hinge-mounted, stamp damaged by a hinge, and loose stamp hinges

Hinges and mounts are used to safely put the stamps in the album. Hinges are small squares of translucent plastic or paper with special sticky gum on one side. They hold the stamps and allow for the stamp's safe removal when necessary. Mounts are little plastic sleeves made of clear plastic into which the stamp can be inserted. These will protect your stamps and keep them from curling. Never use tape or glue for mounting stamps, and try to find items made of Mylar or polyethylene, not vinyl, because Mylar is less likely to react chemically with your stamps.


3. Tongs



To prevent stamps from being contaminated by oils from your skin as you handle them, use tongs. These are like tweezers, but they do not have sharp edges. They make it easy to grip and move your stamps without damaging the fragile edges.

4. Magnifying Glass



Identify rare and old stamps by using magnifying glass and zoom in to get a close-up view of the secret detail of stamps. A good magnifying glass can help you note the nuances in the artwork and detail on the stamps. By using magnifying glass, you can learn and and reveal different details of stamps.

5. Stamp Catalog

 
A catalog will provide information about a stamp's date of issue, how it was printed and its value. You can also find stamp collection software online or for purchase that will help you keep your reference information current, including stamp value and history. Reference information about your stamps can help you organize your stamp collection, which is one of the most rewarding parts of having the collection.
 
In general, if you can keep your stamps in a pristine environment, the more value they are likely to have over time. All of these items can help you learn more about your stamps and protect them for the future.

Images:
Hinges and mounts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stamp_hinge
Magnifying glass: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Magnifying_glass.jpg
Stamp album: http://www.mdcstamps.com/safe-dual-stamp-albums.htm
Stamp tongs: http://www.mdcstamps.com/stamp-coin-tongs.htm

How to Display Postage Stamps in 9 ways

There are many ways to display collectible items such as postage stamps to preserve their beauty and able to sell them later. The framed stamps show off the time and care you have put into the collection and exhibit and teach others about the history embodied in the stamps.

Buy matted frames inexpensively from an art supply store or a large department store. Then place the stamps to give them an interesting visual element in your home or office. Rather than keeping them hidden in an album or box, display them in a matted frame.

Things you'll need

Frame with matting

Mat board

Pencil

Craft knife

Stamp sleeves

Stamp Mounts

Instructions

1. Plan a theme and a composition. Base themes on country of origin, historical period, stamp classification, subject matter, or a personal story or experience. For a composition, make a tight grid of many stamps or a single line of just a few stamps. You can also make a circle, pyramid or a diagonal.
2. Separate the backing from the frame.
3. Using a pencil , trace the shape of the backing onto a piece of white mat board.
4. Cut the section of mat board with a craft knife and a straight edge.
5. Measure and lightly mark the points on the mat board where the stamps will be affixed.
6. Place the stamps in individual stamp mount sleeves. Wet the adhesive backing on the back of the stamp mounts and stick them in place.
7. Insert the mat board into the frame behind the matting, and replace the backing on the frame.
8. Do not hang your framed stamps in direct sunlight. Prolonged exposure to sunlight can also cause discoloration. The glass can also be swapped out with a section of UV filtering acrylic sheeting for extra protection.
9. Use a mat between the stamps and the glass in the frame. If the stamps come into contact with the glass it can eventually cause discoloration.

Displaying stamps is the best reward you could give to your stamps. Share with your family and friends the stamp collections you have. Children can learn history from the stamps you have collected. There are a lot of things that you can learn and discover from collecting stamps only.

While other Collectors are collecting to buy and sell stamps. Others are collecting because its their hobby and they one of the collectors that display their collections. 

In displaying the collections one must be cautious that they in the preservation of the stamps itself. Display, Organize and Preserve Stamps You Love!

How to Sell a Stamp Collection

Instead of discarding a stamp collection inherited from your relatives or lose interest in the hobby why not, consider selling it. Who knows, there are lots of hidden value in your stamp collection. Bring it to serious collectors or stamps clubs because they are ready and willing to pay top dollar for a worthwhile stamp collection. As with collectors of any merchandise, these individuals are also constantly looking to add to their own collections.

Before selling them at a higher price, there are three things you are willing to do in order to sell a stamp collection for the best price:

1. Make an easy stock of the collection and compose it down.
If the stamp collection is mainly restricted to one or two books, have a look at the number of stamps on each page and multiply that times the number of pages that really have stamps on them. Do not count individual stamps, simply estimate. Also keep in mind any boxes of stamps and just guess how many stamps are in the boxes.

2. Gather significant information about the collection. 
If there are pieces of evidence that states the stamps are collected from the year they are manufactured and distributed, then its value could possibly much higher. Some of these evidences are invoices and receipts which show what he paid for his stamps and these documents can provide the quality of the collection. If the stamps are given by a colleague for example was a postmaster during the 18th century or there is a letter from a colleague donating the collection to your relative that handles important information which may help determines the value of the collection.

3. An opinion as to quality
Have the collection appraised by a professional if you are fairly certain from the provenance that the collection is valuable. Try to learn as much about the quality of the collection as you can. Join and inquire stamp clubs in many towns. Reserve an appointment to the president of the club and ask if you could attend their next meeting to get opinions from collectors. They will let you know immediately whether there is any significant value to the collection simply because they will look for the presence of uncommon or rare stamps.

With an inventory, gathering significant information about the collection and an opinion as to quality, you can now look at several ways to sell your stamp collection for the best price.

Tips to use while selling a stamp collection.

1. Begin by finding out how much your stamp collection is worth. 
There are several ways to go about learning the value of your stamp collection. You can find the value of stamps by looking in a Stamp Catalog. You can purchase these books or check them out at a local public library. Contact also a local appraiser who is knowledgeable on stamps and stamp collections. You could contact also a stamp club expert in your area to tell you how much your stamp collection is worth.

2. Sell your stamp collection to a member of a stamp club. 
If you contact a stamp club member regarding the value of your stamp collection, you shouldn't be surprised when a member of that club offers to purchase your stamp collection. This makes the process incredibly easy for you and the buyer. You should be careful, though, to double-check the worth of your collection with an appraiser, the Scott Catalog or another stamp club before you sell the stamp collection. This is how you can be sure that the buyer didn't "low-ball" the worth of your collection.

3. Contact a stamp dealer regarding the sale of your stamp collection. 
These individuals own businesses which specialize in selling collectibles like stamps. Some even make a living just on collecting, buying and selling stamps.

4. Consider selling your stamp collection through an auction house. 
This is an especially good idea if you are selling a collection that is worth quite a bit of money. Auction houses will allow you to set the starting price for bids, ensuring that you get top dollar for your stamp collection.

5. Sell your stamp collection on eBay. 
There are pages and pages of stamp collections sold on the popular auction website on a daily basis. As with an auction house, eBay allows you to set the value of an opening bid, increasing the odds that you will be paid book value or more for your stamp collection.

Seven Ways to Organize a Stamp Collection

Stamp collecting is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. An important and fun challenge for every stamp collector is the protection and display of their collection. In order to display and present them to their best advantage, collectors must properly organize their stamp collection.

Most stamp collectors not only accumulate stamps, but also enjoy arranging them in an attractive, organized way for easy viewing. They choose wisely and focus to the areas they want to collect and identify to organize and display better their Stamp Collection. By doing this, they will not only have a collection to be proud of, but also able to protect stamps from damage.

Photo from danjaeger

Steps

1. Begin to arrange your stamp collection by deciding which type of collection you would such as to have. There are numerous methods to collect and organize stamps, based on various attributes of the stamps, personal interests and choices.

2. Know the various classifications of stamp collections from which you can select, such as  the following:

• traditional (one nation's stamps)
• worldwide (stamps from worldwide)
• topical (stamps featuring topics such as animals or flowers)
• specialist (certain kinds of stamps or stamp concerns)
• first-day covers (an envelope sent the day the stamp was launched)

3. Understand that stamps are categorized in numerous methods.  
These categories include kind such as 

• conclusive, commemorative or special
• condition such as mint
• unused or utilized
• format such as sheet, coil or booklet
• function such as routine, special shipment, postage due and airmail

4. Sort your stamps according to the focus, classification or organization of your collection. Stamps are commonly sorted by 

• country
• subject
• original usage
• date of problem
• type (definitive, commemorative or unique)
• denomination

5. Use a stamp brochure to determine the stamps you have actually gathered, so you can be sure to classify them effectively. Stamp brochures list descriptions and rates of stamps, and picked stamps are likewise imagined.

6. Place stamps in a stamp album to show, preserve and safeguard your stamp collection. There are several different kinds of albums offered to collectors, consisting of commercially pre-printed albums with corresponding photos for each stamp, stock-books with plastic sleeves on each page, and handmade pages created at home by the collector himself.

7. Think about making use of stamp collecting software application to arrange and catalog your stamp collection. Most of these programs are essentially spreadsheets that enable you to enter comprehensive details on each stamp into different fields which can then be viewed as customized reports.

Five Basic Ways to Store a Stamp Collection

Stamp collecting as an amusing hobby can gain monetary benefits down the roadway. Stamp collecting encompasses the representation of a limitless variety of diverse, inspiring themes. It likewise brings the appeal and history of every culture and animal on Earth directly into your grasp. When it comes to storing stamps, Stamp collectors have a number of options. Standard stamp care are always observed whatever technique is made use of to store a stamp collection.

Things we need:

• Stock pages 

• Album

• Stamp tongs

 

Steps

1. Sort the stamps into categories. Many beginning stamp collectors store their stamps by dividing into broad categories to start with. Broad categories include those stamps with come from a particular country, those which fall into a particular topic, for instance architecture or history, or those that were posted through particular service, such as airmail or express delivery.
2. Choose an album. Stock pages make a convenient storage albums for a stamp collection as the pages are double sided, lined with strips of plastic pockets down each page that hold stamps in neat rows. The stamps are easily removed and rearranged as the collection grows or categories expand.
3. Handle carefully stamps using the tongs. Stamp tongs keep dirt, grease, and perspiration from traveling from the hand to the stamp. Place them in rows in the pockets of stock pages, or arrange them in categories in album pages.
4. Don't place a mount in an album with the stamp in the mount. You need to moisten the mount, and you don't want moisture near the stamp.  Let the empty mount completely dry before you put the stamp in the mount. 
5. To keep the notes relating to the stamps, the notes relating to the stamps, either individual stamps or collections, can be included by writing on small pieces of paper and including them with the stamps on the page. Notes such as the period in history that the stamp relates to or commemorates help to draw the collection together.  

Stamp collecting need not be a costly pastime, however one area where one can not economize is the quality of stock books and albums. Care for your stamp collection, and it will repay you with a lifetime of satisfaction.

10 Ways to Begin a Stamp Collection for Kids

Stamp collecting can be a fun and rewarding hobby especially done with your children. Introducing your child to the art of stamp collecting gives them an outlet where they can spend their free time productively. They can also learn about different parts of the world through collecting stamps from other countries.

Each country will usually have stamps that represent things that make that country special. This includes leaders, famous entertainers, animals that can be found in that country, historical events, historical figures and more. Before you begin make sure to provide them all the materials they need to begin and maintain their stamp collection.

Instructions

1. You can begin collecting by saving envelopes you receive that have postage stamps affixed to them. Set aside half of these envelopes for the beginner's kit you will give your child. Take the other half and tear out the corner containing the postage stamp.

2. Set the paper upside down in a pan of warm water. Let the paper sit until the stamp separates and drops to the bottom of the pan. Remove the stamp with stamp tongs and lay it flat in between 2 paper towels. Lay a telephone directory on top of the paper towels to avoid the stamp from curling while drying out.

3. Place dried stamps in-to stamp mounts. Stamp mounts are sheets of clear plastic consisting of rows of sleeves that will hold and protect stamps.

4. Open your three-ring binder and thread stamp mount pages through the metal rings. Close the binder. You may choose to decorate the outside of your binder for your child. Good decorative ideas include glue sticks and glitter or pictures of stamps glued or taped to the binder's cover.
   
   
   

   

    

5. Buy and give your child a stamp collecting beginner's kit consisting of the binder with pre-affixed stamps, stamp tongs and stamp pricing catalog. Also, additional kit ideas include a themed stamp album for collecting themed stamps or a subscription to a stamp collecting magazine.
   
   

   

6. Show your child how to remove stamps from envelopes using the rest of the mail you've been saving. Repeat the process laid out in Step 1. Have your child complete the stamp removal process by themselves.
   
   
   

   

   
   

7. Continue to save mail containing postage stamps. Give these envelopes to your child.
   

   
   

   

   
   
8. While collecting encourage your child to visit websites that contains resources about regional clubs, travelling stamp shows and stamp dealers. 
   
   

   

9. After successful collecting, encourage your child to investigate the history of the stamps they've collected.
   
   

   

10. Lastly, encourage your children also to pass on to their future children’s the stamps they've collected since they’re young and continue collecting. 
    
    
    

    

    
    Images:
    

    • http://www.allyou.com/budget-home/money- shopping/cheapskate-guide- 00411000077877/page12.html
    • http://www.wikihow.com/Remove-a-Stamp-from-Its- Envelope
    • http://www.abeautifulmess.com/2012/09/make-your- own-house-stamp.html
    • http://www.betterworldbooks.com/u-s-stamp-collecting- kit-for-beginners-with-collector-s-album-and-adhesive- hinges-25-u-s-postage-id-0486478203.aspx
    • http://www.icollector.com/LOT-OF-VINTAGE- ENVELOPES-WITH-STAMPS-Civil-War- e_i10201327

Start Ups About Stamp Collecting

Postage stamps are small rectangular labels that you adhere to mail items to show postage repayment. Stamps are produced in a variety of colors and designs, including commemorative and remembrance stamps that honor people and locations. Collectors sell and trade stamps with different mediums, such as stamp markets and the Internet, and keep their personal collections in stamp cds.

Image: (© Jenny Rollo)

Postage stamps are small rectangular labels that you stay with mail products to prove postage payment. Stamps are produced in a variety of colors and designs, consisting of commemorative and memorial stamps that honor people and places. Collectors sell and trade stamps through numerous mediums, such as stamp markets and the Internet, and keep their private collections in stamp cds.

The term "philately" means the study of postage stamps, postmarks and relevant products. A philatelist is an individual who studies or gathers these products.

Types of Stamps

Coil stamps are stamps that appear in rolls. Vending equipments originally sold these.

• Joint-issued stamps are globally launched commemorative stamps that honor an individual or event that had an effect on several countries. For instance, in 1986, both the United States and France launched stamps to commemorate the centennial of the Statue of Liberty.
• Mint stamps are stamps that continue to be unused. They are normally better than used stamps.
• Airmail stamps are stamps for shipments carried by plane. For example, mail that travels overseas would need an airmail stamp. The term "aerophilately" signifies the branch of philately that involves the study of airmail.

Value of Stamps

The most valuable stamps are those that are unusual, in need and in mint condition. For example, the 1918 Inverted Jenny is an unusual and pricey stamp that mistakenly includes an upside image of a plane.

Do you know?

The first stamps in the United States appeared in 1847. They included Benjamin Franklin and George Washington. Ever since, those men's faces have actually stayed typical for stamp designs.

Airmail service in the United States began in 1918. Military workers made the first flight.