There are many reasons to start a stamp collection. For one, there is the primal urge to collect things. Others attach a romance to acquiring postage stamps, its historical association, its many shapes, colors and designs, the mental adventures into to far-away lands, or simply the love of things from an older age. For this reason, some collectors don't stress financial investments in stamps, but concentrate on free stamp collection.
Free stamp collections are, as the name implies, are stamps free of charge. You have this from collecting used stamps to getting free stamps from known sources.
The most common way of starting a stamp collection is by saving the postage stamps from foreign mail that one receives. However, you quickly graduate from this manner of acquiring stamps when the collection is under way because it is not methodical.
You can find free stamps from old mail at home or your parents' attic. Ask friends and relatives to keep cancelled stamps.
With free stamps, you'll very frequently encounter used stamps that are still attached to envelopes and packages. Here's how to remove them:
1.Using a pair of scissors, cut around the stamp, taking care not to cut the stamp itself.
2.In a bowl of lukewarm water, dip the stamp facedown for a few minutes.
3.The stamp could detach from the envelope and sink. Otherwise, gently peel it away using small tongs or tweezers.
4.Rinse out the back of the stamp to remove the remaining glue off, and place facedown on a paper towel to dry.
5.Press any wrinkled stamps it in a heavy book to flatten them.
Whatever the reason for collecting, the most effective way by getting as many types of stamps as possible. From there you can decide where you're more interested in and decide on your specialty.
However, just because it's a free stamp collection doesn't mean it has to be hodge-podge. Any collection needs to be organized properly. With your first stamp collection you'll learn the practical basics of philately. With the aid of a catalogue, you can arrange your stamps in an inexpensive stamp album, according to country of origin and date of issue, or specific themes.
Following are some interesting examples of collection themes:
?Afghanistan' Anti-malaria postage stamps
?Fungi stamps
?Defense stamps from India
?Elvis stamps from all over the world
?Stamps depicting endangered species
?Stamps canceled in your hometown
?Stamps from countries that no longer exist
With such an organization, you find lots of entertainment and fulfillment in a free stamp collection.
Free Stamp Album Pages
Before you decide on starting a stamp collection you must first determine what kind or type of stamps you are going to collect. You can collect any kind of stamp but it would be more valuable if you collect a certain kind of stamp. You can choose to collect stamps according to their types, formats, purpose, or condition.
A total of ten thousand postage stamps are being issued every year throughout the world and it would be very expensive and perhaps almost impossible to aspire for a worldwide collection all at once. You can however start with a realistic and doable stamp collection by collecting stamps issued in a specific country.
The easiest stamps to collect are those issued in the country where you live because it is more accessible. However, you can also choose to collect stamps from countries which have special meanings to you. The kind of stamps you will collect will also depend on your financial resources because there are stamps that are way too expensive.
You can also collect stamps by topic such as stamps depicting birds, ships, planes, flowers or any other object. There are people who collect Disney or cartoon stamps but you must develop a very network for this collection starting from friend sin all areas of the world. Another option is to collect used or new stamps. You can also opt for a color-scheme stamp collection where you will only collect blue or red stamps.
You can already start collecting stamps even if you do not have the money to spend on it. Start with used stamps because you can have them for free. Start by asking your housemates for stamps that come with their postcards and letters. You can also expand your network by asking friends, relatives and acquaintances for used stamps. Some people write to as many pen friends from different countries so they can exchange stamps.
While you may be excited enough to tear off stamps from envelopes, the best way is to cut the stamps from the envelopes and remove them later using a special process used by stamp collectors.
If you have extra money then you can look for new stamps from stamp dealers in your area. Also join clubs for stamp collectors because this can be an opportunity for you to exchange stamps with other collectors.
To start off your stamp collection, make sure you are equipped with the very basic stamp collecting tools like a stamp album, tongs, hinges, a perforation gauge, a magnifying glass and a watermark sensing device. When you have collected enough stamps, it is better to place them in a stamp album. Most stamp albums already have hinges with which you can mount the stamps safely.
Never munt your stamps using adhesive tapes or glues because it can damage your stamps. If your album doe snot have those little plastic dividers then it is best to buy mounts or hinges to separae your stamps accordingly.
Be careful when handling stamps because you do no want to ruin them; better use tongs to keep sweaty and dirty hands away from the stamps. No matter how you wash your hands, there will alwyas be sweat and grime which could affect the quality of the stamps you ar ehandling. Also but a good magnifying glass as it will help you inspect your stamps closely. Stamps may appear the same when viewed with the naked eye but who knows what you will discover when you use a magnifying glass.
There are a variety of choices when starting your stamp collection but do not be so caught up with the technicalities because stamp collection is basically a hobby and you do it for enjoyment. You can start a stamp collecting hobby for pleasure but when you haev already mastered this hobby then you can turn it into a money making venture. But first, take the time to enjoy your tamps.
