Collecting could have a theme based on interests or it could be
an educational project. There are countless stamps with TV
shows, historical figures, historical events, entertainers,
heroes, animals, flowers, music, buildings, cars and sports
figures. They can collect stamps from a particular county or
every state in the USA. You can simply collect the stamps that
come in your mail each day. Stamp collecting is all about you
and what you want it to be.
Types
of Stamps...
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Definitive
stamps
are the every day stamps you see that range from 1 cent to
more than 14 dollars. They can be found for every country
and usually have pictures of Presidents, famous people or
objects on them. |
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|
Coil Stamps
are the stamps you buy in a roll. |
 |
|
Book of stamps
are the stamps that you buy in a package and there are
between 3 to 20 stamps in each.
|
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|
Special stamps
are the extra stamps that the post office prints each year.
Examples include
holiday stamps |
 |
|
Commemorative
stamps
are usually bigger and more colorful than the definitive
stamps and they stamps often honor people or special events.
These stamps are available for a short time and only a
limited number are printed. |
 |
Where
to Get Stamps?
Once your
child has decided to pursue this hobby spread the word to friends,
family and co-workers and ask them to save their stamps. You will
be surprised at the interesting stamps that you will receive. Don't
forget about people that you know in other states or countries.
Have your write make up a little flyer or letter and mail them out
asking for assistance with their new endeavor.
A great
place to visit with your child is the United States Post Office
which is full of stamp displays that will surely interest your
child. Since stamps are inexpensive, your child can buy some stamps
in the post office. Commemorative stamps are larger than every day
stamps and often feature fun art work. The United States Postal
Service website is a great resource for information about stamps and
stamp collecting. You can also purchase stamps at the local hobby
shop, off of the internet, at auctions, or from magazines.
Required Equipment...
You really do not need a
lot of equipment for stamp collecting. You will need something to
organize and protect the collection. You can use a box, or
preferably some type of an album. The album can simply be a
notebook, binder or you can purchase a stamp album designed
especially for
collecting stamps. Stamps can be attached to the pages using simple
white craft glue or, preferably by using special hinges or mounts
designed to preserve the stamp.
Hinges
are small folded pieces of paper with glue on one side. The reason
for using a hin
ge
is that the stamp can be removed without destroying the stamp or the
album. If you use a box be sure to place the stamps in envelope and
label each to keep organized.
In
addition, some other things that you should consider purchasing to
help with the
collection: Stamp tongs to handle the stamps; magnifying class to
examine the stamp; glassine envelopes to store stamps prior to being
placed in the album; a stamp catalog to help identify stamps.
Stamp
Care...
Always wash
your hands before handling stamps.
It is important that you always use stamp tongs. Although they look
like household tweezers, they do not have sharp edges that could
harm the stamps. This will reduce damage from natural oils on your
skin. Do not put stamps directly on a table always put a piece of
white paper or something similar down first.
How to
Remove Stamps from Envelopes?
Cut out
the stamp leaving a lot of envelope attached. Place what you cut
out into a dish of water. Let it sit for about half an hour until
the stamp is free from the paper. Peel the lose stamp using stamp
tongs. To dry and flatten the stamp put them between two pieces of
folder paper towels and stack a few heavy books on top of them.
Remove when they are dry.
