Revenue from the sale of stamps fund many worthwhile projects. Early in the twentieth century, the first philatelic exposition souvenir sheets were issued to help pay for some of the world’s first stamp shows. Most European countries today issue semi-postals
Junior Duck Stamps Read More »
There are several factors to take into account when evaluating the challenge of collecting any given country. First, how difficult is the country to complete using the major catalog for that country? Second, how pricey is the material from that country? How much will it cost to complete (or at least make a strong representative collection)?
United States Is the Hardest Country to Collect Read More »
Much of the history of stamp collecting is really the history of stamp collecting in the German speaking part of Europe. Deutschophones collect stamps at a far greater rate than any other cultural unit. At one time in Germany, nearly everyone had a stamp collection with collectors numbering in the millions. This was from an
German Area Philately’s Influence on the Hobby Read More »
The unimaginable has begun to happen. After growing at rates approaching 100% per year the last few years, the market for better People’s Republic of China stamps has cooled, and prices are down as much as 30% in the last few months. There are several reasons for this. First, the Chinese economy has definitely slowed
Can China Retain its Philatelic Growth? Read More »
Postally speaking, the United Nations is an invention
The Stamps of the United Nations Read More »
Considering their rarity and value, Stradivarius violins seem to be the most carelessly handled items in the world. There are about 600 of them, and in the last three years, one was left in a cab and two on trains (the latest story of lost and found is here). The stories follow a pattern
Postal stationary has always languished in popularity. In the earliest years of our hobby most albums had spaces for Cut Squares (the stamp portion of a mint entire envelope cut away from the envelope and collected on its own). But with the exception of US and German Area philately there are few postal stationery collectors
Cut Squares and Entires Read More »
There is no country that is collected in a more specialized way than are the stamps of Austria. Most specialists of other countries seek cancels and covers and blocks and all kinds of specialty items. But Austrian specialists go far further. Austrian specialty catalogs list paper varieties along with varieties listed by thickness as measured by a micrometer.
The stamps of China need no promotion. Over the last twenty years the increases in prices and popularity has been astounding. Prices have risen geometrically and the number of China collectors both here and around the world has grown dramatically as well. I recently worked on a wonderful China consignment and it rekindled my interest.
The Stamps of China Read More »