The history of postage stamps is vast, the stamp collecting has long fascinated old and young alike

Stamp collecting History

The first postage stamp, the Penny BlackOne Penny Black, was issued by Britain in 1840. It pictured a young Queen Victoria, was produced without perforations (imperforate), and consequently had to be cut from the sheet with scissors in order to be used. While unused examples of the "Penny Black" are quite scarce, used examples are common, and may be purchased for $25 to $150, depending upon condition.

Children and teenagers were early collectors of stamps in the 1860s and 1870s. Many adults dismissed it as a childish pursuit.

Image:Stamp FK 1891 hap-400px.jpgleft150pxthumbQueen Victoria's profile was a staple on 19th century stamps of the British Empire; here on a half-penny of the Falkland Islands, 1891.

During the late 1800s many of those collectors, now adults, began to systematically study the available postage stamps and published research works on their production, plate flaws, etc.

It was not until the 1920s that publicity about valuable stamps encouraged a large increase in the number of stamp collectors. This rapid increase in postage stamp values was largely due to very few of the older stamps being saved in good condition. Especially difficult to find were pairs, triples, and large blocks of older stamps.

Because many U.S. stamp issues of the 1920s rose rapidly in value, during the 1930s many American collectors stockpiled mint U.S. stamps with the hopes of selling them for a sizeable profit in a few years' time. This never materialized. Even today, more than 60 years later, one can find many 1930s U.S. issues in mint condition for close to face value, and many stamp dealers and collectors still use stamps issued as far back as the 1930s for postage when mailing letters.

Most U.S. postage stamps issued since the 1930s are easy to obtain and have minimal value. Some high face value stamps, such as the $2.60 United States Graf Zeppelin issued in 1930, are worth substantial amounts of money. Other stamps issued since 1930 that are usually worth something are souvenir sheets from popular countries, hard to find plate number coils, and errors in printing.

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The History Of Stamp Collecting

Stamp Collecting: a Royal beginning

Collecting postage stamps has long fascinated old and young alike. Both have derived enjoyment and knowledge. President Franklin D. Roosevelt amassed an incredible stamp collection during his lifetime. There have been many collections, sold over the years, that have realized more than $1 million dollars each for their owners. At present time, the United States Post Office estimates there are nearly 16 million people in the United States alone who collect postage stamps. In his book, Fun and Profit in Stamp Collecting, Herman Hearst Jr. explains how the hobby really got started.

"Parents encourage their youngsters to collect (stamps), knowing that in philately (the collection and study of postage and imprinted stamps. The children were taking a sweet pill that under its sugar coating of pleasure was teaching history, economics, sociology, geography, and, most important of all, a knowledge and awareness of the world around them.

"But a king made stamp collecting respectable for adults. King George V of England was proud to exhibit his collection in his own country and abroad. In 1926 New York put on the greatest philatelic exhibition the world has ever seen, and names that were great in public esteem, politically, and industrially, were represented". That was the real beginning of stamp collecting as we know it in the United States.

All types of collections

As opposed to other collectibles, stamp collecting offers an immense variety of possibilities. Some of the major categories are listed and briefly described below:

1. Mint Single Stamps - Unused.
   Stamps that have just come off of the press and has not been used as postage.
2. Used Single Stamps.
3. Pre-Cancelled Stamps.
   Stamps that have been cancelled by the post office before use by the buyer. Businesses generally utilize pre-cancelled stamps in large mailings.
4. Topical Collections.
   Collections consisting of single stamps relating to a particular topic. For example, one might collect all stamps worldwide that depict flowers, insects, kings, sports, flags, nurses, photography, space exploration, Boy Scouts - the list is endless.
5. Covers
   When a stamp is affixed to an envelope, it is called a cover. Cover collecting is pursued both in the United States and foreign countries.
6. First Day Covers.
   Most countries, including the United States, offer First Day Covers. Each time a new stamp is issued, the country of origin offers to cancel it on cover with a special cancellation which states "First Day of Issue" and the date.
7. Mint Sheets.
   Many collectors opt to collect unused stamps in complete sheets.
8. Revenues.
   These are not postage stamps: they are stamps used on such things as legal documents, wines, liquor, and playing cards.
9. Postal Cards.
   Both used and unused from the United States and around the world.
10. Souvenir Sheets.
    Many counties issue Souvenir Sheets - designed especially for stamp collectors - to commemorate certain events. The United States has issued nearly a dozen, one of which was in 1976 for the U.S. Bicentennial Celebration.
11. Plate Blocks.
    These are four or more stamps joined together with the printing plate number in the margin.

These types of stamp collections represent only a smattering of the total possibilities, which are limited only by the collector's imagination. Within each of these categories there are even more specific areas of interest that can consume a lifetime of searching.

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The Interesting History of Postage Stamps

The history of postage stamps is vast, as each country around the world began using postal stamps at different times. However, if you want to get a brief background to the world of stamps and philately, please continue to read on and we will delve further into this topic. The very first postage stamp was issued in Great Britain on May 6, 1840, bearing the head of Queen Victoria. Queen Victoria's profile remained on stamps for the next 60 years, with 100 different versions to follow during this time period.

Brazil was the second nation in the world to come out with postage stamps. Finally, the United States enters the scene in 1847, with the first two stamps featuring George Washington and Ben Franklin. In 1852, the first pre-stamped envelopes are sold, which are followed 19 years later by pre-stamped postcards. The pre-stamped postcards were sold for only one penny.

In 1855, it became required in the United States for all mail to be prepaid using postage stamps. Some mail up until this point was still being mailed without the use of stamps, with the recipient being charged for the cost of delivery. In 1857, the first perforated stamps made their debut in the United States, which was a blessing because people used to have to cut apart stamps for use from sheets of paper. By 1860, practically all countries around the world had postage stamps for mail delivery.

In 1869, pictorial stamps were introduced in the United States that actually showcased something other than a deceased person. In 1893, commemorative stamps were issued depicting scenes of Columbus' voyage to the New World, and in 1900, the first booklet of stamps was issued for sale. In 1940, Booker T. Washington became the first African-American man issued on any stamp. Moving forward to 1974, the first self-adhesive stamp was issued in America. Of course, prices on stamps have changed through the years, as have the various pictorial scenes and the manner in which stamps are produced and presented to the public for sale.

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