19 September
Posted by anonym
Stamp collecting has been an avid hobby for many people, dating as far back as the 1860’s. While it was dismissed as a child’s hobby in the early days; stamp collecting quickly grew into an important hobby. It was during the 1920’s; however, that stamp collecting saw it’s greatest increase, both in terms of the number of collectors as well as the value of the stamps themselves.
Today stamps are collected through a variety of means. Many individuals collect stamps as souvenirs from foreign countries while other collectors look for stamps with printing errors; which can be a lucrative investment.
One of the most popular types of stamps to be collected are known as souvenir stamps. These stamps are normally issued in sheets and contain decorative artwork around the edges. They can be issued on a variety of subjects such as people, places or time periods. Many hobbyists like to organize their stamps according to topical subjects. As such, they may or may not collect for value but more for interest. Some of the most popular themes for stamp collections include specific types of animals such as dogs and cats, birds, insects, sports, flowers, countries and famous people.
Postal stationary is also quite popular. This type of stamp includes air letter stamps, post-cards and even stamped envelopes. Some of the oldest examples date back to 1819.
Although they are not related to postage stamps because they are used for different purposes, revenue stamp collecting is quite popular and can be lucrative, depending on several factors. Revenue stamps are attached to various items in order to collect taxes. Some of the most popular items include tobacco and liquor. Revenue stamps date back to the 18th century.
First day covers are some of the most popular stamps to be collected among hobbyists. These are envelopes with stamps attached that are issued and cancelled on the first day that they are officially released. In many cases, this release may be limited to a certain city or geographic area. Official first day covers contain a first day postmark. Unofficial first day covers result from a stamped envelope being mailed on the same day that the stamps are issued. When Prince Charles and Princess Diana married, a first day cover was issued with the stamp commemorating the event.
In some cases, special folders or brochures are given out to accompany First Day of Issue stamps. The booklets may contain special historical information on the stamps in question and are usually given out at special ceremonies. The most coveted first day of ceremony programs are autographed by the individuals who spoke at the ceremony.
Collecting rare stamps can be an expensive hobby; however, it can also be a lucrative collection and very rewarding. Some of the most famous and rare stamps include unused Penny Blacks, Inverted Jennies and Treskilling Yellows. The Penny Black was the first adhesive postage stamp to be issued in the world. It was released in England in 1840 and portrayed young Queen Victoria. A used Penny Black runs about $200 while a unused Penny Black can be worth about $3000. The Inverted Jenny stamp was issued in the United States in 1918 and pictures an airplane in the center of the design. The airplane was accidentally turned upside down in the design, resulting in the name of this now rare and valuable stamp. About 100 of the inverted designs were found. Within the last few years, Inverted Jennies have sold for about $150,000. One of the most expensive, if not the most expensive, stamps in the world is Treskilling Yellow. It originated in Sweden in 1855 and depicts a coat of arms. During an error in the production of the stamp, it was printed in the wrong color. The stamp has sold for more than $1 million.
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