So, you think you might have caught the stamp collecting bug! Maybe you’ve inherited a collection, or perhaps you were inspired by our previous post on why people collect stamps. Considering this, you might be wondering, “What postage stamps should I collect?”
Don’t worry, fellow philatelist-to-be, I’ve got you covered! You’ll be glad to know…
… there is no one-size-fits-all answer to what stamps you should collect. The best stamps for you are the ones that spark joy, align with your interests, or meet your collecting goals. Whether you’re drawn to colourful designs, historical themes, or stamps from a specific country, the choice is yours!
There’s a whole world out there and there is a mind-boggling range of ideas of what you could collect! I want to share some popular, and some less common, collecting themes in the hope there might be something here that inspires you.
1. Country-Specific Collections
Country-specific collections focus on stamps from one or more particular nations, offering a deep dive into their history, culture, and artistic styles. I’ve learnt a lot about the issues countries face, their major historical events and the people who have inspired or led them, just from studying the images on the stamps. Here’s some country-inspired collection ideas:
- Globetrotting without a passport: Collect stamps from countries you’ve visited or dream of visiting. It’s like a passport for your stamp album! Imagine flipping through pages filled with colourful stamps from exotic locations, each one a tiny window into a different culture and landscape. When I travel to a foreign country I try to get some stamps to take home with me.
- National: Focus on stamps from your home country. You’ll be amazed at how much you learn about your nation’s history and culture. From historical figures to natural landmarks, your country’s stamps tell a rich story of its heritage and achievements. If you collect where you live, it is a lot easier to get started than if you start somewhere further afield. For me GB was a natural starter.
- One from everywhere: Aim to collect one stamp from every country in the world. This ambitious project offers a fascinating overview of global postal history and design. It’s like creating a miniature United Nations in your stamp album! I can imagine it is super hard selecting which stamp you want to represent some countries. That could be challenge in itself. This collection can be especially rewarding as you discover stamps from countries you may have never heard of before, each one telling a unique story about its place of origin. You could make it even more challenging by collecting a red or blue stamp from every country!
2. Thematic Collections
Thematic collections are organized around a specific subject or topic, regardless of the country of origin. These collections tell a story or explore a subject through stamps from around the world. Animal and plant stamps have always fascinated me so naturally I have quite a few! Here’s some ideas for stamp themes:
- Animal lover: Wildlife stamps are incredibly popular. From cute penguins to lions, there’s a whole zoo waiting in your album! These stamps often feature beautiful artwork and can be a great way to learn about biodiversity and conservation efforts around the world. Some may even raise money for conservation.
- Sports fan: Olympic stamps or those featuring various sports can be a great way to combine your passions. Collect stamps commemorating major sporting events, legendary athletes, or showcasing different sports from around the globe.
- Movie and TV buff: Many countries issue stamps featuring famous films, TV shows, or characters. Harry Potter, Star Wars, Disney, and even Pokémon stamps are hugely popular. You name it, it’s probably on a stamp somewhere in the world. These collections can be a fun way to celebrate your favourite on-screen adventures while exploring how different countries interpret pop culture.
- Bookworm: Literature-themed stamps are perfect for book lovers. Collect stamps featuring famous authors like Jane Austen, or beloved book series like Lord of the Rings. These stamps often commemorate literary milestones or showcase iconic characters and scenes. Book and author-inspired stamps are some of The Posted Stamp’s most popular stamps!
3. Time Period Collections
Time period collections focus on stamps from a specific era, offering a unique lens through which to view history. I never really considered making a collection of stamps from only the year I was born, but I think it would be pretty cool, especially if they come with a postage mark from my birthday!
- History: Focus on stamps from a specific era, like World War II or the Victorian period. These collections can offer fascinating insights into historical events, fashion, and societal changes. It’s like building a time capsule, one stamp at a time.
- Nostalgia: Collect stamps from the year you were born or another significant date. I’m not giving anything away as to what year I would collect 😉. This can be a meaningful way to connect with your personal history and explore what was happening in the world during important times in your life.
- Postmarks: Find postmarks from the day you were born or other meaningful dates.
4. Artistic Collections
Artistic collections celebrate the visual appeal of stamps, focusing on their design elements and aesthetic qualities.
- Art aficionado: Many stamps feature reproductions of famous artworks. Create your own miniature art gallery! From Renaissance masterpieces to modern art, stamps can be a unique way to appreciate and learn about art history. One day I’m going to have a mini stamp art gallery!
- An eye for design: Look for stamps with unique or innovative designs. The Netherlands, for example, is known for its modern, creative stamp designs. These collections can be visually stunning and showcase the evolution of graphic design in philately.
- Colour fantastic: Build a collection based on colour schemes. You could focus on monochromatic stamps, create a rainbow collection, or choose a favourite colour and collect stamps in various shades of it. This approach can result in a visually striking and cohesive collection.
5. Topical Collections
Unlike thematic collections, topical collections focus on stamps that depict a specific subject in the design, rather than the broader theme or story behind the stamp.
- Love for nature: Collect stamps featuring flowers, trees, or landscapes. These stamps often showcase the natural beauty of different countries. As someone who is interested in the natural sciences, I’ve often wondered if I could find stamps to represent the plant kingdom; perhaps a stamp per plant family or displaying the evolutionary relationships between the species represented on the stamps.
- Take to the stars: There are tons of stamps commemorating space exploration milestones. From the first moon landing to the latest Mars missions, space-themed stamps can be an exciting way to follow our journey beyond Earth.
- Car enthusiast: Many countries issue stamps featuring classic or modern automobiles. These collections can be a thrilling ride through automotive history, showcasing everything from vintage classics to cutting-edge electric vehicles.
- There’s always trains…
6. Specialized Collections
Specialized collections delve deep into the technical aspects of stamps, focusing on variations, errors, or specific printing techniques.
- Detail-oriented: Dive deep into a single stamp issue, collecting variations in colour, paper, perforations, and more. This type of collection requires patience and a keen eye but can be incredibly rewarding for those who love to spot subtle differences. Machins are just this for me.
- Puzzle solver: Try collecting stamps that help piece together historical events or correspondence between notable figures. It’s like being a philatelic detective, using stamps to unravel stories from the past.
- Error seeker: Seek out stamps with printing errors, such as inverted watermarks, missing colours, or misprinted colours. These “mistakes” can be fascinating and sometimes valuable additions to your collection. And they are often amongst the most expensive stamps to buy.
- Postmark enthusiast: Focus on unusual or rare postmarks. This could include first-day covers, special event cancellations, or postmarks from remote locations. I have a postmark which is from the NHS and tells us to ‘stay healthy’. At the time I just thought it was a very neatly presented postmark in the time when ‘the dreaded pen’ cancellation seemed to be everywhere. It was dated December 2019; we all know what happened a few months later…
7. Unusual Stamp Editions
For collectors who love the quirky and unique, unusual stamp editions offer a world of fascinating possibilities. This is an area of stamps I want to invest more time – and money (!) – in.
- Sensory collector: Some countries have issued “scratch and sniff” stamps with various scents. For example, Switzerland released a chocolate-scented stamp in 2001, and New Zealand had a honey-scented stamp in 2019.
- Shape shifter: Collect stamps with unusual shapes. Tonga is famous for its fruit-shaped stamps, while Bhutan has issued 3D stamps and even playable stamp phonograph records. I have a ‘record’ postcard, but I have never tried playing it.
- Material maven: Look for stamps made from unconventional materials. Austria issued a stamp made from embroidered fabric in 2005, and there have been stamps made from wood, plastic, and even Moroccan meteorite dust!
Remember, there’s no rule saying you have to stick to just one type of collection. Many stamp collectors have multiple themed collections or simply collect whatever catches their eye. I have too many collections to count; Bermuda, Australia and Great Britain; specialist machins and plants. There’s also the one’s I would like to start; one from every country, unusual stamps, soil…
In the end, just collect whatever you like
Choosing what stamps to collect is a personal journey. It’s about finding the corner of the philatelic world that resonates with you. Whether you’re drawn to the artistry, the history, or simply the joy of the hunt, there’s a perfect stamp collection waiting for you to start.
Remember, the best part about stamp collecting is that it’s your hobby. There are no strict rules about what you should or shouldn’t collect. So go ahead, explore different themes, and find the stamps that make your heart skip a beat. Why not just collect what you like? No themes, topics or subjects – just pretty stamps. Happy collecting!
Please leave your comments below on what you are thinking about collecting or are already collecting. I’d love to hear all about it. Perhaps I’ll feature your collection one day!