Hello, lovely people!
When you first get into stamp collecting, all the terms, types and texts can be a bit confusing. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there! This post is for you if you’re wanting to know about all the sources from you can gather your new knowledge from.
There are numerous ways to learn more about stamp collecting – which go beyond this website of course! You can join local philatelic societies, visit stamp shows and exhibitions, explore online resources like stamp collecting websites and forums, or browse books and magazines in your local libraries and shops. Additionally, national postal services like Royal Mail and USPS often provide information on their websites, and you might find valuable knowledge from experienced collectors in your own family or social circle.
Curious? Good! Join me as I dive into more detail about where you can go to find out more information about the world of postage stamps.
1. Join a club/society
Imagine a whole group of people who get as excited about stamps as you do! Probably even more so to begin with! Philatelic societies are just that. They’re clubs for stamp lovers, and they’re brilliant for meeting like-minded folks and learning loads. Try not to get overwhelmed by the depth of knowledge these people have about stamps, just soak it up, be curious and they’ll be only too glad to do most of the talking!
💡 Check out these websites to for a comprehensive list of UK philatelic societies, and this list of affiliated clubs from the Association of British Philatelic Societies to see if there is one near you.
Joining a stamp club is certainly on my to do list for the moment.
2. Go along to a stamp show/fair
Fancy a day out that’s a bit different? Stamp shows are like craft fairs for philatelists (that’s the fancy word for ‘stamp collectors’). You can see rare stamps, chat with dealers, and maybe even find a special stamp to start or continue your collection.
💡 Here is a page with a good list of UK-based stamp shows.
This may sound terrible, but I’ve never actually been to a stamp fair! There has never been any near me save for the occasional antiques fair. Another thing that is on my to do list!
3. Libraries and Museums
Next time you’re at the library, why not pick up a book on stamps? Quite often they have the latest World catalogues to check more up to date stamps. This can be a nice complement to older catalogues of your own. Why not plan a visit to a postal museum? It’s a lovely way to spend an afternoon, especially on a rainy day!
💡 The Postal Museum in London is a must-visit for stamp enthusiasts.
Often local heritage museums have a display of postal ephemera, or like my local museum, have some cool postage stamp ephemera related to them!
4. (Free) online resources
Feel inspired rather than doomed by your social media and news feeds; follow and subscribe to those in the know and those who regularly post about their collections and stamp collecting experiences online. There are wonderful websites and forums dedicated to stamp collecting, just take your pick. Here’s a few of my favourites:
💡 Punk Philatelist has to be one of my favourite stamp collecting blogs. A down to earth discussion of all things philatelic, it’s a fresh take on stamp collecting.
💡 The Postal Museum Blog has a lot of great articles which explore the postal system more widely.
💡 If you want up to date information on the latest GB issues, then the Norvil Philatelics Blog is a must read.
💡 Dispatches by Stanley gives insight on interesting stamp stories from around the world.
💡 And of course, don’t forget to check out this very website; The Posted Stamp! We’re continually adding new content and we hope you will join us. Please sign up for our free newsletter – You’ve Got E-Mail – for all the latest ramblings.
There are some really nice resources scattered across the web, but not really anywhere that brings them together. This is partially what this website is going to be about; to bring together the wonderful things others have written! For both old and young alike!
5. A local stamp shop
Stamp shops are few and far between now so do try and pop into yours when you can. Chat with the owner – they’re usually bursting with knowledge and stories.
💡 Find your nearest shop through the Philatelic Traders Society though not all are listed on here. A Google search is probably your best bet.
Most dealers operate solely online now as physical shops are no longer viable. Here’s mine. There may be a local option and they may be delighted to have you round for a cup of coffee and a chat about stamps!
6. (Physical) magazines and books
There’s nothing quite like curling up with a good physical book or magazine and a cup of tea or coffee. Stamp collecting publications are full of fascinating stories and beautiful images. If you want a general overview, start with a books on stamp collecting; some of these can even be had for free online. *Note: this list includes affiliate links.
💡 Magazines include; Gibbon’s Stamp Monthly
💡 The World Encyclopaedia of Stamps and Stamp Collecting* seems to be about the only easily available book for starting out with stamp collecting
💡 First Class: A History of Britain in 36 Postage Stamps gets good reviews
💡 There are plenty of second hand books out there. I have the Observer Book of Stamp Collecting which covers all the basics.
Not going to lie, many books on stamp collecting are hardly inspirational to a modern audience. If you are looking for something a bit more modern, then I these books look much more exciting:
💡 So Many Snail Mail Stickers because you know, we all need stamp and mail-inspired stickers
💡 Snail Mail: Celebrating the Art of Handwritten Correspondence*
💡 Happy Mail* for more happy mail of course
7. Go to an auction, or bid/attend one online
Even if you’re not ready to buy just yet, browsing auction catalogues can be exciting. Possibly a little too much so.
💡 eBay has to be at the top for online auctions and ease of use/access
💡 UPA stamp auctions is one of the biggest stamp auctioneers around. They even still do approvals, but more on that another day.
💡 I’ve used Taylor’s Auction in Montrose (Scotland) for buying stamps in the past and it was all straight forward
Auctions are super exciting. I always get a buzz when taking part in them. However it can be very easy to spend too much money. Don’t let FOMO – the fear of missing out – take over. Set yourself a budget and stick to it. I’ve been there and done that and don’t have the t-shirt because I ended up spending too much!
On the other hand non-specialist auctions can sometimes hold hidden gems available for a bargain. Local ones can be great for local mail ephemera, great if you are interested in letters and postcards.
8. Royal Mail website and other postal providers
Our very own Royal Mail has a wealth of information about stamps, past and present. It’s a great place to learn about new releases and the stories behind them.
💡 Explore the Royal Mail Stamps section for the latest issues.
💡 It’s worth checking out WOPA for European issues
I love going to the Royal Mail website and seeing all the latest stamp issues. I just pick my favourite issues and go from there. I mostly collect used UK; mint stamps are a special treat 😁
9. Take a course
Fancy a bit of structured learning? Some places offer courses on stamp collecting.
💡 The APS seems to be the only place that offers on demand stamp collecting courses
💡 There’s some fun looking, arty courses on Skillshare like this one on creating envelopes
I’ve never taken a course on stamp collecting and generally chose instead to learn things myself. However they might be a good investment if you are just getting started.
10. Download an app
In between running errands and crafting projects, why not browse stamps on your phone? There are some brilliant apps out there for identifying and cataloguing stamps.
💡 One of the best ways actually doesn’t need an app – open up Chrome on a mobile device, tap the little icon on the search bar that looks like a camera, take a photo of your stamp with your phone camera and do a Google image search. This method will find most stamps.
💡 If you want something a little more targeted/browsable then there are plenty of apps to choose from such as ‘Stamp Identifier’ and ‘World Stamps’ powered by the Colnect collector community.
Personally I don’t use apps, but the Google search function is super handy. It’s great for when you don’t want to dig out the world catalogues and hunt for those weird stamps which are not clear where they came from! It’s also handy because it’s typically quite easy from the search results to work out a rough value as well.
11. Ask family and friends
Have a chat with your family and friends. You’d be surprised how many people have a stamp collection tucked away somewhere.
Dads and grandads are often treasure troves of philatelic knowledge and stories. If I had a £1 for every time people said they remember their dad being a stamp collector/have their dad’s stamp collection…I’d be a millionaire 😆
12. YouTube and podcasts
With the explosion of channels and videos, it is no surprise there is a rich plethora of visual and audio content about everything postage stamp
💡 Produced by the Punk Philatelist, ‘Stamps aren’t Cool’ is a fun channel dedicated to bringing stamps into the 21st century.
💡 Graham Beck has a fantastic channel, ‘Exploring Stamps’. Although he is not making videos at the moment, it a rich archive of interesting and entertaining content
13. Newsletters
There is of course only one newsletter you need as a postage stamp collector – You’ve Got E-Mail – from none other than yours truly… 🤣 It’s completely free. OK, I know, there might be others. I’m currently signing up to all the free ones I can find and I will report on the best. TBC
So there you have it, my curious friends! The world of stamp collecting is waiting for you to explore. It’s a hobby that combines history, art, and the joy of collecting – perfect for those of us who appreciate the little things in life. Why not give it a go? You might just stick with it! (Pun very much intended!)
Happy collecting!
Annette
Make sure and check out my list of tools and and accessories you will need to get started!