Stamp Collecting Supplies
Only a few stamp collecting supplies are needed to get started in this interesting hobby. The most important tool, however, is a basic knowledge of these small collectibles. Once acquainted with the factors that determine worth and value, collectors can decide the focus of their personal collections. After that, it will be time to gather the necessary tools that collectors use to determine a collectible's value. Careful handling and storage techniques, including appropriate stamp collecting albums, protect the collection's worth.
Like practically any collectible, whether coins, baseball cards, or presidential campaign buttons, the value of any particular stamp depends on its condition, scarcity, and demand. In determining condition, the philatelist (a fancy word for stamp collector) evaluates the color, the centering of the design, perforation, the back, and general appearance. Even a novice can practice evaluating techniques by looking at two identical stamps. A close look shows that they aren't so identical after all. Which of the two has brighter colors? Is the design more evenly centered on one than on the other? Are the teeth on the perforation even or torn? Is the adhesive on the back torn or gummy? What about the general appearance? Are there creases, stains, or tears? By carefully considering each of these questions, the collector most likely will choose one over the other for the collection. But this is only a start. The appropriate stamp collecting supplies will help the collector make better evaluating decisions. "When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee" (Proverbs 2:10-11). In all things, even in philately, knowledge leads to wise decision-making. This is important whether buying, selling, or trading with others.
The other factors when determining worth, scarcity and demand, pretty much go together. To our knowledge, there are only two of the Benjamin Franklin Z-Grill Stamps, issued in 1868, in existence. A private owner has one and the other is owned by the New York Public Library. The private owner traded a block of four Inverted Jennies, previously bought for approximately three million dollars, for his Benjamin Franklin Z-Grill. Only one hundred Inverted Jennies exist. These came about when a sheet for the twenty-four-cent airmail stamp was placed backwards into the printing machine. The extreme scarcity of these two items greatly increases their value to collectors. Notice that age is not a factor used to determine worth. The very first tiny treasure, the British Penny Black, was issued in 1840. In the year 2000, it was valued at approximately $200 (used) and approximately $2000 (unused), a fraction of the value of the Benjamin Franklin Z-Gill and the Inverted Jenny.
With this brief overview of the factors that philatelists use to determine worth, it's time to gather the stamp collecting supplies needed to aid in the evaluation process. Two basic items are a magnifying glass that provides at least five to ten times magnification and a special set of tongs. The magnifying glass helps the philatelist see tiny defects that affect the value. They can be found in a large variety of styles and prices depending on a collector's expertise and requirements. Tongs should be used when handling the tiny collectibles because even the cleanest hands have oil on them. Though tongs look like tweezers, their tips are rounded. The sharp tips of tweezers can crease or even tear the item. Tongs are inexpensive and come in different lengths, tip styles, and finishes. The more expensive tongs, of course, are of a higher quality, but even the cheaper ones should last a long time if they are taken care of properly.
Other important tools are a perforation gauge and a watermark detector. Though a good magnifying glass can help the collector check the perforation around a stamp's edges, a perforation gauge measures the number of perforation teeth in a length of two centimeters. For a tiny collectible like a postage stamp, even this detail can greatly affect the value depending on the demands of the collectors. Watermarks are incorporated into the design of the printing paper to foil counterfeiters. Sometimes the watermark can be seen by looking at the back of the stamp. Special watermark fluid helps the collector to quickly see the watermark and small defects without harming the item.
When purchasing stamp collecting supplies, the collector will also want to select stamp collecting albums to store and preserve his collection. Early albums were little more than hardcover books with printed pages. Each page had a heading and small squares where the appropriate stamp could be affixed. A drawback of the early albums was that new pages could not be added. Today's collectors have many more options. Album pages are often in binders so that additional pages can be added. The paper will be of varying degrees of weight, but almost certainly of archival quality. Current stamp collecting albums come in a variety of sizes and styles. Some companies offer separate components so that the collector can choose the binder and specialized sections separately. The specialized sections are pages for a particular country's issue or for a theme. Each page may have designated spaces for specific stamps. The designs of the stamps may be part of the design or perhaps the space will show the catalog number for that specific item. There may even be an option to purchase a cover for the binder. Mounting the stamps requires the use of either hinges or mounts. Hinges are small bits of glassine paper that can be moistened on both sides. One side is attached to the stamp and the other to the page. Though hinges are fine for used stamps, those in mint condition should be mounted. A mount is a small transparent sleeve that holds the item and then is affixed to the page.
The fun of philately can begin by removing interesting stamps that come in the mailbox. From that starting point, even a novice collector can have fun choosing among the stamp collecting albums to find the perfect storage for her growing collection. With the right tools, the collection can be appropriately evaluated, handled, and preserved.
Like practically any collectible, whether coins, baseball cards, or presidential campaign buttons, the value of any particular stamp depends on its condition, scarcity, and demand. In determining condition, the philatelist (a fancy word for stamp collector) evaluates the color, the centering of the design, perforation, the back, and general appearance. Even a novice can practice evaluating techniques by looking at two identical stamps. A close look shows that they aren't so identical after all. Which of the two has brighter colors? Is the design more evenly centered on one than on the other? Are the teeth on the perforation even or torn? Is the adhesive on the back torn or gummy? What about the general appearance? Are there creases, stains, or tears? By carefully considering each of these questions, the collector most likely will choose one over the other for the collection. But this is only a start. The appropriate stamp collecting supplies will help the collector make better evaluating decisions. "When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee" (Proverbs 2:10-11). In all things, even in philately, knowledge leads to wise decision-making. This is important whether buying, selling, or trading with others.
The other factors when determining worth, scarcity and demand, pretty much go together. To our knowledge, there are only two of the Benjamin Franklin Z-Grill Stamps, issued in 1868, in existence. A private owner has one and the other is owned by the New York Public Library. The private owner traded a block of four Inverted Jennies, previously bought for approximately three million dollars, for his Benjamin Franklin Z-Grill. Only one hundred Inverted Jennies exist. These came about when a sheet for the twenty-four-cent airmail stamp was placed backwards into the printing machine. The extreme scarcity of these two items greatly increases their value to collectors. Notice that age is not a factor used to determine worth. The very first tiny treasure, the British Penny Black, was issued in 1840. In the year 2000, it was valued at approximately $200 (used) and approximately $2000 (unused), a fraction of the value of the Benjamin Franklin Z-Gill and the Inverted Jenny.
With this brief overview of the factors that philatelists use to determine worth, it's time to gather the stamp collecting supplies needed to aid in the evaluation process. Two basic items are a magnifying glass that provides at least five to ten times magnification and a special set of tongs. The magnifying glass helps the philatelist see tiny defects that affect the value. They can be found in a large variety of styles and prices depending on a collector's expertise and requirements. Tongs should be used when handling the tiny collectibles because even the cleanest hands have oil on them. Though tongs look like tweezers, their tips are rounded. The sharp tips of tweezers can crease or even tear the item. Tongs are inexpensive and come in different lengths, tip styles, and finishes. The more expensive tongs, of course, are of a higher quality, but even the cheaper ones should last a long time if they are taken care of properly.
Other important tools are a perforation gauge and a watermark detector. Though a good magnifying glass can help the collector check the perforation around a stamp's edges, a perforation gauge measures the number of perforation teeth in a length of two centimeters. For a tiny collectible like a postage stamp, even this detail can greatly affect the value depending on the demands of the collectors. Watermarks are incorporated into the design of the printing paper to foil counterfeiters. Sometimes the watermark can be seen by looking at the back of the stamp. Special watermark fluid helps the collector to quickly see the watermark and small defects without harming the item.
When purchasing stamp collecting supplies, the collector will also want to select stamp collecting albums to store and preserve his collection. Early albums were little more than hardcover books with printed pages. Each page had a heading and small squares where the appropriate stamp could be affixed. A drawback of the early albums was that new pages could not be added. Today's collectors have many more options. Album pages are often in binders so that additional pages can be added. The paper will be of varying degrees of weight, but almost certainly of archival quality. Current stamp collecting albums come in a variety of sizes and styles. Some companies offer separate components so that the collector can choose the binder and specialized sections separately. The specialized sections are pages for a particular country's issue or for a theme. Each page may have designated spaces for specific stamps. The designs of the stamps may be part of the design or perhaps the space will show the catalog number for that specific item. There may even be an option to purchase a cover for the binder. Mounting the stamps requires the use of either hinges or mounts. Hinges are small bits of glassine paper that can be moistened on both sides. One side is attached to the stamp and the other to the page. Though hinges are fine for used stamps, those in mint condition should be mounted. A mount is a small transparent sleeve that holds the item and then is affixed to the page.
The fun of philately can begin by removing interesting stamps that come in the mailbox. From that starting point, even a novice collector can have fun choosing among the stamp collecting albums to find the perfect storage for her growing collection. With the right tools, the collection can be appropriately evaluated, handled, and preserved.
Stamp Collecting Supplies
![]()
Reviewed by Anonymous
on
2:22 PM
Rating:
