Postal History

US 499 of Texas Illustrated Cover Brackettville R852	-	$9.99 $29.99	21m
Elusive, #1278a Booklet Pane, Dull Gum, FDC	-	$39.99	1h 14m
1850'S 3c STAMPLESS COVER, NY CANCEL E.P. FURNALD BRUSH	-	$9.99	4h 57m
1909 2c WASHINGTON COVER, HAND & HAND, RACINE, WI CANCEL	2	$9.99	5h 3m
Bureau of Nursing Service Cover Washington DC 1917	-	$24.50	5h 18m
Fontenelle WYO Advertising Cover to Pendleton OR 1937 S	-	$24.50	5h 20m
Averill Grocery Co. Advertising Cover Cedar Rapids IA t	-	$24.50	5h 21m
F. A. Rohrer Cigars, Tobacco & Cigarettes Advertising C	-	$24.50	5h 22m
Knox PA Jul 24, 1902 Cover to Sidney New South Wales Se	-	$24.50	5h 25m
US 304 on U393 United Stamp Co Registered Cover to Syra	-	$24.50	5h 26m
The Public School Pleasant Township Grant County Ind So	-	$24.50	5h 28m
1893 2c COLUMBIAN EXPO ON COVER, BALTIMORE, MD CANCEL	-	$2.50	5h 29m
1918 3c WASHINGTON ON COVER, CASTALIA, IA CANCEL	-	$2.50	5h 30m
War Department Headquarters Prisoner of War Camp Fort B	-	$24.50	5h 30m
1920'S 2c WASHINGTON ON COVER	-	$5.00	5h 31m
US 357 Blue Paper on Vintage Picture Postcard w SPA Cer	-	$47.50	5h 32m
Binder Twine Cooper Cordage Co Cricket Trade Mark Adver	1	$9.50	5h 34m
Barrett House Hotel Advertising Cover New York SCARCE	3	$21.05	5h 36m
ACL Perfin on Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co. Advertis	1	$9.50	5h 37m
Windsor Vt Cover to London 1901 Forwarded by Baring Bro	-	$9.50	5h 38m
The Iron Age Advertising Cover 1899 Southington CT Rece	-	$9.50	5h 40m
1874 S#U82 3c WASHINGTON ENV USED, W 2c WASHINGTON STAMP	-	$0.99	5h 41m
US 295 on Adam, Meldrum & Anderson Advertising Cover Pa	-	$9.50	5h 41m
1895 S#U294 1c FRANKLIN ENVELOPE USED, FENTON, MI CANCEL	-	$0.99	5h 42m
US Receiving Ship Great Lakes IL Cancel on Cover 1918	-	$9.50	5h 42m
San Francisco Expo Cancel on Ladies Cover	-	$9.50	5h 43m
1903 S#U362 2c WASHINGTON ENV USED, FLINT, MI CANCEL	-	$0.99	5h 44m
US 304 on Cover Sonoma CA 1907 to Shrewsbury Shropshire	-	$9.50	5h 44m
Plant Wood's Seeds for Superior Crops Advertising Vinta	-	$9.50	5h 46m
Hand Painted Cover by School Boy Addison Maine 1921	-	$9.50	5h 47m
First Marine Division Fleet Marine Force Cancel on Offi	-	$9.50	5h 49m
First Marine Division Fleet Marine Force Cancel on Offi	-	$9.50	5h 50m
U S Navy Cancel on Official Cover 1943 Navy Department	-	$9.50	5h 51m
Description of ROTC Letter in War Department Cover Cha	-	$9.50	5h 53m
Navy Department Office of the Post Quartermaster Marine	-	$9.50	5h 54m
Navy Department Commanding Officer Company "F" 1st Mari	-	$9.50	5h 56m
L. Inglee & Co Commission Merchants Embossed Advertisin	-	$9.50	5h 58m
G. O. Anderson & Sons Florist Advertising Cover Arlingt	-	$9.50	5h 59m

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Stamp News

The best thing about starting a stamp collection is how easy it can be. Encyclopedia of United States Stamps and Stamp Collecting Stamp Collecting - Beginners Guide to Stamps - About Guide Postage ...Enter the fascinating world of stamp collecting!

Stamp History

The first postage stamp, the 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 its condition. Children and teenagers were early collectors of stamps in the 1860s and 1870s. Many adults dismissed it as a childish pursuit. During the late 1800s many of those collectors, as adults, began to systematically study the available postage stamps and published research works on their production, plate flaws, etc. Some stamps such as the triangular issues of the Cape of Good Hope became legendary. 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 because very few of the older stamps were 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 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.

Stamp Collecting

Collecting is not the same as philately, which is the study of stamps. A philatelist often does, but need not, collect the objects of study, nor is it necessary to closely study what one collects. Many casual collectors enjoy accumulating stamps without worrying about the tiny details, but the creation of a large or comprehensive collection generally requires some philatelic knowledge. Stamp collectors are an important source of revenue for some small countries who create limited runs of elaborate stamps designed mainly to be bought by stamp collectors. The stamps produced by these countries far exceed the postal needs of the countries. Some collectors, observing the generally rising prices of rare stamps, have taken to philatelic investment. Rare stamps are among the most portable of tangible investments, and are easy to store

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Postal History