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  Guide to stamp collection management software

Stamp collecting is a very popular hobby. Many people enjoy collecting stamps from around the world and from different time periods. Stamp collections can grow increasingly large and become very valuable.
 
If you want to manage or organize your stamp collection, then stamp collection software is a good idea for you. This will allow you to digitally sort your collection and keep an accurate record of your inventory.
 
Most software might even let you create a wish list of stamps that you would like to eventually add to your collection. My favorite stamp collection management software is EzStamps. EzStamps allows me to input customized information about my collection that I can later easily access through user friendly searches.

Stamp collections can get really expansive, and knowing how valuable some collections can be, collection owners would be smart by acquiring management software. If you are considering purchasing stamp collection management software, you might want to start your search with EzStamps. Play around with their features and compare with other software to determine which product best suits your individual needs. Good luck!
 

Stamp Collecting

Find Stamp Values Online

Heres an easy way to find a stamps value without using a catalog by searching online. Just follow these simple steps and search the stamps at an auction online.

When Issued?

The first step is to narrow down the identity of your stamp so that you can search for it more efficiently.

Read the inscriptions on your stamp. They often say when they were issued and help to identify the stamp.

All stamps of the 19th century were engraved  printed from etched printing plates. The design is a series of solid lines of color, similar to the central portraits on American paper money.

Non-engraved stamps are from the 20th century and these have the same appearance as pictures in glossy magazines. They are often in full-color.

Commemorative or Definitive

Nearly all stamps that commemorate a specific event were issued in the 20th century, and commemoratives are nearly double the size of the ordinary postage stamps. The first US commemoratives were issued in 1892 to celebrate Columbus arrival in the Americas.

Definitives are generally printed over and over again in large quantities throughout the years as needed, while commemoratives go through one printing of a certain quantity.

Search Online Stamp Auctions

Once you have narrowed down the search for your stamp, go online to a large auction site like eBay to search for comparable stamps offered at auction. Note that this process can work for first day covers, postal cards and other philatelic items.

There are many online auction houses, but the largest is eBay so thats the place to start. However, you can use a similar strategy on just about every auction service.

Stamp News

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    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