Stamp Collecting
Stamp collecting, not to be confused with philately, is a hobby that millions of enthusiasts throughout the world enjoy. Stamp collectors acquire specific items for preservation in a collection for their personal fulfillment. Their collection may be comprised of postage or revenue (also called fiscal or tax) stamps and their related items. Pieces may share a common theme or relationship. Because they are official marks, the distinctive images on or of stamps are created by issuing authorities in a country or region, and the vast majority have some sort of monetary value attached.
Revenue stamps have been around since before the 1700s. They are stamps issued by a country's government for the purpose of collecting revenue on specific items.
For the purpose of stamp collecting, postage stamps are by far the most popular. Originating in Great Britain circa 1834, the first prepaid envelopes for the purpose of mailing were created in 1940. Following shortly after, the first postage stamp called the Penny Black was created in the same year.
But the hobby is simply not the act of stamp collecting alone; stamp collectors usually delve deeper and explore the history and origin of each piece, as they normally provide insight into the atmosphere of a society at the time of issuance. Therefore, while philatelists do not necessarily collect stamps, most stamp collectors are philatelists as well.
Stamp collecting often proves to be a financially rewarding
hobby for those who bear to part with their collections.
Depending on rarity and age, stamp collections can be
resold at higher values than purchased for profitable
returns.
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