What you need?

The first thing your stamps need is a home. There are literally hundreds of albums on the market, and the choice is yours. However, loose-leaf albums have the advantage, in that you can add new pages as your collection grows. Two affixing methods are available: stamp hinges, which are easy to use and very inexpensive, or mounts, which will protect the gum from becoming disturbed in any way; so many consider the latter preferable for mint or unused stamps. Your final basic accessory is stamp tongs - a special tweezer-like tool enabling you to handle your stamps safely. Many enjoy examining their stamps through a magnifying glass, as well.

Popular ways of collecting

In addition to single mint stamps, many specialize in collecting one or all four-inscription corner blocks of each issue. The selvedge area of these special blocks of stamps contains the names of the stamp’s printer and designer. If printed by the steel-engraving technique, it will also contain a specific plate number. Corner blocks are a particularly popular way of collecting stamps. Another highly popular philatelic item to collect is a first day cover - an envelope to which a new issue is affixed and cancelled on the first day of issue. Most postal administrations, issue official first day covers that also bear an attractive cachet or design relating to the stamp issue.

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