So you have already decided to collect stamps. Now comes the question, just what do I want to collect? That can be a problem, as there are so many different collecting areas. So lets take a look at a few of them.

Probably collecting U.S. stamps would be the easiest area to get into, as you have all the mail coming to your family, and try to get friends and relatives to save stamps to you. U.S. stamps are easily acquired. and there are hundreds of earlier stamps from the U.S. that can be purchased for pennies.

If you are just starting to collect, I would suggest that you buy packets of stamps. and I say to buy the largest packet of stamps that you can afford, Because if you buy several smaller packets, you will end up with a lot of duplication. and because they will be mostly common stamps, it will be hard to trade them off with your stamp collecting friends. Also look at the stamp that you are buying, Buy the best looking stamp you can. check it for color and condition. It is O.K. to put a faulty stamp in your album, but try to replace it with a good stamp as soon as possible.

If your funds are limited, collect used stamps, especially with light cancels. as the cost is smaller and you can acquire a nice collection for a small amount of money. If you do want to collect mint stamps, Try visiting the Philatelic window at the Post Office. Post Offices in larger cities have a philatelic window and they sell stamps that are not available over the counter.

Now lets talk about collecting Topicals, By that I mean stamps of a topic of interest to you. There are a hundred different topics that can be collected, such as Cats on stamps, dogs, horses, flowers, boy scout, planes, trains, animals, and numerous others. Pick out a topic that you like and when at a stamp store or a stamp show get into dealers penny boxs. and pick out what stamps you like, This is a good inexpensive way to make a nice topical collection. At most stamp shows there are kids tables where you are allowed to go through boxs of stamps free. Or you can write to a stamp dealer and request packets of the topics that you like. There are many stamp dealers listed on the internet, I might add that Gayland Bird, who operates this webpage also sells packet of stamps, Having know Gayland for years, I say that he is a good dealer to do business with.

Collecting general foreign stamps is one of the best ways to build a nice collection, and there are thousands of stamps that can be found for pennies each. again visit the dealers penny boxes and kids boxes at the stamp shows.

I hope that this will be of some help in getting started putting together a nice collection of stamps. Happy Lickin & Stickin.