What You Need To Know To Collect US Postage Stamps
You have decided to begin a stamp collection. You further decide to initially collect US postage stamps. There are several things you will want to know before beginning your collection. To begin with, you will want to know the different types of stamps that have been made in the US and for what purpose. This information will help you select US postage stamps for your collection.
Definitive stamps are the most common US postage stamps. Definitive stamps are mass produced and are used for general mailing. One of the most common definitive stamp designs is the American flag. Generally speaking, these stamps are not collectable. The majority of US postage stamps printed after 1930 are fairly easy to get and therefore have little if any value. US postage stamps after 1930 that may be of value include stamps that were printed with errors. You will need to research carefully to determine which of these stamps are worth you acquiring. All countries have different stamp designs. You will find that a common US postage stamp design is a deceased president. US postage stamps do not feature people who are not deceased. Should the U.S. Postal Service print a stamp featuring a person who is still alive, the stamp may indeed prove valuable and highly collectable. Stamps featuring famous people are also common. One of the most popular stamps featured Elvis Presley. The famous person may not necessarily be an American. Another popular stamp featured Princess Diana. Commemorative stamps are definitely more popular now than ever. Commemorative stamps feature depictions of special historical moments or events. A common commemorative stamp is one featuring the current Olympics. Commemorative stamps have a limited run as well as availability period. These stamps are great for collecting, especially if you use themes in your collection organization. These stamps do not necessarily have a monetary value associated with them. Each year the postal service designs and produces special stamps for specific holidays such as the Fourth of July and Christmas. These stamps are also perfect for theme collections, again usually of limited or no value. You will want to find rare stamps in mint condition to add to your collection. These are the US postage stamps that are financially valuable. You will need to do research to find out what the most common US postage stamps are and which ones are the rarest and most prized. You want to understand how to determine the value of US postage stamps as you build your collection. Want additional information? The Smithsonian National Postal Museum is an incredible source for everything you ever wanted to know about US postage stamps. The Museum offers a plethora of information pertaining to US postage stamps and postal services. |