Stamp collecting a keep busy activity
I can’t think how boring it would be if it was really bad weather and we were “trapped” in our tourer. We take along Scrabble, which lives in the caravan as well as books. I always take along some knitting or hand sewing. I have collected stamps for about 50 years now. Stamp collecting is the perfect activity to take along when touring.
Is Stamp collecting suitable for children?
Children love the interaction of stamp collecting, using a magnifying glass to check the pictures on the stamps often inspires conversations.
- Stamps on paper and off paper are cheap to buy on Ebay.
- Storing stamps and albums does not take up a lot of space.
- Sorting and looking up activities to put them in order is good for the mind.
- The history which goes with a collection of stamps can be talked about.
- Specialist collections can also be started i.e., ships, planes, animals etc.
- Stamp collecting for a certain country is often more rewarding than collecting world stamps.
What do you need to start stamp collecting?
A stamp collecting album if you are collecting world stamps is useful. It divides the album into countries and is easy for children to start putting stamps under countries. I just collect South African and Great Britain stamps. I use graph paper which I store in plastic page sleeves in a file.
- Stamps for stamp collecting can be bought in numerous online stores. I have only bought stamps from Ebay sellers. Kilo ware is a good way of buying stamps. This way you get a lot of stamps which are sometimes on paper.
- Stamp collecting albums for children wanting to collect worldwide stamps can be bought for around £6.00 a book on amazon.
- Stamp collecting hinges are also available online or on Ebay. They are the specially folded little pieces of gummed paper which are used to stick the stamps in an album.
- Soaking the paper off the back of stamps requires some good kitchen roll and a pile of books to keep the stamps flat.
- Stamps that need sorting into sets can be bought as off paper stamps for a couple of pounds.
How do you find out about the stamps?
Stanley Gibbons is a shop which specialises in everything stamps. It has been going for many years and has the best Philatelic stock available.
Stamp collecting new word “philately”which means collecting and studying stamps.
Stanley Gibbons have a wonderful online catalogue which you can use to check and organise your stamps.
How do I get the paper off the back of the stamps?
- This can also be done while touring. You just need a bowl with some warm not hot water in it.
- Place the stamps with paper on the back into the water. Let them soak until you can easily remove the paper from the stamp.
- Place the stamp onto a flat piece of absorbent kitchen towel. Once the kitchen towel is full cover with another piece of kitchen towel. Put a couple of books or something heavy on the top of it so it can dry flat. Leave overnight.
Collecting stamps that are a category other than world or a country.
Collections of flowers, fungi, trains, planes, boats, animals, birds, and butterflies to name just a few have been a part of stamp collecting for years. It is an easy way to encourage children to collect and order things. My children all collected a theme stamp. Sport and cars are also good ones to collect. These can be collected and displayed in a stock book.
What is the hardest thing about stamp collecting?
Finding stamps you like that does not contain any duplicate stamps.
What can I do with duplicate stamps?
- Swap duplicates with family and friends who collect.
- Sell them on Ebay.
- Use them to decorate cardboard boxes. Stick them on and then varnish them.
