Stamp collecting is the
most popular hobby in the world. However, if you are not a collector you may be
asking, "Why stamps? Aren't stamps just pictures on little pieces of paper?". Scientifically speaking, yes that's correct.
However, there is so much more to stamps that people of any age, any income and
any interest can find some aspect of stamp collecting appealing and very
satisfying.
Stamps represent historical
events, people and places. Its an easy stepping stone
to learning as much or as little about world or local history as you want. With
the aide of a good stamp catalog the world is at your fingertips. Stamps makes
learning fun and you might not even realize that you are learning.
Its like visiting exotic places from your own living
room.
There are so many ways to
chose how to collect. You can be a generalist and collect every stamp ever made.
You can specialize on a particular area. Or you can be a generalist with a
number of specialized areas. You can collect a specific country (or area) or a
particular kind of stamp from an area. The possibilities are virtually endless.
Here are a few very common
areas of collecting: topical (ie: birds, castles,
Disney), Precancels (ie: US or foreign), Machins
(Queen Elizabeth heads), Perfins (stamps with holes punched into them),
classics (stamps issued in the 19th century), forgeries, airmail and postal
history, just to name a few.
What interests you?
The advantage of stamp
collecting is it allows you the ability to spend as little or as much money as
you want. Many areas of collecting cost less than 15c a stamp, while others can
cost in the $1000s. You can chose!
You can join a club and
have weekly interactions with other people. This is a great way to meet people
and make new friends and share ideas. Clubs are also a good way to increase
your social skills and enjoyment by getting involved in community events (such
as a local stamp show).
You can also do stamp
collecting alone. You can spend as much time or as little time as you want. You
can work with your stamps any time, rain or shine! Its
a weatherproof hobby. Its a passive hobby that can
help reduce stress and easily gives a feeling of accomplishment.
There are no time
constraints with this hobby. You can dedicate as much time as you want. You can
take periods of time off from the hobby and when ready, jump right back in.
This hobby offers great flexibility.
You will never be done
learning in this hobby. There are libraries of information on every subject of
stamps and research is continuously uncovering more information. Also, new
stamps are always being issued, creating even more items to be learned and
researched.
If you want to be mentally challenged,
then this hobby is for you. However, challenges are not a requirement to enjoy
this hobby; some collectors collect stamps simply because the picture on the
stamp appeals to them.
If you would like to learn more about the hobby or have questions about how to get involved, then please contact the Sunnyvale Stamps Society and we will be happy to help. Contact: Jim Sauer (408) 445-2694, or Lois Bertelson (Membership Coordinator), (408) 739-5958.