Stamps for kings and kids

 by Bobby Buys

When you start separating stamps from envelopes, there is no stopping. Sooner or later you will end up as a regular visitor to one or another auction site and online marketplace, selling your duplicates and buying the ones you simply must have in order to complete your collection.

There is a story from those long ago-days. It tells of a young lady staying in a modest hotel - or whatever those establishments were called in that bygone age - on a holiday. While she was in the lounge doing her needlework - or whatever it is people used to do without television - and exchanging thoughts about the weather with her fellow-pensioners (this true story takes place in England), a postman came with a letter for her. The young lady took the letter, turned it in her hands a few times, and with a sigh returned it to the postman:
"I can not accept it", she said sadly. "I have no money for the postage".
As the postman made the mark on the envelope indicating that the recipient was approached but failed to pay the postage, everyone in the pension sitting room went on with whatever they were doing, pretending not to have witnessed the scene (which is what is expected of the English). Everyone except one young man. Touched by the young lady's plight, he jumped to his feet, dug into his pockets, and produced the necessary amount.
As soon as the postman left, the young lady turned to the young man.
"Sir, I'll thank you not to interfere in my affairs in future", she said angrily, waiving the envelope filled with official-looking postmarks before his eyes. "My brother and I have been refusing to pay postage for this letter for three years now. That is our way of keeping in touch, at no cost!"
It is not known whether the decision of the British post office to switch to pre-payment of postage was influenced by this true story. In any case, it was the British who introduced the world's first postage stamp in 1840. The stamp depicted Queen Victoria's profile against a dark background, had the denomination of one penny, and was known as Penny Black. South Africa has also contributed a world's "first" as far as the stamps are concerned. South Africa was the first African country to issue a stamp. That happened in 1853. But what makes this stamp special is its design. The Cape Triangular was the world's first triangular stamp. Thank to its exceptional design, it is still regarded as a classic in the stamp collecting world.
The day the first postage stamp saw the light of the day could also be the day the first stamp collector was born. In any case, stamp collecting took off quickly to become one of the most popular hobbies practiced all around the world. Stamp collectors can be found in all the sections of the population, among kings and school kids alike.
Many have tried to explain why people collect stamps. It makes more sense to ask - why not collect stamps? After all, you can collect stamps at no cost. They come in your mail every day. Once you start carefully separating those pretty colourful rectangles from the envelopes and arranging them in an album, there is no stopping. Your passion will eventually lead you to an auction site and online marketplace, where you can sell your duplicates and buy the stamps you simply must have for your collection.
Many people arrange their stamp collection by the country of issue. If you are more interested in the design of the stamps, a topical (or thematic) collection will probably suit you better. Some stamp collectors are specialists: they aim to have as many copies of a single stamp issue as they can obtain, or they collect only one type of stamps. Others will collect every stamp they see.
The most important thing about stamp collecting is to enjoy it. Although some people regard stamps as investments, similar to art or antique items, the real worth of stamps lies in the emotional value they have for their collectors.
If you have to think of stamps in terms of a cash price, do remember that older does not necessarily mean more valuable. Penny Black, the world's first postage stamp, is still readily available and can be purchased at relatively affordable prices.


About the Author

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za is South Africa's largest online marketplace. Established in 1999, the company has created a virtual trading place that brings buyers and sellers together and allows them to buy and sell virtually anything in an exciting auction format, using the Internet, bidorbuy has created a thriving online marketplace.
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