Which Stamps Are Best To Collect

I am new to stamp collecting and have decided to collect sets from 1960 to the present.
I was just wondering what type of stamps are best to collect?
Unused or used stamps?
with used stamps is it better to remove them from the paper of leave them on?
what is the best album to use? I find the hinges fidly
thanks in advance

Hi and Welcome to SCF. This is a great place to start your new hobby.
There are no fixed answers to your questions - you will find lots of different opinions. Its very much a matter of where your own interests take you.
Used stamps are in general cheaper to collect than unused. There are exceptions, of course. Some people like the pristine nature of a mint stamp. Others like used stamps for the fact that it has served its intended purpose, and they find interest in the postmarks ets which show its journey.
On or off paper - well, again, keeping the markings on or around a stamp is a good reason to keep the stamp on paper. If the stamp is on a complete envelope, many people collect these. You will find many posted on this forum.
Album types, there are different types of stockbooks and album styles which don't require hinges. Its a matter or personal preference and what suits your collection.
You can use the search option to find older posts on SCF discussing these topics, or browse through topic areas that interest you.
Enjoy the forum, look forward to hearing more about your developing collection.

Welcome qazwsxed. Boy, what a loaded question. Ask a thousand collectors. Get a thousand different answers. You collect what appeals to you, what you can afford, and what makes you happy to sit and work on. When you fill those criteria, let me know what you collect. Most of all have fun in the process and feel free to access the greatest bunch of people to help with stamps you could ask for - right here. Again

Best to collect ? oh Argentina,Guatemala and Italy !!

Easy

I like to collect everything I can get my hands on.

Seriously though, That really depends on how you envision your collection and how much you spend on it.

As to wich album is best, I think that may depend on which coutry you decide to collect. Because I like all countries I print my own as I go. And yes hinges are fidly. Some people refuse to use them. I have gotten use to them and again because I collect world wide it would be way too costly to use hingeless albums or mounts.

I prefer to soak the stamps that are on paper. I've got it down to a science now. Stamp drying books make it a breeze.

Hope I didn't confuse you too much.

Dianne

Then wait a week, ask them again, and get another thousand more...

Welcome.

I'd say the best way to go is to look at lots and lots of stamps. In person is best, online is second best. Over time, you'll start to figure out which ones are most interesting to you.

You can't realistically get albums for a worldwide assortment of 1960's on up, unless you make or print your own as needed. The worldwide explosion in stamp issues over the last fifty or sixty years means you'd be spending all your money on album pages, and not on stamps.

You can search the archives here for "Vario" and "Hagner" and get ideas for stock pages that let you store, sort, display and rearrange your stamps in any way that is pleasing to you.

If it isn't fun, you aren't doing it right.

C.

(If you have access to a scanner, post up some images of stamps that are interesting to you. Everybody likes to look at stamps.)

Hi qazwsxed, welcome.

As the months and years go by you might find your interests in which stamps you want to collect widening out to include more topics or variations on the theme you've chosen, or narrowing down also.

Depends on money, time, interest, passion, and many other things.

Whatever you like or can afford or both, remember that dust and moisture are a stamps worst enemies. Both for used and new. Protect your stamps, keep them out of the light, make sure they are not in a humid environment, store your albums or stockbooks or both in an upright position and use dust covers for them.

Oh and use stamp tongs, don't use your fingers. Finger oils and what was last on your fingers get transferred to stamps and pages.

Hve fun collecting and enjoy the forum.

Londonbus1