|
This page may contain links that result in small commissions to keep this free site up and running.
Welcome Guest! Registering and/or logging in will remove the anchor (bottom) ads. It's Free!
To participate in the forum you must log in or register.
| Author |
 Replies: 10 / Views: 3,155 |
|
|
New Member
2 Posts |
|
|
I just created my account today so that I could learn more about the basics of stamp collecting. My grandmother has a huge stamp collection that is completely unorganized, and I would like to help her organize and display her collection. What are some of the basic supplies that I will need to get started? I know I should get a pair of stamp tongs, but I'm not sure what to look for. What kind do you use, and what do you like about it? Also, how do you display your stamps? I would like to use some kind of 3-ring bind to display them, so that I can add and take away pages as I need to. Based on a quick Amazon search, there is a company called Lighthouse that makes a lot of different sizes of pages. Have you used these pages to display your stamps before? What did you like/dislike about it? Thank you for any replies!! I'm trying really hard to help out my grandma, and I would really like to surprise her by displaying some of her stamps. |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
1510 Posts |
|
|
First separate all of the United States stamps from the rest of the world
Then separate the world stamps by country. You will many you can't identify… set those aside. You can come back to those later.
Go to your local library and check out a Scott Stamp Catalogue; preferably starting with volume 1.
Thoroughly read the catalogue and begin comparing your stamps.
|
Send note to Staff 
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
2480 Posts |
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
5894 Posts |
|
|
Yes, many of us use Lighthouse Vario pages to store stamps. I have hundreds of them myself. If you buy in bulk you can generally get them for less than the retail price of $1 each page. |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
34 Posts |
|
|
As to albums - a long, long time ago I purchased Leuchturm albums from Germany for my German stamp collection. Today they also market to the world under the Lighthouse name. A lot has happened since I was actively involved in the hobby so we are learning things together. Many companies merged and I have no idea who owns what today but I remember Lighthouse stuff to be rather expensive, even back in the 60s and 70s. I saw someone display their US collection on their own webpage and I was so impressed by the pages that I wanted the same album. Mystic Stamp Company just informed me that my premium hingeless albums shipped today. What I like about them is that they come in binders where you can remove the pages and scan them flat. I'd like to display my collection on the web one day too. That is if I live long enough. :-) |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
New Member
2 Posts |
|
|
Quote:
If you buy in bulk you can generally get them for less Where can I buy them in bulk? Amazon sells them in packages of 5, but the shipping will kill me. I'm in rural South Dakota, so I might have to wait for a while until I can make a trip to a major city. Thanks for the replies! I'm super excited to start learning more! I can't wait to go to the library and see what they have about stamp collecting. |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
2361 Posts |
|
|
When you buy ANY brand of pages, note that some have pockets ON BOTH SIDES. This saves money on pages, and cuts down the bulk in your 3-ring binder, but you also have to be more careful when turning pages, and make sure that no stamps fall out, or get bent or creased. The binders are ALWAYS stored upright, preferably in air-conditioned space to escape South Dakota's occasional 100 degree summer days. You will find that using deluxe plastic pages costs about 3/4 cent per stamp, so you don't display really common stamps, or damaged copies. Manila stock pages will hold your duplicates and seconds. Typical damage includes tears, thins, creases, mold and mildew, fading, stains, cut-off perforations, scuffs, etc., and to some collectors, extremely heavy cancellations are considered damage. Visit the website of the APS - www.stamps.org - and read and read and read. Check Amazon for bulk supplies too, you may get free shipping for a surprisingly small order. |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
822 Posts |
|
|
I like the affordability of the manila stock pages, but I have to be careful to open the pocket before the stamps ever get close to being stored. Sometimes arching the page back helps to open it up.
The Linns.com page previously mentioned has awesome how to helps. I like to refer to them from time to time. Reminds of some details I forget after a while. Happens more as I get older. |
|
Send note to Staff
|
Member of the Central Oregon Stamp Club.
Redmond, OR 97756 Mailer's Postmark Permit #1
APS 239403 |
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
2480 Posts |
|
|
Rest in Peace
Canada
6750 Posts |
|
|
Some of this was also posted in your welcome thread. Quote:
When collecting and buying snd selling stamps there is always a value consideration to be kept in mind.
How much you value the value (!?) over the aestetic beauty or pleasure or honour a stamp or envelope (cover) can bring you is an important consideration to remember.
A stamp's or cover's value is based on many things, most of all, usually, the eye appeal, or the condition and the first impression of how it looks or strikes you visually and emotionally.
So, bearing that vagarie in mind, do not destroy something before you know something of what it's value can be, whether to yourself, your grandmother or a potential buyer.
On the other hand, many beginning collectors find that just collecting and sorting and arranging, oh, and valuing, the stamps (and / or covers) can take up most of their available time, and thus just colelct the stamps themselves.
Knowing enough to judge a cover on value is a learned skill, understanding hand-writing, stamp value, stamp variety values (colours, perforations (perfs), paper-type perhaps, watermarks in the paper, cancellations and postmark valuation, the actual physical condition of the paper stamp itself (rips, tewars, thins, creases all devalue) depends, I think, on your own skill at it all and a leaning towards being detail oriented (whether money or art or appreciation of beauty in whatever form).
To simply sort through stamps, get some paper envelopes and sort by country, if worldwide or foreign, first, then by denomination or era. How the stamps seem to fit together, by design, basic colour (older ones only use limited colours), by reigning monarch or president, etc.
Glassine paper is a translucent type of paper that is used for small envelopes to store loose stamps in, search online, if buying there, for glassine, you will find that a #4 type of envelope is about 2" x 4".
For older stamps, cancels (cancellations / postmarks) are worth something, whether as noted in postage stamp catalogues or not, as marco-philatelists, like me, collect cancels, and value readable ones and rarer ones.
Use the Search button, to right, to look for tongs on here, as there are other topics saved here that have pictures or mentions of good sites to go to for supplies. |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
414 Posts |
|
|
I use Lighthouse binders, grilled blank album pages, Lighthouse mounts and Vario pages. For storing spares, I use manilla stock pages but most of the stamps are also protected in glassine envelopes. The mounts and paper can get expensive but the Vario sheets are not too bad. A good pair of tongs is the most important basic tool and there are several different types, some better than others. Eventually, you will need a good perforation guage and watermark detection material. You will need to own or have access to catalogues as someone else noted above. Sometimes, older editions can be acquired at reasonable prices; otherwise, new ones can be costly. If there is a stamp club somewhere near, I'm sure a member or two would be more than willing to help. |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
| |
Replies: 10 / Views: 3,155 |
|
|
To participate in the forum you must log in or register. | |
 My First Stamps Help Newbie.help With Stamp Identification (J29) Inherited These Stamps, Are They Genuine? APS Membership Discount Metropex Stamp Show: Roseville, Minnesota October 23-24 Weird Covers, 1885,1886, And 1982 For Users Of Two-Post Blue International Albums What Is Your Experience With Binders. New Member Posting Image Of Avatar, Front And Back Of U2 Cut Square, Market Value Or References? Working On An Offline Collection George Washington 3 Cent 1861 With Print On The Back Hello From The Netherlands - New Member Then And Now, From Old Postcards New Member Wanting To Add An Avatar Sparks Auction Fees? 163 VF Nyfm Vertically Ribbed 163 XF Quartered Cork, Labeled Jumbo 136 VF Quadruple Split H Grill Nashville Philatelic Society-Your Invitation To Our Auction Night Meeting Monday, October 26, 2026 Nashville Philatelic Society-Your Invitation To Our Meeting Monday, October 19, 2026 Christmas Around The World 2026 C.e. In The Large Queen Cancel A More Condensed Album Page Experiment. US Scott #3 Postmarked Or Fake? Linn's Is Back - The Newspaper Is Back In Print Lots Of 1867 Grills On Sale
APS Membership Discount My First Stamps Help Inherited These Stamps, Are They Genuine? Czech Stamp Engravers 1851-57 12c Washington Newbie.help With Stamp Identification (J29) What Did You Do Philatelically: Today Or Recently? Collecting By Engraver Soviet Union Stamp Engravers Spain Stamp Engravers On The Road Again - Eye To Eye With The Local Postal Authority For Users Of Two-Post Blue International Albums What Is Your Experience With Binders. Children On Stamps Lets See Your Souvenir Sheets! World Post Day And International Letter Writing Week Christmas Around The World 2026 Working On An Offline Collection What Is The Strangest Or Most Unusual Stamp Material You Own? Weird Covers, 1885,1886, And 1982 Gems And Minerals Metropex Stamp Show: Roseville, Minnesota October 23-24 New Member Posting Image Of Avatar, Front And Back Of U2 Cut Square, Market Value Or References? Hello From The Netherlands - New Member Lakes, Marshes, Mangroves, And Wetlands On Stamps Show Your Film And Music Star Stamps
Disclaimer: While a tremendous amount of effort goes into ensuring the accuracy of the information contained in this site, Stamp Community assumes no liability for errors. Copyright 2005 - 2026 Stamp Community Family - All rights reserved worldwide. Use of any images or content on this website without prior written permission of Stamp Community or the original lender is strictly prohibited.
Privacy Policy / Terms of Use Advertise Here |
| Stamp Community Forum |
© 2007 - 2026 Stamp Community Forums |
| It took 0.2 seconds to lick this stamp. |
 |
|
|
|
Posted 07/17/2013 6:16 pm
