Stamps Mint and Used, Catalogues and Supplies for Collectors since 1964

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THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF STAMP COLLECTING

Things to keep in mind when building your stamp collection....


(THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN REPRODUCED FROM “ THE CANADIAN STAMP NEWS “ IN AN ARTICLE BY ‘RANDY HEIMPEL’ (VOL. 17, NO. 20))


1. HANDLE YOUR STAMPS CAREFULLY AT ALL TIMES. KEEP THEM LOOSE IN A BOX, ENVELOPE OR STOCKBOOK SO THEY WILL NOT TEAR OR BEND. ONLY TOUCH A STAMP WHEN YOU HAVE TO.


2. NEVER TAPE, PASTE OR GLUE A STAMP DOWN. ALWAYS USE STAMP HINGES OR PROPER STAMP MOUNTS.


3. ALWAYS USE TONGS TO TOUCH MINT OR USED STAMPS. IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO USE COLLECTOR TONGS (NOT MEDICAL TWEEZERS WITH RIBBED POINTS) WHEN HANDLING ALL STAMPS. ALWAYS BRING YOUR TONGS TO A STAMP SHOP OR TO A STAMP SHOW IF YOU PLAN ON HANDLING OTHER COLLECTORS STAMPS.


4. USE VERY LITTLE MOISTURE ON HINGES OR MOUNTS. THE DRIER THE BETTER--USE JUST ENOUGH TO HOLD.


5. BEWARE OF HUMIDITY. TRY TO KEEP ALL STAMPS IN A DRY AND COOL PLACE AT ALL TIMES. THE GLUE ON STAMPS SOFTENS EASILY IN ANY KIND OF DAMPNESS, THEN STICKS TO WHATEVER IT IS TOUCHING.


6. ONCE YOU HAVE DECIDED WHAT YOU WILL COLLECT, BUY AN ALBUM WHICH WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS FOR A LONG TIME. NOTHING WASTES MORE TIME THAN MOVING STAMPS FROM ALBUM TO ALBUM. STAMPS GET RUINED, TOO!! ONE OF THE MOST HELPFUL ITEMS A COLLECTOR CAN OWN IS A STOCKBOOK. THIS ALLOWS YOU TO STORE YOUR STAMPS SAFELY UNTIL YOU CAN EITHER FIND THE RIGHT ALBUM FOR YOUR COLLECTION, OR HAVE THE TIME TO ADD YOUR NEW STAMPS TO YOUR ALBUM.


7. GET GOOD TOOLS TO ENSURE A GOOD JOB. YOU NEED TONGS, A MAGNIFYING GLASS(NOT EXPENSIVE), AN ATLAS, AND EITHER A CATALOGUE, OR A STAMP IDENTIFIER. FOR THE ADVANCED COLLECTOR, TOOLS INCLUDE A PERFORATION GAUGE, WATERMARK DETECTOR AND A STOCKBOOK.


8. DO NOT TRY TO TAKE A STAMP OFF AN ENVELOPE(COVER) OR POSTCARD UNTIL YOU ARE SURE IT IS NOT SPECIAL. MANY STAMPS ARE WORTH MUCH MORE IF LEFT ON THE ENVELOPE-- FOR EXAMPLE, FIRST DAY OF ISSUE, OR ONES WITH SPECIAL CANCELLATIONS. THESE DAYS, MANY POST OFFICE CANCELLATIONS ARE NO LONGER BEING MADE. THESE SHOULD BE KEPT.

 

9. SOME STAMPS AND SOME PAPERS HAVE DYE WHICH WILL RUN IN WATER. THIS CAN RUIN STAMPS. LOOK IN A CATALOGUE TO LEARN WHICH ONES MUST BE WATCHED. WHEN SOAKING, NEVER PUT COLOURED PAPER IN WITH WHITE. RED, YELLOW AND ESPECIALLY BROWN KRAFT ENVELOPE PAPER IS VERY BAD FOR THIS. ASK YOUR DEALER FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROPERLY SOAK STAMPS.


10. ENJOY THE HOBBY TO THE FULLEST. IF YOU TRY TO MAKE A GOOD START, IT CAN BRING YOU A LIFETIME OF ENJOYMENT.

 

STAMP COLLECTING IS A HOBBY, AND IT’S FUN!!!!
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT STAMP COLLECTING, JUST ASK YOUR LOCAL STAMP CLUB OR STAMP DEALER. THEY WILL BE HAPPY TO HELP YOU WITH ANY AREA OF COLLECTING YOU ARE INTERESTED IN.

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