Stamp Collectors - Postage Stamp EnthusiastsSTAMP COLLECTORS Stamp Collectors are basically people who collect stamps. There are some who collect stamps as a hobby while others do it on a professional basis. In the 1860s and 1870s children and teenagers made up the majority of Stamp Collectors. In those days collecting stamps was a hobby which was the domain of youngsters. Many adults were not interested in it at all, dismissing it as a childish pursuit and a waste of time. During the late 18th century and towards the beginning of the 19th century many of those young Stamp Collectors who had grown up began to study all the postage material, especially postage stamps in a systematic and organised manner. All the published research work and information on stamps which was previously ignored now suddenly started to make sense. Today's Stamp Collectors have definitely benefited from their predecessors in a big way. Some of them play an integral role in the economy of small countries. They are an important cog in the wheel of generating sources of revenue to them. Small countries create and print limited additions of elaborate stamps which are designed mainly for them. These countries follow the policy of "supply far exceeding demand". Some Stamp Collectors, are driven by their passion towards this very interesting hobby and are even willing to spend huge amounts to fulfil their dreams. Others who are doing it on a professional basis have begun to understand the rising prices of rare stamps and are now looking at the commercial angle. For this one would require some philatelic knowledge. Incidentally this is the study of stamps. Rare stamps are among the most portable and easy to store and carry forms of investment. They are a very fruitful alternative to other forms of investment like precious metals etc. Many of the stamp collectors today form a part of this new breed. Genuine collectors would be just as interested in old stamps, if not more than in new ones. A genuine complaint of many Stamp Collectors today is that they cannot keep pace with all the new types of stamps coming out every year. A great majority of them have taken the aid of various sites on the internet to explore their dreams. In this way they keep pace with everything happening in the world of stamps. Finally for someone who is interested in one of the world's most popular hobbies, here is a very interesting fact. Today in the United States of America itself there are close to 20 million Stamp Collectors. |