The Americans without a shadow of doubt are the greatest stamp collectors. Being one of the most popular hobbies, in the United States of America alone there are around 20 million stamp collectors. The stamp collectors not mainly collect stamps they also study postage stamps.

It is necessary to study what one collects. This might not be true to causal collectors. They don’t study the minute details involve in stamp collecting. But for those who intend to spend some amount in stamp collecting, comprehensive collection commonly requires some philatelic knowledge. It is not just collecting stamps from envelopes and packages with stamps on them. It goes beyond mere collecting.

Some countries just produced stamps for the purpose of making revenue from stamp collectors. This is even to the point of exceeding their postal needs. The countries believed that stamps, especially those rare ones are considered very handy of substantial investments. Storing them is no problem. The stamps are so easy to preserve. The stamps being small and portable can be an appealing
alternative to artworks and other collectible investments and precious metals.

The 1930s US stamps are easy to get and have nominal value. Some high face value stamps are worth substantial amount of dollars. Bu with the advent of e-mail and high technology in communication the future of stamp collecting is somewhat bleak. But several stamp collectors could not be dampened with these occurrences. They are as interested in old stamps as in new ones and will not stop collecting just because no new ones are being introduced. But on the contrary news have it that there are more new stamps now being created. No wonder then that some stamp collectors have continued to collect just the same.

Stamp collectors are in no way left alone to themselves. Stamp catalogues abound. World wide collection is featured and is running to thousands of volumes. Aside from catalogues the net has a lot to offer also. Many stamp dealers sell their merchandise over the internet. Other dealers together set up week-end stamp markets called “Bourses�. They travel around from region to region. They
are bringing stamp collection up close and personal.

There are also organizations, in one way or another, help stamp collectors. The organizations range from local stamp clubs to special-interest groups. All countries in the world have some kind of national collectors’ organizations. In the United States of America, they have the American Philatelic Society. But the internet has moved one step further. It has largely developed the availability of stamp collecting information. The internet in one way or another has also made stamps obtainable for starting and intermediate stamp collectors. Not only stamps but also stamp covers and other philatelic materials.

The hobby of stamp collecting has reached a proportion which has added to it a social aspect to the experience. Social organizations such as the Rotary and Lions Clubs have also created stamp collecting groups with particular objectives and purpose. The country have greatly supported this one hobby which can bring add knowledge to mostly young stamp collectors.