AN INTRODUCTION TO STAMP COLLECTING 1

STAMP COLLECTING

An Introduction to
AN INTRODUCTION TO STAMP COLLECTING

Stamps from the U.S. Postal Service® are 

a record of American life, showcasing the 

people, places, events, and activities that 

shape our shared national identity. Whether 

you love superheroes or space exploration, 

music legends or landscapes, cats or the 

Civil War, there’s a stamp that captures your 

unique interest.

Collecting and studying stamps, also known 

as philately, can be a lifetime hobby: Whether 

you’re 8 or 88, stamp collecting is fun and 

educational, and you can begin without 

making a big investment of money or time. 

Why collect stamps?

Since the Penny Black, the first 

pre-paid postage stamp, was issued 

in 1840, people have found delight 

and wonder in stamp collecting. As 

miniature windows into the world, 

stamps introduce collectors to art, 

culture, history, science, geography, 

and so much more. 
AN INTRODUCTION TO STAMP COLLECTING 1

How do I begin?

Getting started as a stamp collector couldn’t 

be easier! Start your collection by saving 

stamps from letters, packages, and postcards. 

Also visit your local Post OfficeTM facility or 

search online to purchase older stamps.

To focus your collecting, you might consider 

choosing a favorite subject as the theme 

of your collection. Or, you might select a 

significant time in history or a cause you’re 

passionate about. Then, start searching for 

stamps that feature your chosen topic and 

work on building your collection.

You could also collect stamps by series: For 

example, you could collect all of the stamps 

in the Black Heritage® series or in the Music 

Icons® series.

World War I: Turning the Tide; Transcontinental Railroad

Gregory Hines; Marvin Gaye
2 AN INTRODUCTION TO STAMP COLLECTING

What kinds of stamps are there? 

Mail-use stamps are the most common. Usually 

less than an inch square, they’re printed in 

large quantities and often more than once. 

Commemorative stamps honor people, events, 

and subjects of importance to American life 

and culture. They are printed in smaller quantities as part of an annual program and usually 

only once. Larger than mail-use stamps, many 

commemoratives are printed in “semi-jumbo” 

size, the largest standard size in use.

Special stamps — such as stamps for holiday 

celebrations and the Love series stamps — are 

larger and typically on sale for a limited time.

Frozen Treats; U.S. Flag

usa forever 2016

Sally Ride; Bioluminescent Life; Mississippi Statehood

Love Flourishes; Colorful Celebrations
AN INTRODUCTION TO STAMP COLLECTING 3

nondenominated O Beautiful; Robert Panara; Mister Rogers

denominated Meyer Lemons; Byodo-In Temple

USA $670

Semipostal stamps are a type of special stamp 

sold at a price above the First-ClassTM rate, 

with the overage going to support a particular 

cause, such as breast cancer research.

Stamps can be “denominated” with a 

specific numeric rate (e.g., two cents) or 

“nondenominated.” The latter will always be 

valid for the current applicable rate. 

First-class, one-ounce, “nondenominated” 

stamps are commonly known as Forever® 

stamps. The majority of stamps issued in 

recent years fall into this category.

Some stamps, especially older issuances, have 

water-activated adhesive (“lick-and-stick”) 

and may require careful storage to avoid having the adhesive adhere to an album page or 

to other stamps. Today’s stamps are typically 

issued as self-adhesive or pressure-sensitive 

(“peel-and-stick”).

Breast Cancer Research 

Semipostal
4 AN INTRODUCTION TO STAMP COLLECTING

What sizes, shapes, and formats 

do stamps come in?

Rectangular: Stamps in this shape are the 

most common. They range in size from 0.870" 

wide by 0.98" tall to 1.255" wide by 1.59" tall. 

Depending on the actual dimensions, the 

specific rectangular sizes range from definitive 

to jumbo.

Square: These stamps are used for specific 

designs, and have included stamps in the 

Music Icons® series and the Total Eclipse of the 

Sun stamp. They are also used for stamps with 

unique rates, such as those designed to be 

sent on square, nonmachinable envelopes.

John Lennon (Music Icons® series); Total Eclipse of the Sun

Peace Rose; Hanukkah; STEM Education; Oscar de la Renta
AN INTRODUCTION TO STAMP COLLECTING 5

pane

coil

booklet

coil

Have A Ball!; Green Succulent; Global: Poinsettia

Disney Villains; Patriotic Spiral; Birds in Winter For more stamps and collectibles, visit usps.com/stamps

FOREVER / USA FOREVER / USA

FOREVER / USA FOREVER / USA

FOREVER / USA FOREVER / USA

FOREVER / USA FOREVER / USA

FOREVER / USA FOREVER / USA

FOREVER / USA FOREVER / USA

Round: The newest stamp shape has been used 

in the Have A Ball! stamps and for international 

rate stamps to showcase unique designs.

Some stamps are also produced with 

special features, such as scratch-and-sniff 

(Frozen Treats), heat-sensitive ink (Total 

Eclipse of the Sun), and lenticular printing, 

which creates a holographic effect (The Art 

of Magic Souvenir Sheet).

Stamps are sold in a variety of different configurations. Panes are “sheets” of stamps cut 

from the original press sheet, coils are strips 

of stamps (one stamp wide) sold in rolls, and 

booklets are the most easily portable option, 

commonly employed for mail-use stamps.
6 AN INTRODUCTION TO STAMP COLLECTING

How should I store my stamps? 

Now that you’ve done the hard work of finding 

the stamps you want to collect, you want to keep 

them safe so they don’t get damaged or lost. 

Preserve your stamps with a stamp album or 

on loose-leaf paper in a binder. Affix stamps 

with stamp hinges, which are glassine strips 

with gum on one side, or stamp mounts, which 

are clear plastic sleeves that offer protection 

for unused stamps.

What else could I need? 

You don’t need much to get started, but here 

are a few other tools that many stamp collectors find useful: 

Glassine envelopes: Thin, transparent, moistureproof envelopes that protect stamps from air 

and grease.

Perforation gauge: A tool that measures the

number of perforations along the edges 

of your stamps.

Magnifying glass: Used to inspect stamps for 

tiny details and condition.

Stamp catalog: A handy reference book with 

stamp values and illustrations.

Stamp tongs: A tool used to pick up and move 

your delicate stamps.
AN INTRODUCTION TO STAMP COLLECTING 7

What other terms might 

I need to know?

Cachet: A stamp-related design 

on an envelope.

Cancellation: A mark placed on 

a stamp by a postal authority 

to show that the stamp has 

been used.

First Day Cover: Envelopes bearing 

unused stamps postmarked on the first 

day of issuance, either in black ink or 

with a colorful digital design inspired by 

the artwork.

Packet: A presorted group of 

different stamps, a common 

and economical way to begin a 

stamp collection.

Perforations: Lines of small holes 

or cuts between rows of stamps 

that make them easy to separate.

Postmark: A mark put on 

envelopes or other mailing 

pieces showing the date and 

location of mailing.

Selvage: The paper around 

panes of stamps, sometimes 

called the margin.
8 AN INTRODUCTION TO STAMP COLLECTING

FIRST DAY OF ISSUE

What else can I collect?

There are plenty of exciting, educational philatelic products to help you grow your new hobby. 

First Day Covers are envelopes bearing stamps 

postmarked on the first day of sale, either 

in black ink or with a colorful digital design 

inspired by the artwork. 

First Day of Issue Ceremony Programs contain 

information about a stamp’s dedication 

ceremony, including a list of participants 

and background on the stamp subject. The 

actual stamp is attached and cancelled on the 

program’s envelope.
AN INTRODUCTION TO STAMP COLLECTING 9

Commemorative Panels are printed on a single 

sheet of cardstock and feature a narrative 

about the stamp subject and design. They 

come with the relevant stamps affixed.

Collectible Folios open to reveal creative 

extensions of the stamp artwork, along with 

in-depth explorations of the stamp subject 

and design. They include the relevant stamps 

and mounts for preserving them.

Stamp Yearbooks provide imagery and 

information related to every stamp released in 

a given year, along with the stamps themselves 

and mounts.

These and a variety of other philatelic products 

are available online at STORE.USPS.COM. 

You can also choose from various subscription 

programs to receive specific stamps and stamp 

products year round.
Publication 225 · 2020

©2020 U.S. Postal Service®. Printed in the United States of America. The designs 

of stamps and postal stationery issued since January 1, 1978, are the subject of 

individual copyrights by the U.S. Postal Service®. Disney elements: © Disney.

Where can I learn more?

The world of stamp collecting is rich and diverse. Numerous 

stamp clubs exist locally, nationally, and online. Stamp 

shows held across the country and around the world offer 

stamp enthusiasts other venues to make connections and 

deepen their collecting knowledge. Many philatelists also 

subscribe to magazines that target their collecting interests.

Here are a few resources to help you get started.

American Philatelic Society

STAMPS.ORG

America’s national stamp society, APS offers a variety 

of membership benefits, including seminars, online 

courses, mentor programs, and access to special 

publications.

American Stamp Dealers Association

AMERICANSTAMPDEALER.COM

The website of the ASDA, an international association 

of stamp dealers, provides an extensive database 

searchable by dealer name, location, and specialty.

Smithsonian National Postal Museum

POSTALMUSEUM.SI.EDU

Located in Washington, D.C., the museum houses more 

than 6 million postal-related items for exhibition and 

study purposes.

You can also visit USPS.COM/STORE to explore 

available stamps and philatelic products, or go to 

USPS.COM/PHILATELIC to sign up for a free 

subscription to USA Philatelic, a quarterly catalog that’s the 

only official print source for information about new 

USPS® philatelic products and stamp issuances.