Another way of obtaining stamps is through purchases. The simplest way of buying stamps is to visit a stamp dealer. From a dealer the collector can buy individual stamps as well as packets either mixed or country wise or thematics. The collector is free to choose, out of these, as per his requirements. There are many other ways also of purchasing stamps.
Many stamp dealers send out stamps on approval.
These are mounted on sheets of paper or in approval books and each stamp is marked with selling price of the dealer so that the collector can make his selection. He returns the others alongwith the money for those which he has kept. Approvals' are d popular way of buying, because the stamps can be examined in the peace of the collector's house. Many dealers advertise an approval service in stamp magazines. The collector can ask for an approval of his interest.