page_title: Philately
section_title: Organizations
hierarchical_section_title: Philately / Organizations
caption_attribution_description: English: Photograph of Spring Stampex 2011 stamp show at the Business Design Centre, Islington, London and taken on Saturday 26 February 2011. Showing stamp displays in the foreground and stamp dealers booths on the first floor. All the dealers are members of the Philatelic Traders Society (PTS). The post box is a working box installed for the show.
context_page_description: Philately is the study of postage stamps and postal history. It also refers to the collection, appreciation and research activities on stamps and other philatelic products. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting or the study of postage; it is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps. For instance, the stamps being studied may be very rare or reside only in museums.
context_section_description: Philatelic organizations sprang up soon after people started collecting and studying stamps. They include local, national and international clubs and societies where collectors come together to share the various aspects of their hobby.
  The world's oldest philatelic society is the Royal Philatelic Society London, which was founded on April 10, 1869, as the Philatelic Society. In North America, the major national societies include the American Philatelic Society; the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada; and the Mexico-Elmhurst Philatelic Society, International.
caption: A large stamp show (philatelic exhibition) at which collectors and dealers meet.
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