Collecting stamps is a fascinating hobby and one that can also become a useful investment. However, whether you collect stamps for fun or for potential income at a later date, it's essential that you look after your stamp collection. It goes without saying that stamps are fragile and easily damaged. There's nothing worse than a rare stamp that has been rendered almost worthless because it hasn't been looked after properly by it's owner and that is doubly the case when its owner was a philatelist!
So, if you collect stamps, you may be asking yourself "what is the best type of stamp album" or "how should I stick stamps into my stamp album without damaging them". Very good questions and just by asking them, you are showing yourself to be someone who respects rare stamps and the history that they hold within them.
You should always take great care when handling your stamps. Never stick them into albums with sticky stamp hinges, use stamp holders which themselves stick to the pages of your album but hold the stamp within a specially made plastic holder which won't damage the stamp. Never ever use paperclips to hold bundles of stamps together, and, we shouldn't have to say this, but we will in case there are some children reading, never ever EVER staple stamps into an album! It sounds barbaric and it is, but we've seen it happen and on rare occasions when someone has come across a rare error or unusual stamp by sheer fluke, to see that stamp stapled into a crude stamp album is quite distressing for the serious stamp collector!
If you can't afford to buy individual stamp holders which will keep your best stamps and their glue (if they are mint and glued) in pristine condition or, better still, a specially made stamp album which contains bands of stamp friendly plastic holders which keep your stamp collection in place without damaging them, then at least consult with a proper stamp dealer to find out the best method of storing your stamps that you can afford. It's very easy to damage them.
Finally, it might sound obvious but once you have decided how to store your stamps in albums, don't pile up these albums under other books like bricks! They should be kept stored upright (like library books) in order to minimise the pressure on the stamps and thus to minimise and damage through storage.
The way that you store your stamp collection will depend to some extent upon how much you can afford to spend on it. In fairness, for a child collecting everyday used stamps, a cheap stamp album and sticky stamp hinges is fine to get them started so don't let us put you (or someone you know) off stamp collecting. It's just that will all hobbies, it's vital to keep historic items like stamps in the best possible condition and it's just so easy to damage them by not looking after the properly.
Stamp albums must also be kept in a dry environment out of direct sunlight otherwise you risk discolouration or damage from the elements. Again, very distressing, especially if you have spent a lot of money (as well as time) building up your stamp collection. Here's a recommended Stamp album that will do you proud. It's not the cheapest stamp album out there but if you are serious about building up a decent stamp collection, it's a wise investment.
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Stanley Gibbons Devon Stamp Album & 75 Leaves - Green Sale Price: £33.95  Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days  |
Description
With the highest capacity in our range, The peg fitting Devon albums are a strong and secure, cost effective option suitable for hingeless mounts. Supplied with 75x 135gsm off white leaves. Recommended maximum capacity: 175 leaves.
Incoming search terms:
- bundles of british stamps for sale
- looking after stamps
