19th century stamps <\/a>or you\u2019re getting ready to make your very first purchase, these facts will contribute to your stamp knowledge.<\/p>\n1. There are approximately 20 million stamp collectors in the U.S., with millions more across the world.<\/p>\n
2. Some people think that stamp collecting is a type of investment, but for more collectors, it\u2019s simply a hobby. Many people believe that the value of stamps is too flexible to be considered an investment.<\/p>\n
3. \u201cPhilately\u201d is the study of postage stamps, but not the hobby of collecting stamps. Not all philatelists are stamp collectors. However, many collectors are philatelists.<\/p>\n
4. The postage stamps that cost a lot of money are the ones with errors or those that were produced in small amounts. Otherwise, stamp collecting is a relatively affordable hobby.<\/p>\n
5. The Penny Black was the first postage stamp to ever be produced. It shows a portrait of Queen Victoria and was issued in 1840 in Britain. So many of these stamps were made that you can still find many for sale, most of which cost around $100 (unused ones are valued higher).<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be dissuaded from the hobby just because you don\u2019t have a lot of spending money. Stamp collecting is so popular because of its affordability. Start with stamps that were produced in large quantities, which tend to cost the least.<\/p>\n
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