The Stamp Collectors Corner

Do you remember when you first got interested in stamp collecting? Perhaps a friend or an older relative already engaged in the hobby and introduced you to it. Or maybe you just stumbled on stamp collecting on your own and found that is something you wanted to continue. Either way, you can help someone else get started in this wonderful hobby.

Although it may seem rather old-fashioned next to activities like video games, if you can spark a child’s interest in stamp collecting, you will help stoke the fires of intellectual curiosity. You can learn so much about the world through stamps—geography, culture, and history for starters.

This is why the American Philatelic Society has created a kit to help young collectors explore the world of stamps. The kit includes information on how to start a collection, packets of used stamps (U.S. and foreign), a perforation gauge, a magnifier, stamp tongs, hinges and stock cards. When you buy the kit for a young person in your life, they will also receive an application for half a year’s membership in the APS’ Young Stamp Collectors of America. By joining this group they can connect with other young stamp collectors on the web. Being able to interact with other kids will make the stamp collecting experience even more enjoyable.

You can visit http://www.stamps.org/ or call (814) 933-3803 to learn more about the kit.