Stamp collecting is one classy hobby. The whole phenomenon started in the late 19th century and reached the peak of its popularity during the 1950s and 1960s. My dad used to be a stamp collector himself. During his days, stamp collecting was very popular among both kids and adults. Postal delivery was also a much more respected profession then. Kids would literally swarm the mailman every time he showed up, just so they could get their hand on the letters.
For the people who lived during the peak period, stamp collecting was not only a hobby; it was also a passion. On the eve before the day a new stamp was to be released, stamp enthusiasts would organize social events where stamp collectors in the neighborhood would converge, meet, and discuss about the new stamp. The spectacle extended to the next morning as people would form long lines in front of their local post offices, hours before they were even opened for business. The number of first-day covers each post office offered was limited; no one was willing to miss out on a chance to grab one.
Back to the present days, stamp collecting has been relegated to an obscure hobby. With the invention of emails and pre-printed stamps, it has become rather strenuous to find a stamp on an envelope or a package. I checked my mailbox yesterday and found a dozen or so envelopes, mostly junk mails. None of them actually had a “stamp” however. The tradition of going to the post office to buy first-day covers is going downhill as well. You can now purchase first-day covers through the online postal store. In fact, you can buy first-day covers 3-4 years after the stamps were first issued (???). How convenient!
In recent years, my passion for stamp collecting has diminished somewhat. But every month or so, I would purchase a book or a coil of stamps, and meticulously scan each stamp to see if it is misprinted or has features that are unique from the rest. The process is similar to buying a lottery ticket, only that the ticket is worthless after the drawing (if the numbers do not match.) On the other hand, you can still use the non-distinctive stamps for mailing. That’s to me a much better investment.
I think with the advent of anything new we lose something we didn’t even notice until it was gone.This is often the price of advancing technology. People rarely realize that when you reach for one thing, something else must give way. How many things have we lost and never realized we would beforehand? I miss watching my grandfather read the sunday paper. They all watch the news on tv pr internet now. Little realizing the intimate and comforting experiences of watching someone go through a routine or coffee, slippers, eyeglasses, caress, paper. The things I would give up to have my grandpa reading the paper in my prescence once more. He died of cancer. A strong man brought low, by something he could not fight with his fighting spirit. Somehow I am hoping that they have recliners in heaven, with coffee, eyeglasses and a paper. The physical face caress will have to wait, but I am thinking he caresses it in thought, just the same.
I agree with what nectarfizz has said.
We often don’t notice what we have until it’s gone before we start using it. Modern technology would have something to do with it- technology’s got to do with everything nowadays.
However, it is precisely because sending hand-written letters is rather uncommon now, that I treasure a letter or card that has been snail-mailed. No matter the stamp.
Vrtulobjeq wrote:
I don’t know, but I really prefer to see some images of the subject, and way to many words for my liking,not discounting that you may have some salient insights into these plastic boxes and their contents !
Maxxo wrote:
This is interesting, as i used to send a lot of mail to friends in America and they loved the diversity of picture stamps on the envelopes. in fact, for some it was the highlight of their day! now tho, as you say, pre-printed stamps have completely taken the fun out of it all. if i want picture stamps now when i go into a post office, i have to ask for them and they always say ‘don’t you want a book of stamps?’ - well, no. that’s just the queen’s head in gold. dull.
LABestAgent wrote:
My hobby was collecting stamps until middle school. I don’t collect anymore because my personal interests has been changed. I’m pretty sure that my collection is worth something.
Stamp collecting is great! I recently picked up this hobby again thanks to an article by Armand Rousso “Philately Extends Life“. Armand, who founded the first online stamp exchange, reminded me about all the great reasons to do philately!
When I was a kid during the 1950s, stamp collecting was one of my hobbies. I thought it was fascinating to acquire those intriquing little pieces of art from all over the world. Years later, when my son was about the same age, I gave him my all-but-forgotten collection, thinking he might find it interesting. As it turned out, he didn’t, and I’ve no idea what became of the collection. Like so many other things from my childhood, I would love to have it back now, to admire, enjoy, and quite likely appreciate much more than I did as a child. Thanks for the memory, Leafless.