STAMP SHOWCASE

Celebrate Stamp Collecting Month

October is Stamp Collecting Month! U.S. postage stamps celebrate American history, nature, art, culture and science. The beauty of our country is reflected in stamps; they remind us of important historical events, inventions, trends and people who have touched our lives. Stamp collecting is a hobby that’s educational, entertaining, and fits any budget.

Collecting and studying stamps is called “philately” (fi-LAT-uh-lee), and it’s enjoyed by millions of people in the United States and around the world. You don’t have to be able to say it to appreciate it!

Part of the fun of having a stamp collection is doing the detective work—investigating your stamps. What’s special about the subject? Where was the stamp issued? Why? It’s easy to investigate your stamps—just look in a stamp catalog, go to your local library, or search out the subjects on the Internet.

Getting started is easy. You can organize your stamps by subject, date of issuance, purpose, denomination, size, shape or color—whatever interests you most. Many stamp sets come with educational information containing details about the subject, too. And stamps never lose their value—no matter how old they are, unused stamps always retain their full face value as postage.

You don’t have to spend a lot to build an enjoyable, educational collection. You can start collecting used stamps from the envelopes and packages you receive in the mail. You can spend quality time with your child, organizing the collection and learning more about each stamp subject. With stamp collecting, learning can be fun.

Each year the Postal Service issues a variety of colorful stamps commemorating history, people, nature, and events.

Remember to tell your friends and relatives about your hobby. Let them know you collect stamps, and ask them to help you build your collection. And remember to put stamps, albums and other supplies on your birthday and holiday with lists.

To learn more about stamp collecting or check out the latest stamps, visit your local Post Office or go to shop.usps.com and look under “For Collecting” and “For Education.”

For more information about purchasing stamps, stamps by mail, postal regulations, a free subscription to USA Philatelic magazine, Post Office events, the location of the nearest postal store or contract unit, or for answers to your specific Postal Service questions, contact USPS at 1-800-275-8777, or visit www.usps.com. To schedule a presentation for your community, club or group on how the Postal Service brings the Post Office to your home or office computer, call 239-573-9638.