RESOURCES
Everything you need to start collecting, or keep going.
Whether you just bought your first packet of stamps or you are sorting through a box of albums, these guides, organizations and local contacts will point you in the right direction. And if you get stuck, bring your questions to a meeting. Our members love to help.
NEW TO STAMPS?
A quick glossary
Stamp collecting has its own vocabulary. Here are the words you will hear most at a meeting.
Philately
The collecting and study of stamps and postal history. A philatelist is simply a stamp collector.
Cover
An envelope or postcard that traveled through the mail, stamp and postmark included.
First Day Cover (FDC)
A cover carrying a new stamp, postmarked on its very first day of issue.
Mint vs. used
Mint stamps were never mailed and keep their original gum. Used stamps carry a cancellation mark.
Topical
Collecting by subject instead of by country: birds, trains, space, art, you name it.
Scott catalogue
The standard U.S. reference that numbers and prices stamps. Collectors use it to identify what they have.
On approval
Members take home books of stamps, browse at their own pace and pay only for the ones they keep.
Hinges and mounts
Small paper hinges or clear plastic mounts that hold stamps on album pages.
Bourse
The dealer area at a stamp show, where you can browse, buy, sell and trade.
Starter supplies
You do not need much to begin. Most of this costs less than a nice lunch:
- Stamp tongs so you never handle stamps with your fingers
- A magnifying glass for spotting the fine details
- A stock book with clear strips to store stamps before you mount them
- A perforation gauge to measure the little holes, which can tell two look-alike stamps apart
INHERITED A COLLECTION?
Before you do anything else
Every year, families toss or yard-sale collections they later learn were worth keeping. Slow down and take these steps first.
STEP 1
Keep it safe
Store albums upright in a cool, dry room. Attics, garages and basements can ruin stamps with heat and humidity.
STEP 2
Leave stamps where they are
Do not peel stamps off envelopes or out of albums. Many are worth more left on the original cover.
STEP 3
Get it seen in person
Value depends on condition and small details that photos miss. Ask a reputable dealer, or visit more than one.
STEP 4
Bring a sample to a meeting
Our members will gladly look through a few pages with you, for free, and help you decide your next step.
Read the American Philatelic Society’s full guide →
See our Inherited Stamps page →
GO FURTHER
Organizations worth knowing
American Philatelic Society
The largest nonprofit organization for stamp collectors, founded in 1886. Its website has collecting guides, a dealer directory and expert authentication services.
American Topical Association
The go-to group for collecting by subject, with checklists covering hundreds of topics and a youth section with free activities.
Texas Stamp Dealers Association
Professional dealers who run stamp shows across Texas, including four Dallas shows a year in McKinney. Free admission and free parking.
Texas Philatelic Association
Our statewide collector organization, serving Texas clubs since 1896 and co-sponsor of the annual Mid-Cities Stamp Club EXPO.
STAY IN THE LOOP
New stamps, shows and research
New U.S. stamps
See what the Postal Service is releasing next, from holiday issues to commemoratives, and buy them online.
Find a stamp show
The APS calendar lists shows across the country. Search by state or ZIP code to find one near Dallas.
Mid-Cities Stamp Club
Our neighbors to the west host the annual EXPO at the Grapevine Convention Center, with 25 dealers, exhibits and free admission.
World post offices
Look up the official post office of every country and territory, as listed by the Universal Postal Union.
A world-class library in our own backyard
The Wineburgh Philatelic Research Library at UT Dallas is one of the country’s leading stamp libraries, with catalogs, journals and the historic archive of the Texas Philatelic Association.
SHOP WITH OUR MEMBERS
Dealers who are club members
These dealers are members of the Dallas Park Cities Philatelic Society. Look for them at area shows, or reach out directly.
CLUB MEMBER
StampsUniversal
Jim Myers · Coppell, TX
U.S. and worldwide stamps, souvenir sheets, postal history and postal stationery.
Visit stampsuniversal.com →
972-304-1671
CLUB MEMBER
Cunningham Philatelics
Tom Cunningham · Plano, TX
A longtime North Texas stamp dealer and a familiar face at area shows.
214-546-1179
cunninghamstamps@aol.com
Looking for something specific? Browse the Texas Stamp Dealers Association member directory →
Still have questions? Ask us in person.
Visitors are always welcome. Most members arrive around 7:00 p.m. to chat, buy, sell and trade.
