START COLLECTING
Your first steps into stamp collecting
Stamps are tiny works of art and history you can hold in your hand. You don’t need much money or any experience to begin, just curiosity.
CHOOSE A DIRECTION
What will you collect?
There’s no wrong answer, and many collectors switch or add interests over time. Here are the three most common ways to begin.
By country
Collect the stamps of one place: the U.S., a country you’ve visited, or where your family comes from.
Example: every U.S. stamp from the 1960s
By topic
Collect anything that shows a subject you love, from any country. This is called topical collecting.
Example: birds, trains, space, art or architecture
By type
Focus on a kind of item rather than a place, such as covers, postmarks or first day covers.
Example: envelopes mailed from small Texas towns
FINDING STAMPS
Where to find stamps
Your own mailbox
Save interesting stamps from letters and packages. It’s free and a great way to start.
Family and friends
Ask around. Many people have old letters or albums tucked away.
Club approval books
Members take home books of stamps and pay only for the ones they keep.
Meeting auctions
Bid on stamps and covers from fellow members, often for very little.
Stamp shows and dealers
Browse dealer tables at shows like the Mid-Cities EXPO, or visit a local shop.
The Post Office
New U.S. stamps come out all year and make an easy, colorful starting point.
HANDLE WITH CARE
A few good habits
- Use stamp tongs, not fingers. Skin oils damage stamps over time
- Never use tape or glue. Use hinges or clear mounts instead
- Store stamps flat and dry, away from sunlight and humidity
- Ask before soaking. Older stamps can be soaked off paper in water, but modern self-adhesive stamps need a different approach
Starter supplies
- Stamp tongs
- A magnifying glass
- A stock book for storing stamps
- Hinges or mounts and an album, once you know what you collect
KIDS AND FAMILIES
A hobby you can share
Stamps are hands-on lessons in geography, history and art. Sorting a pile of stamps together is a great screen-free afternoon.
- Scouts can earn the Stamp Collecting merit badge, and our members are happy to help
- The American Topical Association has a youth section with free activities
- Stamp shows often have beginner tables and mixture picks that kids love
The easiest first step: come to a meeting
Bring a few stamps if you have them. Our members love helping beginners get started.
