The history of stamp collecting dates all the way back to the 1800s when stamps first appeared. At the time, stamp dealers in and around Europe began intensely studying stamps and many began collecting them. The first postage stamp was issued in Britain in 1840. Dubbed the "Penny Black," it featured an illustrated picture of a young Queen Victoria. The first stamps were issued as one whole sheet without perforations, and the stamps had to be cut apart with scissors.
By 1880, publishers began making a business out of the growing hobby of stamp collecting. Today, stamp collecting remains the most popular indoor hobby. Collectors of all ages are drawn to the historical value of stamps and are fascinated by their beauty. This hobby is great for people with different budgets because stamps are available for collecting at many price levels.
In addition to stamp collecting, stamp cover collecting is also a great hobby that is often overlooked. Collecting stamps is a way to collect an artistic illustration of a person, place, or event in history. However, collecting stamp covers actually allows collectors to collect a real piece of history. The stamp is merely a small piece of the big picture that is the stamp cover. The writing and addresses and the envelope itself all add to the beauty and rarity of the stamp cover.
Stamp Cover Collecting
By 1933, stamp cover collecting began to really take root with stamp collectors. Stamp covers are intriguing to collectors because they come in many different forms. Stamps are beautiful and fun pieces of historical art to collect, but stamp covers offer collectors a real glimpse into history. There are many beautiful examples of special stamps throughout history that made their way onto stamp covers that are coveted by stamp cover collectors worldwide. Although stamp cover collecting and stamp collecting are closely related hobbies, collectors generally tend to collect one or the other.
Stamp cover collectors are usually in pursuit of envelopes that have the stamps attached to them, particularly ones that are canceled. Stamp covers that are from specific dates in history or ones that have interesting markings or graphics are highly sought collectors’ items. First day stamp covers are one of the most highly sought stamp covers.
(to be continued)(未完待续）作者: 岳中泉 时间: 2016-2-12 16:59
Example of an Event Stamp Cover Collection
Event stamp covers are specific stamp covers that mark specific events in history. The design on the left side of the stamp cover is referred to as the "cachet," and it represents the event that is being celebrated. The ideal collection piece has a stamp on the cover with artwork that closely relates to the event being celebrated, along with cancellation from the general area where the event took place.
Sometimes it is hard to find all of these items in a stamp cover. For example, to commemorate the bicentennial of manned balloon flight, one of the manned balloons that traveled to the stratosphere (Explorer) was featured on commemorative stamps that were released in 1983. These stamps found their way onto many mailings for airshow events, which preserved the stamps as stamp covers that had a true sense of history.
First Day of Issue Stamp Covers
A "first day of issue stamp cover" is basically a stamp cover that contains a stamp that was used on the first day that it was issued. A first day postmark is usually stamped on the cover with the date and city where it was issued.
Some specific first day stamp covers are celebrated with ceremonies that commemorate their issue. Celebrations may be initiated through the post office to commemorate the birthday of a famous person, for example. These celebrations typically include information about the person being honored, and the person’s descendants may be present at the ceremony, or the ceremony may be held at the birthplace of the person. Celebrations can also be initiated through specific companies with the companies having the stamp cover canceled with a special cancel that is created by the stamp designer.
Choosing Stamp Covers
When it comes to stamp cover collecting, "the value is in the eye of the beholder" is an appropriate saying in most cases. Some obvious times in history are going to be more meaningful to some people than others. Nonetheless, there are some basic do’s and don’ts when it comes to collecting stamp covers.
Do Pick a General Theme for the Collection
When deciding to begin a collection of stamps covers, one good thing to do from the beginning is pick a generalized theme for the collection. This is beneficial for two reasons. One, focusing on a general theme allows collectors to learn everything they need to know about that specific subject, and that gives them insight into what to look for and what would add value to their collections. Two, collections are far more valuable as a whole if they have a cohesive theme. This makes them more appealing to other stamp cover collectors, as well as collectors who focus on collecting various items with that particular theme.
Don’t Spend a Large Amount of Money on a Beginner Collection
Although it is tempting to go "all in" when it comes to starting a collection, it is not wise to invest large amounts of money buying stamp covers to start a new collection. It is too easy to get confused about the potential value of specific stamp covers in the beginning stages. Some stamp covers are considered to be rare and are valued at high prices, while other covers are common and not very valuable.
(to be continued)(未完待续）作者: williamzhang 时间: 2016-2-13 16:27
回复 3#williamzhang Do Look for Stamp Covers That Have Matching Details
The more sought after stamp covers have not only historically important dates, but they also incorporate other details from the time period or commemorative event. Stamp covers are more valuable if the cachets, stamps, and postmarks all match.
Don’t Underestimate What Is Inside of the Stamp Cover
Although the outward appearance of the stamp cover is of high importance when it comes to the value, collectors should not underestimate the treasure that may lie within the envelope. Some letters that have been found have been eye-opening letters filled with details about past historical events. Many collectors prize these intimate details as much, if not more, than the actual stamp covers themselves, and the two combined make a significant collectible.
Buying Stamp Covers
For buying stamp covers, there are very few places for collectors to shop. Occasionally, specialty collectible shops may have stamp covers available, particularly if the shop specializes in stamps, but most collectors have to resort to dealing with other private collectors or looking for desirable stamp covers on the Internet. On the positive side, shopping online for stamp covers is easily done with a few clicks of the mouse, and it is a convenient way to see a broader range of available items before deciding what to buy.
How to Buy Stamp Covers on eBay
eBay is one of the best websites to browse to find stamp covers. The variety of sellers on eBay means that collectors have the opportunity to peek into many collections from many different times and places, and this would be hard to do otherwise. Some rare finds are often available on eBay, and this is a very appealing factor for many collectors. In addition, eBay’s auction format allows collectors to sometimes walk away with excellent deals.
Buying stamp covers on eBay is simple. Start by entering the desired search term into the search tab on eBay’s website. You can browse through the full listing of results, or you can further narrow the results by selecting specific categories or filters on the results page. You can also try entering more detailed search terms to narrow the choices.
Once you have found an item of interest, read through the auction listing entirely. It is important to understand all the details of the auction before committing to a bid. If you are in agreement on the condition of the item and the terms, enter your maximum bid amount and let eBay take care of the rest with automatic bidding. This feature allows eBay to bid for you in increments up to the maximum amount of your bid.
Once you have paid for and received the item, it is important to remember to leave feedback for the seller. This feedback is an important part of the buying and selling process on eBay, as it helps buyers find trustworthy sellers.
Conclusion
Collecting stamp covers can be a very interesting hobby. History is filled with days that impacted entire nations. Little tokens from certain events in history are relished among collectors and historians alike, and collecting stamp covers is a little like getting a tiny glimpse into the past. Whether on a postcard or a letter, the intimate details related to that item are priceless.
Often taking a backseat to stamp collecting, stamp cover collecting is frequently overlooked as a genuine hobby. Stamps often feature artistic depictions of people, places, or events from the past, while stamp covers offer a real piece of history from the time period and a connection to the people of the time. Learning as much as possible about the time periods of particular stamp covers provides insight into the stamp covers themselves.
Starting out slowly and inexpensively is recommended in order to make sure that the hobby is one that is going to be continuously pursued into the future. It is not a good idea to invest large amounts of money until collectors know what they are doing and are certain they will continue. Fortunately, when it comes to stamp cover collecting, it does not matter if the budget is $20 or $2,000. There are plenty of great items available to help buyers get their collections started.
（The end)(全文完）作者: 阮秀佑 时间: 2016-2-13 18:21
Good guide.作者: markringo 时间: 2016-2-15 11:47
The author should add a bullet clarifying that many fake / forged covers (esp. China) also exist on eBay.作者: williamzhang 时间: 2016-2-16 11:24
回复 6#markringo
You are absolutely right. The president of CSS H. James Maxwellhas discovered some forgeries for sale on ebay. I will post his article tomorrow.
看不懂英语，能翻译一下就好了！