Stamp Collecting for Dummies

By Richard L. Sine

Postage stamps have evolved quite a bit since Great Britain's 1840 Penny Black, the world's first adhesive postage stamp. From simple designs featuring the monarch to works of art literally condensed to postage stamp size, hundreds of thousands of different stamps have been issued in the past 164 years--and the great majority of them remain reasonably priced for collectors. With so many stamps to collect from so many countries, a philatelist's choices are virtually unlimited--which can be both a blessing and a curse, especially if you're a newcomer to the art of stamp collecting. Interested in starting a stamp collection, but not sure where to begin? This is the guide for you. Expert Richard Sine fills you in on everything you need to know about selecting, finding, buying, presenting and caring for stamps. An internationally recognized collector and author on stamp collecting (he used to write the New York Times stamp column) he also has much wisdom to impart to collectors who've been at it for a while. A gold mine of expert advice and guidance, Stamp Collecting For Dummies is on how to: Start or diversify your collection Decide what to collect Catalog and organize your collection Handle, protect, store, and display stamps Identify rare and valuable stamps Buy stamps online and through auction houses Unlike most authors on the subject who tend to be pretty stuffy--to put it politely--expert Richard Sine focuses on the side of stamp collecting that's enjoyable, educational, and fun. With humor, tons of interesting anecdotes about stamps and the men and women who love them, and loads of insider tips, he covers all the bases, including: Getting the biggest bang for you stamp-collecting buck Researching, locating and buying stamps through traditional sources and online Showing off your collection at exhibits Customizing your collection Housing your stamps and protecting them against the elements The ten keys to identifying and authenticating stamps Stamp Collecting For Dummies is your total guide to starting and building on a really cool stamp collection.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764553798
• ISBN13: 9780764553790
• Release Date: August 2001
• Publisher: For Dummies
• Length: 312 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

written with a light touch

This volume in the 'Dummies' series is written with a humorous light touch that makes it especially attractive to the Dummy who knows he is one and doesn't need to be reminded that he is one by being frog-marched through impenetrable jargon. In addition, Richard Sine or his editor have had the foresight to break the topics he treats up into very small sections and subsections. The result is a light-hearted but content-rich introduction to the topic, one that this reviewer is only beginning to explore. I cannot imagine a more effective starting point for the would-be stamp collector or - like me - the person who needs to know before he invests time and treasure whether this is something he's going to be able to manage.

A Great Starting Place

I have always thought the Dummies series of books were some of the best-written "How To" books on the market. This one lives up to that reputation. Mr. Sine has produced a well-written, clear guidebook for both new and experienced collectors. He manages to cover the subject without getting bogged down in the jargon of the hobby. His style and wit are welcome in a hobby whose literature can at times be very dry. This is a good guide to a great hobby.