and the online sales of suspected counterfeit stamps." Postal Inspection Service is actively working to identify shipments of counterfeit postage stamps entering the U.S.
THE FACE OF MARS COLLECTOR STAMPS FREE
The Free Press followed up with a call and email seeking clarification, and inspectors responded with a longer, but also vague email: "The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement arm of the postal service, has said that if you see a deal on postage stamps that's "too good to pass up?" - say half off - the stamps are "probably counterfeit." The counterfeit stamps often are sold in bulk, with discounts from 20% to 50% off their face value, and a popular postage to imitate is the first-class Forever stamp - most often the Flag stamp - for a 1-ounce card or letter, which costs 58 cents. New stamps use ink that glows under UV light. The postal service processed and estimated 1.3 billion of them. Scammers are peddling them on social media, through e-commerce and third-party vendors. The fake stamps are easier to print.Īnd while email is replacing snail mail, scammers are selling counterfeit stamps - especially during the holidays - because many folks still send greeting cards. The number of counterfeit stamps being sold online is escalating, postal officials said Wednesday. And what may be more unsettling: When it comes to policing social media and ersatz e-commerce sites for schemes, you may be on your own. It also helps to know a few key websites that can help with your research, like our own philatelic web pages.Postal officials warn that deeply discounted postage stamps may be a scam.īut you'll have to look carefully to see whether they're fake. Tweezers (so you don’t have to touch the stamps, learn more later…) Stamp Hinges or Mounts (these will be needed depending on the type of album purchased)
Stamp Catalogue (check your local library to see if they have any catalogues for reference) When starting your collection there are a few essential you are going to need.
The more passionate you are about the subject the more likely you are to continue to collect.Ī collection of just some of the British stamps that feature cats. Why not think about what interests you and build a collection around that. It may be best to start with a larger theme and then break it down to find an area you enjoy. Commemorative stamps depict numerous themes, you could choose anything from cats to aeroplanes ( British Thematic Association). You may only wish to collect stamps from one country or stamps that focus on one event. The possibilities of what to collect are endless.
Perforation: A means of making the separation of individual stamps easier by removing small pieces of paper from the gaps between the stamps.Ī red definitive first class stamp & A commemorative stamp depicting the book cover of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, 1993 & 2007 Mint: A stamp in a perfect condition, uncancelled and having its original gum.Ĭancellation: A postal marking applied on top of the stamp to show it’s gone through the post and deface the stamp so it can’t be reused. Used: A stamp that has been used postally and bears at least part of a postmark. Philately: The study of postage stamps and associated areas.ĭefinitive stamp: A definitive stamp is intended for everyday use over a long period of time often depicting the profile of the monarch’s head.Ĭommemorative stamp: A commemorative stamp commemorates an event or theme, sometimes called ‘Special’ as often there is no anniversary involved. We have an in depth philatelic glossary on our website however here are a few words you’ll need to know straight away. Since then stamps have been produced in countries around the world with new designs issued every year.Īn example of each British monarch on a stamp from Queen Victoria to Queen Elizabeth II This small piece of paper changed the way we sent post and was extremely popular. The first stamp was produced in Great Britain in 1840 and is known as the Penny Black. Knowing a little more about the history of the postage stamp will help you on your way to becoming a stamp collector. Poster advertising a philatelic exhibition at the Central Library in Bolton, 1983 (POST 110/0321)
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