My interest in postage stamps is not necessarily philatelic. It is not about the collector value. Nor is it about filling albums.
If there is a philatelic category that contains my interest, it would be “topical.”
I’m interested in the stories that stamps tell. Whether a single stamp, or a series, or an amalgamation of stamps from around the world, they intrigue me with the stories they tell. Single stamps say something about the interest of the country at that moment in time. Or something about what is popular or even politically correct. A number of stamps across time may well talk about a nation’s culture, its history, its future. Mexico, for example, uses works of art from its ancient peoples to illustrate very modern events or subjects. How cool is that!
This stamp, released the year of my birth, covers the territory in which I was born and continue to live. Ah, the stories it tells!
I watched Mongolia go from being a “postage stamp nation” to one which instead wants to tells its history and culture. That is encouraging, in my view, in that it shows a nascent pride in its heritage.
Coming into possession of a stamp gives me the impetus to study not simply its background, but everything that it has to say about the country that printed it. And the best way — for me, at least — to learn is to write about a subject. My education may begin that moment I see a stamp in a catalog and begin to discover its meaning, but it doesn’t come to fruition until the time I put it together with others and research and write their story.
Now, finally, after years of collecting and researching and writing, I have the outlet for that interest. Many specialty stores have contributed to my collection, and where I kept track — which is a record far from complete — I have included mention in the blog.
Even a cancelled stamp that costs a dime can bring many hours of pleasure through these activities. It doesn’t take a “collector’s item” to stimulate my interest. Which is good, because that would severely limit my activity.
I hope you will enjoy learning about stamps and their subjects as well. If you are kind enough to purchase the digital books (or booklets/chapbooks) I create, that will give me 1) funds to acquire more stamps and 2) motivation to keep researching and writing.