• SKU: 60000000000001163225

• Retail Price: $0.00

• Description: Stamp collecting has intrigued millions since stamps were first used in 1840, and by 1880 the trend was so popular, the publishing company Stanley Gibbons managed to make a business of it! There were albums, special edition stamps and preserving kits. I completely understand why people love collecting stamps, as each one is like a tiny signifier of a historical event, whether that be the coronation of a new monarch, the latest Wallace and Gromit creation or the centenary of the R.M.S. Titanic sinking. International stamps also specify currency (that might be outdated now. French franks anyone?) and cultural aspects of hundreds of other countries. It's true - a surprising amount of information can be deduced from a stamp, even more so from a used one. Collectors start by asking around friends or family for leftover stamps from letters and packages, but those who get serious about collection often go the stamp auctions or online buying nowadays. Even eBay have a whole section devoted to this incredible hobby, with people bidding up to $1300 just to get their hands on these valuable collections! All in all, stamp collecting is fun, educational, and could leave you with something quite valuable if kept in good condition for future generations.