Where to Find a List of Stamps

In the world of stamp collecting, it is always great to be able to know where to go to be able to find your treasured stamps. Although stamp collecting can be an inexpensive hobby that has endless possibilities to it, you need to have a general idea of what types of stamps you want in your collection. Then of course, you need to know what you are willing to pay for your treasures. Never forget, that what may be ones person’s trash could be someone else’s treasure.

You may need a list of stamps. So, where do you find a list of stamps? Well, the list you need is going to be compiled from your collection, what do you need and want. It is going to be your own want list, collectors have been creating them and using them since the 1840’s when the second postage stamp was released. Very simply put, a want list is just an easy way for collectors to ensure that they get what they need without buying duplicates or trading for ones that they do not need.

You can compile your list by either listing every stamp in your collection, or by listing only the ones that you want and still need to complete that part of your collection. Your want list can be done in whatever fashion that you prefer and find easier to maintain. You can do it in a simple notebook, on a computer or type it on an old fashioned typewriter. You can list just the easy to follow catalogue numbers or get really technical and have illustrations of the stamps you desire also for easy reference.

It all just depends on how you will be using your list to help you in your collection. For example if you need to contact a collector to find out if he may have the stamps you are looking for, you may want to send a short version of your list that contains what he may be collecting. Of course you can always let them know that you do have a longer list in case they may have other things on your list.

Try to keep you want list request to other collectors as simple as possible, make it neat and easy to read. Eliminate the margin for error and possibility of you ending up with the wrong stamp. You may want to invest a little money in a computer program that helps compile your list for you; these are very easy to use.

Photo Credits: karen horton

Originally posted 2010-07-29 03:33:04.

This post involves:

list of stamps, postage stamp, stamp catalogue numbers, stamp collecting, stamps

... and focuses on:

Stamp Collecting, Stamp Organization, Tips and Tricks

Posted by Collectible Stamp on January 10, 2012 in Stamp Collecting, Stamp Organization, Tips and Tricks.