Overview

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.

Full Product Details

Author:   Richard L. Sine
Publisher:   John Wiley & Sons Inc
Imprint:   Hungry Minds Inc,U.S.
Dimensions:   Width: 19.00cm , Height: 1.70cm , Length: 23.30cm
Weight:   0.493kg
ISBN:  

9780764553790

ISBN 10:   0764553798
Pages:   336
Publication Date:   15 August 2001
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Out of Stock Indefinitely
Availability:   Awaiting stock  

Table of Contents

Introduction. Part I: Getting the Fundamentals Licked. Chapter 1: Uncovering Stamp Collecting's Coolness. Chapter 2: A Stamp by Any Other Name. Chapter 3: Dissecting Your Stamp's Anatomy. Part II: Making the Most of Your Moolah. Chapter 4: Raising Their Green Heads: Finances. Chapter 5: Getting a Grip on Grade and Condition. Chapter 6: Appreciating Value. Part III: Stampeding Is a Group Thing. Chapter 7: Leaving No Stone Unturned: Finding Stamps. Chapter 8: Getting a Little Help from Your Friends. Chapter 9: Familializing Yourself with Stamps. Chapter 10: Showing off at Exhibits. Part IV: Customizing Your Collection. Chapter 11: Uncle Sam's Stamps. Chapter 12: Globe-trotting. Chapter 13: Planning and Theming. Part V: Protecting Your Collection. Chapter 14: Housing Your Stamps. Chapter 15: Faking It. Part VI: The Parts of Ten. Chapter 16: Ten Keys to Stamp Identification. Chapter 17: Ten Ways to Dispose of a Stamp or Collection. Chapter 18: Ten Commonly Asked Questions About Postage Stamps. Part VII: Appendixes. Appendix A: Rooting Through Resources. Appendix B: Glossary. Index. Book Registration Information.

Reviews

. ..this fun and informative guide to selecting, finding, buying, presenting and caring for stamps is a must-read for every collector... ( Stamp & Coin Mart , January 2007)

.,. this fun and informative guide to selecting, finding, buying, presenting and caring for stamps is a must-read for every collector... ( Stamp & Coin Mart, January 2007)

.. .this fun and informative guide to selecting, finding, buying, presenting and caring for stamps is a must-read for every collector... (<i>Stamp & Coin Mart</i>, January 2007)

Author Information

Richard L. Sine, author of the Encyclopedia of U.S. Postage Stamps CD-ROM and former New York Times stamp columnist, has been collecting and writing for more than 20 years.

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