People all over the world enjoy collecting stamps as a fun hobby. No matter how old or young you are, it doesn't matter. Not only is this a fun and interesting hobby, but it can also teach you a lot. There are people all over the world who collect stamps, and you can join them. The best part about collecting stamps is that you can get so many different kinds. In this case, more is definitely better. If you're new to this hobby, you should know that you need stamp collecting supplies before you can start collecting stamps.
Here are the things you will need for your hobby. Stock books, stamp hinges, stamp tongs, magnifiers, glassing envelopes, blank pages, drying books, perforation gauge, water mark detector, stamp mounts, stamp catalogues, binders, and, of course, stamp albums. This may look like a long list of things to buy, but don't worry. Unlike many other collecting activities, this one doesn't have to cost anything. You don't have to buy equipment and supplies that cost a lot of money. There is, of course, a list of things that every stamp collector needs.
Let's start with the one thing that every collector needs: a stamp album. The stamp album keeps your stamps safe and gives you a way to organise your collection and show them off in an attractive way. Try to find something of good quality. You should look for an album with a lot of room for your stamps, strong bindings, thick pages made of good quality acid-free paper, and a lot of space between the pages. A stamp hinge is another smart thing you can't do without. A stamp hinge is a small piece of folded, rectangular paper or glassine that has a gum on one side. One end of the hinge is stuck to the back of a stamp, and the other end is stuck to a page in an album. This helps keep the stamp in place on the page. These hinges are very cheap. For a few dollars, you can buy around a thousand of them. Stamp tongs look like tweezers, but they are made to pick up and work with stamps. Both stainless steel and plastic can be used to make tongs. Either one will work, but make sure the tongs you choose don't have sharp edges, which could tear your stamp and ruin it. If you care about how much your collection is worth, you need a stamp catalogue. The stamp catalogue will help you figure out what a stamp is and give you a rough idea of how much it is worth now. So you know exactly how much your collection is worth in the world of collecting stamps. A magnifying glass is also needed. This will help you look closely at the stamp's writing and design, as well as its shape and condition. Also, the magnifying glass would help you see if a stamp is creased or has a mistake in the printing. All of these things affect how good a stamp is and how much it's worth. Glassine envelopes are translucent and available in various sizes. You can use them to sort and store stamps before putting them in an album. You can also use these envelopes to send stamps. A perforation gauge is another tool that you will need. It counts the number of holes on the side of the stamps every two centimetres. Stamps have different numbers of perforations, which can help you tell the difference between two stamps that look the same and can also affect how rare they are. A water mark detector can help find fakes and tell the difference between different types of stamps.
All of these tools are easy to find in hobby shops and on the web. Remember that you don't have to spend a lot of money on these tools. You'll need these stamp collecting supplies to get started, and have fun while you're doing it.
