Stamp collecting alive and thriving

Peter Katona of the Columbia News Service writes in the Chicago Tribune, "Stamp collecting isn't what it used to be. The hobby once rooted in collectors' homes and schools and in small stamp shops scattered around the country is now grounded on the Internet."

According to Katona,"These changes have led to countless rumors that philately, as the hobby is called, is dying."

He goes on to report, "But while many longtime collectors lament some of the changes their pastime is facing, there is no doubt that philately is thriving. Stamp values are on the rise, and the number of collectors is growing as novices increasingly use the Internet to try their hand at the 170-year-old pastime."

The U.S. Postal Service estimates that there are more than 4 million stamp savers nationwide, according to the piece.

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