Stamps Have a Greater Purpose Than Just Mailing a Letter

The Observer & Eccentric Newspapers and Hometown Weeklies website reports, "Postage stamps serve a greater purpose than the mere mailing of a letter. They live on for years beyond that initial thank-you letter or birthday card, and as a whole, serve as an indication of a country's history, culture and ideology, making stamp collecting almost more of a history lesson than a pastime or hobby."

It goes on to say, "Don't be fooled by the stereotypes that have been attributed to stamp collecting; it can be a valuable tool for all ages. The process of sifting through the changing artwork and various formats can hone observation skills and attention to detail in children while at the same time displaying the changing interests of a particular nation or country."

While the author is anonymous, I suspect the article was penned by a librarian based on the following comment, "So if you happen to come across a stamp from decades or even a century ago and it piques your interest, stop by the library and we'll show you where you can find more information!"

The article suggests a couple stamp related books that might be found in a library. It also encourages people to bring selections from their stamp collection to the library and spend an afternoon checking out what their stamps are worth using the Scott Catalogues in the reference section.

Shown above, the cover of the first Scott Catalogue which was published in 1868.

To read the enitire article, click here.