Passion Fuels Champion Stamp Collector

Minnesota's Shoreview Press reports Mark Stitzel entered his stamp collection in seven divisions in last year's Minnesota State Fair Collections & Taxidermy competition and wound up with eight ribbons and the grand championship trophy.

According to an article by contributing writer Josh Wimmer, "The 62-year-old said he began collecting stamps when he was about 10. He was active at it throughout adolescence, but after joining the Navy, getting married and starting a family, put a moratorium on it."

"He got back into it somewhat around 1976 because of the beautiful stamps being printed in celebration of the United States' bicentennial. But it's really been since his retirement four years ago that he’s returned to collecting with a passion," pens Josh.

He goes on to say, "The free time that has afforded him as well as his long background in marketing were a huge help in organizing and showcasing his stamps in a way that caught the eye of judges at the state fair."

Mark is quoted as saying, “I'm sort of versed in how to display things and I like history. And stamp collecting, that's really what it is — history.”

To read the entire article, click here.