Stamp Collecting Attracts High Achievers

Australia's Sydney Morning Herald reports, "It seems that philately is the hobby that attracts high achievers."

Daphne Martin (shown here) has obtained two doctorates during her life, one in geology and one in medieval history. She's quoted in an article about the Philatelic Society of Australia (Philas) by James Cockington as saying, "I got bored after finishing the first one."

According to James, "Her main interest is in early stamps of Japan, Great Britain, France and the Belgian Congo, as well as revenue stamps and German letter seals. The last category is perhaps the most unusual. These colourful embossed paper circles were used to seal official envelopes in 19th and early 20th-century Germany. Each bears the title of the government official who was authorised to use it."

He goes on to write, "Everyone of importance had one, including Zeppelin commanders. These airships were used on the Western Front at the beginning of WWI. Martin paid $1000 for a series of 10 Zeppelin seals.Her collection of 5500 seals is possibly the largest in Australia. Martin says her children show little interest in her stamps but may change their minds when they inherit them and are pleasantly surprised by what they fetch at auction."

Daphne is 85-years-young.

To read the entire article, click here.