Stamp Collections

It has been suggested that John Bourke, Receiver General of Stamp Dues in Ireland was the first collector. In 1774 he assembled a book of the existing embossed revenue stamps, ranging in value from 6 pounds to half a penny, as well as the hand stamped charge marks that were used with them. His collection is preserved in Dublin

Stamp collecting began at the same time that stamps were first issued, and by 1860 thousands of collectors and stamp dealers were appearing around the world as this new study and hobby spread across Europe, European colonies, the United States and other parts of the world.

The first postage stamp, the Penny Black was issued by Britain in May 1840 and pictured a young Queen Victoria. It was produced without perforations (imperforate) and consequently had to be cut from the sheet with scissors in order to be used. While unused examples of the Penny Black are quite scarce, used examples are quite common, and may be purchased for £50 to £500, depending upon condition.

People started to collect stamps almost immediately. One of the earliest and most notable was John Edward Gray. In 1862, Gray stated that he "began to collect postage stamps shortly after the system was established and before it had become a rage"

As the hobby and study of stamps began to grow, stamp albums and stamp related literature began to surface, and by the early 1880s publishers like Stanley Gibbons made a business out of this advent.

Children and teenagers were early collectors of stamps in the 1860s and 1870s. Many adults dismissed it as a childish pursuit but later many of those same collectors, as adults, began to systematically study the available postage stamps and publish books about them. Some stamps, such as the triangular issues of the Cape of Good Hope, have become legendary.

Stamp collecting is a less popular hobby,  in the early 21st century than it was a hundred years ago. In 2013, the Wall Street Journal estimated the global number of stamp collectors was around 60 million. Tens of thousands of stamp dealers supply them with stamps along with stamp albums, catalogues and other publications. There are also thousands of stamp (philatelic) clubs and organizations that provide them with the history and other aspects of stamps. Today, though the number of collectors is somewhat less, stamp collecting is still one of the world's most popular indoor hobbies.

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  • 1937 Coronation Complete Set of 202 Stamps Fine Used
    Sale
    Regular Price £140.00 Special Price £112.00
  • GB 1864 1d Rose-Red SG43 Complete Set of 151 Plates 71-225 Fine Used
    Sale
    Regular Price £565.00 Special Price £452.00
  • Omnibus 1935 KGV Silver Jubilee Complete Set of 250 Fine MNH
    Sale
    Regular Price £1,650.00 Special Price £1,320.00
  • GB 1999 Royal Mail Year Book No.16 Fine & Complete
    Sale
    Regular Price £45.00 Special Price £36.00
  • GB 1995 Royal Mail Year Book No.12 Fine & Complete (2)
    Sale
    Regular Price £20.00 Special Price £16.00
  • GB 1993 Royal Mail Year Book No.10 Fine & Complete (2)
    Sale
    Regular Price £20.00 Special Price £16.00
  • GB 2004 Royal Mail Year Book No.21 Fine & Complete (2)
    Sale
    Regular Price £66.00 Special Price £52.80
  • GB 2004 Year Book No 22 Fine & Complete MNH With Slip Case
    Sale
    Regular Price £66.00 Special Price £52.80
  • GB 2006 Royal Mail Year Book No.23 Fine & Complete
    Sale
    Regular Price £78.00 Special Price £62.40
  • GB 2001 Royal Mail Year Book No.18 Fine & Complete
    £52.80
  • GB 2000 Royal Mail Year Book No.17 Fine & Complete
    Sale
    Regular Price £54.00 Special Price £43.20
  • 500 All World, All different Used Sport Thematics Stamps
    Sale
    Regular Price £28.00 Special Price £22.40
  • GB 2004 Royal Mail Year Book No.21 Fine & Complete
    Sale
    Regular Price £66.00 Special Price £52.80
  • GB 1987 Royal Mail Year Book No.4 Fine & Complete
    Sale
    Regular Price £15.00 Special Price £12.00
  • GB 1988 Royal Mail Year Book No.5 Fine & Complete
    Sale
    Regular Price £15.00 Special Price £12.00
  • GB 1989 Royal Mail Year Book No.6 Fine & Complete
    Sale
    Regular Price £15.00 Special Price £12.00
  • GB 1990 Royal Mail Year Book No.7 Fine & Complete
    Sale
    Regular Price £15.00 Special Price £12.00
  • GB 1992 Royal Mail Year Book No.9 Fine & Complete
    Sale
    Regular Price £20.00 Special Price £16.00
  • GB 1993 Royal Mail Year Book No.10 Fine & Complete
    Sale
    Regular Price £20.00 Special Price £16.00
  • GB 1994 Royal Mail Year Book No.11 Fine & Complete
    Sale
    Regular Price £20.00 Special Price £16.00
  • GB 1995 Royal Mail Year Book No.12 Fine & Complete
    Sale
    Regular Price £20.00 Special Price £16.00
  • GB 1996 Royal Mail Year Book No.13 Fine & Complete
    Sale
    Regular Price £20.00 Special Price £16.00
  • GB 1991 Royal Mail Year Book No.8 Fine & Complete
    Sale
    Regular Price £20.00 Special Price £16.00
  • Valuable Postage Stamp from Commonwealth Stamps Box File. Superb Commonwealth mix
    Sale
    Regular Price £495.00 Special Price £396.00