First you must decide whether you would like to collect mint (unused) or used (canceled) stamps. I collect both. The used stamps I collect are appealing to me because they were sent through the mail from one person to another and have some sort of history attached to them. Most of my used stamps are still attached to the envelopes or postcards they were sent on. Even though most of these stamps and letters are more than one hundred years old, I can still read the actual correspondence!

The second decision you must make is regarding what types of stamps you want to collect. There are many different types stamps. Some stamp classifications include definitive^*, commemorative^*, and airmail^*.

To see images of different stamp types, click on the names below.

In addition to postage stamps, you can collect postal stationery^*, plate blocks^*, first day covers^*, and souvenir sheets^*.

To see images of other postal materials, click on the names below.

Postal Stationery | Plate Block | First Day Cover | Souvenir Sheet

Take a virtual tour of the exhibits at the National Postal Museum in Washington, DC to learn about the earliest history of the mail, its growth as a modern enterprise, and the beauty and lore of stamps.

Why not encourage your class to submit a subject idea for a new stamp? To learn more about the selection process, read the criteria for stamp subject selection.

The USPS has developed an education series for teachers on decades of the twentieth century. Each decade kit features lesson cards with activities, resource guide, topic cards, student magazines, and more. These kits can be downloaded free at the Celebrate the Century web site. Currently available are guides for the 90s, 80s, 70s, 60s, and 50s.

Explore the subject of the Holocaust at the site Teaching the Holocaust Through Stamps. This teaching unit includes tasks that are carried out through the use of stamps, pictures, children's paintings and text in a computerized virtual environment. Also included are Instructions and subjects for discussion and evaluation.

Students can create their own commemorative stamps for many different classroom topics of study. You can get some ideas for projects of your own by viewing the projects created by Mrs. O'Haver's classes. Take a look at Black History Commemorative Stamps, Commemorative Stamps for the Bill of Rights, Famous Americans Biography Book Reports, or Native American Commemorative Stamp Designs.

Why not have students create commemorative stamps to honor themselves? Read these specifications for autobiographical stamps to learn how.

In 1765, Parliament passed the Stamp Act. What was it? Did it have to do with postage stamps? How were the colonists affected? Visit the pages on the sugar act and stamp act to learn more.

Who was the first Postmaster General? How has mail been delivered over the year? How does US postal history mirror US history? Visit this postal history site to learn more about stamps and the growth of our nation.

The Smithsonian Institution's Migrations in History site features stories and artifacts of migration. This site has a page dedicated to postage stamps with a migration theme. Have students investigate these images and challenge them to discover the importance of the stamp subjects.

Throughout the years, the USPS has issued stamps with images of endangered species. Review these stamps and study the animals depicted. Ask students to determine the current status of these animals. Why were they placed on the endangered species list? Have any of these animals become extinct? Have any been removed from the endangered species list?

In 1976, the USPS issued many stamps with colonial history and Revolutionary War themes. Before studying this period, give each student a stamp commemorating a person, place, or event. Challenge students to discover the importance of the stamp subject. Once students become experts on their stamp subjects, they can share their knowledge with the class.

Would you like to see how one group of students integrated their knowledge of technology and stamp collecting? Visit the Stamp on Black History page to learn more.

The site Stamps Alive! presents introductory information on why stamps are created. You can click on recent stamp issues and learn about the people, places, and historical events portrayed on the stamps.

Using the USPS stamp subject selection criteria, research and come up with a subject for a future stamp. Write to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to share your ideas and explain why the subject you have chosen is worthy of appearing on a stamp.

Create and print cacheted envelopes or postcards for a stamp to be issued in the coming year. Send them out to receive first day of issue cancellations. To view some professionally created first day covers, visit the commercial site of Artmaster First Day Covers.

Visit the Philatelists in the Classroom page for some terrific ideas on using stamps and stamp topics for education.

Many US schools are forming electronic relationships with schools in other countries. While this type of correspondence is faster than traditional forms of mail, there is much to be gained from written correspondence. Why not form electronic and written relationships with these schools? Acquiring foreign stamps is just one of the perks!

Visit Stamps Online to learn about the latest stamp and stamp collectibles from the United States Postal Service (USPS). A site just for kids is currently under construction.

Take a virtual tour of the exhibits at the National Postal Museum in Washington, DC to learn about the earliest history of the mail, its growth as a modern enterprise, and the beauty and lore of stamps.

Young people can learn more about stamps and stamp collecting by visiting the Junior Philatelists of America. The JPA is a group run by and for young stamp collectors, age 18 and under.

Do you want to become a philatelist? If you do, you should take a look at the Q & A Page of the American Philatelic Society (APS). The APS also has a Youth Activities page with a series of downloadable pamphlets in pdf format. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader ® to view these materials.

Bumperland has a site called Stamps 4 Kids. It explains how to start a stamp collection, describes the materials you will need, and provides links to helpful resources.

Junior Philatelists on the Internet is a site with tips for the beginner and information on stamp collecting kits, low cost ways to collect stamps, and more.

The Scouts on Stamps Society International pages highlight postal items celebrating the Boy Scout and Girl Scout (Guide) movements. If you really want to sharpen your stamp knowledge, try to meet the requirements for a stamp badge.

Test your knowledge of stamps, current events, geography, history, and more by taking the Monthly Stamp Quiz at the Youth Collectors Zone site. This is changed every month, so be sure to visit regularly.

For answers to some basic stamp questions, visit this page with Tips for Collectors.

Linn's Stamp News online has a site called Stamp Collecting Basics. From here you can read articles on stamp collecting, stamp condition, stamp care and handling, postmarks, stamp albums, and more. From this page you can also link to their glossary of nearly 300 stamp collecting terms.

Visit Joe Luft's Philatelic Resources on the Web for a most comprehensive listing of online stamp resources.

For stamp articles and a guided tour of stamps on the web, visit the About.com Guide to Stamp Collecting.

For more ideas on using stamps in education, visit the National Postal Museum's Educational Materials page for information on ordering free curriculum guides.

If you would like more information on stamp collecting activities for children, contact your local postmaster or write to:

Youth Stamp Collecting
United States Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plaza
Room 4485E
Washington, DC 20260-6757

This site was reviewed as part of the 1999 FIP Philatelic Web Site Evaluations. The results were announced at the China '99 World Philatelic Exhibition, Beijing, China, 29 August 1999. This site was given a three star award. To visit the FIP site, click on the award.

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Please send your comments or questions to the author at pstohrhu@richmond.edu .
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Last modified: 26-Jul-2004

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