Stamp collectors practice the art of collecting stamps and all of their related articles such as covers, packages or letters with stamps on them. Day of issue sheets are available at post offices for collectors or for use as gifts. It is one of the most popular hobbies with more than 20 million collectors in the United States. Although the stamp was invented in England in the 1840´s, it wasn't until the 1860's that children became their first collectors. Parents at the time thought that it was only a childish hobby, but many of those stamp collectors, also known as philatelists, began to study and do research on stamp production, including the plates used and flaws that may have been made. Collecting stamps is very cool! It can helps kids learn about history, different countries and nations and how they have changed throughout the decades.
There are also all kinds of stamp collecting supplies available to the stamp collector. In fact, there is even stamp collecting software that helps kids keep track of the stamp collections and of the different kinds of stamp dealers available. Most people that collect stamps have stamps from all over the world, although these collections are probably not as extensive as their Canadian stamp collection, or even their American stamp collections.
Many of these collectors have gone on to become stamp dealers and have made a living of their hobby. Some collectors and their collections have become famous within the philatelist community, many of them worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
