The good news is that once you have found a couple of good stamp dealers, you can normally depend on them for excellent service for years to come.

One of the first things you will need to do is browse the online auction site, eBay, for stamp selling and philatelic stores. Pay particularly close attention to the feedback rating of each store and whether or not it is a “power seller”. Power seller status is awarded to the most popular, reputable and successful stores.

A second approach is to browse your local telephone directory for brick-and-mortar stamp collection shops in your area. You may not have one on your closest main street but if you live in a big city you will almost certainly have access to at least one very useful store.

If you still can’t locate a stamp dealer that you are happy to use, get in touch with the local philatelic society and ask for some recommendations. The philatelic society may include members who sell a number of stamps, and the society itself can be a great place to meet people who are willing to trade and sell stamps.

A philatelic society is an organisation full of people committed to the study, research, publication and showcasing of all aspects of stamp collecting.

These societies have regular meetings so that collectors and postal historians can come together and share their experience and knowledge of the world of stamp collecting.

Joining a philatelic society can be a real eye opener for new collectors, because they will instantly have access to a wealth of information about the history and emphasis of stamp collecting.

Most countries have large philatelic societies that cover the whole population, but there are often smaller, local societies that are more low key and come under the umbrella of a larger society.

Regardless of your level of knowledge and experience in stamp collecting, you will find philatelic societies welcoming and friendly and keen to include you in their ranks.

Another real bonus of joining such a society is the opportunity to expand your stamp collection by trading with other members of the society.

You may also be able to draw inspiration from the collections of others, and you might discover a new direction or interest for your own collection.

In essence, a stamp catalogue provides you with information about different stamp types, the rarity of stamps and their approximate market value.

When stamp catalogues first emerged many years ago, they were simply lists of individual dealers’ prices. These days there are international catalogues that take in a remarkable spectrum of stamp collecting activity.

As the hobby of philately has developed and grown, catalogues have expanded to include information about date of stamp issues, variations in colour and other assorted details.

There are currently five well recognised catalogues that have an expansive international coverage. They are the Michel, Minkus, Stanley Gibbons, Scott and Yvert et Tellier catalogues.

An interesting development in the realm of stamp catalogues has been the internet, and some catalogues now have both a printed version and an online version available to collectors and dealers. Sometimes a subscription will give you access to both services.

If you are serious about your stamp collection then at some stage it will be wise to invest in a quality stamp catalogue.

The first thing you need to do is get some perspective about the prices you should be paying for various stamps. Start out by reading a good quality, reputable stamp value guide. In fact, it is probably worth buying a reputable guide if you can.

Next, you will want to look at a broad range of stores, auction sites and sellers before you commit to any purchases. You might see a stamp you are desperate for on eBay but, if you don’t look for it more widely, you can’t be sure that it is the best price!

A great idea is to buy your stamps in bulk. Rather than a slow dribble of stamp purchases, buy in bulk and save on shipping costs. It will also give you more time to fully appreciate your growing collection before moving onto the “next big thing”!

Always pay through a secure method such as PayPal. If you are paying with a credit card, speak to your provider to find out if they offer any buyer protection. If a stamp turns out to be poor quality or does not turn up, you may want to apply for a refund.

Sweden Three Skilling Banco, Yellow Color Error, 1855

This stamp was issued in 1855 and a printing error saw it come out on yellow paper instead of the intended green paper. Just one copy is known to exist, found in 1885 by a young Swedish boy. Because there is only known to be one in existence, it is remarkably valuable. Sold for $2.3 million at auction in 1996.

Post Office Mauritius, 1847

The Governer of Mauritius decided to issue the colony’s first postal stamps in 1847. A local watchmaker was granted the contract to make two stamp designs. During the process, the watchmaker accidentally engraved “post office” instead of “post paid” on the stamps. More than 200 stamps had hit the market before the error was picked up. Less than 30 copies are believed to exist today. Valued at a minimum of $600,000, but a cover bearing two stamps sold for $3.8 million in 1993.

U.S. Franklin Z-Grill, 1867

The rarest US stamp, only two copies are known of. Benjamin Franklin is depicted on the stamp. The “Z-Grill” design was intended to prevent cheats from reusing the stamps. One sold for $930,000 in 1988.

Hawaiian Missionaries, 1851

The first stamps issued in Hawaii. Printed in Honolulu in three variations – 2-cent, 5-cent and 13-cent. The original copies were printed on very poor paper so few have survived. A 2-cent missionary, the least valuable, is estimated to be worth $760,000.

British Guiana One Cent Black on Magenta, 1856

This was long considered to be the world’s most valuable stamp. Printed under “emergency” conditions in British Guiana in 1856 when the colony ran out of stamps. Crude one-cent and four-cent denominations emerged. The stamps were printed on a magenta background and featured a sailing ship and the colony’s motto. A copy of this stamp sold in 1980 for $935,000.

A commemorative stamp is a postage stamp that has been printed in order to honour or commemorate a person, event or place.

Each year Australia Post (and other overseas postal services, for that matter) issue a number of these stamps and launching ceremonies are often held to give the stamps publicity.

An interesting point of history is that it is not entirely clear which stamp was the first commemorative stamp issued. Leading candidates include a 17-cent stamp issued by New Brunswick in 1870, which showed the Prince of Wales anticipating a visit.

In 1866 the United States postal service released a 15-cent black stamp featuring Abraham Lincoln. This was the first stamp depicting Lincoln after his assassination in 1865, but was not officially declared as a commemoration or tribute to him.

The first stamps that were undoubtedly issued under the “commemorative” banner were issued by New South Wales in 1888 and marked the 100th anniversary of that colony. Six stamps were issued as part of the series and all had a commemorative inscription.

The first thing you should do is go to your local post office and purchase a beginner’s stamp collection kit. While you are there you may want to think about buying some brand new stamps to kick off your collection.

Next, you should start removing stamps from any envelopes you can find lying around your house. Keep in mind that in some instances it is more worthwhile to leave the stamp on the envelope (and store the whole envelope), because the unique postmark date will make it more valuable.

Start asking around for old stamps from friends and family. They may have old envelopes that they have saved, which could also turn out to be valuable.

By now you should have a few stamps under your belt. Your next step, if you are enjoying the collection process, is to start to look around for stamps to buy. If there is a nearby stamp dealer, drop into the shop for a chat. The dealer may be able to recommend you focus your collection in a particular direction, and will be able to give you plenty of tips.

Finally, don’t forget trading with other collectors. This can be one of the most fun things to do, as you will both grow your collection and make new friends.

Here is a quick rundown of the equipment you will need.

Magnifying Glass

In order to look at your stamps in detail and thoroughly examine the ins and outs of a stamp, you will need access to a good quality magnifying glass. Using a magnifying glass to examine stamps is one of the greatest pleasures for a serious collector, and with a little bit of time and patience you will be able to identify mistakes and flaws and obscurities in stamps.

Perforation Gauge

This is used to measure the number of holes in a stamp. Measurements are done for each 2cm length of a stamp, and this tool can help you identify the rarity of a stamp. Not every stamp in a set will have matching perforation measurements.

Tweezers

Perfect for handling your precious stamps without allowing them to get smudged or soiled. You will be able to choose between stainless steel versions and plastic versions, it is simply a matter of preference. Make sure you get a pair with soft edges, because hard edges can tear your stamps!

Your best bet is probably to start off by starting up an account on the online auction site, eBay.

The advantage of eBay is that it has access to more customers than any other website, and you will maximise your chances of getting a good return by using eBay.

Once you have an eBay account, you need to familiarise yourself with the terminology used in selling stamps. The most important terminology will relate to the condition of the stamps you want to sell, and it is imperative that you get this right in your listing.

If a buyer is going to give you bad feedback, it is most likely going to be because you have not correctly listed the condition of the stamp(s) you have sold.

A good idea is to take your stamp collection into a stamp shop for review before selling. You will need to find a friendly sales assistant, one that is happy to talk to you about the value of your collection.

Take note of the terms used by the assistant – particularly the ones relating to stamp condition, age and value – and write them down if you can.

One of the most significant scamming attempts came in 1932, when the crooks involved attempted to fool the Australian Post Office and, by association, the Commonwealth of Australia.

It was an unusual attempt, but the intention of the fraudsters was to eventually sell forged Tattersall lottery tickets.

The target for the forgery was one of the most enduring and renowned Australian stamps, the very rare ‘Two Pound Kangaroo on Map’.

This old stamp is the most valuable Australian stamp ever to be produced, and is sought the world over by collectors.

The main figure behind the forgeries was the Italian national Jean Sperati, who was living in France at the time and was notorious for pulling off many of the world’s most remarkable stamp forgeries.

Because of the regular impurities in the printing of stamps during this time, it was very hard for either members of the public or authorities to identify forgeries.

Although it was never proved that Sperati was behind this series of forgeries he did spend some time in jail over the affair.