r/philately • u/Prestigious_Emu729 • 1d ago

Basic Noob Question

Hello, All!

I've long been casually interested in Stamps, but never enough to get started. I've been looking at it, and at Postcrossing specifically (I should probably say that I'm in the USA). So I have a few questions about actually getting started.

1) What supplies do I need. I'm guessing Post Cards, glue sticks to affix stamps that I send, and a binder/envelopes/inserts in which to save stamps that I receive back.

2) Postage. While I know I could use a "US Global Forever" stamp, I'm guessing that a foreign collector may be happier getting multiple stamps with different motifs. Any suggestions on where to get a nice variety of pretty stamps to send (and admittedly to keep some for my own collection)? (I suppose if I do keep some, I will need some "stamp-sized" storage vessels, as well as the "post-card-sized" storage vessels).

In short, I can boil this down to 1 question: What do I need to get started, and where is the best resource to get it? I appreciate your response, and look forward to at least dipping my pinky toe into this as a hobby.

Thanks!

Tom

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u/voneschenbach1 World 1d ago

I would recommend heading over /r/postcrossing/. While there are postcrossers here you'd get a better response there.

2

u/kikifloof Jazz/Comics/Owls/Foxes/Scandinavia & more 1d ago

I'm both a postcrosser and a (long time) stamp collector. For PC, you'll need postcards, stamps (glue usually not necessary unless you use older stamps, some people prefer glue sticks to licking them), and for storage of stamps you can use stock sheets or a stockbook.

Keep in mind with postcrossing you are not guaranteed nice stamps. While most people do choose attractive stamps, there are also many that use boring definitives or even labels.

You are right that most postcrossers will prefer something other than Global Forever since those are used predominantly. You can buy vintage stamps marked as 'discount postage' from many stamp dealers, including Mystic or on ebay. Bear in mind that people selling new Forever stamps on a discount are likely to be selling you fake stamps.

Finally, a great You Tube resource for stamps is a channel called Exploring Stamps. He is not posting a lot of new content but he has great beginner info, and is also a postcrosser.