Topical But Not Typical: Thematic Stamp Collecting

Topical stamp collecting has been a past time for decades. Topicals are stamps with a consistent theme like trains, birds, sea life, etc. Though I do not partake in this type of collecting I respect its existence and its hard-won pursuit.

Beginners need to pay heed to the fact that such collecting is difficult because are you automatically limiting yourself to the field (or theme) in question. I've know topical collectors spending 6 months to get 1 stamp of a certain theme.

Intellectually it's not hard to appreciate the excitement of searching for a particular sub-set of stamps out there in the world and placing them in your ever-growing collection. I praise these collectors for their patience if not persistence in obtaining their objects of desire.

Topicals are often the most beautiful, artistic, colorful and valuable of stamps produced by countries around the world. Some countries create them solely for profit on the open collecting marketplace. Some purists mock their presence as somehow "reducing" the quality of collecting as a whole but this opinion is more stamp purist nonsense. Stamps are stamps. Collect what you will and learn what limitations or liabilties along the way.

Monthly Report: Reaching The World

KNS continues to reach all corners of the planet. Stamp Collecting is not a past time for old timers but rather a serious hobby with millions of devoted followers around the globe. We have added kind souls from Israel, Oman, Sri Lanka, South Africa, England and the Phillipines.

We have also outfitted a few public school classes, in the US and UK, to get those kids started in the right direction. Keep us the emails and many thanks for the wonderful comments and continued support.

Building Great Memories: Parent and Child

You probably heard the old adage, "be a parent to your child; not their friend. Otherwise it becomes very confusing when time for discipline." I know firsthand this statement is very true but like anything in one's life you cannot take it to the extreme. Too much parenting causes the child to shut off communication and turns your presence into a giant rule maker and not someone who listens or cares about their concerns--real or imagined. That's where stamp collecting comes into play.

As discussed previous in "fellowship" article, the parent/child relationship is strengthened in the area of trust when dealing with stamps. The child is allowed to learn from stamps by making their own decisions about what, how and where to collect. Each stamp session or lesson is another building block of fruitful memory the child carries the rest of their lives. Some of my finest memories of my father, may God rest his soul, revolve around stamp collecting. Our trips to New York stamp shows, the United Nations, pulling out the albums on unscheduled rainy days and just pouring hours into figuring out this and that about stamps and about each other. We were building great memories. My father was still my father but I felt deep down inside he figured out a way to be my friend for a few hours and that lightened the load for both of us considering our respective roles and responsibilities.

I think I got to be the grown-up by making decisions and my father got to be the kid again and sat back and enjoyed not having to direct every facet of every thing in the universe. I' m remembering what I learned then and applying it to my sons in the present day. I will never stop being a father since that role today is more critical than ever before but I will find ways to be his friend whenever possible and whenever it doesn't compromise my primary role. Stamp collecting is going to be another highly useful vehicle to communicate for all parties involved.

Another excellent stamp approach is to take the stamp collecting from the indoors of your home and bring it on the road. We went to museums (Navajo heritage), planetariums (space stamps), zoos (exotic animal stamps), stamp shows (United Nations), conventions (NYC), etc, etc. that spot-lighted the educational angle of stamps. These trips also built great memories that made stamp collecting an exciting adventure. It brought my father and I closer and suddenly made me realize how fortunate I was when other neighborhood kids complained how little they saw of their parents. Some of those kids went on to school problems, behavior problems and eventually legal problems. Neglect, in my opinion, is a form of abuse. Stay active, stay involved and your children will probably stay out of trouble. Stamps might just do the trick.

Starter-Kits and Information Segment Attachments

We continue to send out starter-kits to inquiring parents and resourceful individuals. I would like to welcome Don Schilling from Stamp Collecting Roundup, (see link below!) an incredible site full of articles and links to the most diverse line-up of stamp collecting people on the planet. Thanks for your support. Also, new to the family, Mike Marx, a teacher who is recommitting to the craft of stamp collecting and teaching a class this fall. Kids Need Stamps have supplied his entire group of 30 students with stamps. You guys are an inspiration. Thanks for being out there.

The following informational segments are available in word.doc attachments that will sent upon request. This keeps postage to the minimum.

Major Lists

Cross Country Index --- (4 pages) conversion list that links old country names with new names, i.e., Siam—Thailand

Postage Art Emblems --- (3 pages) includes common symbols used in postage stamps, good for identification purposes

Basic Dictionary of Stamp Terms ---- (6 pages) an excellent grounding in stamp collecting terminology

Basic Country Name Translation List --- (5 pages) essential list to assist new collectors when dealing with international stamps


Specialized Lists

SE Asian Ideograms---- helps with asian ideograms on stamps

Indian Alphabet ---helps with Indian feudal states stamps

Cyrillic & Greek ---helps with Russian, Armenian and Greek isles

U.S. Glossary of Philatelic Terms –only list stamp terminology used in American collecting

Advanced Philatelic Glossary – (18 pages) super extensive

Bogus Issue List --- lists stamps that are frauds

If I have violated any copyright, referred to a web site or item inaccurately, failed to give proper credit, or erred in any way, it is unintentional. Please let me know, and I'll correct it.

Some of these segments are original by yours truly but in some instances I have amended, added or formally updated existing lists from Lee's Listopedia http://www.filbert.com/stamplistopedia/ which is a fascinating site of international scope that remains inactive and hasn't been updated since 1999. Emails haven't been returned. As always anything I provide is free of charge.

In the Light: Improving The Image of Stamp Collecting

I'm always a bit miffed when I hear worship stories about people who collect teacups, dolls from Japan, baseball cards, dead insects, etc, but when it comes to stamp collecting---suddenly it's too corny, nerdy, cerebral, brainy, old-fashioned, and the terrible list goes on. These days you can collect the weirdest things on the planet Earth (micro-meteorites!) and get more respect than the time-honored, #1 hobby in the world: STAMP COLLECTING. Folks, we definitely need a serious stamp-collecting image overhaul.

Part of the problem, and new parents will encounter this, is the stubborn stereotype that insists stamp collecting is a senior citizen past time of no consequence. Yes, there are senior citizens who engage in the hobby, many certified experts, but a majority of collectors internationally are younger people. The two biggest contributors to the image problem of stamp collecting in the United State is first, the Hollywood movie and television industry which has portrayed stamp collecting in a negative light for decades. Too much of this slandering has to do with the corporate tie-ins most film studios have with big-name board game makers and then later video games. They don't like the competition. Second, the US Government itself, which doesn't do enough to spread the positive word of stamp collecting to its younger-age public. A number of countries, Denmark and Greece are perfect examples, spend time and money to promote stamps and collecting in the public school system. It shouldn't be a surprise to Americans that the international student body scores higher on geography tests due to the early introduction of the world's numerous stamp issues.

I am saddened to report some collectors have bought into the stereotypical image and can be heard mocking a hobby they have spent decades belaboring in the dark. And this is the key to their self-mockery, they collect in secret, often not sharing their joy with friends or relatives, until it becomes a hidden habit of embarrassment. Last I checked, cigarettes and drugs, taken in secret were considered hidden habits of shame; not a noble educational hobby. And it is this counter-logical nonsense that slowly twists in our society into pushing people hide the good and promote the bad.

Everyone says their hobby is the sport of kings: golf, horse racing, chess, etc, yet it is Stamp Collecting that is aptly called the King of Hobbies and the Hobby of Kings. You cannot tell much about a nation or culture from its golf players or horse races or chess sets. The same cannot be said about stamps. You can learn much about a nation's values, priorities and qualities or lack there of (consider the Nazi stamps) through the art and language of its colorful stamps. These facts are indisputable and add to a long historical line of proud and joyous achievements found in those small patches of colour and ink we call stamps. Why hide it?