Philatelic materials facts for kids
Philatelic materials are all the cool items that stamp collectors love to gather! Think of them as treasures for people who enjoy learning about stamps and postal history. These materials include postage stamps, special sets of stamps, souvenir sheets, and even things like postal markings on letters. They all show that postage was paid to send mail.
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What is Philately?
Philately is the study and collection of stamps and other postal items. It's a fun hobby that can teach you a lot about history, geography, and art. People collect stamps for many reasons. Some enjoy the beautiful designs, while others like to learn about the countries and events shown on them. It's like having a tiny piece of history in your hands!
Why Do People Collect Philatelic Materials?
Collecting philatelic materials is more than just gathering paper. It's a way to explore the world and its past.
- History Lessons: Stamps often celebrate important events, famous people, or historical moments.
- Art and Design: Many stamps are tiny works of art, designed by talented artists.
- Geography: Collecting stamps from different countries can teach you about places you've never visited.
- Fun and Challenge: Finding rare stamps or completing a collection can be a very rewarding challenge.
Types of Philatelic Materials
There are many different kinds of items that stamp collectors look for. Each type tells a unique part of the postal story.
Postage Stamps
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that you stick on an envelope or package. It shows that you have paid the fee to send your mail. Stamps have been around since 1840, when the first one, called the "Penny Black," was issued in the United Kingdom.
- They come in many shapes, sizes, and colors.
- Each stamp has a value, like 10 cents or 1 dollar, which is the cost of sending mail.
- Stamps often feature pictures of animals, plants, famous people, or important buildings.
Se-tenants
Se-tenants are two or more stamps that are joined together and printed on the same sheet. They are often different from each other, even if they are part of the same set.
- Sometimes, se-tenants tell a story across several stamps.
- They might have different designs or values, but they are meant to be kept together.
- Collectors often value se-tenants more when they are still attached.
Souvenir Sheets and Miniature Sheets
A souvenir sheet (also called a miniature sheet) is a small sheet of paper that contains one or more stamps. These sheets are usually made for special events or anniversaries.
- They often have wide decorative borders around the stamps.
- The borders might include extra artwork or text related to the event.
- Souvenir sheets are popular with collectors because they are often limited editions.
Sheets of Stamps
When stamps are printed, they come in large sheets. These are the full pages of stamps before they are cut into smaller blocks or individual stamps.
- Collectors sometimes like to collect full sheets.
- They show how the stamps were originally produced.
Postal Stationery
Postal stationery includes items like envelopes, postcards, or aerograms that already have a stamp design printed directly on them. This means you don't need to buy a separate stamp to mail them.
- It's a convenient way to send mail.
- The pre-printed stamp design is called an "imprint."
Postal Markings
Postal markings are the marks or stamps put on mail by the post office. These include things like postmarks and cancellations.
- A postmark shows where and when a letter was mailed.
- A cancellation is a mark that goes over the stamp to show it has been used. This stops people from using the same stamp again.
- These markings are important for collectors because they tell the story of a letter's journey.
Indicia
Indicia are special markings on a mail piece that show postage has been paid without using a traditional stamp. These are often used by businesses that send a lot of mail.
- They might look like a printed box or design.
- They show that the sender has an account with the post office and pays for postage in bulk.
Related pages
- Kiloware
- Mint stamp
- Postage meter
- Postage stamp
