Stamps are items of mail′s transit passes, as well as the namecards of a nation. Countries spare no effort in designing stamps. Thus, looking at stamps can be as enjoyable as viewing beautiful paintings. Because there are a wide range of topics, there are an abundance of stories behind them. Carefully studying the stories behind each stamp can foster much knowledge.
How to get started? By following the three steps below, you will be a stamp collector in no time…

There are numerous philatelic items worth collecting, so rather than trying to collect them all, choose a theme that interests you. Choosing what you love and setting a goal is a very important first step. For example, for a kid who likes to play with toys, it would be a great idea to collect stamps featuring toys from around the world. (Fig. 2-1 to 2-9)

After determining a theme, turn your plan into action. Since kids typically do not have large allowances, you can start with used stamps. If you want to buy new stamps, only buy those that are connected to the theme you collect. Alternatively, you can trade stamps with others. As an added benefit, you can make a lot of new friends with shared interests!

Serious stamp collectors like to study and gather all the information they can about the stamps or other philatelic items they collect. They will then create a collection to tell a story and share it in exhibitions with others who share the same interest.