Postage Stamp Articles : Do You Know Where To Buy Postage Stamps ? by Mike Selvon

Catalogs are a safe bet, whether you want to buy postage stamps, sell or appraise your collection. Stamp collecting and trading has captured America's heart and millions of collectors for over a century.

For the every day collector who can't wait for the next auction, a Scott's catalog can fill the void in one's collection. Additionally, the APS, Stanley Gibbons, Kenmore Stamp and the US postal service offer catalogs for your enjoyment.

Scott's Catalogue is a world-renowned philatelic reference for people who want to buy postage stamps and sell or appraise their collection. Annual subscriptions for this 5,000 page pamphlet cost as little as $18.97 for six months or as much as $98.97 for three years. Subscribers can choose between print or online, or even receive both for a small price! The Scott's Catalogue numbering system is how most collectors categorize their collections, so it's not uncommon to refer to an "Inverted Jenny" simply as "C3a."

The American Philatelic Society has a database of over 270,613 items that you can search by country, type, keywords, Scott Catalogue number, country and its type, country and keyword, its type and keyword, or Stamp ID number. You needn't be a member to browse, but if you'd like to buy postage stamps or get personal stamp information, you must become a member. Membership fees go toward publishing their monthly journal and costs range from $11.75/year to $38, depending on when you register (July - September is best).

The first Stanley Gibbons catalogue was published in 1865 and since then, they've been a leading resource for collectors looking to get postage ones from Great Britain or elsewhere, with the exception of the United States. You can find a $181,575 first day black cover from Great Britain (1840), an unused 1847 one from Tobago for $8,070, or 1 1913 "kookaburra" one from Australia for $80.

This is the place to find a rare stamp or special gem for your collection. It should also be noted that in addition to the free online catalogue, Stanley Gibbons also offers personal, web-based stamp "My Collection" organization where you can keep an online database of your collection.

Kenmore Stamp Company from Buffalo, NY has been in operation since the 1930s and offers a wide array of them from $10-20, Pope John Paul II and Lord of the Rings souvenir sheet types to $195, first Trans-Atlantic crossing / Zeppelin flight covers, $3,900 red-brown 5 cent Franklin imperforates and mint 10 cent Washington blacks for $16,000! This is a great place to acquire them, whether you're a beginner or expert philatelist.

The United States Postal Service puts out an annual catalog where you can find all the commemorative and press sheet stamps put out each year. At Shop USPS, you can order the full catalog or just browse a few categories. Buy 20 Marvel comic ones for $8.20, a 79-cent Gerald Ford one or an uncut Star Wars press sheet for $18.45.

There are decent prices for first-time collectors. Whether you'd like to purchase postage stamps with pop culture themes as gifts or collectibles, you can find them here.

Many people buy postage stamps through legitimate catalogs to safeguard their investments and receive some sort of guarantee of authenticity. However, beginners might find it more advantageous to collect stamps online through an auction site like eBay, where bids start as low as one cent.

Trading stamps through catalogs isn't free, which is why other internet sites seem to have such an enormous selection on hand.

About the Author
Mike Selvon has some great stamp collecting articles for the hobbist, where you can find out more about places to buy postage stamps. We appreciate your feedback at our stamp collecting values blog.

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