About US Stamps

Many of today's collectors started collecting U.S. postage stamps as kids, often with a parent or family member. The US stamp collecting market has weakened in recent years, however, with many stamps and even entire collections trading below face value (so many copies of common stamps were printed that there's not enough demand to warrant a premium).

Rare or unusual U.S. stamps, however, are another story - there's a robust market for those, and some specimens can be worth thousands of dollars or more...

There are many ways to approach collecting U.S. stamps. Some collectors focus on a specific time period, like the 19th century. Others choose specific themes like airmail stamps or duck stamps. Some focus on specific formats like sheets, plate blocks, coils, or booklets. There are also a large number of collectors who focus on first day covers - stamps that were affixed to a special envelope and cancelled on the first day of issue.

As with many collectibles, rarity and condition are two key determinants of value. U.S. stamps can be either unused (never cancelled) or used, and there are collectors who focus on both varieties.

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Interviews & Articles

An Interview With U.S. Stamp Collector Bob Allen

Like many collectors, I collected when I was a child, and then I became interested again in the ‘90s. I think eBay … [more]

An Interview With Postal History Collector Richard Frajola

I have a stamp collection, but I don’t consider myself a collector. I have a collection of my initials on stamps fr… [more]

An Interview with Smithsonian National Postal Museum Curator and Zeppelin Stamps Expert Cheryl Ganz

I’ve been a lifelong collector, even as a kid. There are just certain people for whom collecting seems to be part o… [more]

An Interview with Stamp Collector John Hotchner on Philatelic Errors, Freaks and Oddities

My father was a stamp collector, and I just took to it. He was perfectly happy to mentor me, so I began collecting … [more]

Essays, The Stamp Designs That Also Ran

It was a shock to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing when a critic pointed out that the view of "Gatun Locks," wh… [more]

Postally Used Works of Art

Paintings and sculpture galore have been reproduced on postage stamps, sort of an Everyman's art gallery. But this,… [more]

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Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

1847USA

1847USA

Bob Allen's beautiful and well organized catalog of US stamps from 1847 to 1970 is a fantastic resource for all US … [read review or visit site]

PhilaMercury

PhilaMercury

Richard Frajola's incredibly rich database of over 11,000 U.S. and foreign 19th Century postal stamp covers. This s… [read review or visit site]

Post Office in Paradise

Post Office in Paradise

Post Office in Paradise showcases Hawaiian postal history from the years before Hawaii became a part of the United … [read review or visit site]

Alphabetilately

Alphabetilately

This creative website is essentially a giant glossary of stamp collecting, 'from advertising covers through Zeppeli… [read review or visit site]

The Stamp Collecting Round-up

The Stamp Collecting Round-up

Don Schilling's long-running, in-depth blog on stamp collecting and postal operations. Schilling stays up on all th… [read review or visit site]

National Postal Museum

National Postal Museum

If you're into postal history or collectibles, check out the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum. This extensive s… [read review or visit site]

Private Die Proprietary Stamps

Private Die Proprietary Stamps

Bob Hohertz's impressive database of U.S. Private Die Proprietary stamps from the Civil War and Spanish American Wa… [read review or visit site]

R. A. Siegel Auction Galleries

R. A. Siegel Auction Galleries

This auction house site offers an extensive online database of US stamp information. Includes PDF catalogs of past … [read review or visit site]


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Clubs & Associations: US Stamps


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Us Dealer's Stock Of Mint Incl 90c Pictorial Cat$52,500$820.00 Ends Sunday 14 bids 27 watchers
C15, Mint Vf+ Og Nh Pse Cert Cat $1,250.00 99?? Auction$535.00 Ends in 5 hours 18 bids 31 watchers
Scott #18, Air Mail,50c,graff Zeplin,pb Of 6,og,mnh,exc$405.00 Ends in 9 hours 22 bids 35 watchers
Scott #2 1847 Issue On 1848 Folded Letter From Ct To Ny$402.55 Ends Monday 12 bids 14 watchers
Us Scott #292 $1.00 Trans-miss Plate# Og Mlh Weiss Cert$338.00 Ends Thursday 10 bids 33 watchers
10+ Rolls Of Postage Stamps $416.50 Dollar Value Buy it Now$337.80 Ends Friday 5 bids 5 watchers
#616 J.ribault Monument 5ct Mnh Og Vf+1924 Bcv$2,400.00$335.00 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 11 watchers
49 Vf Mint Us Full Sheets Panes Hb Sht Fileface= $365$325.00 Ends in 4 hours 1 bid 2 watchers
Dr. Bob Us Scott #k15 Mnh Og Xf-s Gem With Certificate$310.01 Ends Wednesday 18 bids 8 watchers
Scott 162 F-vf Ng - Choice Large Banknote$300.00 Ends in 10 hours 1 bid 2 watchers
181 Sheets Old Us Discount Postage Stamps 3 To 5 Cent$293.00 Ends Wednesday 10 bids 51 watchers
Mr Fancy Cancel Us 210 W/ Canada 39 Dual Country Frank$261.00 Ends Sunday 8 bids 8 watchers
C14, Mint Vf-xf Og Nh With Pse Cert 99?? Auction$260.60 Ends in 5 hours 18 bids 18 watchers
#619 Minuteman 5 Ct Mnh Og Vf+ 1925 Bcv $2,400.00++$255.50 Ends Thursday 7 bids 9 watchers
Dr. Bob Us Scott #122 Used Sound Stamp$248.05 Ends Wednesday 18 bids 30 watchers
U.s. Scott# 292 Cattle In The Storm Value 650.00$202.50 Ends in 7 hours 4 bids 7 watchers
Mint Nh Us Kans Nebr Stamp 666 667 668 677 678 679$200.50 Ends Wednesday 8 bids 7 watchers
Ux47 Ge Postal Card Used Pinole Ca 1961 $199.99 Ends Friday 1 bid 7 watchers
Us #c15, 1930 Zeppelin $2.60 Stamp, Mnh, F-vf$199.95 Ends Saturday 2 bids 9 watchers
1852 Shasta Ca Manuscript Stampless Indian Agent Letter$199.95 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 2 watchers
1863 Mississippi Marine Brigade 3ct Pr Cairo Illinois$199.95 Ends in 13 hours 2 bids 2 watchers
95, Used With Pse Certificate Cat$850.00 $175.00 Ends Friday 2 bids 1 watcher
Us Stamps 35 Early Proofs On Card$166.00 Ends Sunday 1 bid 4 watchers
C13, Mint Vf+ Og Nh With Pse Graded 80 Cert 99?? Auction$162.50 Ends in 5 hours 21 bids 15 watchers
Us~mint Postage Stamps~fv $179.66~28 Sheets~unused~lt34$161.69 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 3 watchers
Scott #141 Used 15 Cents W/ H Grill: Vf $157.50 Ends Tuesday 8 bids 17 watchers
4 Rolls Unopened Stamps 100 Per Roll$152.63 Ends in 12 hours 9 bids 2 watchers
U.s-sc# 230-238 Columbians Stock Cv$1391.70 See Scans$150.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 2 watchers
Us #j21 Mrg Postage Due Cv$1900$149.99 Ends Saturday 1 bid 2 watchers
Mint Old Us Stamps 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240$146.50 Ends Thursday 14 bids 19 watchers
Grandpa Jim #1034-scott #292-$1.00 Trans Mississippi-vf$142.50 Ends Thursday 6 bids 7 watchers
Mint Us Kans Nebr Stamps 665 666 668 677 679$140.29 Ends in 2 hours 7 bids 8 watchers
28 Cent Rolls Of 100 Polar Bear Stamps (5 Rolls)$133.50 Ends in 7 hours 5 bids 5 watchers
United States --- 1 --- Used --- Franklin --- Kw$125.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 6 watchers
122, Used Paper Sound Weiss Cert Cat $2500 99?? Auction$124.50 Ends Monday 14 bids 8 watchers
Us Scott #291 50?? Trans-miss Og Mnh Weiss Cert Cv$2,000$118.27 Ends Thursday 12 bids 24 watchers
Mercury Prescursor 5-stage Rocket 1960 - Ex Ramkissoon$114.50 Ends in 4 hours 9 bids 4 watchers
(4) 1860 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Campaign Covers$114.49 Ends in 9 hours 7 bids 38 watchers
#615 Landing Ft Orange 2 Ct Mnh Og Vf+1924 Bcv$625.00++$113.61 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 10 watchers
#642 Monroe Rotary 10ct Mnh Og Vf+1927 Bcv $656.00$113.61 Ends Thursday 6 bids 5 watchers
R97a Weiss Cert - "jan. 23, 1863" Hand Cancel-cv $2700!$111.39 Ends Tuesday 6 bids 15 watchers
U.s. #461 Scarce Mint - 2c Pale Carmine, Perf 11$107.51 Ends Sunday 6 bids 5 watchers
Us Stamps Scott #72 90c Washington$105.01 Ends in 5 hours 12 bids 6 watchers
Mint Nh Us Stamp 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237$104.29 Ends Friday 5 bids 10 watchers
Hawaii #10r Gem W/clear Margins Only 1,635 Issued 1887$103.50 Ends in 13 hours 14 bids 9 watchers
Us(-1976), Fabulous Mint Stamp Col Mounted In Scott $102.50 Ends Wednesday 7 bids 8 watchers
Us #29 Mint 5c Classic Stamp Cv$1350$102.50 Ends in 11 hours 2 bids 9 watchers
Wells Fargo Express Kingdon Of Hawaii Blue Interior$102.50 Ends in 9 hours 5 bids 21 watchers
1883 Pine Ridge Agency Dakota Territory Superb Strike$100.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 7 watchers
Hamilton, Washington Territory Cog 1887 To Scotland$100.00 Ends in 4 hours 1 bid 3 watchers
Hawaii #31 Kealoha Manuscript Lahainaluna +kawaihae !$99.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 6 watchers
Us Sc#398 Mnh 1913 2c Pse Xf-sup 95 Panama Canal $99.95 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 4 watchers
Us, Advanced Stamp Col Of Old Mint Blocks In Scott Alb$98.51 Ends Wednesday 18 bids 14 watchers
U.s. / Csa #5 Used Vf App - 10c Rose ($500)$94.02 Ends Thursday 10 bids 14 watchers
Golden Replicas Stamps (209 Pcs.)proof 22k Gold Surface$93.00 Ends Thursday 4 bids 8 watchers
Dr. Bob Us Scott #191 Used Superb Gem With Certificate$91.00 Ends Wednesday 11 bids 4 watchers
122 Var Used Pre Print Paper Fold Cat $2500 99?? Auction$89.88 Ends in 5 hours 6 bids 30 watchers
Us #292 Used Vf+ Sound Cv $650++ **exceptional Stamp**$88.00 Ends Wednesday 9 bids 11 watchers

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Recent News: US Stamps

Source: Google News

An Investment You Can Love
Prfire (press release), March 22nd

For millions of people around the world, stamp collecting is not only a wonderfully enjoyable hobby; it can also be a remarkably profitable investment...Read more

USPS honors Hannah Teter
Rutland Herald, March 22nd

Several collectors came in, such as Paul Nevin, who said his interest in history sparked an interest in stamp collecting...Read more

The Rainbow Tree Genealogy Becoming Important for Gays
SouthFloridaGayNews.com, March 21st

Genealogy is a far more personal investment than hobbies like say, coin or stamp collecting. The post office could do away with stamps tomorrow and all...Read more

The King who liked to collect his own head
Telegraph.co.uk, March 20th

He is also condemned by his only known hobbies, game shooting and stamp collecting, as if either of those was the certain mark of a small mind...Read more

An interview with: Philippe Allardin
Paul Fraser Collectibles, March 18th

Are you a stamp collector? If so what do you collect? When I was a child, I started a collection of Belgian stamps but stopped when I was 15...Read more

Bill Gross donates $8m to new rare stamp museum
Paul Fraser Collectibles, March 18th

"Stamp collecting has been such a rewarding and educational hobby for me that I wanted to share the joys of philately in a way that would benefit future...Read more

Sarkozy reveals passion for stamps
Paul Fraser Collectibles, March 18th

Mr Sarkozy's revelation will hopefully go some way to the dispel the social stigma which surrounds stamp collecting in some quarters...Read more

The Final Four – Options to help the USPS Save Saturday Service
Bloginity (blog), March 17th

But it may be time to face the fact that stamp collecting is about as popular as traveling by horse and buggy or using the phrase, “23 Skidoo...Read more

US Stamps

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