Postal History

1991 "F" Tulip Coil Cover--Mobile, Alabama	-	$1.00	31m
LOT OF 31 MINT U.S. POSTAL STATIONARY COVERS	-	$9.95 $15.95	31m
Cover - True 3 Cent Bisect to 1 1 2 Ct 3rd Class Mail rate - Chase Va S15	-	$90.00	32m
NY ROCHESTER #11, EMBOSSED CAMEO RURAL NEW YORKER ON REVERSE	-	$45.00	32m
Cover - True 3 Cent Bisect to 1 1 2 Ct 3rd Class Mail rate - Chase Va S16	-	$85.00	33m
Spokane WI Calkins Air Terminal Dedication 1941 cover	-	$9.99	33m
Advertising Cover - Art Deco Checkerboard - St Louis Trimmed Hat Co. S490	-	$35.00	33m
Cover - True 3 Cent Bisect to 1 1 2 Ct 3rd Class Mail rate - Chase Va S17	-	$85.00	34m
NY ROCHESTER 1858 LOCAL EXPRESS COMPANY LABEL, RARE	-	$295.00	34m
Cover - True 3 Cent Bisect to 1 1 2 Ct 3rd Class Mail rate - Chase Va S18	-	$85.00	35m
Veterans Foreign War St Petersburg FL cachet cover	-	$9.99	35m
Tucumcari New Mexico 1910 territorial posting	-	$6.00	35m
Cover - True 3 Cent Bisect to 1 1 2 Ct 3rd Class Mail rate - Chase Va S19	-	$85.00	36m
Moberley MO 1943 Airport Dedication cachet cover	-	$9.99	36m
NY ROCHESTER LARGE DUE ON 1¢ ENTIRE	-	$45.00	36m
Cover - True 1 Cent Bisect to 1 1 2 Ct 3rd Class Mail rate - Chase Va S23	-	$85.00	39m
1935 Postal Reply Card--Brooklyn, New York Slogan Cancel	-	$1.00	40m
PA PHILADELPHIA 1876 CENTENNIAL ILLUS FRONT AND ALLOVER REVERSE	-	$135.00	40m
Cover - True 3 Cent Bisect to 1 1 2 Ct 3rd Class Mail rate - Chase Va S24	-	$90.00	42m
Cover - True 3 Cent Bisect to 1 1 2 Ct 3rd Class Mail rate - Chase Va S25	-	$85.00	43m
Cover - True 3 Cent Bisect to 1 1 2 Ct 3rd Class Mail rate - Chase Va S26	-	$85.00	44m
OLD COVER WITH 3 CENTS WASHINGTON N. 65 PMKED IN CANTON, OHIO	-	$0.99	45m
FOUR POSTAL STATIONERY CARDS 1908 TO 1924 USED	1	$0.99	45m
17 OCTOBER 1913 LETTER FROM ALLIANCE , OHIO, PANAMA CANAL 2 CENTS STAMP	1	$0.99	45m
TWO ATTACHED POSTAL STATIONERY CARDS, ONE MINT AND REPLY CARD USED 1949	-	$0.99	45m
REGISTERED REFUSED RETURNED TO SENDER 1946 NEW JERSEY	-	$26.00	45m
#U163 w FANCY CANCEL ~ "EAH" MONOGRAM ~ COLE #ML-24	-	$42.00	47m
1945 USA Patriotic Cover Capitulation Day	-	$32.00	48m
DPO Cover - Deckertown NJ to Newton NY - Beautiful! S488	-	$35.00	48m
1945 USA Patriotic Cover Germany Surrenders Eisenhower	-	$32.00	49m
1945 USA Patriotic Cover Japan Surrenders V-J Day	-	$32.00	51m
1933 Cacheted Cover Signed By ARCTURUS Crew- Recipients Of Gold Livesaving Medal	-	$29.99	52m
FAM F5-115x 1931 First Flight Cover- Miami-Puerto Barrios -FAM 6 Cachet In Error	-	$25.00	52m
FAM F9-40 - 1929 First Flight Cover - Miami To Buenos Aires	-	$19.99	52m
U.S. & CUBA - FAM F4-2 & F4-3 On ONE 1927 Roessler Cover	-	$40.00	52m
Cover - True 3 Cent Bisect to 1 1 2 Ct 3rd Class Mail rate - Chase Va S27	-	$85.00	52m
DPO Foxcraft Maine 1893 City Rate 1c Columbian Miss Nell Floss Fancy Cancel Z22	-	$20.00	53m
1945 USA Patriotic Cover V-E Day Wings to Win Air Force	-	$32.00	54m

View more Postal History items on eBay
Or subscribe to our RSS feed for Postal History items.

Stamp News

The best thing about starting a stamp collection is how easy it can be. Encyclopedia of United States Stamps and Stamp Collecting Stamp Collecting - Beginners Guide to Stamps - About Guide Postage ...Enter the fascinating world of stamp collecting!

Stamp History

The first postage stamp, the Penny Black, was issued by Britain in 1840. It pictured a young Queen Victoria, was produced without perforations (imperforate), and consequently had to be cut from the sheet with scissors in order to be used. While unused examples of the "Penny Black" are quite scarce, used examples are common, and may be purchased for $25 to $150, depending upon its condition. Children and teenagers were early collectors of stamps in the 1860s and 1870s. Many adults dismissed it as a childish pursuit. During the late 1800s many of those collectors, as adults, began to systematically study the available postage stamps and published research works on their production, plate flaws, etc. Some stamps such as the triangular issues of the Cape of Good Hope became legendary. It was not until the 1920s that publicity about valuable stamps encouraged a large increase in the number of stamp collectors. This rapid increase in postage stamp values was largely because very few of the older stamps were being saved in good condition. Especially difficult to find were pairs, triples, and large blocks of older stamps. Because many U.S. stamp issues of the 1920s rose rapidly in value, during the 1930s many American collectors stockpiled mint U.S. stamps with the hopes of selling them for a sizeable profit in a few years time. This never materialized. Even today, more than 60 years later, one can find many 1930s U.S. issues in mint condition for close to face value, and many stamp dealers and collectors still use stamps issued as far back as the 1930s for postage when mailing letters. Most U.S. postage stamps issued since the 1930s are easy to obtain and have minimal value. Some high face value stamps, such as the $2.60 United States Graf issued in 1930, are worth substantial amounts of money. Other stamps issued since 1930 that are usually worth something are souvenir sheets from popular countries, hard to find plate number coils, and errors in printing.

Stamp Collecting

Collecting is not the same as philately, which is the study of stamps. A philatelist often does, but need not, collect the objects of study, nor is it necessary to closely study what one collects. Many casual collectors enjoy accumulating stamps without worrying about the tiny details, but the creation of a large or comprehensive collection generally requires some philatelic knowledge. Stamp collectors are an important source of revenue for some small countries who create limited runs of elaborate stamps designed mainly to be bought by stamp collectors. The stamps produced by these countries far exceed the postal needs of the countries. Some collectors, observing the generally rising prices of rare stamps, have taken to philatelic investment. Rare stamps are among the most portable of tangible investments, and are easy to store

Site Navigation

Store Navigation

Postal History