Philately

Definition and History

Philately is the hobby of collecting and studying postage stamps. The term "philately" was coined in the 19th century by combining the Greek words "filos" (amante) and "atelia" (franchigia), where exemption refers to the tax due on mail delivery. This etymology gives rise to the noun "philalist" and the adjective "philathelic".

Origins

The first postage stamp, the Penny Black, was issued by Britain in 1840. Initially, stamps were infrequent and limited to a few nations, leading collectors to focus on general or world collections of stamps. As postal history evolved, the number of countries issuing stamps increased exponentially.

Characteristics and Appeal

Philately's small size makes it easy to collect and store stamps, often in special albums. The hobby encourages correspondence with people from various parts of the world, as collectors seek to acquire rare and unique stamps. Some countries produce more stamps than they need, intentionally addressing collectors and generating revenue from their sale.

Specialized Items

New series of stamps are often accompanied by other collectible items, such as:

* First Day Release Folders: These folders typically depict a performance related to the subject matter of the series.
* Feyer (or philatelic covers): Exclusively issued for philatelic purposes, these can be used in letters.

Notable Developments

The first meetings of Philistines took place in the United States in 1856. Rare stamps have gained significant reputation and value over time, while others remain relatively inexpensive due to their abundance or lack of demand.

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