Introduction and Why I collect Postage Stamps
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I have collected postage stamps off and off since I was 10. I collect postage stamps for a variety of reasons. I personally collect postage stamps to learn about history, learn about culture, learn gain memoriablia, and to intereact with people. In this page, I will explain these reasons in detail and give some basic information on how to start a stamp collection.
Culture
The Postage Stamp has been called the world's greatest traveller. Postage stamps not only relay commuincation but also express culture of the country where they are sent.
Some countries might express their concern for nature by issuing animal stamps. An example is the Panda stamps from North Korea.
Other countries might express their admiration for heroes and heroines. An example is the set of stamps of Anne Frank Memorial stamps from Israel.
Other countries express their religous and folk beliefs on postage stamps. An example is the set of stamps showing Chinesse Door Gods from stamps issued from the Portugesse colony in P.R. China "Macau". 
History
Postage Stamps can also describe history. The first Postage stamps were issued in 1840 by Great Britain. And by almost every country since then. Postage stamps record countries no longer in existence such as Bechuland, as former British colony, now part of Botswana.
Stamps also commemorate historical events such as the Pilgrim's arriving in the U.S. in 1620 as featured on the left. The Czechslovika stamp on the righcommerates the Summer Olympics, in this case the High Jump
Equipment to start a start collection
Stamp collection is a hobby that you only need some basic equipment to start. A basic collection can be started under ten dollars. Although it is up to the individual how much you want to spend on stamps on equibment. An added benefit is that countries and groups are unlikely to stop producing postage stamps. With some many countires and groups producing stamps you can specialize by country, year, or topic. For example: I collect mostly used U.S. stamps, but I specialize in stamps picturing cats, flags, and countries no longer in existence.
The basic equipment for a stamp colllection
- Stamp Album or a 3 ring binder
- notebook paper (if you choose the 3 ring binder>
- Tweezers
- magnifying glass
- stamp hinges (can be purchased at any stamp store)
- stamps
Additional equipment that would help would be : Stamp Identifaction Catalog (check your local libary or bookstore), perforation gauge (use to identify the perforations on stamps), glassine envelopes (to store your stamps), watermark fluid (watermarks appear clearly when soaked in this fluid), watermark tray.