How To Collect Used Thematic Stamps

Have fun and learn too with this economical hobby!

As any parent or guardian will tell you, keeping kids entertained in this electronic world can be a financial nightmare. However - don't despair - help is at hand in the form of an inexpensive hobby which will also help encourage the development of your child's innate curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Often seen as the hobby of the insular child, stamp collecting, and in particular thematic stamp collecting, is instead the perfect way to introduce a child to the concept of worlds beyond his or her own, different cultures and countries.

Most serious stamp collectors started collecting thematic stamps as children. Almost every country in the world seems to produce commemorative stamps to celebrate its own anniversaries or special events. The letters the postman brings to your home every day yield a surprising number of interesting stamps for the novice collector. Make a point of looking out for interesting stamps on envelopes at the office - and don't forget to ask your colleagues to keep an eye out too. Your child will have a varied collection in no time! And with most of us taking advantage of the Internet and shopping on international sites like eBay we're also consequently receiving a wider choice of attractive foreign stamps on packaging - stamps that make precious additions to your child's thematic stamp collection.

Large mixed packs of international used thematic stamps can also be bought cheaply - they should be well within the budgets of most pocket money allowances. With some Caribbean and African countries even over producing commemorative stamps to supply the demands of the foreign collector's market the prices for these stamps are low but they are none the less very attractive. On average, a selection pack of mixed stamps will supply a varied assortment of thematic categories such as:

Sport – Football is probably the most popular sport on stamps with World Cup issues all over the world.
The Animal World – From the smallest insect to the whale...

Walt Disney – Find Mickey, Goofy and Donald Duck on stamps too!

Famous People – Elvis Presley, James Dean, Princess Diana, Charlie Chaplin...even Leonardo DiCaprio has his own stamps!

Transport – From ships to steam trains!

If your child does get into stamp collecting as a hobby he'll probably want to acquire some basic accessories such as a magnifying glass, a pair of tweezers and an album. Don't forget that these items make perfect gifts at holidays and birthdays so friends or relations need never be without ideas as to what to give as a gift with a young philatelist in the family!