Review
"Dick Sine has had some of the best writing jobs in stamp collecting, and this book shows why: A thorough knowledge of philately and good writing, mixed with humor and style." —Lloyd A. de Vrise, The Virtual Stamp Club

"With his deep insight into the 160-year old pastime of stamp collecting, Dick Sine proves that philately is not only the hobby for the 21st century, but one that can be easily and inexpensively enjoyed by everyone! The world's stamp depict life on Planet Earth — from the tiniest microbe to world famous athletes. This book will make understanding and collecting them a joy!" —Randy L. Neil, author and former President of the American Philatelic Society

Stamp Collecting For Dummies is great for removing so many of the issues a newcomer to our hobby has, allowing instant enjoyment. Stamp collecting can be a complex hobby, and this cuts right through." —Hugh M. Goldberg, Subway Stamp Shop, Inc.

"This is a long overdue masterpiece, which will surely facilitate the expansion of this royal hobby by allowing everybody the ability to understand the complexities and the beauty of stamp collecting. The breadth of knowledge in this book spans by answering all the initial questions that might arise for the beginner collector, to details for the avid philatelist. A wonderful job by Mr. Sine." —Chesky Malamud and Eli Popack, Founders of Stampville.com (the online Stamp portal)

"Dick Sine has produced a solid and practical introduction to the world's greatest pastime, stamp collecting. His work is not only invaluable to beginners but also of great value to intermediate collectors, especially with his Internet-savvy advice." —Gene Mierzejewski, Editor, The Flint Journal


Book Description
Postage stamps have evolved quite a bit since Great Britain’s 1840 Penny Black, the world’s first adhesive postage stamp. From simple designs featuring the monarch to works of art literally condensed to postage stamp size, hundreds of thousands of different stamps have been issued in the past 164 years—and the great majority of them remain reasonably priced for collectors. With so many stamps to collect from so many countries, a philatelist’s choices are virtually unlimited--which can be both a blessing and a curse, especially if you’re a newcomer to the art of stamp collecting.

Interested in starting a stamp collection, but not sure where to begin? This is the guide for you. Expert Richard Sine fills you in on everything you need to know about selecting, finding, buying, presenting and caring for stamps. An internationally recognized collector and author on stamp collecting (he used to write the New York Times stamp column) he also has much wisdom to impart to collectors who’ve been at it for a while. A gold mine of expert advice and guidance, Stamp Collecting For Dummies is on how to: Start or diversify your collection Decide what to collect Catalog and organize your collection Handle, protect, store, and display stamps Identify rare and valuable stamps Buy stamps online and through auction houses

Unlike most authors on the subject who tend to be pretty stuffy—to put it politely—expert Richard Sine focuses on the side of stamp collecting that’s enjoyable, educational, and fun. With humor, tons of interesting anecdotes about stamps and the men and women who love them, and loads of insider tips, he covers all the bases, including: Getting the biggest bang for you stamp-collecting buck Researching, locating and buying stamps through traditional sources and online Showing off your collection at exhibits Customizing your collection Housing your stamps and protecting them against the elements The ten keys to identifying and authenticating stamps

Stamp Collecting For Dummies is your total guide to starting and building on a really cool stamp collection.


From the Publisher
"Dick Sine has had some of the best writing jobs in stamp collecting, and this book shows why: A thorough knowledge of philately and good writing, mixed with humor and style." —Lloyd A. de Vrise, The Virtual Stamp Club "With his deep insight into the 160-year old pastime of stamp collecting, Dick Sine proves that philately is not only the hobby for the 21st century, but one that can be easily and inexpensively enjoyed by everyone! The world's stamp depict life on Planet Earth — from the tiniest microbe to world famous athletes. This book will make understanding and collecting them a joy!" —Randy L. Neil, author and former President of the American Philatelic Society Stamp Collecting For Dummies is great for removing so many of the issues a newcomer to our hobby has, allowing instant enjoyment. Stamp collecting can be a complex hobby, and this cuts right through." —Hugh M. Goldberg, Subway Stamp Shop, Inc. "This is a long overdue masterpiece, which will surely facilitate the expansion of this royal hobby by allowing everybody the ability to understand the complexities and the beauty of stamp collecting. The breadth of knowledge in this book spans by answering all the initial questions that might arise for the beginner collector, to details for the avid philatelist. A wonderful job by Mr. Sine." —Chesky Malamud and Eli Popack, Founders of Stampville.com (the online Stamp portal) "Dick Sine has produced a solid and practical introduction to the world's greatest pastime, stamp collecting. His work is not only invaluable to beginners but also of great value to intermediate collectors, especially with his Internet-savvy advice." —Gene Mierzejewski, Editor, The Flint Journal


From the Back Cover
Praise for Stamp Collecting For Dummies
"Dick Sine has produced a solid and practical introduction to the world's greatest pastime, stamp collecting. His work is not only invaluable to beginners but also of great value to intermediate collectors, especially with his Internet-savvy advice."

"This is a long overdue masterpiece!" —Chesky Malamud and Eli Popack, Founders of Stampville.com

Jam-packed with an expert's stamp collecting secrets

Discover the art of stamp collecting today!
Novice stamp collectors, relax! Let expert Richard Sine show you everything a new collector needs to know, from starting a collection to diversifying an existing one. Packed with tips on identifying valuable stamps, caring for them, and buying stamps online and through auction houses, this handy reference is your step-by-step guide to creating a really cool stamp collection.

Discover how to: Start or diversify your collection Decide what to collect Catalog and organize your collection Handle, protect, store, and display stamps Identify rare and valuable stamps Get Smart! www.dummies.com Sign up for daily eTips at www.dummiesdaily.com Choose from among 33 different subject categories Get news you can use on everything from money to health to computers


About the Author
Richard L. Sine, author of the Encyclopedia of U.S. Postage Stamps CD-ROM and former New York Times stamp columnist, has been collecting and writing for more than 20 years.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Cultivate your philatelic aspirations with this jam-packed guide, which includes everything you need to know about collecting stamps. Sound advice on buying, storing, and displaying stamps is supplemented by full-color illustrations that help the reader learn to appreciate the beauty of stamps as well as their monetary worth.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

More than 20 million people collect stamps in the United States. This handy reference shows wannabe philatelists how to get started, from selecting and purchasing stamps to protecting, storing and displaying them. A special pricing guide gives advice on how to evaluate a stamp's value, and an 8-page color insert shows off the detail and beauty of various designs.