Stamp Collecting Tools

By Jim Watson

The principal tools used by stamp collectors are: tongs (not tweezers), perforation gauges, magnifying glasses, albums, and hinges or other mounting material. A stamp catalogue, a book with detailed information on stamps, is essential to get the most from the hobby. Succeeding to identify a stamp after searching the catalogue for it is a particularly rewarding activity, similar to solving a puzzle. It also gives the structure for your collection.

The tongs that stamp collectors use are designed to enhance handling stamps. Typical designs are plated nickel, silver, brass, or steel, and they are about 5 to 6 inches long with flat, thin tips. There are a variety of choices - rounded, pointed, bent, or spade tips. Each has its supporters but the rounded tip is easier to learn to use. Tongs are held like a scalpel between the thumb and finger tips, and not like a pencil. Practice quickly improves using the tongs.

Perforations are one of the characteristics by which stamps are classified. The number of perforations in a 2-cm group defines the characteristic. The stamp is "perf. 10" if there are 10 perforations in the 2-cm length. Collectors use a perforation gauge to assess the measurement. This gauge is a flat card made of paper, metal, or plastic that has rows of black dots in graduated scales from perhaps perf. 7 to perf. 17. To use the perforation gauge, the collector holds the stamp in the tongs and moves it up and down the scale until a group of dots on the gauge matches the holes on the stamp. Reading the gauge markings provides the perforation count.

Magnifying glasses are used to examine stamps to make design details clear and to reveal defects such as having thin spots and tears. Any pair of magnifying glasses works well, as long as the glasses have at least a 5-power magnification. This is an item that can be added when needed.

A catalogue should be one of the early acquisitions of a serious stamp collector. The catalogue has two principal functions: first, it provides the ordered framework for stamp identification and a numbering system that collectors and dealers can use to exchange data about stamps. Second, it provides a guide to the price of stamps. The catalogues provide an excellent solution to the first objective and a limited answer to the second objective. For this reason, it is possible that your needs for a catalogue can be solved by purchasing a catalogue issued some time ago. Many such catalogues are offered on eBay. They are perfectly useful in building a collection although they do not have the very latest catalogue values and do not illustrate the very latest stamps. Since such values are only a guide, and values do not generally change rapidly, older catalogues can still be useful. New issues can be found in the various stamp journals -- some of which are online. In addition, a catalogue provides information which will expand the philatelic knowledge of both the novice and experienced collector. The introductory material in Scott's Catalogue is particularly useful in this regard. It is highly recommended that all collectors read it.

If collectors have access to a good local library, catalogues are often available there or can be obtained through interlibrary loan services. It is well worth the time to at least visit the library and determine whether its resources can meet your needs. You can also see how the catalogues are organised and find out firsthand which one you might need. One caution, however; Scott has rearranged the volumes several times so make sure that the volumes you acquire cover the material in which you are interested.

The preceding material was written by Jim Watson. These are the opinions of the author, not the opinions of eBay, and therefore eBay does not validate the accuracy of or endorse these opinions.