One of the world’s famous hobbies is the practice of stamp collecting. Collecting stamps is the art of gathering and maintaining postal stamps and other stamp related material like seals, envelopes etc of various countries.

There exists a separate study for the understanding of stamps, known as Philately, but this is not to be confused with the hobby of stamp collecting. A Philatelist needs stamps as a requisite to study, but stamp collectors do so only for the pure achievement and joy of owning them.  Although it might sound easy to collect the stamps of many countries by any layman, stamp collecting requires a lot of work by way of proper maintenance and arrangement of the collected stamps, which require a bit of Philatelic information.

Stamp collecting has become a way of revenue generation as seen by both the postal system (manufacturer) and the collector. Elaborately designed stamps, usually to commemorate an important happening or achievement in the country are made available to the collectors in a limited number, which is an ultimate temptation for the collectors to obtain them at any cost.  Such stamps might be produced for special events also. Collectors who invest in stamps are said to be following the trend of philatelic investment, as similar to land investment, the older it gets the better value it gains.

Stamp collecting exchange function as exchange centres that help to trade valuable stamps to other collectors who wish to add them to their album. The stamps have a better value if they are of the used genre, rather than a fresh unused one.

In the current day scenario, most the trading or exchange is done globally through the medium of the internet. This is by far the best medium for this particular exchange for the following reasons:-

-          The size of the available market is enormous

-          Possibility of seeing the stamp, even though it might be located in altogether a different continent.

-          Possibility of checking the authenticity of the provided stamp for auction.

Online stamp collecting and trading essentially happens, through the popular websites that are listed for this specific purpose. Each member has to register with the site; registration which is usually free, and then create a profile with optional information that could be added about his/her stamp collection.

There are available entries for the user, to then list the stamps that he wishes to trade, with a detailed picture of the same. A person who has been looking for such a made-available stamp is then notified about this offer and then negotiation between both the parties happen. The stamp is then posted to the buyer with special cardboard packaging so that it does not suffer any damage.

There exists a golden rule in stamp collecting exchange, which is, that when one of the trader is not satisfied with the stamp traded for one of his, he can always request back his stamps and return the ones he had obtained. For a good trade off, the stamps need to be in perfect condition, with no tearing off, transparency, colouring or folds.