There are a few stamp collecting supplies every stamp collector needs. These include an album; a method of attaching your stamps to your album such as stocksheets, mounts, or hinges; tongs for handling your stamps safely; a magnifying glass for viewing your stamps; and catalogs to help determine stamp collecting values. This article provides a brief overview of each of the basic types of stamp collecting supplies, how to store them, and where to obtain them.

Stamp Albums

Stamp albums can be purchased preprinted or created by custom printing or assembly.

Preprinted albums come in several major formats distinguished by the type of method used to attach the stamps to the album.

Stockbooks, which contain pages lined with pockets where stamps can be inserted, are the easiest way to attach stamps to an album. Stockbook pockets can be made from clear film, translucent paper (glassine paper), or opaque manila paper.

Stamp Album Stockbook by Lighthouse – 5 Star Rating

Stock pages or stock sheets add flexibility to stockbooks by allowing the insertion of additional pages. The additional pages can be added to an album as needed.

Stockbooks and stock pages are some of the most convenient ways to store stamps. They do have a few disadvantages when you are serious about collecting stamps. One is that stamps are prone to fall out of loose pockets if the album is not handled carefully. Another is that the stock layout does not leave much room for writing notes about the stamps stored in the pockets. A third disadvantage is that the material is relatively more expensive than other storage methods.

An alternative method to stockbooks is to attach stamps to an album using mounts or hinges.

Mounts are precut display pockets that can be opened to insert a stamp and can then be attached to an album page, just as a stamp is attached to an envelope. This allows stamps to be attached to the album without altering their adhesive side.

Hinges are rectangular pieces of transparent paper that are folded with gum attached to one side. The adhesive side of the stamp is attached to the hinge. The adhesive side of the hinge is then attached to the album page. The hinge’s transparency and fold allow the stamp to be lifted so the back can be viewed. Hinges are the least expensive way to attach stamps to albums. However, they run the risk of tearing away from the stamp. Because of this, many collectors have come to prefer other methods, and to place less value on stamps with hinge marks.

Custom-printed stamp album pages are usually printed with computer page layout software.

Quality stamp albums usually have padded covers. This prevents albums stored next to each other from pressing too hard on the stamps they contain, which can cause stamp gum to ooze and stick.

Stamp Attachment Supplies: Stock Pages, Mounts, and Hinges

The type of album storage method you use will determine what stamp attachment supplies you need. You may need stock pages, mounts, or hinges depending on how you plan to store your stamps in your album or albums.

Stamp Tongs

Stamp tongs are recommended to safely handle your stamps without your fingers accidentally bending them, tearing them, soiling them, or affecting their adhesive properties. Many collectors use two pairs of tongs at a time, with one pair used to hold the stamp and another to open the pocket where the stamp is being inserted.

Stamp tongs are modified tweezers. Their jaws are smoother than regular tweezers, to avoid damaging stamps. Their tips are broad and bent like spatulas to help make it easier to insert and remove stamps from pockets. The tips are also often rounded to avoid damage to stamps.
From Amazon.com: 2 Stamp Tweezers Philately Stamps Collector Tools

Magnifying Glasses

A magnifying glass is useful for getting a better look at the details of your stamps, or for evaluating a stamp before purchase. For general collectors, a magnification level of 4x to 10x is recommended. Professionals or specialists inspecting stamps for reasons such as forgery detection usually use at least 8x magnification. Specialized magnifying glasses are manufactured for stamp collectors, and come in a variety of styles. Prices ranging from several dollars to several hundred dollars.

Stamp Catalogs

A stamp catalog can help you learn details about your stamps and their market value. Some free catalogs are available online. A few inexpensive catalogs are commercially available, such as The Official Blackbook Price Guide to United States Postage Stamps. For serious appraisal, a more expensive resource is the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue series, which can usually be viewed at your local library.

Storing Your Stamp Supplies

You should store your stamp supplies along with your stamp collection in a safe place. Your storage space should be dark, to protect your stamps from light exposure. It should also be cool and dry, to keep moisture away from your stamps.

Obtaining Stamp Supplies

You can buy stamp supplies from stamp collecting supplies companies, magazines, and websites. You can also obtain them from retail stores that carry stamp collecting kits, such as online book stores, hobby stores, toy stores, or museum gift shops.

Worthy Resources for Stamp Collecting Supplies

StampGet
Internet Hobby Supply
Potomac Supplies

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