Proper
Tools
Here
are some of the most commonly
used philatelic accessories:
1.)
Stamp tongs with rounded
tips - to keep your postage
stamps in tip top condition
when you are handling them,
you should use a stamp tweezers
or tongs. Oil and sweat
from your bare hands will
damage and devalue your
stamps. A pair of stamp
tongs is perhaps one the
must-have philately tools.
2.)
Stamp magnifying glass -
stamp magnifiers or a stamp
loupe with at least 5 to
10 x magnifications can
help you distinguish minute
stamp details that are invisible
to the naked eye. A trained
philatelist can distinguish
a stamp watermark by just
using a stamp magnifying
lens.
3.)
Stamp perforation gauge
- a perforation is a stamp
part that is serrated to
facilitate the stamp’s
easy removal on a stamp
sheet. Stamps have different
perforation measurements
and they are distinguished
through the stamp perforation
gauge or the odontometer.
4.)
Stamp albums and stamp stock
books - protect your postage
stamps from humidity and
direct sunlight by storing
them in protective stamp
album pages. Ideally, use
a stamp album with an acid-free
paper. Another alternative
is to use stamp stock books.
These are special albums
with glassine paper or clear
plastic pockets where you
can insert the stamps inside.
5.)
Stamp mounts and stamp hinges
- when you attach your stamps
on your stamp album, your
will not just use ordinary
tape or glue as this can
damage them. You can use
as stamp mount, a clear
plastic sleeve where you
can slip the stamps inside.
Stamp hinges are small and
adhesive strips of paper
or plastic that is folded
over to fix the stamps onto
the philatelic album.
6.)
Stamp catalogue - stamp
reference books, or stamp
catalogs, are quite handy
for a newbie stamp collector.
However, you do not have
to buy these expensive stamp
catalogues. You can borrow
one from the local library
and from other philatelists.
Better yet, you can download
an online stamp catalog
from the internet.
7.)
Stamp watermark detector
- sometimes, the magnifying
lens cannot distinguish
the watermark when the stamp
is already old. A stamp
watermark tray and a watermark
fluid are used to make the
stamp’s watermark
visible. Other stamp watermark
detector tools such as an
ultra-violet light can also
be used. These philatelic
accessories are very useful
in identifying counterfeit
stamps.
8.) Stamp color key - this
is a stamp color guide for
rare stamps with a scarce
color variety. The stamps
are placed along side the
palette of colors on the
stamp colour key to find
its exact color match. This
philatelic tool is very
handy since there are over
200 stamp colors identified.
9.)
Stamp starter pack - if
you do not have the must-have
philately supplies listed
above, the best option is
to invest in a basic stamp
starter kit. A stamp beginner's
kit includes a set of mint
stamps, a stamp catalogue,
a pocket-sized stamp magnifier,
a pair of tweezers, a stamp
stockbook, and a perforation
gauge.
10.)
Stamp software - the stamp
collecting software is perhaps
an indispensable philatelic
tool for the modern day
stamp collector. Free philatelic
software can be downloaded
through the internet. Stamp
collector softwares are
supplemented with philately
references which you can
upgrade online.
If
you want to sort out your
collectible stamps systematically,
you can use a stamp album
software. To keep track
of your growing postage
stamp collection, upload
a stamp inventory software
in your computer. Stamp
databases are also equipped
with downloadable philately
applications that you can
print out or share in the
web.
11.)
Philatelic literature -
aside from the stamp catalogue,
there are other written
materials about philately
and these are: philatelic
periodicals like stamp journals
and philatelic society newsletters;
and stamp collecting books
and philatelic bibliographies.
Reading postage stamp collecting
books is the best way to
gain knowledge on philately.