Filatelie

Filatelie, or philately, is the study and collection of postage stamps and related materials such as postal stationery, postmarks, and labels. It encompasses both the collecting hobby and scholarly research into the production, design, usage, and historical context of stamps. A person who studies and collects in this way is a philatelist, and the activity is distinguished from casual collecting by its emphasis on authentication, cataloging, and historical documentation.

Origins and development: The hobby emerged in the mid-19th century after the introduction of postage stamps, beginning with Britain’s Penny Black in 1840. Enthusiasts formed clubs, published journals, and exchanged stamps. The term philately was popularized in the 19th century by Georges Herpin. Over time, the field broadened to include postal history, stamp production analysis, and research into forgeries and provenance.

Practice and institutions: Collectors organize stamps in albums and stockbooks, study varieties such as perforations, watermarks, and color shifts, and may participate in exhibitions. Major international bodies include the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) and numerous national societies such as the American Philatelic Society. Prominent catalogs and price guides—such as Scott, Michel, and Stanley Gibbons—aid identification and valuation. Worldwide exhibitions showcase collections and award medals.

Subfields and topics: Common branches include postal history (the study of mail routes and rates), topical or thematic collecting, airborne philately, and revenue stamps. Philatelic literature, auction catalogs, and expertizing services support research and authentication.

Significance: Filatelie preserves cultural and historical information encoded in stamps and postal artifacts, reflecting art, politics, economics, and technology. It is practiced by amateurs and professionals, contributes to museums and libraries, and continues to adapt to digital catalogs and online marketplaces.