Topical stamp collecting

Topical or thematic stamp collecting is the collecting of postage stamps relating to a particular subject or concept.[1] Topics can be almost anything,[2] from stamps on stamps,[3] birds, trains and poets on stamps, to famous physicians and scientists, along with historical people and events on stamps, which is often a standard theme for many stamp issuing countries.

Both collectors of whales and penguins on stamps would want this 1929 issue from the Falkland Islands.

Background
Ships on Stamps: the USS Constitution.

The earliest stamps simply depicted busts of reigning monarchs, important figures, or coats of arms, but as time went on stamps started to have a wider range of designs. Bears appeared on provisional stamps of St. Louis in 1845, while the beaver was featured on the earliest stamps of Canada. More than 150 years later, the variety of designs on stamps is enormous, giving topical collectors plenty of scope to find stamps for their chosen theme.[4] In fact, so many stamps have been issued that some popular themes, such as ships or birds, have become nearly impossible to complete, and topical collectors may specialize further, such as by looking for only square-rigged sailing ships, or only flightless birds.

Collecting

Since most types of stamp designs are commonly available and inexpensive, acquiring them is mostly a matter of poring over the stamp catalog looking for relevant types, and learning enough about the topic to recognize subtle connections. The American Topical Association and others have published handbooks and lists of larger topics.[5][6]

Online marketplaces and trade platforms are the most common way of collecting new stamps.

Competitions

Topical collecting is a recognized category for competitive exhibitions and has its own Commission with the FIP (Fédération Internationale de Philatélie).[7]

Topics
Teddy and his Friends topical stamp display at London 2022 International Stamp Exhibition
This 21⁄2 real value from the 1901 Nyassa Company stamp issue was the first stamp ever printed to feature a giraffe.

Some topics include:

Stamps with an anarchist theme were issued during the Spanish Civil War by the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo.[8][9][10]

See also

References
  1. "Glossary Of Philatelic Terms". Linn's Stamp News. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
  2. "Topical Stamp Collecting". Linn's Stamp News. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
  3. Baadke, Michael (2000-05-01). "Like stamps? You'll love stamps-on-stamps". Refresher Course. Linn's Stamp News. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
  4. Baadke, Michael. "Pick your favorite topic and start collecting". Refresher Course. Linn's Stamp News. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
  5. "Handbooks". American Topical Association. Retrieved 2010-01-24.
  6. "ATA Checklists". American Topical Association. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  7. "FIP Thematic Philately Commission". Fédération Internationale de Philatélie. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  8. "Les timbres édités par la CNT et par la FAI" (in French). Increvables Anarchistes. Archived from the original on 12 February 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  9. Gomez-Guillamon, F. The Republican local war tax stamps, 1936-39. Spanish Philatelic Society.
  10. Creagh, Ronald. "La Guerre civile et la Révolution en Espagne (1936-1939)" (in French). Research on Anarchism. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.

Further reading
  • Bold, W.E.J. van den. Handbook of Thematic Philately. Limassol: Published by James Bendon for The British Thematic Association, 1994 ISBN 996-357-970-1
  • Branston, A. J. Thematic and Topical Stamp Collecting: A practical and comprehensive handbook for thematic, topical, and subject collectors. London: Batsford, 1980 ISBN 0-7134-1974-1
  • Griffenhagen, George and Jerome Husak. Adventures in Topical Stamp Collecting. Tucson: American Topical Association, 1997
  • Gupta, V.K. A Handbook on Thematic Philately. Delhi: B.D. Gupta, 1989
  • Lee, Alma. Introducing Thematic Collecting. British Philatelic Trust in conjunction with the National Philatelic Society, 1983. (Edited by Richard West)
  • Martin, M. W. Topical Stamp Collecting. New York: Arco Pub. Co., 1975 ISBN 0-6680-3754-7
  • Morris, Margaret. Thematic Stamp Collecting. London: Gibbons, 1977 ISBN 0-85259-920-X
  • Handbooks of the American Topical Association.

Websites for particular themes

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