Stamps

Relate briefly the story of the beginning of the postal service in your country.

How is the history of your country told in postage stamps?

What are the rates for first-class mail in your country?

What country does not have its name on its stamps and why?

Know the meaning of the following:

• a.

  Coil stamp e. Definitive stamps

• b.

  Booklet stamp f. Commemorative stamps

• c.

  Perforations g. Hinges

• d.

  Perforation gauge h. Plastic mounts

Have a knowledge of how to soak stamps from paper and how to dry them.

Make a collection of at least 750 stamps. (No two stamps alike.)

Properly classify these stamps:

• a.

  As to country.

• b.

  In series; that is, according to year and design.

Mount your stamps with gummed hinges or plastic mounts. (Plastic mounts are preferred for mint stamps.)

Choose a topical idea and develop a display of at least nine pages, including a title page, suitable for a stamp club show, Pathfinder Fair, etc. Display should be artistically arranged, neatly labeled and mounted, showing careful thought and research. Be sure to include several covers or cachets.

Have the Stamp Honor.

Know the meaning of the following:

• a.

  Cancellation f. First day covers

• b.

  Perfins g. Cachets

• c.

  Blocks h. Souvenir sheets

• d.

  Plate blocks i. Watermarks

• e.

  Precanceled j. Tongs

Make a display of at least 16 pages suitable for a stamp club show, Pathfinder Fair, or Junior Youth Philatelic Stamp Show. Display should be artistically arranged, neatly labeled and mounted, showing careful thought and research. Cachets and covers should be used as well.

Make a collection of 750 additional stamps with at least 50 stamps from each of five foreign countries.

Name two different catalogs for identifying stamps.

Using a stamp catalog, identify and mount according to catalog number and country.

Mount your stamps with gummed hinges or plastic mounts. (Plastic mounts are preferred for mint stamps.)