1. Power Point presentation prepared exclusively for StampBuddy by Enarra Fitzgerald

2.  Can we find correspondence with this old stamp?  Did our ancestors use this issue?  What can we learn from such Philatelic items?  What was the world’s first government issued stamp?  Where is it from?  What year was it created?  Who used it?

3.  Where were these stamps created?  Who used them?  What are the symbols on the sides?  What do the symbols mean?  How did this stamp effect our ancestors?  Which stamp was issued right after the end of WWI?  Which stamp started out as a charity label?  Which stamp shows the name “Jewish State” instead of “Israel”?  What can we learn from this history? Stamps teach us stories of war… Many stamps trace the transition from colonial times to independence

4. with An early U.S. airmail stamp with map of the U.S. 100 th Anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase. This Chinese map stamp was never issued because Taiwan is not colored red! The few that exist are very rare.

5. In the past, mailing written paper was the only means by which to share thoughts and information across distances. Whether it be sent by courier, horseback, ship or, eventually air, millions and millions of letters have crossed the planet since the first government issued adhesive postage stamp was created in 1840 in Great Britain.

6. Old letters, postcards, bills and documents provide us with a wealth of information that can be gleaned in no other way. Addresses, places of employment as well as personal correspondence open up the past and allow us to peer into our own history and suddenly bring it to life.

7. Postal stationery can reveal a treasure trove of family information such as…  An immigrant's home village before coming to the U.S.  A person’s military service details (Civil War, WWI, WWII)  The details of a person’s work life and employment information  A family’s photographs on a real photo postcard  Postcards can also reveals travel information and possible friendships or connections.

8. For example: An immigrant's home village before coming to the U.S. The location of the postmark on this envelope, by itself, could give a philatelist a clue on where to start searching for the birthplace of their ancestor. (This slide and information curtesy of www.Philgen.org)

9. A persons military service details (Civil War, WWI, WWII) can be traced through paper records that were mailed.

10. The details of a person’s work life and employment information also written

11. A family’s photographs on a photo postcards

12. Postcards can also reveal travel information and possible friendships or connections.

13.  What countries are they from?  How old are they?  What time periods were they created for?  What can they teach us about our history? Look at the stamps or covers you have been given….

14.  Work on stamps any time, day or night in any season.  Choose exactly where you want to start.  Affordable.  Trade postal stationery & stamps with other historians.  Buy stamps without traveling.  Great local stamp club and stamp shows.

15.  The world is your oyster. Collect the world!  Collect stamps from the U.S. (very popular)  Collect stamps from your family’s country  Collect stamps from the year of your birth  Collect the “Classical Period” 1840-1940  Collect stamps based on topics like: Not only your family history but… Medicine Famous inventors Embroidery on stamps Flowers Animals and pets or insects on stamps Shapes like triangles Broadway shows on stamps Bart Simpson on stamps (just kidding)

16.  Trade with other collectors.  Buy stamp mixtures.  APS Circuit books.  Go to stamp club meetings.  Go to stamp shows.  Stamp approvals.  Buy stamps online and online auction site.

17. Store  Glassine envelopes  Stock books  Stock cards Display  Buy a stamp album  Make your own stamp album  Stock Books

18. Magazines  Linn’s Stamp News  American Philatelist Catalogs  Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalog  Scott Classic

19.  Your local stamp club: Local Club Society meets twice a month and has its own clubhouse.  Northwest Philatelic Library  American Philatelic Research Library  Lots of stamp societies  Internet: Lots of stamp blogs

20.  When you become an APS member you get:  The American Philatelist magazine every month  Free access to the American Philatelic Research Library  Stamp circuit books  Access to StampStore  StampBuddy Service (APS membership not required)  APS membership is recognized throughout the hobby as an indicator of ethical dealing and integrity.  Applications available today. APS is the largest stamp society in the world with 33,000+ members.

21.  You can have your own StampBuddy mentor  Your mentor will meet with you at a convenient location.  Teach you all about our hobby  Help you choose what to collect  Help you to attend meetings of the local stamp club  Guide you at local stamp shows like PIPEX. StampBuddy is a national APS program that provides mentors for new adult collectors.

22. 1.Introduce yourself to today’s speaker and say that you might like to collect stamps. 2.Complete the StampBuddy application. 3.A StampBuddy Mentor will be assigned to you. 4.Your mentor will contact you and schedule time to meet with you. 5.Your mentor will never charge you for his services or sell you any stamps or stamp supplies. You’re on your way to joining the “hobby of kings”. Years of fun and excitement lay ahead. (Oh, and keep the stamps you got today even if you decide not to collect.) Get Started Today!

23. Questions?