There are many reasons to start a stamp collection. For one, there is the primal urge to collect things. Others attach a romance to acquiring postage stamps, its historical association, its many shapes, colors and designs, the mental adventures into to far-away lands, or simply the love of things from an older age. For this reason, some collectors don't stress financial investments in stamps, but concentrate on free stamp collection.

Free stamp collections are, as the name implies, are stamps free of charge. You have this from collecting used stamps to getting free stamps from known sources.

The most common way of starting a stamp collection is by saving the postage stamps from foreign mail that one receives. However, you quickly graduate from this manner of acquiring stamps when the collection is under way because it is not methodical.

You can find free stamps from old mail at home or your parents' attic. Ask friends and relatives to keep cancelled stamps.

With free stamps, you'll very frequently encounter used stamps that are still attached to envelopes and packages. Here's how to remove them:

1.Using a pair of scissors, cut around the stamp, taking care not to cut the stamp itself.

2.In a bowl of lukewarm water, dip the stamp facedown for a few minutes.

3.The stamp could detach from the envelope and sink. Otherwise, gently peel it away using small tongs or tweezers.

4.Rinse out the back of the stamp to remove the remaining glue off, and place facedown on a paper towel to dry.

5.Press any wrinkled stamps it in a heavy book to flatten them.

Whatever the reason for collecting, the most effective way by getting as many types of stamps as possible. From there you can decide where you're more interested in and decide on your specialty.

However, just because it's a free stamp collection doesn't mean it has to be hodge-podge. Any collection needs to be organized properly. With your first stamp collection you'll learn the practical basics of philately. With the aid of a catalogue, you can arrange your stamps in an inexpensive stamp album, according to country of origin and date of issue, or specific themes.

Following are some interesting examples of collection themes:

?Afghanistan' Anti-malaria postage stamps

?Fungi stamps

?Defense stamps from India

?Elvis stamps from all over the world

?Stamps depicting endangered species

?Stamps canceled in your hometown

?Stamps from countries that no longer exist

With such an organization, you find lots of entertainment and fulfillment in a free stamp collection.