Stamp collecting has been a popular pastime that many people have fallen in love with. Every collector has their own favorite type of stamp. Below are some of the common types collectors love to keep.
Commemorative Stamps. These are produced to commemorate significant people, places or events and are released by post office for limited time and quantity. They’re usually bigger than normal stamp and are used alongside regular-issue stamps.
Definitive Stamps. These are issued mainly for everyday postage. They often have same basic size but less appealing designs than commemorative stamps.
Airmail Stamps. These are used for payments of airmail service. While the word “airmail” or equivalent is usually printed on the stamp, Scott (U.S cataloguing firm) has recognized US airmail stamps showing the silhouette of an aircraft. The three other catalogs on the other hand do not give special status to this type of stamp.
Customized or Personalized Photo Stamps. These are stamps wherein personal images or photograph are placed. They are also referred to as a form of meter labels where it follows the standards of metered mail. Only USPS approved providers are certified to print custom stamps.
Memorial Stamps. These are stamps made in honor of officials who died in office.
Used Postage Stamps.These are stamps that have been canceled or that have done postal duty.More specifically, a used stamp is one that has been used to pay postage on letters, parcels or other mail pieces.
ATM Stamps. Stamps that have been dispensed at automatic teller machines (ATMs), although they may be sold via stamp catalogues of the postal service. They must have sheets that have the same size and thickness of a paper in order to be dispensed by the machine.
Late Fee Stamps. These are issued to show payments of fee to allow inclusion of a letter or package in the outgoing dispatch although it has been turned in after the cut-off time.
Postal Tax Stamps. These are stamps indicating that a tax (above the regular postage rate) required for sending letters has been paid. This stamp is often mandatory on all mail issued on a particular day or for few days only.
Non-denominated Postage Stamps. Also known as permanent or forever stamps, these stamps remain valid even after the price has risen.
Self- adhesive Stamps. First introduced in US in 1974 and was re – introduced in 1994 and now comprise the vast majority of U.S. stamps issued. These stamps do not require licking or moisture to be applied to the back of the stick.
