Richard's Guide to US Mail and Stamp Collecting

    

About this Site

This site started because of my interest in collecting stamped envelops and wrappers of the US, As this project developed, my research wandered of into most corners of US postal history.

US postage is a hugh subject and my interests lean toward the historical. As a result, this guide pays little attention to much after 1960 and concentrates (to the extent I'm able) on the 19th century. For regular issue stamps the guide includes the American Credo Issue, 1960-1961 at Scott number 1144 inclusive, for airmail stamps the last entry is Scott C61, for regular issue postal stationary U545, which includes the 1962 5 cent and 1 cent surcharge to complete the series of oval dies, for airmail stationary UC34 and for postcards UX47.

We make a distinction between general information about US postage and 'stamp collecting'. The former is the result of research into postal history, the latter leans heavily on my personal history as a collector of postal stationary, the first issue 1853-1860.

This site is designed for a wide screen and will surely look awful on a mobile device. At some time in the future I might make some of the content available for mobile devises but not yet.

I hope this guide will be useful both to the specialist and the beginner.

To my surprise, this site has gotten out of hand and now has some pages for Worldwide Postage. I just couldn't restrain myself.


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US Postage

There are three general kinds of US postage.

 

Stamp Collecting

  • Stamps
  • Postal Stationary

Collection Specialities

  • Stampless Covers
  • Express Mail
  • Air Mail
  • First Day Covers
  • Booklet Panes
  • Plate Blooks
  • By Topic


Caution: Always be careful when buying stamps and postal stationary.