The Oxford dictionary defines Philately /fɪˈlatəli/ as the collection and study of postage stamps, and a philatelist /fɪˈlætəlɪst/ as a person who collects or studies stamps.
Philately, or stamp collecting began around 1860 – the same time that stamps were first issued, and collectors and stamp dealers were appearing around the world as this new study and hobby spread across Europe, European colonies, the United States and other parts of the world.
Often considered an old-fashioned hobby, philately is gaining new popularity among millennials, as it serves as a mindfulness exercise and a way to switch off from the digital distractions of the internet and social media. (Although the art of postage stamps also has a certain Instagram appeal, too!)
Since I started working at Cotswold & Stuart, I too have been amazed at the diversity and visual allure of the designs (The music giants in particular, as a huge music fan). Not only the stamp designs, but the additional artwork of the First day Covers (FDCs) and also the collector sheets make brilliant home decor items. The variety of the Royal Mail stamp issues also means there’s something for everyone; botany, cute animals, pop culture, vintage engineering…
So now I have a couple of these items in my possession, am I a stamp collector? if so, here is a list of notable peers:
1. King George V – Reigned from 1910 – 1936 and was a keen collector
2. Ronnie Wood – The Rolling Stones legend is a keen philatelist. Could that be the reason for a few choice Royal Mail Music Giants appearances by him and his bandmates?
3. Freddie Mercury – His collection was exhibited in the Postal Museum and featured a lot of geographical designs, particularly the British Empire and Zanzibar – his birth country
4. Suzanne Rae – Only the second female chairman the Philatelic Traders Society
5. Nicolas Sarkozy – The 23rd President of France has an impressive stamp collection and even received a series of stamps commemorating the Entente Cordiale, from Queen Elizabeth II in 2004
6. Queen Elizabeth II – Collected first day cover envelopes from the UK and overseas since 1952
7. Maria Sharapova – The former tennis star made a public admission that she was a childhood philatelist, only to later regret the interview, saying it might be bad for her image. Shame on you, Maria!
8. Patrick Dempsey – The Grey’s Anatomy actor has collected stamps since childhood, and is Emma’s firm favourite from this list!
9. Jacques Cousteau – The French explorer and researcher collected French stamps almost exclusively. In 2001 France issued a commemorative stamp with his face on
10. Warren Buffet – The investor and businessman collects classic American stamps
Could you be next? The latest stamp release features The Spice Girls, or you could delve into our vintage archive for some rarer bargains too. Do you prefer the Cotswold or Stuart FDC designs, or perhaps the more modern Postmark Club artwork? whichever you choose, happy collecting!