Unused 19Th Century Stamps

I have been a collector of unused 19th century stamps for a long time it started when I was a kid. I was an only child and I was sick and confined to bed for six months with what would now be termed as chronic fatigue syndrome. Not normally a sickly child I had no energy and even the simplest things would tire me very easily – I was ten years old.It was before computer games (that tells you how old I am) were around and my father worked at the post office and started bringing unused 19th century stamps home for me to keep me from getting bored it was a time when he and I actually started to get closer as I fell in love with unused 19th century stamps as he had as a young man when he began his collection.

He would tell me the stories behind the unused 19th century unused stamps as we placed them in the stamp collectors album that he had bought to go with them. He would also show me the stamps in his collection, it was a pretty impressive collection, and he inspired me to collect unused 19th century stamps for the rest of my life.

Even now e often travel to swap meets together and search for our beloved unused 19th century stamps often finding treasures that are hidden or unknown by the seller. My father spends a lot of time searching for unused 19th century stamps online as well and will either buy the for me or let me know what is for sale.

Now that he is retired this is his favorite past time along with research stamps on the internet and participating in blogs and forums about unused 19th century stamps. So now I have quite a collection of unused 19th century stamps and I would like to share my favorites with you:

#1 unused 19th century stamps: The Roaring 20’s is a collection of images from the 1920’s when stamps were 32 cents. These are great images from a Jazz club flapper to baseball, horse racing and an ancient gramophone I love this set of unused 19th century stamps because when I look at it I feel that I am right back there in that time;

#2 unused 19th century stamps: An 1898 Columbus 2 cent stamp, which depicts farming in the west. Its copper red with what looks like a team of mules harnessed to an ancient furrowing machine with many teams lined up behind them;

#3 unused 19th century stamps: An 1898 Trans-Mississippi 10 cent stamp with the words “The Hardships of Emigration” and shows a wagon in a desolate area. Two horses are harnessed to it though one has collapsed on the ground while the families who are the emigrants look on;

#4 unused 19th century stamps: $1 unused 19th century stamps that have the caption of “western cattle in storm” that depict a herd of cattle caught by what looks like a large wave in a mountain pass;

#5 unused 19th century stamps: An 1892 15 cent Columbian stamp with the king and queen on the throne in front of many people in the court and with the caption of “Columbus announces his discovery”;

#6 unused 19th century stamps: An 1892 8 cent stamp with the caption of “Columbus restored to favor” which depicts what looks like another court scene with Columbus on his knees before the queen;

#7 unused 19th century stamps: An 1892 Columbian 6c stamp with the caption “Columbus welcomed at Barcelona” which is a wonderful stamp with images of knights at court and with Columbus on a horse looking very triumphant;

#8 unused 19th century stamps: A 1904 classic issue Scott #327with an image of the US and 1803 stamped across it. This is a rare stamp and many folks that are collecting this series are missing this particular issue;

#9 unused 19th century stamps: A Scott #293 Trans-Mississippi $2 stamp that depicts a bridge on the Mississippi river. There is a steamer on the river that you can see in the foreground and there is some other traffic on the river under the old brick bridge and a town can be seen on the other side of the river;

#10 unused 19th century stamps: A Scott #288 Trans-Mississippi​ 5 cent stamp with the caption of “Fremont on Rocky Mountains” showing a climber on the top of a mountain placing a flag with two people looking on who look like they are celebrating;

Collecting unused 19th century stamps is a great hobby for me and it has for many years brought me closer to my father, which is a great thing. A couple of tips if you are starting out collecting:
Don’t use stamp hinges use plastic mounts otherwise you may damage especially unused stamps;
Stick to one thing to collect – especially at the start because there is so much to choose from;

Compare prices;
Use a catalogue;
Don’t tear old stamps from an envelope it may be more valuable attached;
To remove stamps still attached to paper just soak them in warm water till they separate naturally;
Don’t keep damaged or creased stamps UNLESS they are very valuable;
Use a stock book to store your stamps.
And most of all have fun that’s what stamp collecting is all about.