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Stuff Every Stamp Collecting Scout Should Know: the Study Guide

Practice facts for the Stamp Collecting merit badge. Not an official Scouting America credential. Grab a snack: this guide is the friendly version, with the answers explained and a groan-worthy joke waiting at the end of most cards.

Knowing Stamp Collecting Scout saves you money, time and the occasional embarrassment.

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Chapter 1: Emergencies and First Aid

What do stamp tongs help a collector do?

Short answer: Handle stamps without touching them

Tongs are a special kind of tweezers used to pick up stamps safely so fingers do not smudge or bend them.

Groan of the day: Tongs are handy when you want to pick up a stamp without a finger of blame.

Sources: Philately

What does a perforation gauge measure?

Short answer: The number of stamp holes per space

A perforation gauge, also called an odontometer, measures the stamp's perforations to help identify it.

Groan of the day: A gauge is a real hole-some tool for measuring perforations.

Sources: Philately

What is topical stamp collecting focused on?

Short answer: What is shown on the stamps

Topical or thematic philately studies what is depicted on individual stamps, such as birds or ships.

Groan of the day: A topical collection is right on topic and on the money.

Sources: Philately

What does postal stationery include?

Short answer: Stamped envelopes and postal cards

Postal stationery covers stamped envelopes, postal cards, letter sheets, aerogrammes, and wrappers with imprinted stamps.

Groan of the day: Postal stationery is a paper trail with a stamp built in.

Sources: Philately

What is a maximum card?

Short answer: A card with a stamp, picture, and cancel on one theme

Maximaphily studies Maximum Cards, which have a picture postcard, a stamp, and a cancellation all on the same theme.

Groan of the day: A maximum card gives you the most bang for your buck.

Sources: Philately

What does erinnophilia study?

Short answer: Cinderella stamps that look like stamps but are not postage

Erinnophilia is the study of cinderella stamps, which look like stamps but are not postage stamps.

Groan of the day: Cinderella stamps may not go to the ball, but they still get studied.

Sources: Philately

What does revenue philately study?

Short answer: Stamps used to collect taxes or fees

Revenue philately studies stamps used to collect taxes or fees on documents, licenses, and similar items.

Groan of the day: Revenue stamps are a taxing subject, but collectors love them.

Sources: Philately

What is postal history mainly about?

Short answer: Postal systems and how mail moves

Postal history studies postal systems, postmarks, rates, routes, and how letters move from sender to recipient.

Groan of the day: Postal history is a subject with a lot of mail order.

Sources: Philately

What is letterlocking?

Short answer: Folding and securing a letter to be its own envelope

Letterlocking is folding and securing letter material so it becomes its own envelope or a tamper-evident lock.

Groan of the day: Letterlocking is a fold idea for keeping mail private.

Sources: Philately

Why might a collector use watermark fluid?

Short answer: To wet a stamp and reveal its watermark

Watermark fluid wets the stamp so a hidden watermark can be seen when holding it to the light fails.

Groan of the day: Watermark fluid helps you see the mark you were missing.

Sources: Philately

What is the world's oldest philatelic society?

Short answer: The Royal Philatelic Society London

The Royal Philatelic Society London was founded in 1869 and is the world's oldest philatelic society.

Groan of the day: That society has been collecting stamps since before your grandparents were born.

Sources: Philately

What does the word philately come from?

Short answer: Greek roots meaning love of exemption from taxes

Herpin combined Greek roots meaning attraction and exempt from duties and taxes to make the word philately.

Groan of the day: Philately has a root in the love of being tax exempt.

Sources: Philately

Who coined the word philately?

Short answer: Georges Herpin

Georges Herpin coined the French word philatélie in 1864 as a better name for the hobby.

Groan of the day: Herpin coined the term, so he had a word in the matter.

Sources: Philately

What is traditional philately mainly about?

Short answer: Technical aspects of stamp production and identification

Traditional philately studies technical aspects such as design, paper, printing, gum, and perforation.

Groan of the day: Traditional philately gets into the technical nitty-gritty.

Sources: Philately

What are perfins?

Short answer: Perforated initials used as security markings

Perfins are perforated initials, a kind of security marking studied in traditional philately.

Groan of the day: Perfins are initials with a hole lot of security.

Sources: Philately

What is astrophilately about?

Short answer: Stamps and postmarked envelopes connected to outer space

Astrophilately specializes in stamps and postmarked envelopes connected to outer space.

Groan of the day: Astrophilately is out of this world.

Sources: Philately

What is a Pony Express cover prized for?

Short answer: Being proven to have been sent by the Pony Express

Covers proven to have been sent by the Pony Express are highly prized by collectors.

Groan of the day: A Pony Express cover is a real gallop through history.

Sources: Philately

What does philatelic literature include?

Short answer: Thousands of books and periodicals

Philatelic literature documents philatelic study and includes thousands of books and periodicals.

Groan of the day: Philatelic literature gives collectors plenty to read between the lines.

Sources: Philately

What is a stamp hinge used for?

Short answer: Mounting stamps in an album

Stamp hinges are common tools used to mount stamps in albums.

Groan of the day: A hinge helps a stamp hang around in your album.

Sources: Philately

What can a stamp catalog help you do?

Short answer: Identify and learn about stamp issues

Stamp catalogs are common tools that list stamp issues and help collectors identify and study them.

Groan of the day: A catalog is a real page-turner for collectors.

Sources: Philately

What is Stamp Day meant to do?

Short answer: Attract public attention to postal correspondence and philately

Stamp Day is a memorial day designed to attract attention to postal correspondence and help philately grow.

Groan of the day: Stamp Day is a day to stick with the hobby.

Sources: Philately

What did the FIP organize regularly starting in 1929?

Short answer: International philatelic exhibitions

The Fédération Internationale de Philatélie has regularly organized international philatelic exhibitions since 1929.

Groan of the day: The FIP has been putting on shows for a long time.

Sources: Philately

What was the Pony Express?

Short answer: The fastest way to send letters across the U.S. for a few months

The Pony Express was the fastest way to send letters across the United States during the few months it operated.

Groan of the day: That mail service really galloped along.

Sources: Philately

What does postal stationery usually show?

Short answer: An imprinted or embossed stamp showing prepaid postage

Postal stationery items usually carry an imprinted or embossed stamp or indicia showing postage was prepaid.

Groan of the day: That paper already carries its own postage.

Sources: Philately

Which item might carry a revenue stamp?

Short answer: A hunting license

Revenue stamps appear on items like legal documents, licenses, tobacco, and playing cards.

Groan of the day: That license carries its own stamp of approval.

Sources: Philately

The cheat sheet

The whole guide on one screen. Screenshot it, print it, stick it on the fridge.

  • Tongs are a special kind of tweezers used to pick up stamps safely so fingers do not smudge or bend them.
  • A perforation gauge, also called an odontometer, measures the stamp's perforations to help identify it.
  • Topical or thematic philately studies what is depicted on individual stamps, such as birds or ships.
  • Aerophilately is the branch of postal history that specializes in the study of airmail.
  • Postal stationery covers stamped envelopes, postal cards, letter sheets, aerogrammes, and wrappers with imprinted stamps.
  • Maximaphily studies Maximum Cards, which have a picture postcard, a stamp, and a cancellation all on the same theme.
  • Erinnophilia is the study of cinderella stamps, which look like stamps but are not postage stamps.
  • Revenue philately studies stamps used to collect taxes or fees on documents, licenses, and similar items.
  • Postal history studies postal systems, postmarks, rates, routes, and how letters move from sender to recipient.
  • Letterlocking is folding and securing letter material so it becomes its own envelope or a tamper-evident lock.
  • Watermark fluid wets the stamp so a hidden watermark can be seen when holding it to the light fails.
  • Philately uses a strong magnifying glass to inspect fine details on stamps.

Pop quiz

Think of your answer first, then peek.

  1. What do stamp tongs help a collector do?
    • Handle stamps without touching them
    • Measure a stamp's size
    • Store stamps in water
    Show the answer

    Handle stamps without touching them. Tongs are a special kind of tweezers used to pick up stamps safely so fingers do not smudge or bend them.

  2. Why might a collector use watermark fluid?
    • To make a stamp sticky again
    • To wet a stamp and reveal its watermark
    • To clean ink off a stamp
    Show the answer

    To wet a stamp and reveal its watermark. Watermark fluid wets the stamp so a hidden watermark can be seen when holding it to the light fails.

  3. What does traditional philately study about printing?
    • Only the printing price
    • Only the printing date
    • Engraving and typography methods
    Show the answer

    Engraving and typography methods. Traditional philately studies the method of printing, such as engraving and typography.

  4. What did early U.S. stamp collectors call themselves?
    • Stamp gatherers
    • Philatelists
    • Postmasters
    Show the answer

    Stamp gatherers. In the U.S., early collectors of stamps were known as stamp gatherers.

  5. What can topical collectors study besides the picture itself?
    • Printing press brands
    • Design mistakes and alterations
    • Postal routes and rates
    Show the answer

    Design mistakes and alterations. Topical study includes design mistakes and alterations, like images edited on stamps.

Now make it stick

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