A philatelist is someone who collects or studies stamps. The term is most commonly used to refer to postage stamp collectors, but it can also refer to anyone who is interested in stamps for reasons other than postage, such as stamps used for taxation or other purposes. Philately dates back to the 1840 issue of the first postage stamps in England, and the term “philatelist” was coined in the 1860s. Stamps of a specific design, type, or history are the focus of many philatelists.
In 1840, the British government introduced postage stamps. Prior to this, most postal systems required the recipient of the letter to pay for its delivery, which was an inefficient process for all parties involved. A letter was returned if the recipient could not or would not pay for it, resulting in a loss for the postal service, which had already invested time and money in its delivery. Stamps made the sender responsible for delivery costs and ensured that postal services would be compensated for their efforts.
John Edward Gray, a British Museum official who saved the first British stamps for their historical significance, may have been the first philatelist. Because most stamps featured specialized artwork and often included historical details about the issuing country, they quickly attracted art, history, and government enthusiasts. Philately has expanded to include almost any type of postal memorabilia. The United States Postal Service estimated in 1996 that there were more than 500,000 dedicated stamp collectors in the United States alone.
A philatelist may not always conform to popular perceptions of stamp collectors. A philatelist, for example, is a historian or archivist who studies stamps for a museum or postal service. Some philatelists specialize in stamp-like postcards, postmarks, stationery, or non-postal seals known as “Cinderella stamps” philatelists. Others collect or study non-postal authorities’ stamps, such as those on tobacco products or government licenses.
Every year, governments all over the world issue tens of thousands of stamps. Rather than attempting to collect all of them, a philatelist may concentrate on a particular topic of interest. Polar philatelists, for example, collect stamps that were issued or postmarked in the world’s polar regions. Other philatelists specialize in stamps from specific countries or time periods, or stamps depicting specific subjects, such as animals or well-known authors. Pitcairn Island, a tiny British territory on a remote South Pacific island, makes a substantial part of its yearly budget from philatelists who desire its rare stamps.