Archive for May 19th, 2010
As an avid stamp collector, I take offense to the notion that stamp collecting will soon be an outdated hobby and distant memory of American culture. I realize that e-mail has long surpassed “snail mail” in terms of volume, but there will always be the need to send hard copies to people, which means that there will always be a need for stamps. One of the enjoyments of being a collector is the fact that you get to see how stamps have evolved over time, from the price to the design, and how this reflects on society as a whole.
The latest innovation to revolutionize the stamp world has been introduction of sticker-style stamps. Personally, I loved the distinct flavor of the lick-and-stick style stamps, but all of the new stamps are, essentially, just expensive stickers. Call me old-fashioned, but I miss the days when you never knew what stamps you would get at the post office, unlike the mass-produced bell design that is ubiquitous now.