Stamp collecting guides

Practical, plain-English guides from the makers of StampSnap, the AI stamp identifier. Whether you've inherited an album or found a shoebox of envelopes, start here.

How to identify a stamp: a beginner's guide

The six clues on every stamp — country, denomination, portrait, perforations, watermark and postmark — and how to read them like a philatelist.

How much is my stamp worth?

The seven factors that decide a stamp's value, what "mint never hinged" actually means, and honest advice on when a stamp is worth selling.

10 of the world's most valuable stamps

From the one-of-a-kind British Guiana 1c Magenta to the upside-down Inverted Jenny — the stamps that sell for millions, and why.

Rare stamps to look for: 7 signs a stamp might be valuable

Printing errors, colour errors, missing perforations, rare watermarks — the rarity signals collectors check first in any old album.

Stamp collecting for beginners: how to start in 2026

The four tools you actually need, where to find stamps for free, how to soak them safely, and the beginner mistakes that destroy value.

Want the fast answer? StampSnap identifies a stamp from one photo and estimates what collectors might pay.