HOBBIES & INTERESTS – STAMP COLLECTING

The first posting of a stamp, the Penny Black was from Bath in 1840.
The Penny Black was issued by Britain in 1840 and pictured a young Queen Victoria – it had to be cut from the sheet with scissors in order to be used.
The collecting of stamps started almost straight after this.
Edward Stanley Gibbons started as a sole trader selling stamps in 1856 and this was the start of the now famous Stanley Gibbons company.
Worldwide the estimated numbers of stamp collectors is around 200 million.

Email: m7swindells@hotmail.com
Bath’s Stamp & Coin Shop sell a collection of coins, stamps, postcards, stamp books and stationery. They also have a selection of pamphlets and books.
Bath Stamp & Coin are always interested in purchasing collections of old coins and tokens, military medals and badges, stamp collections and old letters.

“At Bath Postal Museum there is something for everyone. We provide colourful, frequently changing exhibitions, interactive games and quizzes, models and collectables and feature historic ‘talking heads’ video characters. There is also plenty to do for young visitors, who can play the mail computer challenge, try on costumes and play our stunning ‘Potholes and Pitfalls’ board game. All visitors are also provided with the opportunity to perforate their own sheet of stamps and museum shop offers a large range of postcards and gifts. We also stock items for the serious philatelist and would-be collectors.”