Is Stamp Collecting A Dying Hobby?

Exploring the future and the present state of the stamp collecting hobby. #philately #collection #stampcollecting

[@scottmurray247]

Through collecting stamps I unknowingly self educated about the world at large. Geopolitics, world leaders, geography, history, plants and animals. The list goes on. Although I divested myself of my collection, I'm grateful for the legacy it left through the process of collecting.

[@LevenParker]

That has definitely been my experience with collecting

[@Laurent-Philatelie]

Another great (and uplifting) video, my friend! To me, collecting stamps is an everyday joy as I go through my collections, travel through time and wonder before their beauty!

[@LevenParker]

Same

[@chrislovesstamps]

So true, Leven. Very good you put the numbers there. Media has such impact in directing our thinking, thoughts and meaning. We are not dead, philately is not dead. Thank again for a wonderful informative video!

[@LevenParker]

The volume of material is staggering. No other collectible has that volume of material

[@GreatStampAdventure]

Thanks for your informative video, Leven. It is true that on the surface it seems as if the demographics of stamp collectors especially at clubs etc are much older, but there are many people in the world, and many children of stamp collectors will surely pick up the hobby, and as you said there is still huge activity in the philatelic market. I think it is a simplification to say stamp collecting is a dying hobby. I wonder whether anybody went to the trouble to do proper research on the issue. Anyway, I enjoyed your video.

[@LevenParker]

Thank you for watching as always and current estimates of global collectors is somewhere between 20 and 40 million. That's pretty significant

[@GreatStampAdventure]

@@LevenParker Wow! That is a significant amount of collectors! Leven, is there a reference to this estimate, and do you possibly know what the demographic is of the existing collectors worldwide? Sorry for all the questions!

[@LevenParker]

@GreatStampAdventure wall street journal said 60 million in 2013. They don't do a demographic breakdown but Linns estimates 5m in America and the wsj article said 20m in china

[@GreatStampAdventure]

@@LevenParker Hi Leven. Thanks so much for the information! Wow, MANY collectors in China!

[@limedickandrew6016]

People who attend clubs are invariably of the 'older' variety. That is because that is how it was done for decades and it is what they are used to. Teaching old dogs new tricks comes to mind. Younger collectors do pretty much all their business online these days. I've never attended a club in my life, and I'm 62.

[@deborahlee9972]

As an economist and a philatelist, I hear it all the time…that after all these years, my collection must be worth a lot. I’m continually frustrated by this logic. My collection is worth a lot to me but that does not translate to market value. But…we don’t impose that profit making criteria on other hobbies. Talk to anyone involved with golf and tally up the costs: green fees, club dues, the latest/greatest clubs, … not to mention the clothes. No one ever expects most folks involved in the hobby of golf to make it a profitable endeavor!

[@LevenParker]

Lol I have used that same golf comparison many times and I fully agree.

[@limedickandrew6016]

Yup. The only people who make money from golf are those involved professionally. The vast majority of golf enthusiasts are not and do it for the love of the game.

[@TopHotDog]

Good point. Pleasure, or fun is difficult to quantify, or university define. Philatelily is more than just collecting stamps. It is an art. H.E. Harris is the father of all collectors existing today. FDR brought philatelily mainstream for millions .

[@peterhugo2078]

Stamp collecting is far from dead yet as there are still many thousands of keen collectors across the world. But I have been collecting stamps for many years and have a large collection now which I have spent a lot of money on. But it would definitely sell for a lot less money than I paid for it. Some countries on which I specialised in such as France and Germany have become very unfashionable in the UK and a valuable collection of France worth £5000 10 years ago would struggle to fetch even £2000 now. Modern post WWII Germany fares even worse with an unmounted mint almost complete collection of Berlin costing me £1500 at auction 10 years ago now struggling to fetch even £300. British Commonwealth countries have fared better but even GB stamps have suffered in the UK with classic stamps selling for half the price they did 10 years ago. So the hobby is certainly waning as more and more quality material is entering the market every day from deceased collectors with excellent collections but the number of new collectors coming through to replace them is far less. Supply and demand will trigger falling prices inevitably but it will be patchy, as favoured areas will attract more interest so their prices may still increase in the short term whilst less favourable areas will fall more quickly than would be expected.

[@svessien]

The great mistake many people do is to confuse their hobby with financial investment. If you want to invest, go for the stock market.

[@LevenParker]

I absolutely agree

[@jabinnahid9034]

I'm from Bangladesh, i can tell you that it is opposite here, stamp collectors are increasing significantly. Due to social media we have many groups that unite the collectors. Last year FIP hosted international stamp exhibition. I saw lot of young stamp collectors like me. Another thing is domestic registered letter here cost just 10-20 ৳ (15 us cent).

[@LevenParker]

I have seen the same thing on another platform where i have 34k followers. I have a lot of global interest in collecting from mostly Europe because I am English language but also Asia. It's good to know the hobby is growing

[@lanuiiohu]

Stamp Collecting is dead, but Proof & Rare stamp aren't dead

[@LevenParker]

@lanuiiohu 20-60 million collectors is not what I would consider dead.