When I was younger , in class 8- 10 , I developed a hobby of stamp and coin collection.
For the fascinating stories of my coin collection I’ll narrate some other day , but today let’s talk about stamp collection.
As I was required to find a stamp for my 7 year old kid’s school project , I realised once readily available item from yesteryears has literally vanished from our lives.
I tried my best to find something that may contain a stamp otherwise the post office would be my last resort.
Fortunately I remembered that I recently unearthed my childhood album of stamp collection that contained about 150 stamps from all over the world.
I donated one stamp and rescued the kid’s project. But then again I couldn’t help myself but wonder how drastically our lives have changed in last 15 years. The rise of digital and mobile tech has made the postage service almost redundant, limited to registered and speed posts only , that too without stamps.
The hobby of collecting stamps is called philately. It includes studying and collecting postage stamps and related items.
The size , shape , print and art make every stamp unique. Every nation release ( used to release more often in the past ) special stamps on unique occasions.Stamps can be like tiny pieces of art that tell a story about a country. Some feature famous people, beautiful places, or important events. Think of them like a snapshot in time that can show you what a country thought was important at a certain moment in history.
There are several reasons why stamp usage has declined in recent years:
First, digital communication has largely replaced traditional mail. Emails, messaging apps, and online payments have reduced the need for letters and bills sent through postal services.
Second, electronic bill payments have become the norm. Most people now pay their utility bills, taxes, and other expenses online, eliminating the need for postage stamps.
Third, postal rates have increased. As mailing costs rise, people look for cheaper alternatives, making digital options more attractive.
Fourth, private courier services are more common. Companies like FedEx, UPS, and DHL offer faster and more reliable delivery options, reducing the reliance on traditional postal services.
Fifth, fewer people write letters and postcards. With social media and instant messaging, personal correspondence through mail has significantly decreased.
Are you seeing this decline affecting your ability to collect stamps? Go get a stamp from somewhere and post a picture of it here !! Maybe that will make you feel nostalgic 😜